POLI201 Notes - Prof Tobias Lanz PDF

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Prof Tobias Lanz...

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Poli 201 Lecture One: The Study of American Politics * Test August 28, 2019 1) The Study of Politics a. *Study of politics = study of POWER b. *Government is how that power is handled (The State- modern term for gov’t):the more powerful a gov’t is the more different it is. i. Native Americans chiefs/elders are a gov’t not a state c. *Academia: American, International (I.R. + Comparative), Theory, Methods 2) Defining Government a. The modern state – slowly in the modern era 1500s – first in Europe (ancient, medieval, modern) i. Features of the Modern State 1. Organization (*bureaucracy*) – debate how big should it be? 2. Differentiation – many different parts and departments 3. Sovereignty – each nation state must respect the boundaries of other nations a. The problem w sovereignty: leaves space for dictatorship/genocide/intervening b. Treaty of West Biala – 1640?? Established sovereignty to end European war of religion. 4. Part of an international system: UN 5. Monopoly over violence a. Armies and policing b. State authority- rules instilled in fear i. Democracies  social contract 1. John Locke (17th Century) – One of the great social contract theorists, gov’t created through reason  the US Constitution c. *Public goods* - what gov’t provides i. Education ii. Environmental Protection iii. Infrastructure iv. Aid to the poor 3) American Political System – Features* a. Representation: Gov’t is a representative democracy b. Political Equality: equality to vote, all equal before the law – can be taken away c. Pluralism: coexisting and inequalities – checks and balances, majorities can be voted in but must protect the minority d. Constitutional Democracy – basis of our democracy/guidelines, Britain doesn’t have one e. Federal System: federal/state level of power, balances

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Presidential System – head and chief, chief-does/head-ceremonial (parliamentary ex. England) g. Unitary System – doesn’t spread geographically 4) Political Culture a. ** basic attitudes, beliefs, values, and expectations people have of government. b. Captured by the American creed 5) Theory/Methods a. Methods: Qualitative v. Quantitative* more practical b. Theories: educated guess, describe, explain, predict

Lecture Two: Political Culture September 4, 2019 1) No single history, religion, or race defines the U.S. a. Our culture is bound by commerce and our politics b. No single culture binds America c. Bound by the English language 2) Political culture ≠ public opinion a. Public opinion focuses more on current issues 3) Political culture = American creed a. American creed i. Individualism 1. Many other cultures are communal/family 2. Too much individualism (fragment our social fabric) 3. Has some roots in Protestantism ii. Democracy 1. Rule of the people is maintained through participation and agreement makes it work 2. Demos: Greek word for the people ruled iii. Equality 1. America aimed to be the end of the class system (lol we fucking wish) 2. Equal opportunity 3. Economic Equality iv. Liberty 1. The most basic form of freedom “I have the right to be left alone” 2. Was a negative freedom, new beginning to have positive freedoms (social programs) b. The American Creed Examine i. Individualism: the individual is the fundamental unit in a society 1. First recognized by aristocrats 2. Comes with individual rights ii. Democracy: rule of the common folk

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Lecture Three: The September 9, 2019

1. Courts and presidency have become increasingly more powerful and imperial 2. How is democracy maintaining? 3. Participation a. Voting (turns out is not as good as other countries) i. Lack of votes become their vote will not change how the area votes ii. More faith in makers than voting iii. Cities represent entire states b. Give money to a party c. Make your voice heard Equality: equal treatment under the law 1. Money effects this 2. Justice: all will be treated fairly under the law 3. The economic equally question a. Equal opportunity vs. equal outcome i. Democratic party is the party of redistribution since FDR ii. Topic of gov. stipend for all Liberty: fundamental political freedom; most easily defined as freedom from persecution 1. A “natural” right 2. Gov’t guarantees my safety Property rights 1. Other countries make this impossible through red tape 2. Basis of freedom and wealth (John Locke) Freedom of religion 1. Foundation: separation of church and state Consequences/implications 1. Americans prefer limited gov’t a. This was slightly changed by FDR 2. Challenges on the creed make America sus 3. Hard to define public interest* - define exactly what public wants and promote it 4. Creates public tensions due to lack of details and lack of meaning Challenges and alternatives 1. Communitarianism: bottom-up system – against individualism a. Charity began at the level of family b. Social org where you help one another 2. Creed’s values discriminate against non-northern Europeans 3. Multi-culturalism 4. Socialism: top down system Constitution

1) Revolution and Governance Est. an accountable/responsible gov’t, for a democracy

