index cards name email where you are from favorite book something interesting about yourself first...
TRANSCRIPT
Index CardsName
Where you are from
favorite book
Something interesting about yourself
First political memory
Format of Class
• Lecture outline on-line • Not the University of Wisconsin • The Socratic method, aka random terror• Attendance Policy– 2 absences• Last one in, first one asked• I answer all cell phone calls
ReadingsFiorina and Peterson
Miroff, Debating Democracy
Fiorina Culture War?
Handouts
Subscribe to ABC’s The Note
Complete Reading Before Class
Requirements
Two midterms
Research paper
Final exam
I have High Standards
Don’t Plagiarize
Nuts and Bolts
I email early and often
Web page syllabi, lecture notes, study questions, web assignments
Office hours 9:30-12 MW, Th 2-3, or whenever door is open
Don’t be a stranger!
Civic Disengagement of College Freshmen
28.1% "keeping up to date with political affairs" 17.6% “influencing political structure”
30.9% "becoming a community leader" was essential or very important
73.4% "being very well off financially" is essential or very important
27% "realistically, an individual can do little to bring about changes in our society."
Objectives of Class
Institutional perspective
Critically evaluate government
To help make you better citizens
Introduction to political science as a major
American Political Thought
Consent of governed
Separated Power- Locke
Taxation without representation
Distrust of centralized authority
Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
Articles of Confederation
No executiveLimited powers for Congress
no means of collecting revenue
Each state has one voteSuper-majority required to pass laws
WHY?
The Articles’ Deficiencies
Limited trade among statesRadical Legislatures in PA and RI– paper $$Increasing foreign threatsNational government was TOO weak
Shay’s Rebellion
Economic recession
Daniel Shay and poor farmers
Local courts and legislature
National government has no troops
Implications?
Constitutional Convention
The Scene at the Signing of the Constitution, oil painting (reproduction) by Howard Chandler Christy, 1940
Who were the Framers?
The Framers "did not promote a new form of government to satisfy an abstract political theory. The framers were men of affairs who sought to advance their fortunes and careers as well as the interests of the states."
Challenges facing Framers
create coalition of merchants and planters for new governmentpromote commerce/protect property prevent excessive democracysecure popular supportensure government was not too strong to threaten individual’s liberties
Two Main Cleavages
Small states versus large states
North versus south on slavery
"Great Compromise"
Virginia Plan New Jersey planConnecticut compromise
The House based on population Senate treats each state equally
Scavenger Hunt
What did the Constitution say about 3 slavery issues?
What are the exact words the Constitution uses to identify slaves in each of these sections
Why the 3/5ths Compromise?
5 states in South, 8 in NorthSlaves are 30% of population in Southslaves count as 3/5 of a person for the purposes of representation in the House of Representatives Slave trade and runaway slavesIndelible stain on the constitution
Constitutional Scavenger Hunt
Where must bills for raising revenue originate?
Of the enumerated powers granted to Congress in Article I, Section 8, how many would you classify as economic/ commercial, political, military, or other?
Can Senate expel Hilary?
The original Constitution explicitly mentions only 1 “Right”. What is it?
Congress
Most Powerful Branch; Article 1Selection Expressed Powers
Legislative Assessment
create coalition of merchants and planters promote commerce/protect property prevent excessive democracysecure popular support
Constitutional Scavenger
What is the standard for removing the president from office?
8. How is the president chosen? How are electors chosen?
How do presidential powers compare to legislative powers?
Prevent Excessive Democracy
How is the president chosen? How are electors chosen?
What is the constitutional criteria for removing a president from office?
President or Executive Branch
How to elect the presidents Compromise- Electoral College
States receive number of electoral votes equal to representation in Congress.if no one gets majorities, House of Representatives gets to choose president, one vote per state.
Powers of PresidentArticle 2, 300 words onlyVeto legislation, commander in chief, power to grant reprieves and pardons, make treaties, appoint ambassadors, public ministers, judges and all other office of US, receive ambassadorsgive Congress information of the State of the Union, recommend such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient, adjourn them if propertake care all laws be faithfully executedthe executive power shall be vested in a President
Analysis
Framers wanted a strong, but not too strong President
Need executive to impart energy to national government make timely decisionsScared about national mandate
Scavenger Hunt
Does the Constitution give the Supreme Court the power of judicial review?
