6govt

=Period 6=

The Problem(s)

 * In the early 1900s, cities were run by someone called the city boss. They each had a group of people who tried to please everybody. They were known as the machine. What they would do is took care of immigrants, give them jobs, coal and food. The boss and the machine asked for something in return. The favor would usually be to vote for certain candidates. If the candidates got elected they would pay the boss and the machine. They were helping the people just so that they could get money
 * Ever since the Civil War ended government in the U.S became more influenced by “__special interest__” groups. They were groups who sought to manipulate lawmaking by applying “pressures” on people who held elective offices. The strongest one of these groups were Big Business because government became more and more under its control.
 * Some politicians took bribes from groups or they received money in the form of “__campaign contributions__” Politics at every level of government were controlled by party leaders who would determine would run for office.
 * As people publicly voted there were election frauds. __Election frauds__ were when you get people to vote more than one vote, pretty much rigging the elections.
 * When the president was elected he appointed people to government who supported him positions who were not qualified. This was called the __spoil system.__

The Solution(s)

 * Civil service commissions were used to stop the spoil system.
 * The government used a system call [|referendum]. That is when legislator asks voters to choose to approve or disapprove an action
 * More jobs should be given with a test to make sure that they are able to work.
 * They used secret ballots which were when you vote in private, and the ballot would be shorter.
 * They used direct election of senators which is election by popular vote for the senators
 * [|seventeenth amendment]
 * the __initiative__ said that of a certain number of registered voters can force a public vote on a proposed statue, amending the constitution. It is pretty much a form of democracy.
 * A __direct primary election__ is an election process whereby a political party chooses its candidates for public office by a direct polling of party members.

The Images
This represents how business men are bribing politics The rich elephants (Republicans) are saying they have done that before This picture is saying that business is bribing the law enforcer

The Primary Sources
"[The civil service] system has serious defects. It has become a bureaucratic maze which neglects merit, tolerates poor performance, and mires every personnel action in red tape, delay, and confusion. Most civil service employees perform with spirit and integrity. Nevertheless, the public suspects that there are too many government workers, that they are underworked, overpaid, and insulated from the consequences of incompetence." -Jimmy Carter (1978)

http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/library/searches/searchdisplay.aspx?countryid=undefined&nav=rlist&fulltext=progressive%20movement&entryid=442879&categorytypeid=1
 * Bosses and Machines**

http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/library/searches/searchdisplay.aspx?fulltext=pendleton+act+&nav=rlist&entryid=254045&categorytypeid=1 [|seventeenth amendment]
 * Civil Service Reform Act**

[|Licoln Steffen's "The Shame of Cities"]

The Citations
-green handout -"Goverment Corruption." __ABC-CLIO History__. 21 Feb. 2007 <http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com/library/searches/searchdisplay.aspx?countryid=undefined&nav=rlist&fulltext=progressive%20movement&entryid=298835&categorytypeid=1

-Wingate, Kate. __Political Reforms : American Citizens Gain More Control Over Their Government__. New York: Rosen Central Primary Source, 2006.

-http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/art/resources/graphic/large/38_00519.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/art/puck/theme/Puck_Lampoons_the_Senate.jsp%3FCounter%3D3&h=176&w=270&sz=99&hl=en&start=1&tbnid=hNTQSQtP_2WjtM:&tbnh=74&tbnw=113&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522it%2Bis%2Bthe%2Bpatronage%2Bexchange%2Bcalled%2BU.S.%2Bsenate%2522%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN -