What’s wrong with congress?
•
1 like•772 views
Gerrymandering, lack of social representation, pork barrel projects, term limits for committee chairs, ethical scandals, ineffective oversight of the executive branch, abuse of the filibuster are some of the issues that negatively impact Congress according to the document. Women and ethnic minorities make up less than 16% and 7% of Congress respectively. Committee chairs are now subject to term limits of 6 years which has led to loss of expertise and intra-party squabbles.
Report
Share
Report
Share
Recommended
What’s wrong with congress[1]
Gerrymandering and lack of diversity negatively impact Congress. Only 16% of Congress is female and less than 7% are ethnic minorities. Congressmen often spend time and resources on pork barrel projects to please constituents. Committee chairs once had too much power but now face term limits, resulting in less expertise. Scandals in Congress increase public skepticism while divided government and abuse of the filibuster limit oversight of the executive branch.
The 2014 Simon Poll - Voter Opinions on Term Limits in Illinois
The document summarizes the results of the 2014 Simon Poll on voter opinions regarding term limits in Illinois. Some key findings include:
- Over 70% of voters supported implementing 8-year term limits for state legislators and leadership positions, regardless of political affiliation or region.
- Support was consistently high across different voter subgroups, including Democrats, Chicago residents, and those in the public sector.
- The main arguments cited in favor of term limits were that it would make elected officials more responsive and bring in new people with fresh ideas, which over 70% and 80% of voters agreed with, respectively.
Bureaucracy
The document discusses the structure and growth of the federal bureaucracy in the United States. It describes the various types of agencies that make up the executive branch, including cabinet departments, independent agencies, government corporations, and independent regulatory commissions. It also discusses the size, power, and behavior of the federal bureaucracy, and ways that both the president and Congress try to control federal agencies.
PS 101 Public Opinion
Slide show prepared for a series of lectures on public opinion and political socialization for PS 101 American Government at the University of Kentucky, Fall 2007. Dr. Christopher S. Rice, Lecturer.
ap gov chap 8
1) Initially, states decided voter eligibility and which offices citizens could vote for, leading to variation, but Congress has since standardized election laws and expanded suffrage through amendments.
2) Major expansions included the 15th Amendment granting suffrage to African Americans, the 19th Amendment granting women's suffrage, and the 26th Amendment lowering the voting age to 18.
3) While U.S. voter turnout seems low compared to Europe, this is misleading as European data includes non-voters, while U.S. data reflects turnout of registered voters; the real issue is low voter registration rates.
PS 101 Political Parties Fall 2008
Political parties are organizations created to win elections and govern once in office. They are coalitions of various groups and interests. The US generally has a two-party system due to its electoral rules, restrictions on minor parties, and public attitudes. This discourages the rise of third parties and keeps power centered in the two major parties. Minor parties can still play a role by bringing new ideas and grievances into the political process.
PO 202 Parties and Interest Groups
This document provides an overview of political parties and interest groups in the United States. It defines political parties as coalitions that recruit, nominate, and elect candidates to control government and implement their policies. It also discusses the variation within and between parties. The document then covers the key components of political parties, including party organizations, party members, and elected officials. It concludes with a brief discussion of interest groups, how they try to influence policy, and common lobbying strategies.
Elections
This document summarizes several key aspects of electoral politics and voting behavior. It discusses how voters often rely on cognitive shortcuts like party affiliation, issues, or candidate characteristics rather than getting fully informed. It also describes the phenomenon of split-ticket voting, where people vote for different parties in different races, and some of the theories for why this occurs. The document then covers gerrymandering and redistricting, including legal precedents, how it is used to manipulate electoral outcomes, and terms like packing and cracking voters. It concludes by discussing political implications like incumbent advantages and the modern role of fundraising, political ads, and independent groups in elections.
Recommended
What’s wrong with congress[1]
Gerrymandering and lack of diversity negatively impact Congress. Only 16% of Congress is female and less than 7% are ethnic minorities. Congressmen often spend time and resources on pork barrel projects to please constituents. Committee chairs once had too much power but now face term limits, resulting in less expertise. Scandals in Congress increase public skepticism while divided government and abuse of the filibuster limit oversight of the executive branch.
The 2014 Simon Poll - Voter Opinions on Term Limits in Illinois
The document summarizes the results of the 2014 Simon Poll on voter opinions regarding term limits in Illinois. Some key findings include:
- Over 70% of voters supported implementing 8-year term limits for state legislators and leadership positions, regardless of political affiliation or region.
- Support was consistently high across different voter subgroups, including Democrats, Chicago residents, and those in the public sector.
- The main arguments cited in favor of term limits were that it would make elected officials more responsive and bring in new people with fresh ideas, which over 70% and 80% of voters agreed with, respectively.
Bureaucracy
The document discusses the structure and growth of the federal bureaucracy in the United States. It describes the various types of agencies that make up the executive branch, including cabinet departments, independent agencies, government corporations, and independent regulatory commissions. It also discusses the size, power, and behavior of the federal bureaucracy, and ways that both the president and Congress try to control federal agencies.
PS 101 Public Opinion
Slide show prepared for a series of lectures on public opinion and political socialization for PS 101 American Government at the University of Kentucky, Fall 2007. Dr. Christopher S. Rice, Lecturer.
ap gov chap 8
1) Initially, states decided voter eligibility and which offices citizens could vote for, leading to variation, but Congress has since standardized election laws and expanded suffrage through amendments.
2) Major expansions included the 15th Amendment granting suffrage to African Americans, the 19th Amendment granting women's suffrage, and the 26th Amendment lowering the voting age to 18.
3) While U.S. voter turnout seems low compared to Europe, this is misleading as European data includes non-voters, while U.S. data reflects turnout of registered voters; the real issue is low voter registration rates.
