Politics Final

Within the executive branch, what departments and agencies have a role in foreign and defense policy?

- Foreign and military policies are made and carried out by the executive branch, particularly the president, with the national security advisor, the State Department, the defense Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and the intelligence agencies - The executive branch conducts diplomacy (managing international relations) with other nations, and the President has the power to negotiate and sign treaties which also must be ratified by ⅔ of the Senate. The President can issue executive orders, which direct executive officers or clarify and further existing laws

Who is Frank Luntz and what is his role within American politics? (I have added a link to the syllabus so that you can watch that portion of the film again. It is also linked here, the section we watched begins at the 39 minute mark)

- Frank Luntz is an American political and communictaions consultant best known for developing talking points and other messages for Republican causes - He runs the focus groups on Fox news after presidential debates and is known as a hard man to please

Think about the facts you have learned and the stories you have read (and we have discussed) about each of the general eras of American government. What did you learn in each of the units about time periods like the first few decades after U.S. independence, the 1800s (including before and after the Civil War), the early part of the 20th century, the Great Depression and World War II era (the New Deal), the Cold War (including the Great Society, Reagan administration), post-Cold War, and after 9/11/2001.

- 1776 -- the Declaration of Independence - The Cold developed after WWII between the U.S. and the Soviet Union and their respective allies. - The strategy of containment is best known as a Cold War foreign policy of the U.S. and its allies to prevent the spread of communism after the end of WWII - Historians have identified several causes that led to the outbreak of he Cold War, including: tensions between the two nations at the end of WWII, the ideological conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union, the emergence of nuclear weapons, and the fear of communism in the U.S. - Space was an important arena for the Cold War and even led to the creation of NASA. Millions of people were killed in the proxy wars between the US and USSR - The Cold War shaped American foreign policy and political ideology, impacted domestic economy and the presidency, and affected the personal lives of Americans creating a climate of expected conformity and normalcy - After the end of the Cold War, communism would end in Mongolia, Congo, Albania, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, and Angola. - To win the Cold War, the United States became a low savings, high consumption economy - Great Society -- was a serie of policy initiatives, legislation, and programs by Lyndon B. Johnson with the main goals of ending poverty, reducing crime, abolishing inequalty, and improving the environment - Reagan Administration -- ended a major tax cut, sought to cut non-military spending, and eliminated federal regulations - The 1920s was a decade of change when many Americans owned cars, radios, and telephones for the first time. The 18th amendment was passed also -- prohibition In the 1930s was the Great Depression. The stock market crashed on October 29, 1929. The consumer economy ground to a halt beginning the Great Depression. - After the stock market crashed and people lost a lot of their money, they went to the bank. Large numbers of anxious people withdrew their deposits in cash, forcing banks to liquidate loans and lead to bank failure - Causes of WWII: the impact of the Treaty of Versailles following WWII, economic depression, failure of appeasement (the name given to Britain's policy in the 1930 of allowing Hitler to expand Germany territory unchecked), the rise of militarism in Germany and Japan, and the failure of the league of Nations - Treaty of Versailles -- held Germany responsible for starting the war and imposed harsh penalties in terms of loss of territory, massive reparations, payments, and demilitarization - WWII began in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland. - During the war, food, gas, and clothing were rationed. Women found employment as electricians, welders, and riveters - After 9/11 -- The War on Terror began, air travel was transformed (security), anti-muslim violence grew, surveillance increased, and America became safer but altered

What roles do political parties play in U.S. politics?

- A political party brings together people with the same political ideas - By taking part in an election, parties hope to get as many of their members as possible into a representative body - Political parties have various functions. One is promoting the interest of their voters. They also draw up party programs. - Their Key Tasks - Soliciting and articulating public policy priorities and civic needs and problems as identified by members and supporters - Socializing and educating voters and citizens in the functioning of the political and electoral system and the generation of general political values - Balancing opposing demands and converting them into general politics Activating and mobilising citizens into participation in political decisions and transforming their opinions into viable policy options Channeling public opinion from citizens to government Recruiting and training candidates for public office

How do third parties affect the outcome of elections in the U.S.?

- A third party candidate can change the outcome of an election by drawing voters away from the main party. - They can also bring up new ideas or pressing for action on certain users

What is the "Affordable Care Act," and how has it been indicative of the politics of the budget, federalism, and political party approaches to public policy? Think back to Obama's Deal and how the different branches of government interacted in order to pass that law.

- Affordable Care Act -- designed to reduce the cos of health care insurance coverage - Key Provisions -- expand access to insurance, increase consumer protections, emphasize prevention and wellness, improve quality and system preference, expand the health workforce, and curb rising health care costs - ACA opens a window into modern American federalism -- the government is exercising its power for the greater good of Americans

What are the roles of Congress and the executive branch in making economic policy? What about the Federal Reserve System? Remember the clip from "Inside the Meltdown" that we watched in class (We started watching around the 40 minute mark)? Think about what bureaucracies are USUALLY supposed to do and what the different branches of government ended up doing in a crisis situation.

