POL 223 - Reflection Questions Module 1 How much has the American political system evolved since independence, and is it able to quickly respond to today s political, economic, social, military, and technological challenges? How much do Americans take for granted its democracy with its freedoms versus duties to its community of citizens? What is the definition of domestic politics? How are resources distributed and disputes mediated? Who governs? How and to what ends? How much do Americans consider it natural to live in a peaceful, democratic, and religiously-tolerant society, not to say basically free of racist segregations? How is political power distributed in America compared to other countries, democratic or otherwise? How would you define political change and the alternance of power between political parties? Regarding the American Revolution and Declaration of Independence, was it right to secede from imperial Great Britain (imperial representation versus self-rule for American dominions)? How did the interpretations of John Locke s political philosophy of democracy and political liberty differ between those in Great Britain and the American rebels? What is the main difference between the Continental Congress and U.S. Acts of Confederation? Why did America create the modern concept of federalism and how does it work (federal versus confederal or state governments; federal-state-local politico-legal relations; creation of new states/territories)? Which minorities were cheated by the Declaration of Independence? British Loyalists, Black slaves, women, and American Indians! Do you understand why? Module 2 To what extent was the American Revolution ill-funded and ill-led? What factors enabled the American rebels to defeat the unorganized Anglo-American Loyalists and deny military control of the countryside to the British (despite their hold on major cities like Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and water-ways)? To what extent did the American Continental Congress as the political representative body of the American rebels in Philadelphia assist George Washington s rag-tag army? In what way did the intellectual and political efforts of Jefferson, Madison, Franklin and Patrick Henry help frame the issue of independence and the preservation of virtual sovereign independence for each rebel ex-colony as members of a loose U.S. Confederation in the 1780s (Articles of Confederation)? During the confederal government, in what ways did differences in sectional lines begin to emerge? How did Vermont exist as the 14th colony independent of the U.S. confederation? When did it finally become a state? After Vermont, what states joined the Union through the 1830s? What is the main difference between the U.S. Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention? What is the main difference between the U.S. Acts of Confederation and U.S. Federal Constitution? Do you understand the differing plans for an American union based on the "small republic" versus "large republic" controversy? What key differences do you see between the Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, and Federalists advocacy for a U.S. Federal Constitution? Do you understand James Madison s theories on a new U.S. Constitution as a large, commercial, republic representative democracy within a Federal system based on the separation of powers? How did America create the concept of Federalism (federal v. confederal or state governments), and how does it work? Which minorities were left out of the Act of U.S. Confederation and U.S. Federal Constitution? Do you understand why? Who opposed the new U.S. Federal Constitution? Do you understand their reasons? Can you construe a political critique to oppose such micro-nationalism?
Module 3 What was the significance of the Louisiana Purchase? Why did the U.S. constantly break treaties and defeat American Indians and then annex all their lands from up-state New York to the West Coast between 1783 and 1898? What impact did Manifest Destiny have on the forced removal of Indians? What was the significance of the Texas annexation and Mexican-American War? Why did the American Federal political system finally break down under sectional rivalries due to national politico-economic and socio-economic controversies? If it was politically legal for the American colonies to secede from Great Britain during the American Revolution, why was it not politically legal for the U.S. to accept the secession of the Southern Confederate states during the Civil War? Compare the 1700s interpretations of John Locke s political philosophy of democracy and political liberty in Great Britain to the American Revolutionary rebels and Confederate secessionists of the Civil War. What was the significance of the Spanish-American War and subsequent annexation of Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Hawaii? How is the Federal government structured in America compared to other centralized states or federations (Canada, Mexico, Australia, Germany, Great Britain since 1990)? What are the differences in parliamentary politics in Great Britain, Germany and Japan? What was the significance of Alexis de Tocqueville and his book Democracy in America? What did he predict would be America s future? How would you judge historically the record of political change and alternance in power between different parties in the early-american Republic up to early-1900s (Democrats-Republicans versus Federalists/Whigs, Democrats