PS 101 Political Parties Fall 2008
Political parties are organizations created to win elections and govern once in office. They are coalitions of various groups and interests. The US generally has a two-party system due to its electoral rules, restrictions on minor parties, and public attitudes. This discourages the rise of third parties and keeps power centered in the two major parties. Minor parties can still play a role by bringing new ideas and grievances into the political process.
PO 202 Parties and Interest Groups
This document provides an overview of political parties and interest groups in the United States. It defines political parties as coalitions that recruit, nominate, and elect candidates to control government and implement their policies. It also discusses the variation within and between parties. The document then covers the key components of political parties, including party organizations, party members, and elected officials. It concludes with a brief discussion of interest groups, how they try to influence policy, and common lobbying strategies.
Elections
This document summarizes several key aspects of electoral politics and voting behavior. It discusses how voters often rely on cognitive shortcuts like party affiliation, issues, or candidate characteristics rather than getting fully informed. It also describes the phenomenon of split-ticket voting, where people vote for different parties in different races, and some of the theories for why this occurs. The document then covers gerrymandering and redistricting, including legal precedents, how it is used to manipulate electoral outcomes, and terms like packing and cracking voters. It concludes by discussing political implications like incumbent advantages and the modern role of fundraising, political ads, and independent groups in elections.
Sociales
The document discusses the requirements and role of the president in a unitary system of government. To be elected president, one must be a native birth citizen with political rights and have a 4 year term limit. The president oversees the executive branch of government, has appointive powers over cabinet members and public officers, and works with a limited self-governing congress.
ap gov chap 15
The document discusses the growth and development of the United States bureaucracy from the 19th century to present day. It describes how the bureaucracy expanded in response to the Civil War, industrialization, the Great Depression, and World War II. Today the bureaucracy continues to grow modestly in terms of employees, but significantly through contracting and state/local government partnerships. Constraints on federal agencies come from laws and responsiveness to citizens.
PO 101 Governors and Executives
Governors possess both formal and informal powers that allow them to influence policy and politics. Some of their most significant formal powers include appointment powers to politicize the bureaucracy, budgetary authority to influence programs, and veto power. Informal powers involve using the bully pulpit to shape public opinion and persuade the legislature. Governors aim to strengthen their party by supporting other members and aligning their agenda with party goals. Their influence depends on maintaining popularity and a strong relationship with their state legislative majority.
Executives
This document discusses different types of government executive systems including parliamentarism, presidentialism, and semi-presidentialism. It provides details on the nature of the executive office including the electoral mechanism and relationship with the legislative branch. Key aspects of different systems are outlined such as the head of state typically being symbolic while the head of government implements policies. Differences between parliamentarism and presidentialism are highlighted regarding selection process and ability to dissolve the legislature.
Legislatures and Legislative Elections
This document provides an overview of legislatures and legislative systems. It discusses the key features of parliamentary and presidential systems, including that parliamentary systems have an executive selected from the legislature who can be removed by a legislative vote of no confidence, while presidential systems have a separation of powers between the independent executive and legislature. It also covers types of electoral systems, representation, legislative functions like lawmaking and oversight, and comparisons between unicameral and bicameral legislatures.
Constitutions and Constitutional Design
The document outlines a lecture for a class on rewriting the US Constitution. It provides background on types of constitutions, principles for an effective constitution, debates during the original Constitutional Convention, examples of federalism, and positives and negatives of federalism. Students are assigned to write an outline for a new US Constitution, detailing what would change - what provisions would be added or removed and why.
ap gov chap 9
Political parties in the US have become weaker over time. They were disliked by the founders but grew in importance during the Jacksonian era. However, reforms introduced by progressives curtailed parties' power and influence. This weakened parties and made them less able to hold officeholders accountable. Additionally, the federal system and state laws regulating parties have decentralized power and further weakened them. Now, candidates are chosen through primaries rather than being selected by party leaders. While parties still provide labels and organizations, their ability to coordinate across branches of government has declined.
Chapt 12 interest groups
Interest groups represent different interests in society and seek to influence the policy process through both insider tactics like lobbying and litigation, and outsider tactics that influence elections and media. They serve representation, participation, and information functions, but some argue they primarily benefit wealthy special interests. Pluralists see competition between groups as moderating and improving policy, while critics argue it distorts outcomes away from the public good. The influence of iron triangles of agencies, committees, and groups has also been questioned as potentially undermining democracy.
ap gov chap 4
American political culture emphasizes values such as liberty, equality, democracy, civic duty, and individual responsibility. There is also a strong emphasis on free enterprise but with some acceptance of limits. Americans believe in equality of opportunity but not necessarily equality of outcome. Political and religious beliefs have played an important role in American politics. However, trust in government and feelings of political efficacy have declined somewhat since the 1950s.
POL 252 Legislatures
This document provides an overview of legislatures and legislative systems. It discusses the key features of parliamentary and presidential systems, including that parliamentary systems have an executive selected from the legislature who can be removed by a legislative vote of no confidence, while presidential systems have a separation of powers between the independent executive and legislature. It also covers types of electoral systems, representation, legislative functions like lawmaking and oversight, and comparisons of unicameral and bicameral legislatures.
ap gov chap 11
This document discusses interest groups and their role in influencing public policy in the United States. It covers the different types of interest groups, their incentives for joining, their activities like lobbying and fundraising, and debates around their influence on politics. Some key points include that interest groups seek to influence policy in many areas left open by the constitution and weak parties, they represent both institutional and individual membership interests, and their ability to influence policy debates is complex with both benefits and risks of bias.