- Both the president (executive branch) and Congress (legislative branch) set fiscal policies - In the executive branch, the two most influential offices in this regard belong to the President and the Secretary of Treasury - In the legislative branch, Congress passes laws and appropriates (assigns) spending for an fiscal policy measures - Federal Reserve System -- the central bank of the United States - Congress set the policy goals for the Federal reserve -- maximum employment, price stability and moderate long-time interest rates, but gave the central bank independence to achieve those goals - The President is responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws written by Congress and appoints the heads of the federal agencies, including the Cabinet

Describe the importance of briefs (including amicus briefs), clerks, oral arguments, the conference, and writing of opinions (majority/opinion of the court, concurrent, and dissenting...). Are there any other steps or considerations that are particularly important to understanding the process?

- Brief -- it is submitted to lay out the argument for various petitions and motions before the court, to counter the arguments of opposing lawyer, and to provide the judge or judges with reasons to rule in favor of the party represented by the brief lawyer - Amicus Brief -- they provide data and perspective to the Justices that assist them in deciding complex cases. They can play an important role and sometimes critical, role in advocacy by bringing facts and arguments to the court's attention that the parties have not already addressed - Oral Arguments -- It is an oral presentation of a party's position and the reasoning behind it before an appellate court they provide a unique opportunity for attorneys to converse with judges and be part of the decision-making process. Also, they are valuable for clients who can see their concerns being addressed by the court and better understand how invested the judges are in the case. - Appellate Courts -- they review the procedures and the decisions in the trial court to make sure that the proceedings were fair and that the proper law was applied correctly - Conference -- at the conference, the judge and the lawyers can review the evidence and clarify the issues in dispute. If a case has not been settled, many courts set a time for an issue conference. - Opinions -- the term opinions refers to several types of writing by the Justices. The most well known are the opinions of the Court announced in cases in which the Court has heard oral argument. Writing an opinion helps a judge think through complex issues, forcing the judge to carefully consider the reasons for the judgment rendered

What did you learn about how campaigns have changed (and how they have stayed the same) from watching clips from The Digital Campaign?

- Campaigners never used to campaign for themselves -- supporters spoke on their behalf - Debates were televised beginning in 1960 - Attacking one's political opponent is not new, but the methods have changed - It used to be considered ill-mannered for presidential candidates to openly campaign for themselves, but now when presidential candidates campaign for themselves, it shows that they are involved and they care about the job - Presidential campaigns are now billion-dollar operations that involve attack ads and social media strategy

What are some types of interest groups active in U.S. politics?

- Christian Coalition -- offers people of faith the vehicle to be actively involved in impacting the issues they care about - Common Cause -- topics such as campaign finance, state activities and news releases - National Organization for Women -- feminist organization - National Right to Life Committee -- opposing abortion

What is the significance of the recent Citizens United Supreme Court decision in how groups can participate in elections?

- Citizens United -- a conservative nonprofit group that challenged campaign finance rules after the FEC stopped it from promoting and airing a film criticizing presidential candidate Hillary Clinton too close to the presidential primaries A 5-4 majority of the Supreme Court sided with Citizens United ruling that corporation and other outside groups can spend unlimited money on elections - PAC -- political actions committees are organizations that raise and spend money for campaigns that support or oppose political candidates, legislation, or ballot initiatives - With this court decision, it is okay for corporations and labor unions to spend as much as they want to convince people to vote for or against a candidate - Super PACs have spent hundreds of millions of dollars at times praising, but mostly bad mouthing candidates. This badmouthing and attacking other candidates affects politics because it puts politicians in a bad light and many individuals will choose who to vote for based off of these commercials or advertisements alone rather than figuring out which candidate they prefer themselves

What are some things that determine why individuals do vote?

- Elections belong to the people - they want to be part of the decision - Voting is part of independence - For women and minorities, voting was not always permitted, so people in this category who vote, often do so, so that they can exercise the right that people in the past have fought for them To many choosing not to vote is not rebellion,; it is surrender - Not voting makes you lose the right to complain - The world is run by those who show up - Voting is free, so why not get your voice out there

Think about the values we discussed during the course. What did we say about those values that most Americans can agree are important, even if they do not agree on the exact content or meaning of those values? For example, how did we see values of equality, liberty, and democracy expressed in the Declaration of Independence, Gettysburg Address, and "I Have a Dream" Speech?

- Equality -- equality insures no discrimination against anyone. Equality creates more positive working relationships, increased performance, and greater productivity - Liberty -- it is the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions. Requires that we live to high standards of conduct and character - Democracy -- a system of government by the whole population elect representatives. It ensures proper functioning of the government since it is the people who elect them and therefore this makes them more accountable

What roles do the state and national governments play in federal elections?

- Federal elections occur every two year, on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Every member of the House and about ⅓ of the Senate is up for reelection in a given election year. Presidents run every 4 years - Federal elections are administered by state and local governments, although the specifics of how elections are conducted differ between the states. The Constitution and the laws of the United States grant the states wide latitude on how they administer elections

What institutions are responsible for making economic policy in the U.S.?

- Fiscal policy is directed by both the executive and legislative branches of the government. (Fiscal = finances) - Economic Policy -- covers the systems for setting levels of taxation, governmental budgets, the money supply, and interest rates - The U.S. Department of Treasury is responsible for analyzing and reporting on current and prospective economic developments in the U.S. and world economies and assisting in the determination of appropriate economic policies

What are some problems we discussed in class that might cause bureaucracies to be less efficient or ineffective in achieving their goals?

