U.S. Political Culture, U.S. Political Institutions September 14, 2007

1. U.S. Political Culture,U.S. Political InstitutionsSeptember 14, 2007

2. The Pledge

3. Who is this?

4. Tyranny and Democracy were thought to be undesirable extremes

5. King George III

6. George Washington

7. Colonial Life • Under British control for 100+ years • Property, free religion & other rights • Had about 4 million non-natives • We were “born Lockean”

8. Truth Government Aristocracies Religious Institutions The People

9. Truth Government Aristocracies Religious Institutions “We” The People

10. Rugged Individualism:“Success in life is pretty much determined by forces outside of your control.” • Pew Global Attitudes Survey, 44 nations, 2002. • Nigeria: 33% “completely agree” • Nigeria: 32% “mostly or completely disagree.” • Nigeria: ratio is 32/33 or 0.96

11. “Success in life is pretty much determined by forces outside of your control.” • South Africa • 24% disagree with the statement • The ratio is 24/38, or 0.63 So the general sense in South Africa is – failure is someone else’s fault.

12. “Success in life is pretty much determined by forces outside of your control.” • India, 14% disagree, ratio 0.39 • Japan, 52% disagree, ratio 3.47 • Egypt, 42% disagree, ratio 2.00 • Jordan, 39% disagree, ratio 2.60 • Turkey, 17% disagree, ratio 0.37 • Uzbekistan, 36% disagree, ratio 1.80 • China, 25% disagree, ratio 1.74

13. “Success in life is pretty much determined by forces outside of your control.” • Great Britain, 48% disagree, ratio 3.43 • France, 44% disagree, ratio 2.32 • Germany, 31% disagree, ratio 1.35 • Poland, 29% disagree, ratio 1.45 • Ukraine, 35% disagree, ratio 1.30 • Russia, 36% disagree, ratio 2.25 • United States, 65% disagree, ratio 7.22

14. What’s the proper role of the state? • “It is the responsibility of the (state or government) to take care of very poor people who can’t take care of themselves.” • % Completely Agree…. • Turkey, 73% • Uzbekistan, 70% • India 74%

15. “It is the responsibility of the (state or government) to take care of very poor people who can’t take care of themselves.” • % completely agree • Great Britain, 59% • Germany, 45% • Poland, 59% • Ukraine, 57% • Russia, 70% • United States, 29%

16. It’s a Small Welfare State After All Low spending… Low taxes…

17. Colonial Life • Was there an ethos of the “frontier” • Governments most closely related to English Shires

18. The Articles of Confederation (1781-1787) • Shared beliefs: • Government in the hands of people • Strong legislature • Articles of Confederation: • State representation • No executive • Weak national gov

19. Constitution

20. Constitutional Design • Article I: Legislative • Article II: Executive • Article III: Judicial • 6 other articles • Only 8,000 words!

21. Checks & Balances(Separation of Powers)

22. Federalism in the US · 1 Federal Government · 50 States & the District of Colombia · Puerto Rico & 4 Insular Areas · 561 Federally-Recognized Indian Tribes · 3034 County Governments · 13,506 School Districts · 16,504 Townships and Towns · 19,429 Municipal Governments · 35,052 “Special Districts”

23. Anyone care to guess how many people hold elected office in the United States?

24. Ohio Congressional Districts

25. Changing Locations of “Government” • 1807 • 1907 • 2007

27. Why Two Parties?

28. U.S. Voter Turnout is Low

29. Minor Parties in U.S. History

34. Denmark -- Proportional Representation

35. Ok, time for a break • When we come back…. Quickly…. • Congress • The Executive Branch • The Courts

37. Two Brains

39. House 435 Members 2 Year Terms Committee Dominant Majority Party Dominant 110th Congress Lots of Staff Senate 100 Members 6 Year Terms Committees Important Majority Party Important 110th Congress Even More Staff The Basics

40. Representation Representation • Representatives far more independent of party influence in the U.S. • Delegate v. Trustee • States usually more heterogeneous than districts

41. How A bill Becomes a Law…. http://youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ http://youtube.com/watch?v=3xPXOr40XhI

42. How a Bill Becomes a Law • Introduction & Referral • Committee Hearings • Committee Markups • Committee Reports • Schedule Floor Action (Rules, UCRs) • Floor Votes • Conference Committee • Conference Report & Floor Vote • Presidential Signature (or Veto)

45. Committees • Chairs based on committee seniority. • Membership is party proportional. • Staff dominated by majority party • Committee Hierarchy • Exclusive • Non-Exclusive • Appropriations vs. Authorizing

46. The 2.6 Trillion Dollar Budget

48. The Basics • Presidents elected to 4 year terms. • May serve no more than 2 terms. (22nd Amendment) • Must be a U.S. born citizen, at least 35 years old, who has lived in the U.S. for a minimum of 14 years.

49. Formal Presidential Powers Formal Presidential Powers • Administrative head of government • Commander-in-Chief of military • Veto (or sign) legislation • Nominate judges, cabinet secretaries • Treaties, pardons, convene Congress

50. Limits on Presidential Power • May not introduce legislation (cf. prime minister) • May not declare war • Legislative oversight • Judicial review • Impeachment possible • Must use “bully pulpit” and persuasion • “Go public”