Chapter Nine-Enduring Debate

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Chapter nine of Enduring Debate talks about how the American opinion poll plays role in constructing the government and how the media has affected the American politics. The public polling promotes democracy by allowing citizens to give their views concerning issues in government. The opinion polls also keep the government on toes. The main ideas are based on the founding of the American state and the constitution. Constitutionalism is based on the concept of the rule of law and limited authority. American constitutional principles can be traced back over 200 years ago. However, the practical meaning of constitutionalism is a recent and peculiar achievement. In the American history before the constitution was implemented, most governments were established by use of force, heredity, the need to stop anarchy and by the belief in God’s will. During out the history, this style of establishing authority has endorsed power to different leaders with different characteristics. Some were dictators, divine, kings, tyrants while others were bureaucratic. These people had full control of power. They exercised absolute authority. The main reason is that there were no instruments of power such as constitution that could limit and keep in check the powers of these forms of government. One of the crucial functions of the American …show more content…

During the implementation the media covered all the activities to ensure everything was in control. Also, the media played a role in ensuring that the federalist essays were published and its content reached the public. The article states emphasizes the importance of the establishment of other government institutions that will establish checks and balances within the government. Richard Morin (1950) argues that media is very important in developing democracry and it should be empowered to keep the government on

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