versus Republicans)? Today women and minorities (especially Jews, Blacks, Hispanics and homosexuals) play a major role in political elections because many among them vote, while the average White American voter turnout has declined to 50%! Do you understand why and the consequences of this change? Module 4 Explain how prime ministers are typically selected in Japan and European countries? What is the role of the lower-house in regard to this? Compare the role of political parties in the U.S. to those in European countries. How does the electoral system (single-college uninominal) favor incumbents and large parties? What are the qualifications to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives? What is the main difference between U.S Congressional powers today and those during the time immediately following the adoption of the U.S. Constitution? What are the main duties and powers of the U.S. House of Representatives? Which minorities received congressional and Federal protection since the 1960s to reverse age-old discrimination in politics and form influential caucuses? Why are women, Blacks, Hispanics and Asians still woefully underrepresented in the U.S. House of Representatives compared to the country-at-large? How do bills get introduced and passed in Congress? What happens if the House and Senate approve similar rival laws? What is the function of House committees? Compare the Republican and Democrat views of state s rights and strong Federal government during the Civil War and since the 1930s. How have they changed? Do you find it paradoxical? Do you know how ethics work in the U.S. House? Why did landmark Supreme Court cases focus on discrimination of women, Blacks, non-citizens, disabled, homosexuals, as well as civil rights, affirmative action, education, abortion and gun-control? What is the significance of The League of Women Voters, Federation of Business and Professional Women, National Organization of Women, and NARAL Pro-Choice America? What is the background of the typical member of the U.S. House of Representatives?
Module 5 What is the structure of the U.S. Senate? What are the qualifications to be elected to the U.S. Senate? How often are Senators elected? Compare the relationship of the U.S. Senate to the House of Representatives to those of the upperand lower-house in Japan. What is the relationship of Great Britain s upper House of Lords to its lower House of Commons? What is a filibuster? What is the function of Senate committees? Do you know how ethics work in the U.S. Senate? Why are women, Blacks, Hispanics and Asians still woefully underrepresented in the U.S. Senate compared to the country-at-large? What is the background of the typical member of the U.S. Senate? What constitutional powers does the Senate hold in regard to interviewing and confirming political appointees, including Supreme Court Justices? What constitutional powers does the Senate hold in regard to international treaties? What is the role of the House and Senate in regard to national security, international security issues, international treaties, military alliances, arms control, military budgets, government loans/grants, foreign aid, and acquisition or cessions of lands? What is the significance of the War Powers Act of 1974? What is the significance of Federalist Nos. 2-9, 11, 14, 23-29, 63, and 74-75 in regard to foreign policy and defense? Module 6 What are the qualifications to be elected as U.S. President? How do you see the role of the U.S. President in history from George Washington to Barack Obama? Who was the only U.S. President to serve two terms non-consecutively? Who was the only U.S. President to be elected four times in a row? What are the powers of the U.S. President? Why is the U.S. President the chief of state? Why is the U.S. President the chief of government and what differences exist compared to other countries? Why is the U.S. President the commander-in-chief of the armed forces? Why is the U.S. President the chief diplomat and how does this role interact with the U.S. Secretary of State and the National Security Advisor? What is the role of the president in regard to political leadership and the law-making process? What has been the typical background of the men who have been elected U.S. President? Why did Civil Rights leader Jessie Jackson never succeed in becoming the first Black U.S. President, and why did Senator Barack Obama succeed in becoming so? Why did Democratic women candidates Geraldine Ferraro and Hillary Clinton never succeed respectively in becoming the first female U.S. Vice President and President? Why did Republican women presidential candidates Elizabeth Dole and Barbara Bachman never succeed in captivating the party and voters, while controversial Governor Sarah Palin was seen as a poisoned gift as Vice President nominee? Compare the role of the U.S. President to congress in regard to foreign policy and national security? What were the key U.S. foreign policy and issues since the American Revolution? What were the key U.S. national defense issues since the American Revolution? Explain the following key presidential doctrines on foreign policy and national security: Washington s farewell address, the Monroe Doctrine, the Open Door policy, Theodore Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, Franklin Roosevelt s Good Neighborhood Policy and Four Freedoms, the Truman Doctrine, the Eisenhower Doctrine, the Nixon Doctrine, the Carter Doctrine, and the Bush Doctrine.
