American Politics Michelle K. Førstø This Weekend Friday Saturday Sunday • Introduction etc. • American Ideology • The road to the Oval Office • The American Dream • Electoral college etc. • Federalism • Presidents and political • Founding documents parties • Declaration of • The primaries Independence • US Constitution • Branches of government • Legislative, judiciary, executive 2 3 Quiz Go to www.kahoot.it 4 • American Ideology • The American Dream • Federalism • Documents • Declaration of Independence, US Constitution etc. • The branches of the government Saturday Online Resources Padlet: Password: This PowerPoint will be available here after the weekend Bookmark the padlet on your computer 6 The American Political Foundation • Rooted in values, beliefs, and norms • Helps understand: • A government’s design • Political decisions • American political culture is influenced by; • the American dream • American ideology 7 8 Examples of norms/values/beliefs • Liberty • Equality • Democracy • Individualism • Nationalism • Capitalism • Exceptionalism • Patriotism America as the “city • Universalism upon a hill” Three important “documents” 9 American beliefs, values, and norms in relation to American politics Alexis de Tocqueville William Tyler Page Ta-Nehisi Coates 1805-1859 1868-1942 1975- Democracy in America (1833) American Creed (1917) Between the World and Me (2015) Alexis de Tocqeuville (1805- 10 1859) • French political thinker and historian • Democracy in America (1833) • Wanted to answer “Why are the Americans doing so well with democracy, while France is having so much trouble with it?” • Believed France could learn from America • Factors to American success: • Abundance of land in the 1830s • No aristocracy to block the ambitious • Independent nature of American settlers William Tyler Page (1868-1942) • Descendent from John Tyler • Wrote The American Creed in 1917 11 The American Creed 12 (1917) I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed, a democracy in a republic, a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes. I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies. Liberty, equality, democracy, individualism, nationalism, capitalism, exceptionalism, patriotism, and universalism 13 • Writer for The Atlantic • Focuses on cultural, social, and political issues for African-Americans • Between the World and Me Ta-Nehisi Coates (1975- ) Between the World and Me 14 2015 • What does it say within these few pages? • How does it link to American ideology and American politics? • What is Coates’ view upon diversity? • Do you agree with him? (why / why not) Liberty, equality, democracy, individualism, nationalism, capitalism, exceptionalism, patriotism, and universalism 15 Summing up… • American beliefs, values, and norms • The three “documents” Now… • The creation of the US – based upon American ideology, beliefs, values, and norms • Beginning with federalism and the Declaration of Independence 16 Federalism • Two levels of government • Created as opposition to the British system • The US preferred a weaker central government • People = sovereign • State rights v. federal rights • State rights have been contested several times – most noteworthy during the Civil War (1861-1865) • Powers are designated by the Constitution – and its amendments! 17 18 Federal v. state government 19 Strong federal government Strong state government • Uniform laws • Laws adapted to individual needs • No contradictory measures • Risk of contradictions between states • Fast and efficient • Slow and inefficient • Risk of tyranny • Avoiding tyranny • Risk of losing control • Risk of a split • Lack of understanding of the citizens • Closer to the public • Lack of resources US: Mix of both in order to “create a more perfect union” America’s Founding; 20 The Declaration of Independence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= yb7MI8NQLoo&t=43s Declaration of Independence • Written 1776 • Main author was Thomas Jefferson • Consists of 5 sections; Introduction, preamble, indictments, denunciation, and conclusion • March 1776 – first vote for independence • July 1st – Continental Congress reconvened • July 3rd and 4th – revised the document, deleted 1/5 of it • July 4th – adoption of the Declaration of Independence • Most states did not sign it until August 21 • Go to the padlet and find the Declaration under “Documents” • Groups (1-6) The • 1 + 4 – Introduction and preamble • 2 + 5– Indictments Declaration of • 3 + 6 – Denunciation and Independence conclusion • All groups: • 4 keywords – must be written on the blackboard 22 The US Constitution ”We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America” (Preamble to the Constitution) 23 • Ratified 1788 • The supreme law of the US • Declared the government’s power – and its limitations (Bill of Rights) • 3 branches • Connecticut Compromise/The Great Compromise • Virginia Plan v. New Jersey Plan • Electoral College • Compromise of slavery • 3/5 count • Slave trade not banned prior to 1808 • Fugitive slave clause 24 The Amendments to the US Constitution • 27 amendments • Amendments 1-10 – The Bill of Rights • Freedom of religion and speech, fair trial and punishments etc. 25 The three branches 26 The legislative Art. I, Sec. I: “All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives” • Congress is bicameral • Senate • 100 senators • 6 year term • No limits on reelection • House of Representatives • 435 representatives • 2 year term • No limits on reelection 27 House of Representatives 28 435 congressional districts 29 Iowa’s 4 districts since 2013 30 Senate 31 The executive Art. II, Sec. I: “The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows ….” • President • 4 year term, 2 term limit • Commander in Chief • Vice President • 4 year term • No limits • Cabinet • Selected by the president • Approved by the senate • Advisors and Secretary of … 32 The judicial Art. III, Sec. 1: “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” • Federal courts • United States district courts • United States appeals courts • Supreme Court of the United States • Supreme court • 9 judges (now) appointed for life • 3 types of cases • Appeals from states’ supreme court • Appeals from federal courts • Cases with VIPs (ambassador, 33 some politicians etc.) The government’s power • Enumerated – powers specifically to the federal government • 27 in all: power to coin money, regulate trade, declare war etc. • Implied – the ”necessary and proper clause” • ”To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vest by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof” • Inherent – not listed, but linked directly with the existence of a national government 34 35 Checks and balances What is it? Why is is necessary? • All groups: vocabulary for assigned “area” • Group 1 – Executive branch • Group 2 – Legislative branch • Group 3 – Judicial branch • Group 4 – Bill of Rights Group work • Group 5 – Amendments 11-27 • On the padlet you will find some useful resources • 15 minute PowerPoint presentation – upload to the padlet • (At least) 1 slide with vocabulary, 1 slide with sources Presentations begin at 15.45 36 37 Summing up: The circle Sunday’s program • Summing up from yesterday • The road to the Oval Office • Electoral College • Presidents • Political parties • The primaries • Evaluation 38 How do you become president in the US? 39 40 Basic requirements • 35+ years • US citizen AND born in the US • Lived in the US for at least 14 years 41 • Primaries • Declare candidacy • Campaign internally against same-party candidates The process • The party conventions • The general election • Electoral college Electoral College 42 43 The 2016 election 44 Presidents of the US • President Donald Trump is the 45th president of the US – the first was George Washington • Presidents represented big parties (Democrats, Republicans, Whigs etc.) • We cannot cover all 45 presidents here, therefore…. 45 • Biography in your own words • ½-1 page (life, family etc.) • (small) profile picture of your president • At least ½ page about your president and his policies Presidents of • Useful links can be found on the padlet the US • If you are in doubt about your source – ask! • Add your sources at the bottom of the biography • DO NOT plagiarize • Upload it: Padlet - “Students’ presidential bios” • Some of you will be randomly picked to present your findings 46 18th Century • 17. Andrew Johnson • 34. Dwight D. Eisenhower