- Highly inflexible decision making system - There is a severe lack of empathy or rationality Productivity and efficiency are achieved through standardization of process - Bureaucratic organizational setup is not suitable for industries or companies which are under great pressure to perform and compete in the market - Slow reaction to unexpected crisis - Paper trials (a series of documents providing written evidence of a sequence of events or the activities of a person or organization) and piles of rules

What is the role of ideology and partisanship in determining how people think about politics and make decisions about how to vote?

- Ideology -- a certain set of ethical ideas, principles, doctrines, etc. that explains how society should work and offers some political and cultural blueprint for a certain social order - Partisanship -- being a committed member or a political party - The effect of ideology on the presidential vote occurs for several reasons. Ideology affects positions on specific uses. For example, voters who are strong conservatives are likely to take conservative positions on new issues as they arise - Partisanship makes voters biased. People evaluate policy depending on how strongly they identify with the party proposing the policy. Also, partisanship leads people to evaluate the actions of a given administration differently. For instance, those identifying themselves more with Republicans evaluated Republican George Bush's administration's response to Hurricane Katrina more favorably than those identifying themselves with Democrats

How does the Electoral College work?

- In nearly every state, the candidate who gets the most votes wins the "electoral votes" for that state, and gets that number of voters in the electoral college. Second, the "electors" from each state gather in December and vote for the President - In the Electoral College system, each state gets a certain number of electors based on its total number of representatives in Congress -- the bigger the state, the more electoral votes. - There are a total of 538 electoral votes. The candidate that gets more than half (270) wins the election

How has U.S. politics and government shaped the parties (e.g. why only two major parties in the U.S.)?

- In politics, a political party is an organized group of people who have the same ideology, or who otherwise have the same political positions, and who field candidates for elections, in attempt to get them elected & implement their agenda - Today, third parties are unable to mount their own presidential bids after they learn whom the two major parties have nominated -- there is not enough time between the end of the primary season and the general election to gain meaningful ballot access in enough states to win the - Electoral College victory There are only two major parties because it awards seats in Congress and the presidency with a winner-take-all method. Candidates running for Congress only need to get a plurality of the votes to be elected - Voters favor a political party's ideals but have a choice between two candidates who support the two different sides of principals.

How does the government affect the content of the news media, and what are the limits on what the government can do?

- In the United States, public broadcasters may receive some funding from both federal and state sources (from the government) - However, the media can also place pressure on the government to act by signaling a need for intervention or showing that citizens want change - The media's coverage of campaigns and government does affect the way government operates and the success of candidates

What kind of problems led to intelligence and other reforms after September 11, 2001? How might these problems be indicative of problems many bureaucracies have in making and implementing policies?

- Intelligence -- the collecting and processing of that information about foreign countries and their agents which is needed by a government for its foreign policy and for the national security - Congress passed the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism prevention and Act of 2004 which gave the government the ability to detect, prevent, and disrupt terrorist activity - Senators Lieberman and McCain authored the legislation that created the 9/11 Commission to investigate why America's defenses failed leading up to September 11, 2001, and how to prevent a catastrophic attack from happening again. Senators Lieberman and Collins subsequently crafted legislation to implement the Commission's recommendations and have worked ever since to ensure those laws are working to protect the American people to the greatest extent possible. - In 2001 and 2002, the Committee led the effort to consolidate the 22 disparate agencies and bureaus responsible for disaster preparedness, prevention, and response into one Department of Homeland Security with the unified purpose of protecting the homeland

What is an interest group? How are they different from political parties?

- Interest Group -- a group that promotes policies for the specific and often exclusive benefit of its members or of people with similar interests - The main difference between the two concerns their primary purpose: political parties aim at achieving power over governmental policy by supporting a candidate and winning elections. Conversely, interest groups are created to promote a position or a view on specific issues, but do not have members running for office

How did that affect how the Constitution was drafted?

- Interest groups are protected in the Constitution as free speech - James Madison was not very fond of interest groups, he believed that they would in fact limit the very liberty the Constitution was trying to create. His answer was to divide power in the government by way of federalism and by checks and balances -- dividing power between different branches and levels of government. Thus genius was to create a system of government in which power is so divided that it is difficult for a single group to dominate the whole government

Which actors attempt to shape public opinion and what methods do they try to use? (Remember: "actors" does not refer to Hollywood personalities but rather individuals or groups active in politics that can affect political and policy outcomes.)

- Interest groups can affect public opinion on some issues. They mainly do so via the arguments they convey. - Interest groups are frequent contributors to public debates. They engage in campaigns that try to shape public opinion on topics - The arguments of special interest groups can be biased or are worded in a way that can sway the public to one side over another

In what ways do they affect the outcomes of the political and policy process?

- Interest groups can make some of a difference, but typically not a huge one. - Policymakers do their best to not give preferential treatment to them Interest groups use a number of strategies to influence government policy to favor their beliefs and goals. Industry groups often have the financial resources to influence politicians by making donations to their re-election campaigns - this creates an obligation by politicians to help the industry groups out at some later date. - Environmental groups do not usually have lots of money to "buy" politicians, so they tend to rely on engaging the media to indirectly put pressure on politicians to act. Social media has become very effective in engaging younger people in environmental causes, who in turn put pressure on politicians to act. - Scientists will often release research studies with the hopes that politicians will take these findings into account when they develop policy. The medical community, and especially doctors, have a high credibility with the public and will sometimes write letters to politicians signed by hundreds of health care professionals - again, in an attempt to move politicians towards their views.

