The American Political System PSCI 1101

1. The American Political System PSCI 1101 Dr. Vanessa A. Baird

2. Are People Inherently Good? “Rivalry gone bad: Longhorns fan nearly castrated in bloody bar scuffle”Tuesday September 11, 2007 6:57PM OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- To some Oklahoma football fans, there are things that just aren't done in the heart of Sooner Nation, and one of them is to walk into a bar wearing a Texas Longhorns T-shirt.

3. Are People Inherently Good? "I've actually heard callers on talk radio say that this guy deserved what he got for wearing a Texas T-shirt into a bar in the middle of Sooner country," said Irven Box, an attorney in this city 20 miles from Oklahoma's campus in Norman.

4. Are People Inherently Good? “Details in West Virginia Torture Case 'Out of a Horror Movie‘” Wednesday, September 12, 2007 BIG CREEK, W.Va. — Inside a shed on a remote hillside of this coalfield community, authorities say a young black woman was tortured for days, sexually assaulted, beaten and forced to eat rat droppings.

5. Lesson from Tuesday! Our system was set up to be based on the “reality” of human behavior, not on some idea of human perfection

6. Searching for Justice • Pol Pot – Communist Utopia • Estimated 2,000,000 killed • Nazi Germany – Totalitarian Utopia • 6 - 11 million killed • Stalin – Totalitarian Communism • More than 20 million killed

7. E.M. Forster “I hate the idea of causes, and if I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend I hope I should have the guts to betray my country.” Two Cheers for Democracy

8. Constitutional Timeline • 1750’s to 1770’s British Crown needs money and puts pressure on colonies • Taxes, taxes, taxes • 1775 – Lexington and Concord • 1776 – Declaration of Independence • 1777 – Articles of Confederation adopted • 1787 – Constitution adopted • 1789 (ratified)

9. Articles of Confederation • The first attempt at a “united” set of separate states • A “confederation” of separate states • Like neighbors on the same street • A league of mutual friendship • Common Defense was the main purpose

10. Problems with the Articles • The Congress had no power to tax. • States coined their own money and trade wars erupted. • Congress had no power to regulate commerce. No unified money system. • States conducted foreign relations without regard to neighboring states' needs or wants.

11. Shay’s Rebellion

12. Basic concepts in the Revolutionary era • Liberty — the preservation of traditional rights against the intrusions of government • Popular sovereignty — assumes that ultimate political authority belongs to the people • Political equality — refers to decision making where each person carries the same weight

13. Tariffs • northern economies =industrialization southern economies = agriculture.  • Many northern interests wanted protection for their products, while many southern interests wanted freer trade for their agricultural output. 

14. The Politics of Slavery C = Strong Commercial policy (tariffs) c = no commercial policy S = legalized slavery s = no slavery Northern preferences Cs > CS > cs > cS (Cs preferred over CS, etc.)

15. The Politics of Slavery Northern preferences Cs > CS > cs > cS Southern preferences cS > CS > cs > Cs

16. Slavery in the Constitution • “3/5 of other persons” • Article 1, section 2 • No laws against importation until 1808 (about 20 years later) • Article 1, section 9 • One state must return another state’s runaway slave if captured • Article 4, section 2 • You cannot change the rules about slavery (by amendment) until 1808 • Article 5

17. Who is in Charge? • Supremacy Clause • Article VI • “The Constitution, and the Laws of the United States…shall be the supreme Law of the Land”

18. Who is in Charge? • Supremacy Clause • Commerce Clause • Article I, Section 8 • “The Congress shall have the Power To… regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes.”

19. Who is in Charge? • Supremacy Clause • Commerce Clause • Elastic Clause • “Necessary and Proper” Clause • Article I, Section 8 • “The Congress shall have the Power To…make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers.”

20. The Anti-Federalists "...the proposed plan of government...is a most daring attempt to establish a despotic aristocracy among freemen that the world has ever witnessed." -- Centinel (anti-federalist Samuel Bryan, 1787).

21. The Anti-Federalists "I see great jeopardy in this new government." "I look upon that paper [the Constitution] as the most fatal plan that could possibly be conceived to enslave a free people. If such be your rage for novelty, take it and welcome; but you shall never have my consent." – Patrick Henry (speech before the Virginia ratifying convention, 1788)

22. States Make a Comeback? • Bill of Rights added to convince the people that the federal government would not take over their lives. • Promised as the first order of business for the new Congress • Takes some of the bite out of the Anti-Federalist arguments

23. States make a Comeback? • Reservation Clause • Tenth Amendment • “The Powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the People."

24. Bill of Rights • 9 – The people retain rights un-enumerated. • 8 – No one will inflict cruel and unusual punishment on me. • 7 – I can have a jury trial. • 6 – I can have a speedy trial, a lawyer, & find out who said all those nasty things about me.

25. Bill of Rights • 5 – No government can take my life, liberty or property without due process. • 4 – The cops can’t search me without a darn good reason. • 3 – My home is my castle (and the government officials can’t expect free room & board). • 2 – I can own a gun just like the NRA says.

26. NUMBER 1! • The first ten words of the Bill of Rights. • “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion…”

27. NUMBER 1! • The first ten words of the Bill of Rights. • “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion…” • “…or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”

28. NUMBER 1! • The first ten words of the Bill of Rights. • “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion…” • “…or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” • “or abridging the freedom of speech”

29. NUMBER 1! • The first ten words of the Bill of Rights. • “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion…” • “…or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” • “or abridging the freedom of speech” • “or of the press”

30. NUMBER 1! • The first ten words of the Bill of Rights. • “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion…” • “…or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” • “or abridging the freedom of speech” • “or of the press” • “or to peacefully assemble”

31. NUMBER 1! • The first ten words of the Bill of Rights. • “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion…” • “…or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” • “or abridging the freedom of speech” • “or of the press” • “or to peacefully assemble” • “and to petition the Government…”

32. How to Stop this Monster • How in the world do you keep a small majority of people (a faction) from getting control and tyrannizing everyone else?

33. How to Stop this Monster • How in the world do you keep a small majority of people (a faction) from getting control and tyrannizing everyone else? • Representative government • Separation of powers • Checks and Balances

34. Separation of Powers

35. Checks and Balances

36. Clint Eastwood