Judiciary, Article III
President appoints judges with the advice and consent of the Senate Supreme law of land
Assessment
Strong national government
Ensures ratification with no mention of judicial review
Scavenger Hunt
What do Article I, Section 10, Article VI and Amendment X state about the relationship of the federal government and the states?
Comparison with Articles of Confederation?
Administrative Details
Handouts for Monday
2 thought questions:Whose interpretation of the constitution seems most plausible (Roche, Beard, or Diamond)?
What 2 constitutional amendments should we have?
Scavenger Hunt
What does the Constitution or any of its amendments say about income taxes?
What does the Constitution or any of its amendments say about “intoxicating liquors”?
State Constitutions
The legislature may provide for an indem-nification program to peanut farmers for losses incurred as a result of Aspergillums flavus and freeze damage in peanuts. Alabama, 1901.
The people hereby enact limitations on marine net fishing in Florida waters to protect saltwater finfish, shellfish, and other marine animals from unnecessary killing, over fishing and waster. Florida, 1968
Scavenger Hunt
Can a person who has engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States be elected as a Senator or Representative in Congress or hold any office in the federal or state government? How is such a disability removed? Any ideas why Congress passed this amendment?
Scavenger Hunt
Which groups or individuals have gained the right to vote via an amendment to the Constitution?
Scavenger Hunt
What section of the Constitution states that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness?
What is the one right mentioned in Constitution?
Ratifying the Constitution
approved by at least nine states
approved at ratifying convention
Not state legislatures or popular vote
Debate between federalists and anti-federalists
Needed the big states
Federalists vs. Anti-federalists
Madison (#10) v. Brutus
Is democracy best served in large or small republics?
Who is likely to be elected?
What is the greatest danger to democracy?
Madison- Federalist 10
Latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man. “the most common and durable source of faction has been the various and unequal distribution of property” p. 18 Pure democracy has no cure for the mischiefs of faction Incompatible with personal security or the rights of property. P. 20
Madison’s Solution
Republican government to refine and enlarge the public views Liberty is safest in large (extended) republics many opinions and interests in large republic makes it harder for a tyrannical majority to formcoalition formed in large republic are more moderate Liberty is threatened more by public passions and popular factions than by strong government
Brutus’s Reply
In a republic, the manners, sentiments, and interest of the persons should be similar (or else) constant clashing of opinions In a large republic “the people would be acquainted with very few of their rules, the people at large would know little of their proceedings, and it would be extremely difficult to change them. The consequence will be, they will have no confidence in their legislature, suspect them of ambitious views, be jealous of every measure they adopt, and will not support the laws they pass.”
Anti-federalists
small republic is best
People are animated by a concern for public good
strong national government would be distant from the people
Madison, Federal #51
Is a large republic enough to prevent tyranny of the majority?
Federalist #51, Madison
Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. If men were angels, no govt would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on govt would be necessary In framing a govt which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the govt to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.
Separation of Powers
Madison- accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary in the same hands, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny. Legislature makes laws, executive administers, and judiciary interpretsBUT Separation is not enough.
Checks and Balances
#51, Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place.
Different Bases of Support
House of Representatives= only directly elected officials; every two yearsSenate= every six years; are selected by State legislatures until 1913President= selected by electoral college; state legislatures; no popular voteJudiciary= appointed by President, confirmed by Senate. Life-time appointment
Checks and Balances
President can nominate judges; propose, veto laws, appeal to publicCongress- approves budget, impeach president and judges, determine number and jurisdiction of courts, Senate confirms judgesCourts- can declare executive actions and laws unconstitutional.
Comparison with UK
Prime minister chosen by majority party. No judicial review control and responsibility concentrated in legislatureSame electoral baseNo checks and balances
Consequences
GRIDLOCK!difficult to act unless there is overwhelming sustained consensus about course of action. 1994 GOP RevolutionFlag burningLosers-- Efficiency and accountability
Separation of Powers
Limit the power of government
Limit democratic majoritarianism (aka Tyranny of the Majority)
Policy should not reflect majority public opinion
American Political Thought
Consent of governed
Separated Power- Locke
Taxation without representation
Distrust of centralized authority
Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
Administrative Details
Are you on the email list?intro-spring05-listABC’s The Note
Readings for FridayJames Madison, The Federalist, Nos. 51 and 46 Anti-federalist, Brutus
Debate over Ratifying the ConstitutionA-L, FederalistsM-Z, Anti-Federalists