What roles do interest groups play in electoral politics?

- Interest groups in order to be heard may provide money towards political campaigns - They also may contribute funds, make independent expenditures, advocate issues, and mobilize voters

How are people who join groups (overall) different from those who do not?

- Interest groups offer individuals an important avenue for political participation - They give individuals all ove the country opportunity to express their opinions - While this can not speak for everyone, members of interest groups typically speak up more and are more involved in politics. This is because, they recognize problems within society as most of us do, but on top of them, they are demanding change and making steps in life to work towards that change

What strategies do they use to affect government politics and policies?

- Interest groups send representatives to state capitals and to Washington, D.C. to put pressure on members of Congress and other policymakers, they engage in lobbying (seek to influence) or the organized process of influencing legislation or policy - They raise awareness of new policy issues, lobby for their preferred policies, provide money for political campaigns, and try to engage the mainstream media and social media to support their causes

What did James Madison think of interest groups (what he called "factions")? (Go back and look at Federalist #51. How is this view of interest groups reflected in that paper?)

- James Madison warned against interest groups. He called them factions. He believed that people are attracted them because people are attracted to those with common interests - He believed interest groups could have a beneficial effect on policy when they were non-factious they supported policies that would promote the general good. Yet because he believed that facetious groups-groups promoting selfish interests-would remain strong, he proposed protecting the republic through the structural remedy of pitting faction against faction in a large polity rather than relying on the strength of non-factious groups.

Did the Framers envision the judicial branch as a strong branch or a relatively weak branch?

- Judicial Powers: they have the power to declare the acts of the congress unconstitutional - Even though the judicial branch has the power to interpret laws, is considered the weakest of the three branches by many because it cannot ensure that its decisions are enforced The Founders envisioned a judicial system separate from the political branches of government, a system designed to fulfill the promise that this country would provide a government based on the rule of law - The federal courts' most important power is that of judicial review, the authority to interpret the Constitution. When federal judges rule that laws or government actions violate the spirit of the Constitution, they profoundly shape the public policy

What are some different approaches to interpretation of the Constitution (e.g. what Justices Scalia and Breyer discuss in the assigned video we saw in class and the one posted online?)?

- Living Constitution -- the claim that the Constitution and other constitutions hold a dynamic meaning, evolving and adapting to new circumstances, without being formally amended. A living Constitution is said to develop alongside the needs of a society, providing a more malleable tool for governments - Originalism -- a concept regarding the interpretation of the Constitution that asserts that all statements in the Constitution must be interpreted based on the original understanding "at the time it was adopted" - Strict Constructionism -- requires a judge to apply the text only as it is written. Once the court has a clear meaning of the text, no further investigation is required. Judges in this view should avoid drawing inferences from a statute or constitution and focus only on the text itself - Textualism -- a formalist theory in which the interpretation of the law is primarily based on the ordinary meaning of the legal text - Purposive Approach -- is an approach to statutory and constitutional interpretation under which common law courts interpret an enactment within the context of the law's purpose

What kinds of arguments do Madison and Hamilton make in the Federalist Papers about the place of the president within the U.S. government?

- Madison -- He seeks to lay a due foundation for that separate and distinct exercise of the different powers of government. Madison emphasizes the need for checks and balances through the separation of powers in the 3 branches - Hamilton -- He advances the case against the Bill of Rights. Hamilton expresses the fear that explicitly enumerated rights (rights that are explicitly mentioned in the Constitution) could be too easily interpreted as compromising the only rights to which American citizens are entitled - Madison and Hamilton argued that the decentralization of power that existed under the Articles of Confederation prevented the new nation from becoming strong enough

Where do people get most of their news about politics, and how has that changed over time? How might it change in the future (as today's younger people get older)?

- Most people get their news from social media nowadays. Gnertaions such as Baby boomers relied on the newspapers and news stations on TV, but now social media, especially Facebook is very popular among younger generations such as Millennials and Generation Z. - I predict that over the next few decades, the majority of all votyers will rely on social media for their news or whatever is the fastest method. Accuracy will become less of a priority, and efficiency and speed will take over

From where in the U.S. Constitution does the president get his power?

Article II -- grants the President the implied powers and also a great deal of soft power that is attached to the presidency

Thinking about your video assignment about President Obama's health care initiatives (Obama's Deal), what did you learn about how Congress and the President interact? Could the President easily get what he wanted from Congress? What role did lobbying groups and special interests play? What about White House staff?

- Obama came into office with Congress being majority democratic (59 in the senate, 257 in the House) - Obama tried to push the legislation for Obama Care quickly - Once in office, Obama did not release a fully elaborate plan, instead leaving it to Congress to flesh out the details - Obama understood that his plan would take an exuberant amount of work, but he also did not want to be fighting; rather, he wanted people to be on his side. Obama's advisors told him that there were many lobbyists who were willing to cut him a deal. Karen Ignani specifically spoke out giving her help for Obama's health care plan. Ignani however, stated that she would only support the bill granted that everyone was required to buy health insurance. In addition to Obama's private health care plan, he also agreed with the public health care options too, but Ignani wanted him to walk away from that. The documentary stated, "President Obama is currently the only candidate who refuses Washington lobbyist money and passed the strongest law yet to curb lobbyists' power."