Corruption - PSA
A short introduction of a trendy topic in order to see how it is getting our world more corrupted day by day from the view of three citizens.
Civics Chapter 23
The document discusses the history and process of voting and elections in the United States. It covers who could vote in the past compared to modern day, the voter registration process, election day procedures, types of elections, and the electoral college system. It also discusses campaign strategies such as getting messages out through advertising, direct mail, and personal appearances.
Immigration Analysis MC 7-20-15
This document summarizes the results of a survey of 1,000 registered US voters about their attitudes toward undocumented immigrants. It finds that a majority of voters across age groups, regions, and political parties hold positive views of undocumented immigrants in 9 out of 10 attitude probes. Views were most negative in the South Central region, and among strong Republicans, who were the only group where a majority agreed with Donald Trump's statements linking immigrants to crime. Overall, the survey finds widespread favorable attitudes toward undocumented immigrants among US voters.
American political system ppt
This document discusses different models of political participation including getting elected, campaigning, voting, contacting groups, and protesting. It also examines the linkages between citizens and the government through political institutions like parties, interest groups, elections, and media. It asks questions about how these institutions link citizens to the government and their roles in policymaking, specifically looking at how parties, interest groups, elections, Congress, the President, and courts all contribute to the political process.
Political Participation
The document discusses factors that affect political participation and voter turnout in the United States. It notes that while Americans vote less than citizens of other countries, they engage in other forms of participation like protests and civic groups. Barriers to voter registration like poll taxes historically suppressed turnout, but reforms like the Motor Voter Act increased registration. Higher education, age 40-70, and race (with African Americans voting at similar rates as whites with the same demographics) are linked to higher turnout.
(Week 4) political participation
The document discusses various forms of political participation, including voting, campaigning, contacting officials, and joining interest groups. It examines factors that influence participation such as income, age, race, and gender. Voter turnout in the US increased in the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections due to voter mobilization efforts. However, the US generally has lower voter participation rates than other industrialized democracies. Low turnout could create participation bias that favors those who are older, employed, better educated and identify with political parties.
Presentation1
The document compares the political systems of the USA and UK. It outlines key differences in their constitutions, forms of government, separation of powers, democratic processes, political parties, and elections. While the USA has a presidential system with separation of powers, the UK has a parliamentary system with fusion of powers. The Supreme Court also has more authority in the USA to overrule other branches compared to the UK.
Vice president
John Adams, the first Vice President of the United States, believed the office of Vice President to be insignificant, as its powers were limited. However, he recognized its potential importance, as the Vice President assumes the presidency if the president dies or resigns. This has occurred nine times in U.S. history. While the Vice President has few defined powers, the office has taken on increasing significance over time, with more responsibilities delegated by presidents and a role as an advisor and spokesperson for the administration.
Legislation problems in congress
The document discusses the difficulties in passing legislation through Congress. It notes that only a small percentage of bills become law due to institutional barriers like checks and balances and the need for supermajorities. Committees have significant power over bills. Legislation is further complicated when different parties control the houses or presidency, or when power is decentralized. The legislative process is designed to make new laws difficult to enact.
Presidency key terms
This document defines and explains several key terms related to presidential powers:
1) Executive orders allow presidents to manage operations within the federal government by directing executive branch agencies and officers. While not explicitly authorized, they are supported by the president's executive power.
2) Signing statements are written by presidents upon signing bills and can be controversial if used to modify laws' meanings instead of just clarifying implementation.
3) Executive agreements are international agreements made by the president without Senate ratification, though some are authorized by Congress in advance. They have the force of treaties according to the Supreme Court.
Imperial presidency v imperilled
The document discusses the growth of presidential power in the US from the New Deal era through the Nixon presidency, which culminated in the "imperial presidency" with wide authority over foreign policy. However, in response to abuses of power during the Vietnam War and Watergate scandal, Congress took steps to increase oversight of the president and curb some executive powers through acts like the War Powers Resolution, reducing the imperial model and imperiling the presidency.
More Related Content
What's hot
Sociales
The document discusses the requirements and role of the president in a unitary system of government. To be elected president, one must be a native birth citizen with political rights and have a 4 year term limit. The president oversees the executive branch of government, has appointive powers over cabinet members and public officers, and works with a limited self-governing congress.
ap gov chap 15
The document discusses the growth and development of the United States bureaucracy from the 19th century to present day. It describes how the bureaucracy expanded in response to the Civil War, industrialization, the Great Depression, and World War II. Today the bureaucracy continues to grow modestly in terms of employees, but significantly through contracting and state/local government partnerships. Constraints on federal agencies come from laws and responsiveness to citizens.
PO 101 Governors and Executives
Governors possess both formal and informal powers that allow them to influence policy and politics. Some of their most significant formal powers include appointment powers to politicize the bureaucracy, budgetary authority to influence programs, and veto power. Informal powers involve using the bully pulpit to shape public opinion and persuade the legislature. Governors aim to strengthen their party by supporting other members and aligning their agenda with party goals. Their influence depends on maintaining popularity and a strong relationship with their state legislative majority.
Executives
This document discusses different types of government executive systems including parliamentarism, presidentialism, and semi-presidentialism. It provides details on the nature of the executive office including the electoral mechanism and relationship with the legislative branch. Key aspects of different systems are outlined such as the head of state typically being symbolic while the head of government implements policies. Differences between parliamentarism and presidentialism are highlighted regarding selection process and ability to dissolve the legislature.
Legislatures and Legislative Elections
This document provides an overview of legislatures and legislative systems. It discusses the key features of parliamentary and presidential systems, including that parliamentary systems have an executive selected from the legislature who can be removed by a legislative vote of no confidence, while presidential systems have a separation of powers between the independent executive and legislature. It also covers types of electoral systems, representation, legislative functions like lawmaking and oversight, and comparisons between unicameral and bicameral legislatures.
