american national government spring 2012 dr. smith
TRANSCRIPT
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American National Government
Spring 2012Dr. Smith
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Readings for Wednesday
• Please read syllabus.
• Janda Chapter 1&2, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution (Appendix)
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CLEARLY COMMUNICATED LEARNING OBJECTIVES
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Learning Objectives Part I
• Upon completion of this course, students will be able – to discuss and critically analyze political events in
the United States government. – to understand and interpret the United States
Constitution and apply it to the present.
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Learning Objectives Part II
• students will be able to assess the 2010 and 2012 Presidential Elections without resorting to partisan bickering.
• students will be able to identify and explain the role of formal and informal institutions and their effect on policy.
• have a better understanding of why our national government works and why the American system of government is unique.
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ABOUT THE COURSE
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American Government at a Diverse University
• St. Edward's is quickly becoming an international university with students from many different nations and American States. Each student brings a different level of knowledge and understanding about American Government to this class. I have designed the course curriculum to help those students who have the least knowledge about American Government.
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Topics We Will Cover
• The origins of American government
• Formal participants in government (Congress, President, Voters, Judiciary, Bureaucracy)
• Informal participants in government (Media, Interest Groups, Political Parties)
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Information from the Syllabus
• 8th Essentials Edition
• Grading/Tests
• Academic Integrity
• Readings
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OPPORTUNITIES TO DISCUSS COURSE CONTENT
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Office Hours
• The University Requires that faculty hold 5 hours per week
• I have 14
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Office Hours
• A chance to discuss course content• Doyle 206• When?– Monday and Wednesday 10:00-2:00 – Tuesday and Thursday 11:00-2:00 – And by appointment
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BASIC TERMS OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
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Government and Politics
• Government (noun)
• Politics (verb)
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What Makes for A Democracy?1. Elections at Regular Intervals2. Elections are Free From Corruption and
Secret3. Elections offer voters a choice4. Elections have the Power to Remove officials5. Elections have the Power to Remove
HIGHEST Official6. Most people can vote
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ELECTION TERMSHow Many
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Republican vs. Direct Democracy
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Plurality
• What is it
• Where do We see it
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Majority
• What is it?
• Where We See it
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Extraordinary Majority
• What is it?
• Where do we see it?
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Unanimity
• What is it
• Where do we see it
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SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY
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Social Contract Theory
• The State of Nature
• What is it?
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"Whatever comes out of these gates, we've got a better chance of survival if we work together. Do you understand? We stay together, we survive." Gladiator, 2000
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The Leviathan (Thomas Hobbes)
The Movie (1989) The Book (1651)
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Hobbes and Social Contract
• The Role of Government
• What You Get
• What You give up
Better to be alive than dead
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John Locke
• Hobbes is wrong
• Government should protect natural rights
• Governments that do not provide this, get removed
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FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
The Declaration of Independence
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The Social Contract With Britain
• Benefits of Being with Britain
• Costs of Being With Britain
• Under the social contract with Britain what was missing?
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The Colonists asked: Is it Better to Cooperate or Defect?
"We must all hang together or most assuredly we will all hang separately."- Ben Franklin
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The Declaration of Independence
• The Result of A Failed Social Contract
• Aims of the Document
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The Declaration
• Breaks the Social Contract.
• An expression of the arguments in support of separation from Great Britain.
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What Else
• Declaration of War
• Long, Long, Long list of Grievances
• Begging for Alliances
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THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
• THE FIRST ATTEMPT AT A SOCIAL CONTRACT (1781-89)
• How did it work
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Why it Failed: Free-Riders
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Why it Failed: No Economic Regulation
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Why it Failed: Debt
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Why it Failed: No Leadership
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Why Else
• No Power to Tax
• No power to call the militia
• States began to fight each other