That is, are there any obstacles encountered during the effort to pass the law that are similar to those encountered as members of Congress attempt to repair or get rid of the law altogether?

- People with pre-existing conditions and disabilities, including COVID-19 survivors, woild be vulnerable to discrimination by insurers Before the ACA, nsurers could discriminate against people with preexisting conditions by charging people with certain health conditions higher premiums. The ACA protects people with preexisting cnsitions - ACA repeal would throw insurance markets into chaos as millions would lsoe coverage during the pandemic - If it were appealed, more than 20 million Americans would lose their coverage, causomg the biggest health insurance loss event in recorded history Struggling small businesses and the self-employed could be priced out of coverage Prior to the ACA, the majority of uninsured workers were self-employed or working at small businesses and had few afforale, comprehensive coverage options. Since ACA was enacted, the uninsured rate for small business employees has dropped by nearly ten percentage points. - Young people under the age of 26 could lose access to their parents' insurance during this period of mass employment - Prior to ACA, young adults were uninsured at a higher rate than any other age group. However, diue to ACA's various coverage provisions, the young adult uninsured rate has been cut in half since 2010

Who are some important people in the history of U.S. party politics?

- Political factions or parties began to form during the struggle over ratification of the federal Constitution of 1787 - James Madison established the Jeffersonian-Republican Party with Thomas Jefferson - Opponents (anti-federalists) and supporters (federalists) of the new constitution began to coalesce into political factions - In Virginia, anti-federalists led by Patrick henry, defeated James madison's election of the Senate and forced him into a campaign for the House of Representatives agains a strong anti-federalist, James Monroe

Think about your analytical assignment on public opinion. What did you learn from the assignment about how people think about politics and policy?

- Politics are at the center of people's views about several of today's most hot-button scientific issues, especially those surrounding climate, energy policy, and the government's role in funding science initiatives. - Each generation relies on a different way of news for their information. Millennials and Gen Z rely a great deal on social media to keep them informed whereas older generations rely on television.

What is public opinion, and how do we measure it?

- Public Opinion -- it consists of the desires, wants, and thinking of the majority of the people - Polling has changed over the years. The first opinion poll was taken in 1824; it asked voters how they voted as they left their polling places. Informal polls are called straw polls, and they informally collect opinions of a non-random population or group. Newspapers and social media continue the tradition of unofficial polls, mainly because interested readers want to know how elections will end. Facebook and online newspapers often offer informal, pop-up quizzes that ask a single question about politics or an event. The poll is not meant to be formal, but it provides a general idea of what the readership thinks.

When were programs like Social Security and Medicare (and Medicaid) created, and how does that relate to what we learned earlier about federalism?

- Social Security -- August 14, 1935 - Medicare -- July 30, 1965 - Medicaid -- 1965 - Federalism -- a system of government where there us one strong central authority Social policy is a prime example of federalism. The government is using its power to obligate citizens to do certain things, but it is for their own good. For example, with social security, there is an obligation between the worker and the federal government to pay a certain amount of money. However, employees and employers will be benefitted in the end

What are some of the main programs that U.S. government's funds that fall under the label "social policy"?

- Social policy consists of guidelines, principles, legislation and activities that affect the living conditions conducive to human welfare, such as a person's quality of life - Social Security -- employees and employers contribute to a fund through payroll taxes and virtually everyone who contributes for at least ten years is eligible for payments when they are older - Medicare -- health coverage based on age or disability - Medicaid -- based on income - Food Stamps -- It is now called SNAP. Benefits are place in an electronic account

What are some things that determine why individuals do not vote?

- Some people do not vote simply because they did not make it to the polls, whether they do not feel like voting or do not have time to vote - Some people do not vote because they are not interested in politics - Some people do not vote because they do not known enough about politics to have an opinion - Some people want to vote, but they are unable to. Individuals need identification to vote in 36 states, which menas the 21 million Americans who do not have government-issued photo ID are potentially unable to vote - Age, gender, education, socioeconomic status, and race can all impact whether or not a person votes. Almost half of people with an income below $20,000 do not vote and people of color are more likely to not vote because they encounter more barriers to voting - Election Day is a Tuesday. It is not a federal holiday, presenting a dilemma for many workers who do not get paid full time off to fo to polling places and wait in line - Voters who do not feel candidates represent their views might choose to opt out - Citizens are less likely to vote if they don't think their ballot matters. 15% of registered voters reported that they did not vote because they didn't believe their vote would make a difference

What kinds of rules govern how interest groups can participate in electoral politics?

- Special interest groups have their First Amendment rights: speech and assembly - Federal Election Campaign Act -- sets limits on how much presidential and presidential candidates and their families could donate to their own campaigns. The law also allowed corporations and unions to form PACs and required public disclosure of campaign contributors and their sources. - This act sought to limit contributions to ensure that wealthy individuals and special interest groups did not have a disproportionate influence on Federal elections

What roles is the president's cabinet supposed to play in helping him govern?

- The Cabinet is established in Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution - Cabinet members serve as both the head of their respective departments and as advisors to the President - 2 Main Roles -- advise the president and serve as the administrative head of his/her department

Other than the Supreme Court, what process does the Constitution establish for creating additional courts (or increasing the number of judges/justices on the courts)?

