What elitist concepts were placed in the US Constitution?
In political science and sociology, elite theory is a theory of the state that seeks to describe and explain power relationships in contemporary society. The theory posits that a small minority, consisting of members of the economic elite and policy-planning networks, holds the most power—and that this power is independent of democratic elections.[1]
Through positions in corporations or on corporate boards, and influence over policy-planning networks through financial support of foundations or positions with think tanks or policy-discussion groups, members of the "elite" exert significant power over corporate and government decisions.
The basic characteristics of this theory are that power is concentrated, the elites are unified, the non-elites are diverse and powerless, elites' interests are unified due to common backgrounds and positions and the defining characteristic of power is institutional position.[2]
Elite theory opposes pluralism (more than one system of power), a tradition that emphasized how multiple major social groups and interests have influence upon and various forms of representation within more powerful sets of rulers, contributing to decently representative political outcomes that reflect the collective needs of a society.
Elite theory argues either that democracy is a utopian folly, as it is traditionally viewed in the conservative Italian tradition, or that democracy in its idealized form is not realizable within capitalism (a common view of Marxist-inspired elite theorists).
Even when entire groups are ostensibly completely excluded from the state's traditional networks of power (historically, on the basis of arbitrary criteria such as nobility, race, gender, or religion), elite theory recognizes that "counter-elites" frequently develop within such excluded groups. Negotiations between such disenfranchised groups and the state can be analyzed as negotiations between elites and counter-elites. A major problem, in turn, is the ability of elites to co-opt counter-elites.
Were the founders of the US constitution necessarily limited by their profound ignorance?
1.) The US Constitution was passed in 1787. As discussed in the module, the Constitution is an old and rather brief document. It was also written primarily by white, land-owning men. How do you think this is relevant in today's society and what impact do you think this has on the Constitution. Consider in your answer, some of the compromises that were reached in writing the new constitution. Please discuss 2 or 3 things that come to mind and be...
Why did Henry in 1788 oppose the proposed US Constitution and support the existing constitution under the Articles of Confederation? Why did Madison think in 1787 that a new constitution was necessary? How do the views of these two men compare in their views regarding the individual state governments?
Identify which article of the US Constitution deals with Congress, what is the “necessary and proper clause”? How does the legislative branch check the power of the executive?
– How the US Constitution created a more powerful central government, and how that power was in turn limited by the design of the Constitution
Government ?: how many cabinet departments are specified in the US Constitution
According to the US Constitution, laws can be enacted without the knowledge of the public affected by the law True False
What two new concepts, knowledge, or skills were surprising?What two new concepts, knowledge, or skills were surprising?
Discuss how separation of powers and checks and balances in the US Constitution are supposed to work. Describe and give examples of some of the changes in this system, particularly in terms of the relationship between the president and Congress. Textbook: We The People 12th edition.
Please discuss thoroughly the evidence in the US Constitution which supports the argument that the founding fathers desired a government which allowed for a pure capitalist, non-mercantilist economic system where private property rights are protected.