Explain why the U.S. joined the following alliances: Allies in World War I and World War II, NATO during the Cold War and post-cold War periods, OAS, ANZUS, SEATO, U.S.-Japan, U.S.-Israel, U.S.-Taiwan, U.S.-South Korea, U.S.-Philippines, U.S.-USSR/Russia, and U.S.-China. What is the Presidential football in relation to strategic nuclear weapons codes? What is the main difference between the U.S. Vice President and other countries deputy chiefs of office? What are the political characteristics in selecting a U.S. Vice President? Is the VP properly trained for his job when he is selected for the office? Why were John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Richard Nixon, George H. W. Bush, Al Gore, and Dick Cheney the most important and influential U.S. Vice Presidents in history? Why did Harry Truman and Lyndon Johnson have virtually no power as vice presidents, yet rose to the heights of U.S. history when they became presidents? Can you imagine what would U.S. history have been had the vice presidents who rose to power following the death or assassination of their presidents been somebody else, or if their presidents had never died? Why has no woman yet become a U.S. Vice President? Module 7 How did the American Federal political system evolve since the 1790s and become able to decide who wins presidential and congressional elections? How do American elections determine the kind of leaders who govern us? What are the differences between the party-oriented campaigns of the 19th century and the candidate-oriented ones of the 20th and 21st centuries? Do you know why the U.S. Federal government provides funding for political campaigns and elections, their importance on election outcomes, the main sources of such funding under current laws, and whether reform legislation has been able or not to remove improper monetary influences from U.S. elections? Why was the latest campaign financing law (McCain-Feingold) overturned by the Supreme Court? What is the difference between primary and general elections? What is the process for electing presidents and the major differences between who runs and how it affects their campaign strategy? What is the process for electing members of congress and the major differences between the two types of contests that shape who runs and how it affects their campaign strategy? What must the two main U.S. parties (Democrats and Republicans) do to put together a successful national election against each other? What is the role of key constituencies and lobbies? What is the controversy over the optimum timing for early-primaries, specifically regarding Florida jumping to late-january well ahead of Super Tuesday? What is the controversy over the lack of visibility and representation of the largest states (New York, Texas, California) regarding the timing for primaries? What is the role of the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam in regard to U.S. Congressional and Presidential elections? Why would a member of House or Senate want to campaign for election together with the party s presidential candidate? Under what political circumstances would a member of the House or Senate want to keep distance from the party s presidential candidate? What role do the national media play in elections? Does advertising make a difference once much of the candidates money is spent on media advertising between radio, television, and print? Module 8 What is the structure of the U.S. Supreme Court? How are Supreme Court Justices nominated and confirmed? Explain the significance of the following Supreme Court cases: Martin v. Hunter s Lessee, McCulloch v. Maryland, and Dred Scott v. Sanford?
How did the Supreme Court interpret the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments in regard to Blacks? Why have civil rights played such an important role in the U.S. Supreme Court decisions since the 1960s? Explain the political rivalries between Democrats and Republicans in controlling which Supreme Court Justice gets appointed and confirmed. What preponderance of liberal versus conservative Supreme Court Justices influences the national judicial and constitutional reviews? Who was the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice? The first Black? The first woman? The first Hispanic woman? Do you think the Founding Fathers would be surprised to find the courts so activist, instead of just applying existing law and not making new ones? Explain the strict constructionist and activist approaches of conservative and liberal judges. What are the judicial differences between the U.S. Supreme Court and constitutional courts in other countries? What are the powers and role of the U.S. Supreme Court? What is the role of the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court? Why was the U.S. Supreme Court involved in the impeachment procedures against Presidents Andrew Johnson in 1869, Richard Nixon in 1974, Ronald Reagan in 1986 and Bill Clinton in 1998? What is the recent trend regarding Supreme Court fragmentation in voting (i.e., lack of unanimous decisions)? What is the role and influence of clerks of the court? Explain how the current Supreme Court (circa 2012) is currently split into conservative and liberal blocs?