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    U.S. Political Culture, U.S. Political Institutions: September 14, 2007

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    This document discusses key aspects of U.S. political culture and institutions. It begins with an overview of colonial life under British rule and the desire for independence that led to the American Revolution. It then examines the early attempts at government under the Articles of Confederation and the creation of the U.S. Constitution. The rest of the document outlines the major branches of government established by the Constitution - the legislative, executive, and judicial branches - and how they operate, including the system of checks and balances and federalism. It also analyzes U.S. political culture, including beliefs about individualism and the role of government.

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    U.S. Political Culture, U.S. Political Institutions: September 14, 2007

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    stil
    34 views67 pages
    This document discusses key aspects of U.S. political culture and institutions. It begins with an overview of colonial life under British rule and the desire for independence that led to the American Revolution. It then examines the early attempts at government under the Articles of Confederation and the creation of the U.S. Constitution. The rest of the document outlines the major branches of government established by the Constitution - the legislative, executive, and judicial branches - and how they operate, including the system of checks and balances and federalism. It also analyzes U.S. political culture, including beliefs about individualism and the role of government.

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    Civics Lecture

    Original Title

    Civics Lecture

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    This document discusses key aspects of U.S. political culture and institutions. It begins with an overview of colonial life under British rule and the desire for independence that led to the American Revolution. It then examines the early attempts at government under the Articles of Confederation and the creation of the U.S. Constitution. The rest of the document outlines the major branches of government established by the Constitution - the legislative, executive, and judicial branches - and how they operate, including the system of checks and balances and federalism. It also analyzes U.S. political culture, including beliefs about individualism and the role of government.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    34 views67 pages

    U.S. Political Culture, U.S. Political Institutions: September 14, 2007

    Uploaded by

    stil
    This document discusses key aspects of U.S. political culture and institutions. It begins with an overview of colonial life under British rule and the desire for independence that led to the American Revolution. It then examines the early attempts at government under the Articles of Confederation and the creation of the U.S. Constitution. The rest of the document outlines the major branches of government established by the Constitution - the legislative, executive, and judicial branches - and how they operate, including the system of checks and balances and federalism. It also analyzes U.S. political culture, including beliefs about individualism and the role of government.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 67

    U.S.

    Political Culture,
    U.S. Political Institutions
    September 14, 2007

    The Pledge

    Who is this?

    Tyranny and Democracy were thought to


    be undesirable extremes

    King George III

    George Washington

    Colonial Life
    Under British
    control for 100+
    years
    Property, free
    religion & other
    rights
    Had about 4 million
    non-natives
    We were born
    Lockean

    Truth
    Government
    Aristocracies
    Religious Institutions

    The People

    Truth
    Government
    Aristocracies
    Religious Institutions

    We The People

    Rugged Individualism:
    Success in life is pretty much determined by
    forces outside of your control.

    Pew Global Attitudes Survey, 44


    nations, 2002.
    Nigeria: 33% completely agree
    Nigeria: 32% mostly or completely
    disagree.
    Nigeria: ratio is 32/33 or 0.96

    Success in life is pretty much determined by


    forces outside of your control.

    South Africa
    24% disagree with the statement
    The ratio is 24/38, or 0.63
    So the general sense in South Africa
    is failure is someone elses fault.

    Success in life is pretty much determined by


    forces outside of your control.

    India, 14% disagree, ratio 0.39


    Japan, 52% disagree, ratio 3.47
    Egypt, 42% disagree, ratio 2.00
    Jordan, 39% disagree, ratio 2.60
    Turkey, 17% disagree, ratio 0.37
    Uzbekistan, 36% disagree, ratio 1.80
    China, 25% disagree, ratio 1.74

    Success in life is pretty much determined by


    forces outside of your control.