Constitutions and Constitutional Design
The document outlines a lecture for a class on rewriting the US Constitution. It provides background on types of constitutions, principles for an effective constitution, debates during the original Constitutional Convention, examples of federalism, and positives and negatives of federalism. Students are assigned to write an outline for a new US Constitution, detailing what would change - what provisions would be added or removed and why.
ap gov chap 9
Political parties in the US have become weaker over time. They were disliked by the founders but grew in importance during the Jacksonian era. However, reforms introduced by progressives curtailed parties' power and influence. This weakened parties and made them less able to hold officeholders accountable. Additionally, the federal system and state laws regulating parties have decentralized power and further weakened them. Now, candidates are chosen through primaries rather than being selected by party leaders. While parties still provide labels and organizations, their ability to coordinate across branches of government has declined.
Chapt 12 interest groups
Interest groups represent different interests in society and seek to influence the policy process through both insider tactics like lobbying and litigation, and outsider tactics that influence elections and media. They serve representation, participation, and information functions, but some argue they primarily benefit wealthy special interests. Pluralists see competition between groups as moderating and improving policy, while critics argue it distorts outcomes away from the public good. The influence of iron triangles of agencies, committees, and groups has also been questioned as potentially undermining democracy.
ap gov chap 4
American political culture emphasizes values such as liberty, equality, democracy, civic duty, and individual responsibility. There is also a strong emphasis on free enterprise but with some acceptance of limits. Americans believe in equality of opportunity but not necessarily equality of outcome. Political and religious beliefs have played an important role in American politics. However, trust in government and feelings of political efficacy have declined somewhat since the 1950s.
POL 252 Legislatures
This document provides an overview of legislatures and legislative systems. It discusses the key features of parliamentary and presidential systems, including that parliamentary systems have an executive selected from the legislature who can be removed by a legislative vote of no confidence, while presidential systems have a separation of powers between the independent executive and legislature. It also covers types of electoral systems, representation, legislative functions like lawmaking and oversight, and comparisons of unicameral and bicameral legislatures.
ap gov chap 11
This document discusses interest groups and their role in influencing public policy in the United States. It covers the different types of interest groups, their incentives for joining, their activities like lobbying and fundraising, and debates around their influence on politics. Some key points include that interest groups seek to influence policy in many areas left open by the constitution and weak parties, they represent both institutional and individual membership interests, and their ability to influence policy debates is complex with both benefits and risks of bias.
Corruption - PSA
A short introduction of a trendy topic in order to see how it is getting our world more corrupted day by day from the view of three citizens.
Civics Chapter 23
The document discusses the history and process of voting and elections in the United States. It covers who could vote in the past compared to modern day, the voter registration process, election day procedures, types of elections, and the electoral college system. It also discusses campaign strategies such as getting messages out through advertising, direct mail, and personal appearances.
Immigration Analysis MC 7-20-15
This document summarizes the results of a survey of 1,000 registered US voters about their attitudes toward undocumented immigrants. It finds that a majority of voters across age groups, regions, and political parties hold positive views of undocumented immigrants in 9 out of 10 attitude probes. Views were most negative in the South Central region, and among strong Republicans, who were the only group where a majority agreed with Donald Trump's statements linking immigrants to crime. Overall, the survey finds widespread favorable attitudes toward undocumented immigrants among US voters.
American political system ppt
This document discusses different models of political participation including getting elected, campaigning, voting, contacting groups, and protesting. It also examines the linkages between citizens and the government through political institutions like parties, interest groups, elections, and media. It asks questions about how these institutions link citizens to the government and their roles in policymaking, specifically looking at how parties, interest groups, elections, Congress, the President, and courts all contribute to the political process.
Political Participation
The document discusses factors that affect political participation and voter turnout in the United States. It notes that while Americans vote less than citizens of other countries, they engage in other forms of participation like protests and civic groups. Barriers to voter registration like poll taxes historically suppressed turnout, but reforms like the Motor Voter Act increased registration. Higher education, age 40-70, and race (with African Americans voting at similar rates as whites with the same demographics) are linked to higher turnout.
(Week 4) political participation
The document discusses various forms of political participation, including voting, campaigning, contacting officials, and joining interest groups. It examines factors that influence participation such as income, age, race, and gender. Voter turnout in the US increased in the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections due to voter mobilization efforts. However, the US generally has lower voter participation rates than other industrialized democracies. Low turnout could create participation bias that favors those who are older, employed, better educated and identify with political parties.
Presentation1
The document compares the political systems of the USA and UK. It outlines key differences in their constitutions, forms of government, separation of powers, democratic processes, political parties, and elections. While the USA has a presidential system with separation of powers, the UK has a parliamentary system with fusion of powers. The Supreme Court also has more authority in the USA to overrule other branches compared to the UK.
What's hot (18)
Viewers also liked
Vice president
John Adams, the first Vice President of the United States, believed the office of Vice President to be insignificant, as its powers were limited. However, he recognized its potential importance, as the Vice President assumes the presidency if the president dies or resigns. This has occurred nine times in U.S. history. While the Vice President has few defined powers, the office has taken on increasing significance over time, with more responsibilities delegated by presidents and a role as an advisor and spokesperson for the administration.
Legislation problems in congress
The document discusses the difficulties in passing legislation through Congress. It notes that only a small percentage of bills become law due to institutional barriers like checks and balances and the need for supermajorities. Committees have significant power over bills. Legislation is further complicated when different parties control the houses or presidency, or when power is decentralized. The legislative process is designed to make new laws difficult to enact.
