2301:
This class was essentially about the principles of government, how those principles led to the design of the constitution, and how political forces flow through it.
Our constitutional democratic republic is just one of the many ways that governments can be organized. It carries with it certain assumptions about the relationship that ought to exist between the individual and government and specifically what government ought to provide for the individual. The unique fact that the U.S. was established by a written document which articulates certain principles in the form of an argument, sets it apart from almost every other system of government attempted. Understand what these principles are and the nature of the argument, as well as the alternative systems that exist.
Principles are one thing, their embodiment in a constitutional system is another. Understand the debate concerning what type of national governing system works best. Federalist #10 and 51 are vitally important, as is the reasoning underlying the system of federalism and checks and balances. Be able to identify specific factors associated with each. This is the appropriate time to introduce Texas and local governments. What roles do states have in the national order? How about cities?
Civil rights and liberties have, and continue to have, contentious histories in the U.S. and Texas. Each defines the relationship between the individual and the state, but with a difference, know the difference and be clear on the definitions between the two. Each of the issues above (checks and balances, federalism and civil rights and liberties) are most clearly understood by virtue of Supreme Court decisions.
Please be clear on the role that the Supreme Court has played in defining each of these issues and recall the specific court cases that we discussed. Our coverage of elections allowed us to revisit the concept of democracy and the question of what in fact qualifies the U.S. to be considered democratic.
Know the system of elections established in the Constitution and the relative merits of direct and indirect elections. Know how the ruling classes can manipulate elections and the manner in which elections have evolved over American history. There are constitutional issues involved here, especially concerning the drawing of congressional districts, but also concerning the financing of elections. We are politically equal, but not socially or financially equal. To what degree can the law compensate the former for a lack of the latter?
Political parties are not in the constitution, but as we have discussed in class, help organize the political process--both internally and externally. Understand the origins of political parties and how they have been modified over time. Know the names of the major parties and especially the current two including the issues they stand for, the groups that support them and how their power has changed over the past century and a half. Know the unique nature of the party system in Texas also.
Public opinion, interest groups and the media are separate ways that political interests can impact the governing process. Each is constitutionally protected, meaning that there are constitutional questions related to the extent of each liberty. Know the issues related to the formation of public opinion, especially the role that ideology plays in helping people make sense of the political world.
Though James Madison pointed out the problems associated with interest groups, and argued that the republican system was primarily designed to limit the violence of factions, recent commentators have pointed out that the existence of an interest is not enough to form a group. Know the factors leading to interest group formation and what these groups do once organized in order to ensure they are heard.
An enlightened citizenry is essential to the governing process, and the media is essential to giving the public the information necessary to become enlightened. But what impact does the media in fact have on the governing process?
2302:
The purpose of 2302 is to introduce you, thoroughly, to the institutions of American government. It is assumed that you have taken 2301 and are familiar with the nature of the national constitutional system and the role that state and local governments play within it, as well as the political organizations that shape the various interests that exist within the country.
We began the semester by reviewing some of these organizations as well as the terminology needed to efficiently conduct the class. Be able to answer a small number of questions related to these issues, especially those related to the constitutional system. There will be a handful of questions about the basic design of each of the three types of institutions (legislative, executive, and judicial) and the differences between the designs in Texas and the United States. Be prepared to address questions related to how each institution keep the others in check. Also remember how the members of each institution are elected.
For the legislature, recall that individual members have goals and objectives and their actions are oriented towards these goals. Think about this as you review the roll of committees and political parties. Be prepared for questions about the bill making process as well as questions about who represents us (meaning the ACC campus) in Washington DC and Austin.
For the executive, remember the changes that have occurred in American history over the role the president is to play in the governing process. What factors have led to the increased strength of the position? How do presidents use their power and how do they get the information necessary to make decisions?
What makes the judiciary unique? On the national level at least their are certain factors associated with how they get their positions which tell us what we might expect from members of the judiciary that might not be true for other office holders. What about the ambiguous nature of the judiciary's power and role in the policymaking process? Remember the key controversies associated with judicial power. Also remember which court case is responsible for the principle power of the judiciary.
We touched briefly on public policymaking, giving specific attention to economic, social welfare and foreign policy. I will not ask a tremendous number of questions about these policies, but be prepared for addressing institutional questions, such as who does what. Know how authority for each policy area is divided among the different constitutional institutions.
In short, since this class has primarily been about institutions, I want you to focus primarily on institutional questions. The goal should that after leaving this class that you understand what sorts of things are in fact occurring when you read or hear a news item about actions from the legislature, executive or judiciary. I'd like you to not only know what in fact is going on, but retain enough information about the process to be able to predict what the likely outcomes are.
Government is essentially the embodiment of the rules that societies have developed for dealing with how to get along. This class has been about understanding those rules.