    Great Britain, 48% disagree, ratio 3.43


    France, 44% disagree, ratio 2.32
    Germany, 31% disagree, ratio 1.35
    Poland, 29% disagree, ratio 1.45
    Ukraine, 35% disagree, ratio 1.30
    Russia, 36% disagree, ratio 2.25
    United States, 65% disagree, ratio
    7.22

    Whats the proper role of the state?

    It is the responsibility of the (state


    or government) to take care of very
    poor people who cant take care of
    themselves.
    % Completely Agree.
    Turkey, 73%
    Uzbekistan, 70%
    India 74%

    It is the responsibility of the (state or


    government) to take care of very poor people
    who cant take care of themselves.

    % completely agree
    Great Britain, 59%
    Germany, 45%
    Poland, 59%
    Ukraine, 57%
    Russia, 70%
    United States, 29%

    Its a Small
    Welfare State
    After All
    Low spending
    Low taxes

    Colonial Life
    Was there an ethos
    of the frontier
    Governments most
    closely related to
    English Shires

    The Articles of Confederation


    (1781-1787)

    Shared beliefs:
    Government in the
    hands of people
    Strong legislature

    Articles of Confederation:
    State representation
    No executive
    Weak national gov

    Constitution

    Constitutional Design

    Article I: Legislative

    Article II: Executive

    Article III: Judicial

    6 other articles

    Only 8,000 words!

    Checks & Balances


    (Separation of Powers)

    Federalism in the US

    1 Federal Government
    50 States & the District of Colombia
    Puerto Rico & 4 Insular Areas
    561 Federally-Recognized Indian Tribes
    3034 County Governments
    13,506 School Districts
    16,504 Townships and Towns
    19,429 Municipal Governments
    35,052 Special Districts

    Anyone care to guess


    how many people hold
    elected office in the
    United States?

    Ohio Congressional Districts

    Changing Locations of Government


    1807
    1907
    2007

    Why Two Parties?

    U.S. Voter Turnout is Low

    Minor Parties in U.S. History

    Single Member Districts


    Plurality Rule

    Grovner
    Patterson
    Aquino
    Philips
    Hartpense
    Mackerson

    27%
    21%
    18%
    14%
    11%
    9%

    Grovner

    27%

    Patterson, Aquino, Mackerson


    48%
    Philips
    Hartpense

    14%
    11%

    Grovner, Philips, Hartpense


    (Party 1)
    52%
    Patterson, Aquino, Mackerson
    (Party 2)
    48%

    Denmark -- Proportional Representation

    Ok, time for a break


    When we come back. Quickly.
    Congress
    The Executive Branch
    The Courts

    Two Brains

    The Basics
    House

    435 Members
    2 Year Terms
    Committee Dominant
    Majority Party
    Dominant
    110th Congress
    Lots of Staff

    Senate

    100 Members
    6 Year Terms
    Committees Important
    Majority Party
    Important
    110th Congress
    Even More Staff

    Representation
    Representation

    Representatives far more independent


    of party influence in the U.S.
    Delegate v. Trustee
    States usually more heterogeneous than
    districts

    How A bill Becomes a Law.


    http://youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ
    http://youtube.com/watch?v=3xPXOr40XhI

    How a Bill Becomes a Law

    Introduction & Referral


    Committee Hearings
    Committee Markups
    Committee Reports
    Schedule Floor Action (Rules, UCRs)
    Floor Votes
    Conference Committee
    Conference Report & Floor Vote
    Presidential Signature (or Veto)

    Committees

    Chairs based on committee seniority.


    Membership is party proportional.
    Staff dominated by majority party
    Committee Hierarchy
    Exclusive
    Non-Exclusive

    Appropriations vs. Authorizing

    The 2.6 Trillion Dollar Budget

    The Basics
    Presidents elected to 4 year terms.
    May serve no more than 2 terms. (22nd
    Amendment)
    Must be a U.S. born citizen, at least 35
    years old, who has lived in the U.S. for a
    minimum of 14 years.