- The Constitution also grants Congress the power to establish courts inferior to the Supreme Court and to that end Congress has established the United States district courts, which try most federal cases - Inferior courts will be created by Congress from time to time. The Constitution itself created only the Supreme Court, but allowed Congress to create other, inferior courts over time

What does the U.S. Constitution say about the federal courts (in Article III, but also in other provisions)?

- The Constitution distributes authority between the Supreme Court and other courts. Article III describes the Supreme Court as having "original" jurisdiction over certain kinds of cases -- which means that cases can start at the Supreme Court and appelate (appeal) jurisdiction over others - "The judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish." - The Constitution says we will have a Supreme Court and this Court is separate from both the legislature (Congress) and the executive branch (The President)

Describe the tension between Congress and the president concerning the conduct of war: What roles do Congress and the president have in managing armed conflict (like war)?

- The Constitution divided the war powers between the Executive and the Legislative Branch - The Presdient is the Commander in Chief (can make decisions about war, once war has already been started) - Congress has the power to declare war -- as well as raise and supoort the armed forces - Over time, questions arose as to the extent of the President's authority to deploy armed forces into hostile situations abroad withoput the declastion of war or some other form of Congessional approval - War Powers Resolution -- so Congress passed the War Powers Resolution in the aftermath of the Vietnam War to address these concerns and provide a set of procedures for both the President and congress to follow in situations where armed forces abroad could lead to their involvement in armed conflict

How does the president use his legislative powers?

- The Constitution explicitly assigns the president the power to sign or veto legislation, command the armed forces, ask for the written opinion of their Cabinet, convene or adjourn Congress, and pardons, and receive ambassadors - The President may veto bills Congress passes, but Congress may also override a veto by a ⅔ vote from both the Senate and the House

Why did the Founders/Framers of the Constitution set up presidential elections in this way?

- The Framers created the Electoral College because they did not trust people to make electoral decisions on their own. - They wanted the president chosen by what they thought of as "enlightened statesmen." Framers were afraid of popular election to the president. Hamilton and the founders did not trust the population to make the tight choice, they feared a tyrant could manipulate the people and come to power

How has the development of the internet and new media affected politics?

- The Internet has changed the way in which political groups and politicians conduct election campaigns, keep in touch with constituents, and forge alliances with other groups or individuals - Media is important because with its growing poopularity, it is the fastest way to reach large audiences and inform them of what is going on in politics - There is a major shift in how and where people get political information, as more people turn to digital sources and abandon television news. - The disappearance of local news outlets and the resulting increase in news deserts has allowed social-media messages to become a primary source of information

What relationship does this have to some of the First Amendment issues we discussed earlier in the semester?

- The freedom of the press, protected by the First Amendment, is critical to a democracy in which the government is accountable to the people - Media functions as a watchdog that can investigate and report on government wrongdoing

How do innovations through the internet and other forms of data collection affect campaigns?

- The internet and other forms of technology is used to better identify, engage with, and rally members of the public to their cause as well as broadcast political messaging - Two of the most powerful methods for using technology as a tool include data collection and the use of digital media. For example, Barack Obama famously rose to the President of the United States in large part thanks to a revolutionary and unprecedented effort at collecting granular data about the demographics and voting patterns of key voters all over the United States. Data collection has always been a key aspect of political and information campaigns, but President Obama's capitulation brought the potential for the state of data collection to the forefront of national attention.

What role should the media play in U.S. politics?

- The internet has created channels of communication that play a key role in circulating news, and social media as the power to change not just the message, but the dynamics of political corruption, values, and the dynamics of conflict - I think it is important for the media to inform individuals of what is going on in the world. Social media is becoming more and more popular, and people spend much more time on social media than watching the news on television or reading the newspapers. It is important that every individual knows what is going on in the country. However, it is important for social media platforms to not be biased. They should give facts, without opinions; so that people are able to come to conclusions about what they think regarding issues on their own

What kinds of checks does the judicial branch have on the other branches of government? What kinds of checks do they have on the judiciary?

- The judicial branch has checks over other branches. Judicial over Legislative: the judicial branch can declare laws passed by the legsilative branch unconstitutional and kill it on the spot. Judicial over executive: the judicial branch can check on the executive branch by declaring executive laws unconstitutional - The other branches also have checks on the judicial branch. Executive over Judicial: The President appoints all federal judges. Legislative over judicial: power to amend the Constitution, pass new laws, approve the president appointment of judges, control the number of justices on the Supreme Court, and impeach judges guilty of treason, bribery, or high crimes and misdemeanors

Does the media appear in the Constitution? If so, where?

- The media does appear in the Constitution. It refers to freedom of the press in the First amendment - "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition."

In what ways do the media meet that standard and in what ways might it fall short? Why?

- The media meets this standard by providing facts. Social media is very quick to update viewers about what is going on. However, media bias does exist. Media outlets often skew information, such as reporting news in a way that conflicts with standards of professional journalism or promoting a political agenda - Different types of media often deliver their news in a biased way based off of how they think specifically. If one way of media has a crew that is very conservative, news could be delivered in consevative way or in a way that bashes what the left side thinks. - What individuals think with regards to politics impacts who they vote for. Many media outlets believe that if they persuade people to think the same way they do, they will have more people who agree with them. It is surprisingly easy for the media to be biased because it is difficult to deliver information without any emotional connection to the information being delivered.