Presidency key terms
This document defines and explains several key terms related to presidential powers:
1) Executive orders allow presidents to manage operations within the federal government by directing executive branch agencies and officers. While not explicitly authorized, they are supported by the president's executive power.
2) Signing statements are written by presidents upon signing bills and can be controversial if used to modify laws' meanings instead of just clarifying implementation.
3) Executive agreements are international agreements made by the president without Senate ratification, though some are authorized by Congress in advance. They have the force of treaties according to the Supreme Court.
Imperial presidency v imperilled
The document discusses the growth of presidential power in the US from the New Deal era through the Nixon presidency, which culminated in the "imperial presidency" with wide authority over foreign policy. However, in response to abuses of power during the Vietnam War and Watergate scandal, Congress took steps to increase oversight of the president and curb some executive powers through acts like the War Powers Resolution, reducing the imperial model and imperiling the presidency.
Conservatism
Traditional conservatism supports individualism, private property, nationalism, paternalism and traditional values and institutions while opposing radical change and believing in organic societies. One Nation conservatism is more progressive, emphasizing unity between classes and the importance of a social safety net to deal with poverty through limited redistribution and government market regulation. Thatcherism accepts the need for radical change, prioritizing free markets, privatization, reduced trade union power, lower taxes, law and order, nationalism and traditional moral values.
The cabinet and exop
The document discusses the roles of the Cabinet and Executive Office of the President (EXOP) and their relative importance to the President. It notes that the Cabinet meets infrequently and the President can overrule it, while the EXOP consists of close personal aides that may have a longer-term relationship with the President and can spearhead policy initiatives. Overall, the importance of each group depends on the individual leadership style of the President.
Viewers also liked (6)
Similar to What’s wrong with congress?
Ch. 5 - Congress Basics
The document discusses Americans' current attitudes towards Congress, noting that approval ratings for Congress are quite low according to polls. It seems the author thinks Congress is not very effective or representative of the American people given low approval ratings. Overall the passage shows that most Americans are dissatisfied with the job Congress is doing.
Government ch. 8 & 9 - the presidency
The document discusses the qualifications, roles, and election process for the US President and Vice President. It covers:
1) The formal qualifications to be President, the succession order, and the Vice President's roles as outlined in the Constitution.
2) How the Electoral College system works, including its origins as a compromise and current issues with the system.
3) The selection and roles of the Cabinet, including advising the President and administering large bureaucracies.
4) The powers granted to the President in the Constitution and limits on those powers from Congress, courts, bureaucracy, and public opinion.
Chapter Sixteen
The Voting Rights Acts of 1965 had a tremendously positive effect on African Americans' participation in government by:
1. Abolishing discriminatory voter registration laws and practices in many states, such as literacy tests and poll taxes, that had previously prevented many African Americans from registering to vote.
2. Authorizing federal oversight of voter registration and elections in states and local governments with a history of discrimination. This federal oversight ensured that African Americans in the South could finally exercise their right to vote free from intimidation and unfair barriers.
3. Dramatically increasing the number of registered African American voters and the number who turned out to vote. Within 5 years of the Voting Rights Act, voter registration and turnout among African Americans
Linkage institutions
This document provides an overview of the US political system and process. It discusses political ideology, party systems, the history and organization of political parties in the US including Democrats, Republicans, and third parties. It also covers public opinion, interest groups, voting, elections, and how a bill becomes law. Key aspects of the legislative and executive branches are outlined as well, including the organization and functions of political parties, Congress, the presidency, and federal bureaucracy.
Elections and voting
The document discusses the US electoral process and voting system. It covers topics like voter registration requirements, primary and general elections, the role of the electoral college, campaign financing, and criticisms of the current system. It provides details on how elections work at the federal, state, and local level in a concise yet comprehensive manner.
More About Congress
The document discusses the practice of gerrymandering, which is drawing electoral district boundaries to favor one political party. There are two main types: political gerrymandering aims to help one party, while racial gerrymandering underrepresents racial minorities. Districts are supposed to be compact and contiguous, but the party in power of a state legislature can manipulate boundaries for political advantage every ten years. Some reform efforts have tried to eliminate gerrymandering but have failed to pass. A recent court case found North Carolina guilty of racial gerrymandering.
We The People powerpoint presentation. 1
The document summarizes key aspects of the US Congress, including:
- Congress has two chambers, the House and Senate, which differ in representation models and terms. The Senate has two senators per state with six-year terms, while the House has representatives allocated by population with two-year terms.
- Representatives act as both sociological and agency representatives of constituents. They learn constituent interests and face electoral incentives to vote accordingly.
- Gerrymandering, incumbency advantages, and safe districts influence who gets elected. The majority party controls the agenda and committee assignments.
- For a bill to become law it must pass both chambers and not be vetoed by the president, which can override a
Chapter 10b
The document discusses three types of elections in the United States: primary elections where voters select party nominees, general elections between party nominees, and specific elections on referendum questions. It then summarizes three pivotal elections in US history: the 1800 election which was the first peaceful transition of power; the 1896 election which was a bitter fight over economic issues; and the 2008 election where Obama campaigned on health care reform and became the first African American president.
Carlos' presentation on the American political system - second round
The document provides an overview of the U.S. political system, including the development of the two major parties (Democratic and Republican), the electoral college process, and requirements for running for political office. It discusses how political parties formed in the 1800s, key ideals of each major party, and historical voting restrictions. It then walks through the process for an individual running for Congress and president, including primary elections, campaign financing, and winning the electoral college vote.
Chapter 10 presentation
The document provides an overview of Congress and its structure and roles. It discusses how Congress is made up of two chambers, the House of Representatives and the Senate, due to the Great Compromise between large and small states. It describes the qualifications and elections of members of each chamber. It also outlines the key roles of members of Congress as legislators, representatives, committee members, and public servants.