a. The Tax Question: is the British taxing the Americans i. Examples: Stamp, Sugar Act, Tea Act/Party ii. The Tea Act (1773)  creation of 1st continental congress (1774) b. 2nd Continental congress  Declaration of Independence (1776) i. American Revolution (1776-1783) c. 1st attempt at government: The Articles of Confederation i. Vs. desired decentralized gov’t ii. Too decentralized – needed an exec branch d. The U.S. Constitution i. Constitutional Convention (1787) 1. Unity, commerce, foreign policy 2) The New Constitution – Key Issues a. Democracy Dilemma – balance between anarchy and authoritarian i. Separation of Powers (Gov’t) 1. Judicial, Legislative, Executive ii. Geographic Dist. Of power 1. Fed Gov’t and the states iii. Ways to distribute power 1. Federalism: balance between state and level gov’t 2. Confederation 3. Unitary: all power goes to the central gov’t b. Provisions to protect- commerce/property i. National Gov’t would regulate commerce between the states – states prints the money ii. National Gov’t prints the money 1. Copyright, bankrupting c. Provisions to enhance consistency  trust i. Representative gov’t ii. Checks and Balances iii. Flexible Constitution d. Defense and I.R. i. Britain, France, Spain, Native Americans ii. Foreign Policy 3) Ratification a. Anti-Federalists (Thomas Jefferson) vs. Federalists (Hamilton) – the Federalist Papers* 4) Amendments a. Bill of Rights (10) + 17 b. Amendment process – federal gov’t (2/3)  states (3/4) Lecture Four: Federalism September 11, 2019 1) The American Union - Debates over federalism a. Ways to Organize Political Power i. Unitary System power is un?? (national level) ii. *Federal System- power is shared between National and Subnational level

iii. Confederated System- power is concentrated at the sub-national level iv. HISTORALLY: south/conservatives wanted confederated system b. Compact Theory: favors rights of the states. Southern Preference c. Nationalist Theory: Northern Theory; One nation then individual North’s Preference d. Sovereignty: authority of a state to govern itself or another state 2) State and Local Gov’t - Originally state governments were weak - Most Governorships: 2 years - State grant charters to est. towns, cities, school districts - Basic administrative unit – country 3) Dual Federalism a. The type of federalism that existed in the early republic (18th-19th centuries) b. State and federal gov’t have distinct functions i. State: health, education, criminal laws ii. Federal: currency, defense, foreign affairs iii. Both control income taxes but not until 1913 in federal gov’t c. Commerce- an early debate d. Eventually the Federal gov’t gained greater authority 4) Cooperative Federalism a. State and federal government functions are more distinct- more overlap, cooperation b. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the federal govt – esp. commerce – banks c. The Great Depression led to increase in National gov’t assistance ~welfare~ inc role /size of the federal gov’t d. Modern welfare state is born – New Deal (FDR) e. Fed gov’t began to police unions A) State – Fed Collaboration: roads the environment B) Federal Mandates: grants are given to states, a. Block grants, categorical grants 5) Federalism in Flax a. 1930s Trend has been towards larger national gov’t b. 1990s Same tendency towards decentralization Lecture Four: Civil Liberties September 16, 2019 1) The Constitution - Civil Liberties – individual rights  no gov’t interference - Civil Rights has more to do with equality than civil liberties - Gov’t can limit or direct rights according to due process a. Constitutional protections: i. Bill of rights in particular b. Supreme Court

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i. 14th amendment (1860) expanded federal power, courts crucial for that ii. Gave courts final say on constitutionality Freedom of Speech - 1st amendment a. Gov’t limit speech i. Prior restraint- yelling fire in a movie theater ii. Criminal action- prosecuted for committing speech offense like threatening iii. What are the limits, hate speech debate? Gov’t could limit speech is creates “clear and present danger” – threat to gov’t b. Supreme Court Freedom of Religion a. How its upheld i. No official state religion – establishment clause ii. Freedom of assembly – free exercise clause / practice religion of your choice b. Recent Issues i. Homeschooling ii. Religions attire in public iii. Display of ten commandment and nativity scene Rights of the Accused a. Constitutional Protections i. Suspects must be read their rights 1. Miranda Rights ii. Right to legal counsel iii. No cruel or usual punishment iv. Presumed innocence v. Due process vi. Searches and seizures Discovering new rights a. Rights to privacy b. Famous case – Roe v. Wade began this

Lecture Five September 18, 2019 1) Equality and Civil Rights - civil rights ≠ civil liberty -gains momentum in the 20th century  the American South -these are the gov’t guarantee to provide equal opportunity and treatment. a. The Constitution i. African-Americans gained citizenship after the Civil war (Dred Scott case affirms this) b. The 14th Amendment (1868) i. Anyone born in the U.S. is a citizen ii. Equal Protection Clause 2) Equal Protection Gains Meaning a. Little progress in Congress (late 19th – early 20th century) i. Why? Southern democrats said no no

ii. FDR was 1st president to push for civil rights – disagree w southern democrats 1. Supreme Court Decisions a. Brown vs Board of Education (1954) **** b.  Civil Rights Movement (1950s-1960s) c. School desegregation commences 2. New Laws/Exec Orders – three key pieced of fed legislation to end segregation a. Civil Rights Act (1964) b. Voting Rights Act (1965) c. Affirmative Action Programs 3) The Politics of Civil Rights a. Civil Rights Revolution (1950s-1960s) i. New civic groups are formed – NAACP ii. New political leaders emerge – MLK (1st African-American Leader), LBJ (the Great Society) b. Political Parties Shift i. Segregation ii. Cultural Revolution – nationwide c. Challenges to the Civil Rights Movement i. White violence – MLK assassination, KKK is active ii. Counter – Black Panthers 4) Extension of Civil Rights to Other Groups a. Groups i. Race/ethnicity ii. Gender iii. Age/disability iv. Sexual orientation b. Women’s Movement i. Women right to vote (1920) ii. Court cases of discrimination iii. New political groups founded – now iv. One failure – ERA (equal rights amendment)...