The US History: the Foundation and Development of Its Government

Government affects almost every aspect of our lives. Having been surrounded by international superpowers who ruled through a monarchy, the United States government was not created by one man overnight, but through the collective efforts of countless men and women over many years. So the aim for The US history regents essay is to make an in-depth analysis of the process of foundation of American government system and its development.

By definition, government is “the organization, machinery, or agency through which a political unit exercises authority and performs functions and which is usually classified according to the distribution of power within it'. It is responsible for the exercise of power and authority within a society, therefore supervising all other institutions (each to different extents), especially within a political and social context. Some of its other functions include providing laws and services to maintain order and peace. There are many types of government, but this presentation will focus on democracy, more specifically, the United States government.

The Creation of the U.S. Government

The origins of the United States government can be traced back to the 16th century, when democratic sentiments began to stir among the American colonists as a response to the unjust ruling of Great Britain. The political and social unrest that followed further solidified these sentiments, eventually manifesting into what would soon become the Revolutionary War. However, despite winning the war and succeeding in gaining their independence, America faced years of domestic instability as a result of a weak and illegitimate government created by the Articles of Confederation. As a result, the Americans called for a new type of government: one strong enough to maintain order over the American colonies for years to come without sacrificing the voice and power of the people. After evolving into the United States Constitution, the United States government established a national government and a system of fundamental laws that guaranteed basic rights for its citizens.

However, the foundational values and principles that carried the most influence towards those found at the root of American democracy originated from 17th-century Enlightenment philosophers. For example, the framers of the United States Constitution looked to Thomas Hobbes, who in his famous book, Leviathan, concluded that people will naturally succumb to their self-centered inhibitions without the presence of a strong leader or government. Other philosophers such as Voltaire and Rousseau entertained the questioning of absolute monarchs, which ultimately led to revolt against Great Britain and the choice of employing a democratic government over a monarchy. The most influential philosopher, however, was John Locke, who stated that a government’s authority and power are only legitimized through the consent of the governed. A government must protect and preserve its people’s basic and inalienable rights, such as life, liberty, and property. Should the government fail to do so, its citizens have a right to revolt against and eventually overthrow the government. This idea in particular caught the attention of Thomas Jefferson as he drafted the Declaration of Independence, and continued to spread its influence across the rest of the United States government’s core values.

Americans would also adopt Enlightenment philosopher Montesquieu’s suggestions of a government with a separation of powers, later diving its branches of government into three distinct parts:

1. Legislative Branch
2. Executive Branch
3. Judicial Branch

All American citizens at or above the age of 18—regardless of socioeconomic class, race, sexuality, gender, religion, or political party—are given the right to participate in government through the local, state, and federal levels. The most common way is through voting during elections. However, any citizen may also, for example, directly write to their state representative or senator. They may even decide to join the larger political system by becoming a politician themselves.

Experts have found that those with the highest rates of political participation include those with higher income levels, education levels, and occupational statuses. This may be because those of higher status tend to understand the importance of voting as a part of their civic responsibility, resulting in higher levels of self-efficacy and voter turnout. They are also more likely to have a strong sense of party identification.

How and Why Has the U.S. Government Changed Over Time?

The U.S. Constitution is known to be the world’s longest-surviving written constitution. However, due to its flexible nature, it has also undergone numerous changes as a means of responding to the changing needs and circumstances of the country.

For example, in reply to social movements aiming to address the countless years of gender and racial inequality, the United States government passed amendments that provided non-White, non-male citizens the right to vote. Despite many Southerners finding ways to undermine their political power through the Jim Crow laws, the 15th Amendment granted voting rights to Black men. And in 1920, the passing and eventual ratification of the 19th Amendment granted all American women the right to vote.

In addition to these two amendments, Congress has passed a total of 23 amendments since the adoption of the Bill of Rights. Furthermore, many changes in the American political and legal system have been executed through the Judicial Branch’s interpretations of pre-existing laws, overturning many after deeming them unconstitutional.

Stable Features of the U.S. Government

One example of how America’s system of government has remained the same is its three branches of government. While working in conjunction to uphold the law, each branch has distinct responsibilities through the separation of powers. Under the Constitution, each branch must ensure that no one branch overrides another through what is known as checks and balances. In doing so, this system guarantees the representation of the governed.

However, by far the most stable feature of the American government is its flexibility. In order to stand the test of time, the Framers of the U.S. Constitution deliberately designed the government to be adaptable. This is most notably represented through the elastic clause, which grants the government the ability to extend its powers to more effectively tend to the country and its needs. The Constitution can also be described as an incredibly broad blueprint; knowing of the infinite and unprecedented situations that the future could hold, the Founders withheld from going into unnecessary detail. In doing so, the Constitution can be interpreted to suit the America and world of today.

Perception of the U.S. Government in America

Studies have shown that the American public’s trust in its government has declined over the years. This is most notably due to scandals tied to Congress, as well as increased public concern over ever-present or increasing crime rates. Negative perceptions of the U.S. government have also been attributed to declines in faith towards the general health of the economy. This decrease in trust has led many to negatively evaluate Congress and overall show less support towards the addressal of domestic policy concerns. Party identification has also been shown to heavily influence perceptions of the efficacy of the government, with increasing polarization between political parties.

Politicians’ Perceptions of the U.S. Government

Many Americans have vocalized their wants for change. According to the Pew Research Center, only 18% believe that the government is functioning “very well,” with a majority supporting radical changes to the political system as a whole. 61% state that “significant changes are needed in the fundamental ‘design and structure’ of the U.S. government” to address the needs of current Americans. Politicians, therefore, see themselves as the agents of this kind of change within the American political system. Their purpose is to advance the ideals and values of their political party, in hopes that they can bolster social and political change.

Functionalist Theory

Under Functionalist Theory, the government has many manifest functions, including planning and directing its society towards success and prosperity, meeting the demands of the governed with its policies, maintaining general order over its people, executing the law, and managing both domestic and foreign affairs.

In a democratic government such as ours, perhaps its most important latent function is executing the law fairly and in a just manner, catering to the needs of all of its people. Doing otherwise would compromise our society’s equilibrium, in addition to dysfunctions that further lead to social problems.

Conflict Theory

From the beginning, nearly all conflicts regarding the American government were catalyzed by basic needs such as liberty and autonomy. The Revolutionary War was in essence a clash of ideals between the colonists (the proletariat) and Great Britain (the bourgeoisie) that mobilized an overthrowing of elitist power structures, which result in the more equal sharing of resources and society’s pursuit towards more egalitarian ideals.

Personal Conclusion

Despite the efforts of our predecessors, many conflicts today are still caused by a growing disparity in resources between members of different socioeconomic class, race, and more. We have seen how the government has historically catered more towards white males, and are now seeing its effects. Marginalized communities such as African Americans and the LGBTQ+ community across the country have stood in solidarity to spur social change in response to their unjust treatment. The desire to gain a higher status within society continues to urge many of the less privileged to pursue wealth, not only in the form of land and capital, but also through liberty, autonomy, and equality.

Works Cited

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• Lawson, Gary, and Niel S Siegel. “Necessary and Proper Clause.” Interpretation: Necessary and Proper Clause | The National Constitution Center, National Constitution Center, constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/interpretation/article-i/clauses/754. Accessed 20 Nov. 2020.
• Works Cited (cont.)
• Miller, Seumas, 'Social Institutions'. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2019 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2019/entries/social-institutions/>. Accessed 19 Nov. 2020.
• 'Our Government'. The White House, 2020, https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/our-government/. Accessed 20 Nov 2020.
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