American National Government

Spring 2012Dr. Smith

Readings for Wednesday

• Please read syllabus.

• Janda Chapter 1&2, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution (Appendix)

CLEARLY COMMUNICATED LEARNING OBJECTIVES

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.

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.

ABOUT THE COURSE

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.

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)

Information from the Syllabus

• 8th Essentials Edition

• Grading/Tests

• Academic Integrity

• Readings

OPPORTUNITIES TO DISCUSS COURSE CONTENT

Office Hours

• The University Requires that faculty hold 5 hours per week

• I have 14

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

BASIC TERMS OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

Government and Politics

• Government (noun)

• Politics (verb)

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

ELECTION TERMSHow Many

Republican vs. Direct Democracy

Plurality

• What is it

• Where do We see it

Majority

• What is it?

• Where We See it

Extraordinary Majority

• What is it?

• Where do we see it?

Unanimity

• What is it

• Where do we see it

SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY

Social Contract Theory

• The State of Nature

• What is it?

"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

The Leviathan (Thomas Hobbes)

The Movie (1989) The Book (1651)

Hobbes and Social Contract

• The Role of Government

• What You Get

• What You give up

Better to be alive than dead

John Locke

• Hobbes is wrong

• Government should protect natural rights

• Governments that do not provide this, get removed

FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

The Declaration of Independence

The Social Contract With Britain

• Benefits of Being with Britain

• Costs of Being With Britain

• Under the social contract with Britain what was missing?

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

The Declaration of Independence

• The Result of A Failed Social Contract

• Aims of the Document

The Declaration

• Breaks the Social Contract.

• An expression of the arguments in support of separation from Great Britain.

What Else

• Declaration of War

• Long, Long, Long list of Grievances

• Begging for Alliances

THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

• THE FIRST ATTEMPT AT A SOCIAL CONTRACT (1781-89)

• How did it work

Why it Failed: Free-Riders

Why it Failed: No Economic Regulation

Why it Failed: Debt

Why it Failed: No Leadership

Why Else

• No Power to Tax

• No power to call the militia

• States began to fight each other