1. American Government and Organization PS1301 Thursday, 9 September

2. Announcements Take Quiz in Chapter 1-2 Purchasing books on campus

3. Separate Institutions with Shared Power Congress passes legislation but President can use a veto President appoints executive officers and negotiates treaties. Senate confirms top executive appointments and ratifies treaties Judicial review (established in Marbury vs. Madison, 1803)

4. Examples of Supra Majorities Concurrent majorities (House and Senate) Concurrent majorities (House and Senate) Treaty requires 2/3rds of approval by Senate Treaty requires 2/3rds of approval by Senate Congress requires 2/3rds in both houses to over ride a presidential veto Congress requires 2/3rds in both houses to over ride a presidential veto Constitutional amendments require 2/3rds approval by both House and Senate and 3/4ths of states or Constitutional amendments require 2/3rds approval by both House and Senate and 3/4ths of states or 2/3rds in both houses of Congress and ratified by conventions in 3/4ths of the states (used once 21st Amendment--repealed prohibition) 2/3rds in both houses of Congress and ratified by conventions in 3/4ths of the states (used once 21st Amendment--repealed prohibition) National constitutional convention call by 2/3rds of the state legislatures National constitutional convention call by 2/3rds of the state legislatures

5. Process for Amendments

6. Reforms at the National Level The U.S. Constitution was designed to preserve the status quo. However, it does allow for changes to be made through supra-majorities. There have been a total of 17 Amendments since the original Bill of Rights: Examples: Voting extended to nonwhites (1870, 15 th Amendment) Voting extended to nonwhites (1870, 15 th Amendment) Direct election of senators (1913, 17 th Amendment) Direct election of senators (1913, 17 th Amendment) Women given right to vote (1920, 19 th Amendment) Women given right to vote (1920, 19 th Amendment) Elimination of poll tax (1964, 24 th Amendment) Elimination of poll tax (1964, 24 th Amendment) Extend voting rights to 18 yr olds (1971, 26 th Amendment) Extend voting rights to 18 yr olds (1971, 26 th Amendment)

7. Ideology A package of ideas, a way of organizing one’s thinking about political issues and leaders. Anchored by core values that serve to structure other ideas

8. Liberal vs. conservative A core value that distinguishes them and influences their positions on a variety of issues is whether government should actively promote individual equality. Liberals favor active government intervention to promote equality of outcomes flat rate vs. regressive rate flat rate vs. regressive rate income tax vs. sales tax income tax vs. sales tax Conservatives believe that government should be limited to ensuring equality of opportunities in economic matter. In social matters, however, conservatives favor a more expansive role for government

9. Right vs. Left Direction comes from French political tradition Those who generally supported the policies of the monarch were seated to his right and those who proposed changes in the system were arranged to his left. At the extremes individuals are extremely dissatisfied and want revolutionary change

10. Distribution of Ideology over Time

11. Opinions about Government Spending Link to Figure 6.2 in the Text.

12. Opinions about Federal Spending Source: American National Election Study (NES) 2002

13. Opinions about Federal Spending Source: American National Election Study (NES) 2002

14. Opinions about Federal Spending Source: American National Election Study (NES) 2002

15. Views of Ideological Groups Source: American National Election Study (NES) 2002

16. Views of Groups by Ideology Source: American National Election Study (NES) 2002

17. Views of Institutions by Ideology Source: American National Election Study (NES) 2002

18. Views of Interest Groups Source: American National Election Study (NES) 2002

19. Interpersonal Trust Source: American National Election Study (NES) 2002

20. Distribution over time

21. Who are the Liberals? Poor Low Education Low Strata Occupation MinorityUrban Jew, Catholic Democrats

22. Who are the Conservatives? Wealthy High Education High Status Occupation WhiteSuburbanProtestantRepublican

23. Minimum Wage

24. Homosexuals Serving in the Military

25. Ideology and Issues