AG Chapter 6 Section 4
This document discusses voter behavior and nonvoting in the United States. It finds that tens of millions vote in national elections yet millions more do not, though many have no valid reason not to. Those least likely to vote tend to be younger, unmarried, unskilled, living in rural areas of the South, men, and those with a lower sense of political efficacy. Sociological factors like age, income, education, and group affiliations influence voter behavior, as do psychological factors like party identification and perceptions of politics, candidates, and issues.
Unit 4 voting
This document discusses the history of suffrage and voting rights in the United States. It begins by noting that the Constitution originally left voter qualifications up to the states, most of which only allowed white, male property owners to vote. Over the next 200 years, voting rights gradually expanded through constitutional amendments and federal legislation. Key milestones included the 15th, 19th, 23rd, 24th, and 26th amendments, as well as the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Today, nearly all citizens over 18 can vote, though states still impose residency and registration requirements. Sociological factors like gender, race, religion, education and geography continue to influence voting patterns in the US.
Unit 4 academic
The document provides an overview of the structure and functions of the US Congress. It discusses the two chambers (House of Representatives and Senate), their roles and responsibilities, committee system, and the process for how a bill becomes a law. Key points include Congress having the power to declare war, regulate commerce, and coin money. The House originates revenue bills and representation is based on population. The Senate provides advice and consent on treaties and presidential appointments.
Unit 4 academic
The document provides an overview of the structure and functions of the US Congress. It discusses the two chambers (House of Representatives and Senate), their roles and responsibilities, committee system, and the process for how a bill becomes a law. Key points include Congress having the power to declare war, regulate commerce, and coin money. The House originates revenue bills and representation is based on population. The Senate provides advice and consent on treaties and presidential appointments.
Civics review unit 4 power point
This unit covers how elections function in the United States, including political action committees (PACs) and interest groups. It defines key vocabulary words related to citizenship, the electoral process, political parties, and propaganda. The document outlines the rights, duties, and responsibilities of citizens and non-citizens and how one can become a naturalized citizen. It also describes how elections are conducted at local, state, and national levels and some criticisms of the electoral college system.
Path to Presidency
The document discusses the process for electing the U.S. president, beginning with the rationale for the Electoral College system established in the Constitution. It then explains how the Electoral College works, allocating electoral votes to states based on their Congressional representation. It notes criticisms of the system before discussing why changes have been difficult. The document concludes by outlining the modern nomination process and key dates for the upcoming 2012 election.
Democratic Party Platform
The current Platform of the Democratic Party. 49% of Americans say the Democratic Party is “too liberal”; current trends point to a polarization of the Democratic Party that began with "Reagan Democrats" in the 1980s. This polarization indicates the possibility of a future split within the party of "Democrats" and "Socialists". Many policies in the party today mirror the far left policies of European socialist parties.
Congress pwpt
The document describes the structure and processes of Congress as established by the Constitution, including the roles of the House and Senate, requirements for membership, election advantages for incumbents, the organization of Congressional committees, and the multi-step process for how a bill becomes a law. It also discusses factors that influence members of Congress such as constituents, lobbyists, ideology, and party leadership.
Unit2 Voting and Voter Behavior
This document provides an outline and overview of topics related to elections, voting, and voter behavior in the United States. It discusses how candidates are nominated, the primary election process, general elections and campaigns, laws around voting rights, and factors that influence voter behavior. Key points covered include the caucus and convention system, different types of primary elections, campaign financing from various public and private sources, and laws regulating elections and campaign finance.
Chapter 13 presidency
The President has many roles including chief of state, chief executive, commander in chief, and party chief. The President must play all these roles simultaneously. To be President, one must have the formal qualifications of meeting age and citizenship requirements, though in the past white males had an advantage. Informally, wealth, religion, background and military service can influence one's chances. The President serves up to two four-year terms and makes $400,000 annually, with a $50,000 expense allowance. If the President is disabled, the Vice President becomes acting President.
Similar to What’s wrong with congress? (20)
Carlos' presentation on the American political system - second round
Carlos' presentation on the American political system - second round
More from aquinaspolitics
John rawls (1921 2002) – a brief
John Rawls (1921-2002) was a hugely influential US philosopher known for attempting to reconcile liberal beliefs in freedom with the need to prevent excessive inequality in society. His best known work, A Theory of Justice (1972), proposed a thought experiment where people create a just society from behind a "veil of ignorance" without knowing their place in it. Rawls argued this would lead people to choose principles guaranteeing equal rights, respect for all, and a minimum standard of living so that the worst off are not below a certain level, even if this requires some inequalities. He called this the "difference principle."
The house of lords – functions
The document summarizes the four core functions of the House of Lords: making laws, holding the government accountable, acting as a forum of independent expertise, and carrying out judicial work as the highest court in the UK. It provides details on how the House of Lords spends its time scrutinizing legislation, questioning government ministers, and debating policies. It also gives examples of how Lords committees have influenced policy areas like mental health and internet security by gathering evidence from experts.
The executive branch the presidency
The document provides information about the executive branch of the US government. It discusses the president's constitutional powers, notable past presidents, the increasing role of the president over time, and the president's ability to persuade rather than command. It also outlines the vice president's role and increasing responsibilities. Additionally, it examines the cabinet, federal bureaucracy, and Executive Office of the President, including key offices like the White House Office and roles like the Chief of Staff. Iron triangles and tensions between the cabinet and EOP are also mentioned.
