Chapter 13

1. Chapter 13 Politics in the United States

2. Introduction • Viewing American politics with a special focus on how it resembles and differs from politics in other nations will allow us to better understand the U.S. political system

3. Key Statistics • Population: 300 million • Territory: 3,475,031 sq. miles • Independence: 1776; Constitution: 1789 • Head of State/Head of Government: President George W. Bush • Languages: English & Spanish • Religion: 56% Protestant, 28% Catholic, 2% Muslim, 2% Mormon, 2% Jewish, 10% None

4. Current Policy Challenges • War on Terror – no clear cut enemy • Economic Recession • Socioeconomic Status/ Social Issues faced by African-Americans and Hispanic Americans • “War on Drugs” • Environmental Issues/ Global Warming • Education – National Testing • Immigration • Foreign Policy – “Bush Doctrine” – preemptive strike in the wake of 9/11, in particular to thwart the possible use of WMD’s • War in Iraq (Acting unilaterally, without UN support)

5. Bush Policy • Patriot Act • “No Child Left Behind” NCLB • Running large deficits in the national budget • Right-wing Christian fundamentalist resurgence • Tax cut – in particular for the wealthy • Increased size of federal government more than any president in U.S. history

6. U.S. History • Oldest standing constitution • Democratic Party is the oldest active political party in the world • Civil War was the watershed event in solidifying the U.S. political system (14 Amendment, citizens of U.S. first, then the states)

7. Geography • Bordered by Atlantic Ocean (East), Pacific Ocean (West), Canada (North), and Mexico (South) • This secluded geographic position led to the practice of isolationism in foreign policy through the 19th century

8. Population • 300 million • 3 waves of immigration 1. 1840-1860 (Western Europe/Scandinavia 2. 1870-1920 (Asia/Eastern Europe) 3. 1945-Present (Latin America/Asia)

9. Economy • World’s largest economy, GNP of $9.9 trillion in 2000 • America has become largest debtor nation 1. Americans buy more foreign goods than foreigners by U.S. goods 2. Federal government operates enormous deficits in the federal budget. • American government subsidizes many American businesses • American government pays for research, design, production, and marketing in many areas and allows for access to this research for free • Tariffs & Import Quotas • Minimum Wage

10. Constitutional System • Bill of Rights – secures civil liberties, due process, and individual rights • Federalism – government powers divided among national, state, and local governments

11. Constitution continued • Powers Assigned to Federal Gov’t • Declare War • Make Treaties with Foreign Nations • Coin Money • Regulate Commerce between states

12. Constitution continued • Powers Assigned to States by 10th Amendment • Education • Marriage/Divorce • Intrastate Commerce • Regulation of Motor Vehicles • Federal grant moneys limit states authority by determining how money is spent

13. Constitution continued • Powers that can be exercised by both Federal & State Government • Imposing Taxes • Defining & Punishing Crimes • Supreme Court decides which acts of the federal government & state governments are within their powers

14. Separation of Powers • “Presidential Democracy” • System of Checks & Balances • Legislative Power – Congress • Judicial Power – Federal Courts • Executive Power – Office of the President • See Figure 13.2

15. Constitution continued • Article I, Section 6 – “No person can hold any office in the U.S., while serving as a member of either House” (Separation of Powers as opposed to fusion-of-powers, Great Britain & Germany) • Member of the House – two-year term(unlimited) • Member of the Senate – six-year term (unlimited), 1/3 of the Senate up for election every two years) • Electoral College – selects president • Federal Judges appointed by President, approved by the Senate • Judicial Review

16. Political Culture • Melting Pot vs. Patchwork Quilt • Trust in Government – Skeptical about politicians • Love for country (Patriotism); distrust of political office/officials • Politically efficacious • Litigiousness of Society

17. Political Socialization • Family • School • Mass media – “scarcity doctrine” – print media is not regulated, however, broadcast media is limited in nature therefore it is regulated and monitored with greater scrutiny • Social groups/relationships

18. Political Participation • Voter turnout – relatively poor in the U.S. compared to other advanced democracies • Voter registration • Campaign Activity • Communal Activity • Protest Activity • Table 13.4, pg.427

19. Recruitment of Leaders • Middle & Upper class of social ladder • Well educated • Look & Sound good on TV

20. Unique Direct Primary • Candidate Selection – Who party members will campaign for and support • Nomination – Who party will officially nominate • Election – process of voters registering their choices among the nominees • Direct Primaries – candidates selected directly by voters in government elections

21. Primaries • Closed – only persons registered as members of a particular party can vote in a primary (25 states) • Crossover – voters do not have to choose a party to vote for until election day. (14 states) • Open – voter’s can vote in whichever party primary they choose without disclosing affiliation • Blanket – voters can switch back and forth between parties in voting without disclosing the switch

22. Interest Articulation:PAC’s • They support or oppose candidates nominated by parties • Mainly interested in public policies elected officials draw up and pass • Greatest increase in PAC’s have come since 1974 • NRA largest campaign contributing PAC, more than $14 million • Over 4,000 PAC’s in the U.S.

23. PAC’s • Narrow Material Interest PAC’s – back candidates that support legislation that favors a particular business or company (ie. Chrysler, GE, Texaco, Coca-Cola) • Single, nonmaterial Interest PAC’s – support candidates who support their nonmaterial issues (ie. NRA, National Right to Life Committee, Abortion Rights Action League) • Ideological PAC’s – support candidates committed to certain ideology. (ie. National Committee for Effective Congress (Liberal), National Conservative Political Action Committee (Conservative) )

24. Pressure Groups • Lobbyists • Litigation

25. Special Characteristics of American Political Parties • Two-Party System (Democrats vs. Republicans) • “Americanization” of Electioneering (TV debates & Advertisements, Canvassing voters, polling citizens) • Low Cohesion amongst party members • Weak Discipline – neither president nor party congressional leaders have any effective power over party members in Congress or at the state & local level to compel them to vote one way or another • Divided Party Control of Government (Ticket-Splitting) • Decentralized Organization • Stratarchies (National, State, Local)

26. National Level • Presidential Party • Congressional Party

27. State Level • Gubernatorial Party • Legislative Party

28. Local Level • Congressional District Committees • County Committees • City Committees • Wards/Precinct Committees

29. Policymaking in America • Checks & Balances • Deadlocks • Coalition Building • “Government is a powerful and dangerous institution created by fallible human beings. Its primary objective – its only legitimate reason for existing and being obeyed – is to secure every person’s God-given right to life, liberty, and property.”

30. Policy Performance • Tax Policies – Federal government collects 62% of all taxes and 57% of revenues from all sources. -Progressive tax system that places heaviest burden on those who can pay • Distributive Performance – Federal government spends 56% of budget on social welfare functions, 19% on defense, 13% on national debt interest. (Education, 0.7%) • Regulatory Performance • Social Insurance • Education • Environmental Protection • TABLE 13.8, pg.448 • HOW THE U.S. COMPARES TO OTHER NATIONS