How does a case move from a trial court to (eventually) the U.S. Supreme Court?

- The most common way for a case to reach the Supreme Court is on appeal from a circuit court. A party seeking to appeal a decsision of a circuit court can file a petition to the Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari. "Certiorari" is a Latin word meaning "to inform," in the sense that the petition informs the Court of the request for review - Unlike all other federal courts, the Supreme Court has discretion to decide which cases it will hear. The Supreme Court gets thousands of petitions for certiorar,i, but only issues a writ in a fraction of cases. The Court will only issue a writ if four of the nine Justices vote to do so. Justices usually take the importance of a given case and the need to issue a final decision before deciding to grant certiorar. If four justices do not agree to grant certiorari, the petition is denied. If a case is "denied cert," the decision of the lower court is final. - The third way in which a case can reach the Supreme Court is through an appeal from a state supreme court. Each state has its own supreme court that is the final authority on state law. The Supreme Court will generally not challenge a state court's ruling on an issue of state law. However, the Court will grant certioari in cases where the state court's ruling deals with Constitutional issues.

Why do people join and participate in interest groups?

- The most important reason for forming or joining a group is the individual need for satisfaction. This means that the members expect affiliation with the group to satisfy a need - Interests and goals which are common and require cooperation with others for achievement of such goals are a powerful force behind such group formation. Some goals simply cannot be achieved by individuals alone, which is why people may join a group with the same values and interests as them

Who nominates the members of the federal judiciary, and how are justices on the Supreme Court (and on other federal courts) confirmed?

- The president nominates the members of the federal judiciary - The President nominates someone for a vacancy on the Court and the Senate votes to confirm the nominee, which requires a simple majority (218 of 435 in the House and 51 of 100 in the Senate)

Still thinking about health care, what have you learned about how presidents and Congress make policy that informs you about the current debate over whether to "repeal and replace" Obamacare/Affordable Care Act?

- Trump and many Republicans have vowed to repeal and replace Obamacare. In 2017, on trump's first day in office, he signed an executive order that would "ease the burden of Obamacare" as they transition to repeal and replace it Their replacement would be The American Health Care Act - Affordable Care Act -- was designed to reduce the cost of health insurance coverage for people who qualify. The law includes premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions to help lower costs for lower-income individuals and families. Premium tax helps lower your health insurance bill each month - The Difference -- under the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare everyone is required to buy insurance or they have to pay a penalty. In a Republican bill, there is no such requirement. People do not have to have insurance. If they do not have insurance and then want to buy it later, they will have to pay a penalty, but they do not have to have insurance every year.

What institutions are responsible for making foreign and defense policy?

- Under the Constitution, the President (executive branch) determines foreign policy - The secretary of state, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President's chief foreign affairs advisor

Think about the actors (general public, voters, interest groups, media, etc.) that are fully outside of government as well as those organizations (like political parties) that have a presence both inside and outside of government. What have you learned about how all of these groups affect what government does?

- Voting gives people some say about how the government runs things Democracy depends on meaningful contacts between the people and the government - The people, through voting, have the power to vote for who they want - If the majority of people want a certain policy, politicians and leaders in government will make changes according to what the people want Some believe that interest groups corrupt the government by buying influence. Critics believe that they do because more money comes from business and corporations than from any other source. This gives them a connection to the government that ordinary people do not have Media provides readers and viewers with news coverage of issues and events in order to inform the general public of what is going on in the world - The media can influence political opinions of voters, determine the behavior of candidates and officials, sets the public agenda (The fact that the media focuses on some issues and ignores others can help set what gets done in government. Media sources have often been accused of emphasizing scandal and high-interest issues at the expense of duller but more important political problems. The government's priorities can be rearranged as a result).

What kinds of powers does the U.S. Does the Constitution give the president?

- sign or veto legislation - command the armed forces (Commander in Chief) - ask for the written opinion of the Cabinet - convene or adjourn Congress - grant and reprieve pardons - receive ambassadors

Characteristics of a bureaucracy

1) paid officials (main income) 2) officials have privileges 3) seniority rights and salary increases 4) degrees or vocational training 5) responsibilities rigidly defined by the organization 6) separation of funds & files from their personal ones. - complexity, divisions of labor, permanence, professional management, hierarchical coordination and controls strict chain of command, and legal authority

What are the main steps by which public policy is created and evaluated? (Go back and look at the slide I have presented several times since the beginning of the semester.) A policy established & carried out by the government goes through several stages.

1. Agenda Building -- before a policy can be created a problem must exist that is called to the attention of the government 2. Formulation and Adoption -- coming up with an approach to solving the problem. Congress, the Executive Branch, the courts, and interest groups may be involved 3. Implementation -- the implementation carrying out of policy is most often accomplished by institutions other than those that formulated and adopted it. A statue usually provides just a broad outline of the policy. 4. Evaluation and Termination -- which means determining how well a policy is working (not an easy task). People inside and outside of the government typically use cost-benefit analysis to try to find the answer. History has shown that once implemented, policies are difficult to terminate. When they are terminated, it is usually because the policy became obsolete, clearly did not work, or lost its support among the interest groups and elected officials that placed it on the agenda in the first place.