The power of the president is limited to persuasion 30 marker
The document discusses the powers of the U.S. President and their dependence on Congress. It notes that the President feels they must "persuade people to do what they ought to have sense enough to do." It also outlines some of the tools Presidents can use to persuade or influence Congress, such as making calls/visits to build support. However, the President is still dependent on Congress for legislation and funding. Even when a party controls both branches, Congress does not always support the President's agenda.
The cabinet and exop
The document compares the Cabinet and the Executive Office of the President (EXOP) in terms of their importance to the President. The Cabinet tends to ensure the work of the executive branch is coordinated, but plays a limited role by meeting infrequently and members may not be close to the President. The EXOP consists of the President's personal aides in components like the NSC and OMB. EXOP members can play a more significant role through closer proximity and longer-term relationships with the President. However, some Cabinet members have also significantly shaped policy. The importance of each depends on the individual President's leadership style.
How can presidents win in congress
The document discusses the powers and responsibilities of the US Presidency. It outlines the President's role in proposing and signing legislation, submitting budgets, making nominations, and negotiating treaties. It also examines factors that influence a President's ability to pass proposals, such as popularity, whether the government is divided or united, crises, and relationships with Congress. Overall, the President must use a variety of formal and informal tactics to lead effectively, including bargaining, compromise and persuasion.
President and power of veto
The document discusses the presidential veto power granted by the Constitution. It allows the president to return unsigned bills to Congress with objections. Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate. The document provides examples of past presidents' veto records, showing Bill Clinton had the highest success rate at blocking legislation, while George W. Bush had the lowest due to multiple overrides by Congress.
How can the president circumvent congress
Executive orders allow presidents to manage operations within the federal government without congressional approval. However, the Supreme Court ruled that presidents cannot use executive orders to make new laws. Presidents since the 1950s generally cite which existing laws their executive orders are based on. Signing statements are issued when a president signs a bill into law and can be used to interpret statutes, though some argue this modifies laws without congressional approval. Executive agreements are international agreements made by the president without senate ratification and have the force of treaties despite questions over their constitutionality.
The imperial presidency
The term "Imperial Presidency" originated in the 1970s to describe the perceived abuse of power by presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon during the Vietnam War and Watergate scandal. Historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. argued that the presidency had become dominant over Congress, with the executive branch resembling a royal court. Subsequent presidents, including Reagan with the Iran-Contra affair and Clinton with treaties and wars not authorized by Congress, were also said to expand presidential power beyond what the Founding Fathers intended in the Constitution by taking war-making authority for themselves. Whether modern presidencies should truly be considered "imperial" is still debated.
Powers of the president alone
The document outlines the various powers of the US President, including powers they wield alone such as serving as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, receiving ambassadors, and granting pardons. Some powers are shared with the Senate, like making treaties and appointing ambassadors and judges. Other powers are shared with Congress, such as approving legislation. The President also acts as the head of their party and uses the bully pulpit to push their agenda.
Imperial presidency v imperilled
The document contrasts the "Imperial Presidency" of the 1960s-70s, when presidential power grew due to expanding foreign policy roles and deference from Congress, culminating in Nixon's presidency and the abuses of Vietnam and Watergate, with the "Imperilled Presidency" of the 1970s, when Congress acted to increase oversight of the president through new organizations, laws, and by threatening Nixon with impeachment to reduce unchecked executive power in the aftermath of the Nixon presidency's abuses.
The british constitution
The British constitution is not set out in a single document but rather has evolved over many years through a combination of written laws, court rulings, conventions and traditions. It serves several functions including distributing power, protecting freedoms, defining limits on government, and providing stability. Unlike other nations like the US, the British constitution is partly written and uncodified, with sources scattered across documents, and can be amended through regular acts of parliament rather than a special process. Recent constitutional reforms under New Labour focused on areas like the House of Lords, devolution, freedom of information and human rights.
Civil service
The civil service originated in the East India Company and was formalized in the 19th century. A 1954 report recommended professionalizing the civil service by implementing examinations, merit-based promotions, and generalist roles rather than technical specialists. Civil servants are divided into service-wide administrators and specialists, and departmental groups. Reforms since the 1960s have aimed to increase efficiency and introduce private sector practices through initiatives like Next Steps agencies, the Citizen's Charter, and New Labour's Modernising Government white paper. However, critics argue reforms have overly politicized and businessized the civil service at the expense of its traditional impartiality and public service ethos.
As constitutional, parliamentary and electoral reform
The document discusses various electoral systems used in the UK, including majoritarian systems like FPTP and alternative vote (AV), proportional representation systems like party list and single transferable vote (STV), and hybrid systems like additional member system (AMS). It also examines the impact that electoral reform has had on different political parties in the UK and prospects for further reform.
As
The document provides an overview of the UK constitution, including what a constitution is, the sources of the UK constitution (both written and unwritten), the history and changes over time, key concepts like sovereignty and the unitary system, arguments for and against an uncodified constitution, and the branches of government and separation/fusion of powers. It covers the core structures and concepts that make up the UK's unwritten constitution.
Judges
This document presents information about the court system and human rights in the UK in a slideshow format. It discusses the different levels of courts, including magistrates courts, crown courts, appeal courts, and the Law Lords. It also addresses civil courts like county courts and the high court. Additionally, it covers ways that human rights are protected, such as through judicial review, administrative tribunals, and political processes. Finally, it discusses police accountability to the public, MPs, and authorities like the Complaints Authority and Police Authority.
Independence or neutrality
Judges in many countries are intended to be independent and impartial arbiters of the law who are not influenced by political pressures or personal biases. They aim to decide cases fairly based solely on the facts and law, and avoid any conflicts of interest, in order to uphold the principle that everyone is equal before the law. However, it can be difficult to be completely unaffected by one's own background or experience.