    Formal
    Formal Presidential
    Presidential Powers
    Powers
    Administrative head of government
    Commander-in-Chief of military
    Veto (or sign) legislation
    Nominate judges, cabinet secretaries
    Treaties, pardons, convene Congress

    Limits on Presidential Power


    May not introduce legislation (cf. prime minister)
    May not declare war
    Legislative oversight
    Judicial review
    Impeachment possible
    Must use bully pulpit and persuasion
    Go public

    Presidential Roles
    1. Chief of State (ceremonial)
    2. Chief Legislator (State of the Union)
    3. Chief Executive
    4. Opinion Leader (set national priorities)
    5. Chief Diplomat
    6. Commander in Chief
    7. Party Leader

    Review of Various Powers


    Congress (Article 1, Section 8, elastic
    clause.
    States (10th Amendment -- reserves powers
    to the states)
    President (Inherent Powers -- largely
    through Congressional delegation of
    powers.)

    Presidency is
    Many People
    EOP: OMB, NSC,
    CEA, czars, VP,
    and WHO
    WHO: close advisors,
    no Senate approval

    Civilian Employees in Cabinet Departments

    Agriculture
    99,045
    Commerce
    40,166
    Defense
    666,923
    Education
    4,343
    Energy
    14,850
    Health and Human Services
    63,627
    Homeland Security
    165,435
    Housing and Urban Development
    Interior
    69,383
    Justice
    104,958
    Labor
    15,275
    State 9,847
    Transportation
    53,420
    Treasury
    119,474
    Veterans Affairs
    235,735

    9,606

    The Basics
    Article 3 creates the Supreme Court, but
    specifics of design were left to Congress
    9 Justices on the Supreme Court, and they
    may serve for life
    State & Federal Courts are Separate
    Civil and Criminal treated differently
    300,000 federal cases filed annually, 80% are
    civil.

    Current Justices

    Breyer, Thomas, Ginsburg, Alito


    Kennedy, Stevens, Roberts, Scalia, Souter

    Qualifications
    Federal judges serve for life (good behavior)
    Chosen by president with advice and consent
    of the Senate
    No age limits or other requirements
    Size of Court? age? citizenship? education?

    Powers
    Original jurisdiction: ambassadors, U.S.
    is a party, where states are the parties
    Appellate jurisdiction: all other cases (99%)
    (court of last resort, final interpreter)
    Judicial review?
    Lower courts to be created by Congress

    Judicial Review
    Greatest Supreme Court power not in Constitution!
    Established by Marbury v. Madison (1803)

    Judicial Review has come to encompass:


    Power to declare national, state and local Laws invalid
    if they violate the Constitution
    Supremacy of federal laws or treaties
    Role of Supreme Court as final authority on the
    meaning of the Constitution

    Structure of Federal Judiciary


    State
    courts

    Supreme Court
    9 Justices
    Mostly appellate

    Hears about 100


    out of 5,500 requests

    U.S. Courts of Appeals


    13 districts with 170 judges
    3-judge panels hear appeals
    33,000 cases per year
    U.S. District Courts
    94 district courts with 650 judges
    Trial courts with original jurisdiction
    225, 000 cases per year

    State Courts
    Each state has its own court system
    States handle 100 million cases per year
    98% of criminal cases handled by states
    Types of Cases
    Criminal = charged by gov for breaking law
    Civil = dispute between parties

    How the Constitution Changes


    Amendments (27 of them)
    Amendment is proposed by a vote of at least
    2/3rds of both houses of Congress
    Amendment is ratified by the legislatures of at
    least 3/4ths of the states (process for 26 of 27
    amendments)

    Judicial reinterpretations
    Stare Decisis

    Judge-Made Law
    We are under a Constitution, but the
    Constitution is what the judges say it is, and
    the judiciary is the safeguard of our liberty
    and our property under the Constitution.
    Chief Justice Hughes, 1907

    U.S. Political Culture,


    U.S. Political Institutions
    September 14, 2007

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