What do you think it means to be "presidential"?

Behavior just be consistent with the scope of their duties "Befitting the dignity and character of the presidency"

What is an electoral realignment, and what effect does it have on elections?

Definition: the point in history when a new party supplants the ruling party, becoming the dominant political force. - The idea of a realignment implies a fundamental shift in support for political parties - Possible examples of realignments: 1800, 1828, 1860, 1896, 1932, and 1968.

What kinds of regulations does the federal government put on the conduct of elections?

In Article I, Section 4, The Constitution states that "the times, places, and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each state by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations."

Why is it difficult to change or eliminate many of the government programs that exist?

In most cases there are no policies or ordinances to measure whether or not the program is achieving or failing to achieve the desired outcome. There is no data analysis most times as to why certain programs are consistently failing. As a result, changes to government programs or the elimination of them all together does not happen because no one measures how well, if at all the programs are working

Is the U.S. government bureaucracy larger or smaller than during the 1950s? What caused the changes in its size?

It is larger because more services and other things being offered to the people have increased so much management of such such services must grow with it to allow for more executive execution of these services, thus the federal bureaucracy must increase

How big of an effect do you think that people like Luntz can have on how people feel about politics?

Luntz's crisis of depression began after the 2012 Presidential election. Six weeks after the election, he fell apart. After Obama won the election twice, Luntz believed that the American people had been corrupted and were beyond saving.

What are political parties?

Political Parties -- it is an organized group of people or bodies who seek to capture political power through an election in order to run the affairs of a country

Is the U.S. "polarized" in the sense that people are very divided along ideological lines? What is the evidence for this? Does it matter?

Political Polarization -- the vast and growing gap between liberals and conservatives, Republicans and Democrats

What are some examples of the president's use of his judicial powers?

President Trump nominated Amy Coney Barret as a Supreme Court justice this year after the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg -- example of using his judicial power to nominate federal judges

How do we define "public policy"?

Public Policy -- a choice that the government makes in response to a political issue. A policy is a course of action taken with regard to come problem

How do people develop opinions about politics and policy issues?

Public opinion can be influenced by public relations and the political media. Additionally, mass media utilizes a wide variety of advertising techniques to get their message out and change the minds of people

What determines how people vote?

Some factors that can shape individuals' politicla attitude and their voting habits are family, gender, religion, and race/ethnicity - Family -- typically people tend to vote similarly to their parents' or other family member's values and how they were raised - Gender -- women tend to vote more democratically because they strongly supports women's issues sicj as social work, equal pay, and equal legal rights - Religion -- Jewish voters typically are Democratic, but "the religious right" tends to be more conservative . this tendency is more clearly associated with social issues siuch as school prayer, abortion, and divorce - Race/Ethnicity -- The majority of African Americans and Latinos are Democrats Some people vote according to their party. - Those who consider themselves strong partisans (strong Democrats or strong Republicans) tend to be most faithfu in voting for their party's nominee in office - Some people vote according to issues. Voters like this base their decisions on how the candidates address certain political issues - Some people vote based on a candidate's personal characteristics. Increasing numbers of independents have problems with issue voting and have made the personal traits of candidates an important factor in how voters decide

What are the constitutional roles of Congress and the president in foreign and defense policy?

The Constitution authorizes the president to make treaties, but the president must then submit them to the Senate for its approval by a ⅔ vote

What diplomatic powers does the president have as "head of state"?

The Executive Branch conducts diplomacy with other nations, and the President has the power to negotiate and sign treaties, which also must be ratified by two-thirds of the Senate. The President can issue executive orders, which direct executive officers or clarify and further existing laws. Diplomacy -- the practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of states or groups, so as to influence the decisions and conduct of foreign governments through dialogue, negotiation, and other nonviolent means

What does that mean about how the Founders/Framers thought about politics and government?

The Founders/Framers believed that individuals should have a right to their own opinions about all issues and be able to speak about all issues as well. No one should be stopped from sharing their opinion just because it does not line up with another person's opinion. They knew that people should be able to share their opinions and beliefs in any way they see fit

Should the federal government provide more or less funding for education? Why?

The government should provide more funding for education. Education is important. It gives us a knowledge of the world around us and changes it into soemething better. It develops us a perspective of looking at life. It helps us build opinions, have points of view on things, and prepares us for our future. Education is a necessity and a fundamental right. Therefore, as education is and should be a social policy, it is the government's job to provide education for all individuals

Why has there been an increase in the number of interest groups in U.S. politics?

The size of the federal government and the types of issues it has involved itself in has increased substantially. As more issues arise ove the past 5o years, groups tend to lobby for changes that help a small fraction of the population

To what extent did the Framers envision the president as a weak or strong actor within government?

They envisioned the president to be a weaker actor within the government because they thought he could easily be given too much power. The three branches were put into place to balance the power, specifically so the President could not take over completely

How has U.S. foreign and defense policy responded to the era after 9/11/2001? Think about videos we saw in class about bureaucracy and the 9/11 attacks. What changes were made and why?

War on Terrorism -- refers to the ongoing military campaign led by the U.S. and the U.K. and their allies against organizations and regimes identified by them as terrorist

What is a bureaucracy?

a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.