Judicial review as
Judicial review refers to the process by which courts scrutinize actions by the legislature, executive, and other government bodies. Courts have the power to interpret statutes and review administrative actions for legal authority. While UK courts cannot strike down legislation due to parliamentary sovereignty, they can review statutes for compliance with EU law or human rights and determine whether executive actions exceed legal powers. Courts balance interpreting the letter and intention of the law, and their scrutiny of government has increased in recent decades in the UK.
As the judiciary
The judiciary upholds and interprets the law, and is intended to perform these functions independently and neutrally. Judicial independence means judges can resist political pressure, as they cannot be easily removed and are appointed based on ability rather than politics. However, critics argue judges may still be influenced by their social backgrounds or political considerations in some cases. The judiciary can defend civil liberties through judicial review and interpreting laws, but is ultimately constrained by the law and parliament.
Pm & cabinet
The document discusses the balance of power between the Prime Minister and the Cabinet in the British government. It presents different views on whether the Prime Minister or Cabinet wields more influence over policy decisions and the direction of the government. It also outlines some of the formal powers held by both the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers, as well as factors like party support, public opinion, and unfolding events that can impact the balance of power between the two.
More from aquinaspolitics (20)
The power of the president is limited to persuasion 30 marker
The power of the president is limited to persuasion 30 marker
As constitutional, parliamentary and electoral reform
As constitutional, parliamentary and electoral reform
Recently uploaded
Letter-from-ECI-to-MeiTY-21st-march-2024.pdf
भारत सरकार द्वारा बड़े पैमाने पर व्हाट्सएप अभियान चलाए जाने से डेटा गोपनीयता, नैतिकता और चुनावों की निष्पक्षता पर सवाल उठते हैं।
What Ukraine Has Lost During Russia’s Invasion
An astonishing, first-of-its-kind, report by the NYT assessing damage in Ukraine. Even if the war ends tomorrow, in many places there will be nothing to go back to.
Essential Tools for Modern PR Business .pptx
Discover the essential tools and strategies for modern PR business success. Learn how to craft compelling news releases, leverage press release sites and news wires, stay updated with PR news, and integrate effective PR practices to enhance your brand's visibility and credibility. Elevate your PR efforts with our comprehensive guide.
Gabriel Whitley's Motion Summary Judgment
Here is Gabe Whitley's response to my defamation lawsuit for him calling me a rapist and perjurer in court documents.
You have to read it to believe it, but after you read it, you won't believe it. And I included eight examples of defamatory statements/
EED - The Container Port PERFORMANCE INDEX 2023
El Puerto de Algeciras continúa un año más como el más eficiente del continente europeo y vuelve a situarse en el “top ten” mundial, según el informe The Container Port Performance Index 2023 (CPPI), elaborado por el Banco Mundial y la consultora S&P Global.
El informe CPPI utiliza dos enfoques metodológicos diferentes para calcular la clasificación del índice: uno administrativo o técnico y otro estadístico, basado en análisis factorial (FA). Según los autores, esta dualidad pretende asegurar una clasificación que refleje con precisión el rendimiento real del puerto, a la vez que sea estadísticamente sólida. En esta edición del informe CPPI 2023, se han empleado los mismos enfoques metodológicos y se ha aplicado un método de agregación de clasificaciones para combinar los resultados de ambos enfoques y obtener una clasificación agregada.
Acolyte Episodes review (TV series)..pdf
Acolyte Episodes review (TV series) The Acolyte. Learn about the influence of the program on the Star Wars world, as well as new characters and story twists.
Recently uploaded (9)
What’s wrong with congress?
- 1. What’s Wrong with Congress?
- 2. Gerrymandering • Gerrymandering is a form of redistricting in which electoral districts boundaries are deliberately modified for electoral purposes, thereby producing a contorted or unusual shape. • negative: when used to allege that a party is gaining disproportionate power – packing districts with hardcore support form one party, creating wasted votes. • positive: producing a proportion of constituencies with an African-American or other minority in the majority (these are then called "minority-majority districts").
- 3. Social Representation • Although there has been a significant increase since the 1980s, women only make up 16% of both houses of Congress. • Representatives from ethnic minority backgrounds make up less than 7% (though more in House than Senate due to redistricting) • Many come from wealthy backgrounds with a large proportion of Senators being former lawyers, and the average age of a Senator is 60 years old.
- 4. Pork barrel projects • Members of Congress often earmark bills, loading them with amendments in order to please the ‘folks back home’. Alaska’s ‘Bridge to Nowhere’ being a chief example.
- 5. Committee Chairs • Once overly powerful, with many past their ‘sell by date’, chairs are now subject to term limits of 6 years. This has led to: • Loss of expertise • Intra-party squabbles • Musical chairs • Presidential – chair relationships are more fluid.
- 6. Ethical Problems Media focus on scandals rather than achievements: • James Traficant jailed for bribery • Blagojevich expelled for trying to sell Obama’s Senate seat and • Gary Condit suspected of unsolved murder. This does much to increase scepticism associated with public service in US politics.
- 7. Ineffective oversight of the executive branch • Academics suggest that it is only when the executive and legislature are controlled by different parties that scrutiny is truly effective. If not, Congress is in danger of turning from a watchdog into a lapdog. • But even under divided government oversight often looks more like personal attacks and vindictiveness (Clinton impeachment and the Starr report) than effective scrutiny of the executive and nominations
- 8. Abuse of the filibuster • In 6 years between 1995-2001 Clinton only got around 73% of his judicial nominations confirmed. • For the first time (in 2003) the minority party in the Senate used the filibuster against nominees that had already gained a recommendatory ‘yes’ vote from the Senate Judiciary Committee. Bush said this was ‘an abdication of constitutional responsibility’.