Changes

How do we know what the [[President of the United States of America|President]], [[Congress]] and the [[Supreme Court]] can and cannot do? They are all explained in one brief document: the [[United States Constitution]].

How do we know what the [[President of the United States of America|President]], [[Congress]] and the [[Supreme Court]] can and cannot do? They are all explained in one brief document: the [[United States Constitution]].

Look on page 317 of your textbook. There it is, the entire [[United States Constitution]]. Without the [[Amendment]]s and signatures, it is only 12 pages long: pp. 317-28. If you truly learn those 12 pages, then you will know more than most [[Attorney|lawyer]]s, [[politician]]s, [[college]] graduates, and 99% of the population. It’s that simple.

Look on page 317 of your textbook. There it is, the entire [[United States Constitution]]. Without the [[Amendment]]s and signatures, it is only 12 pages long: pp. 317–28. If you truly learn those 12 pages, then you will know more than most [[Attorney|lawyer]]s, [[politician]]s, [[college]] graduates, and 99% of the population. It’s that simple.

If you ever want to be a [[Attorney|lawyer]], you will have to pass the [[Bar exam]]. One-quarter of the exam consists of [[question]]s about the [[Constitution]]. Most [[people]], even after [[law]] school, don't know it very well. Most [[politician]]s don't know it at all. We will.

If you ever want to be a [[Attorney|lawyer]], you will have to pass the [[Bar exam]]. One-quarter of the exam consists of [[question]]s about the [[Constitution]]. Most [[people]], even after [[law]] school, don't know it very well. Most [[politician]]s don't know it at all. We will.

==II. Purpose of Course==

==II. Purpose of Course==

 

Whenever you take a course, or do anything, ask yourself why you are doing it. In the [[parable]] of the [[Prodigal Son]] (Luke 15:11-24), the son left his father, lost everything, and became very hungry. The turning point was when he finally questioned his own conduct. What was the logic to it? He realized his behavior made no sense, and then changed. Imagine how much better off everyone would be if they [[question]]ed their own conduct that way. There would be no [[drugs|drug]] addicts, for example.

Whenever you take a course, or do anything, ask yourself why you are doing it. In the [[parable]] of the [[Prodigal Son]] (Luke 15:11-24), the son left his father, lost everything, and became very hungry. The turning point was when he finally questioned his own conduct. What was the logic to it? He realized his behavior made no sense, and then changed. Imagine how much better off everyone would be if they [[question]]ed their own conduct that way. There would be no [[drugs|drug]] addicts, for example.

In history, a student learns by reading a great deal of material. In contrast, here we will learn by [[writing]] and [[problem]]-solving.

In history, a student learns by reading a great deal of material. In contrast, here we will learn by [[writing]] and [[problem]]-solving.

Doing well on the homework is the key to this course. Each week, I will assign about a dozen [[question]]s. They will be interesting and thought-provoking. The first [[question]]s require only short [[answer]s, while the later [[question]]s require increasingly longer [[answer]]s. I will grade the homework on a scale of 1 to 99, with an opportunity for extra credit. I will rank the top scorers. The book also has multiple-choice [[question]]s at the end of each chapter, and you should report your score on your homework, although that will not count towards ranking the top students.

Doing well on the homework is the key to this course. Each week, I will assign about a dozen [[question]]s. They will be interesting and thought-provoking. The first [[question]]s require only short [[answer]]s, while the later [[question]]s require increasingly longer [[answer]]s. I will grade the homework on a scale of 1 to 99, with an opportunity for extra credit. I will rank the top scorers. The book also has multiple-choice [[question]]s at the end of each chapter, and you should report your score on your homework, although that will not count towards ranking the top students.

Occasionally we will have tests, but they will be easy for those who do well on the homework.

Occasionally we will have tests, but they will be easy for those who do well on the homework.

The textbook is “U.S. [[Government]] and [[Politics]],” by Paul Soifer. We are skipping the first 30 pages. The [[book]] is based on the [[Advanced Placement]] exam, which is similar to the CLEP exam that you can take at the end of this course.

The textbook is “U.S. [[Government]] and [[Politics]],” by Paul Soifer. We are skipping the first 30 pages. The [[book]] is based on the [[Advanced Placement]] exam, which is similar to the CLEP exam that you can take at the end of this course.

I like the [[book]] for several reasons. It has great reference material in the [[appendix|appendices]] (pp. 303-47): a helpful glossary, a well-formatted copy of the [[Constitution]], and an easy-to-use list of important [[Supreme Court]] cases. Its layout of the [[Constitution]] is the best I’ve seen. Refer to the [[appendix|appendices]] in the textbook constantly during the course. Use them in class, and use them when doing the homework.

I like the [[book]] for several reasons. It has great reference material in the [[appendix|appendices]] (pp. 303–47): a helpful glossary, a well-formatted copy of the [[Constitution]], and an easy-to-use list of important [[Supreme Court]] cases. Its layout of the [[Constitution]] is the best I’ve seen. Refer to the [[appendix|appendices]] in the textbook constantly during the course. Use them in class, and use them when doing the homework.

You could benefit from adding more terms to the glossary during this course. Here’s one: [[suffrage]] (pronunciation \SUH-frij\). It is a noun, and it means “the right of [[vote|voting]], franchise.” You could create a list of new terms on a separate piece of paper, and insert it with the [[book]]’s glossary for easy reference.

You could benefit from adding more terms to the glossary during this course. Here’s one: [[suffrage]] (pronunciation \SUH-frij\). It is a noun, and it means “the right of [[vote|voting]], franchise.” You could create a list of new terms on a separate piece of paper, and insert it with the [[book]]’s glossary for easy reference.

The first [[political parties|political party]] in the [[country]] was the “[[Federalist Party]]”. It stood for a stronger [[federal]] [[government]]. [[Alexander Hamilton]] founded it to help pass his program of a national [[bank]] and assumption by the [[federal]] [[government]] of all the [[war]] [[debt]]s. He used it to impose a [[federal]] [[alcoholic drink|liquor]] [[tax]], which resulted in [[the Whiskey Rebellion]] in 1794. Look up the term “[[Federalist Party]]” on page 307 in the textbook.

The first [[political parties|political party]] in the [[country]] was the “[[Federalist Party]]”. It stood for a stronger [[federal]] [[government]]. [[Alexander Hamilton]] founded it to help pass his program of a national [[bank]] and assumption by the [[federal]] [[government]] of all the [[war]] [[debt]]s. He used it to impose a [[federal]] [[alcoholic drink|liquor]] [[tax]], which resulted in [[the Whiskey Rebellion]] in 1794. Look up the term “[[Federalist Party]]” on page 307 in the textbook.

Do you know the difference between [[federal]] and [[state]] [[government]]? Look in your [[telephone|phone]] book. You’ll see they are usually listed in separate [[category|categories]]. Let’s take some examples. Who handles drivers licenses? ([[state]]) [[Social Security]]? ( [[federal]] ) [[Sales tax]] on [[computer]]s? (state) [[Sales tax]] on [[gasoline|gas]]? (both [[federal]] and [[state]] are included in the [[price]] at the pump) [[Public schools]]? (local) [[United States Postal Service |Post office]]? ( [[federal]] ) Libraries? (local) [[Army]]? (federal) Security guards at [[airport]]s? (mostly [[federal]] now, due to [[September 11, 2001 attacks|9/11]]) Traffic [[court]]? (local) [[Police]]? (local) Imagine you want to start a [[business]] and [[trademark]] the name of your [[business]]. Who controls [[trademark]]s? (mostly [[federal]] , see http://www.uspto.gov/, [[state]]s can also protect [[business]] names)

Do you know the difference between [[federal]] and [[state]] [[government]]? Look in your [[telephone|phone]] book. You’ll see they are usually listed in separate [[category|categories]]. Let’s take some examples. Who handles drivers licenses? ([[state]]) [[Social Security]]? ( [[federal]] ) [[Sales tax]] on [[computer]]s? (state) [[Sales tax]] on [[gasoline|gas]]? (both [[federal]] and [[state]] are included in the [[price]] at the pump) [[Public schools]]? (local) [[United States Postal Service|Post office]]? ( [[federal]] ) Libraries? (local) [[Army]]? (federal) Security guards at [[airport]]s? (mostly [[federal]] now, due to [[September 11, 2001 attacks|9/11]]) Traffic [[court]]? (local) [[Police]]? (local) Imagine you want to start a [[business]] and [[trademark]] the name of your [[business]]. Who controls [[trademark]]s? (mostly [[federal]] , see http://www.uspto.gov/, [[state]]s can also protect [[business]] names)

How about this one: what is [[Federal Express]]? They deliver overnight packages, guaranteed. Is it part of the [[federal]] [[government]]? Nope. It is completely private. They use the name “[[federal]]” to make them look official. They have nothing to do with the [[government]].

How about this one: what is [[Federal Express]]? They deliver overnight packages, guaranteed. Is it part of the [[federal]] [[government]]? Nope. It is completely private. They use the name “[[federal]]” to make them look official. They have nothing to do with the [[government]].

There are other differences between [[federal]] and [[state]] [[government]]. [[federal]] [[job]]s often pay better and are more secure. They are backed by [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]] [[tax]] collections of the [[United States of America|United States]]. They often work in bigger and nicer buildings. One summer I worked in a [[federal]] building in [[Washington D.C.|D.C.]], and it was so big that one employee used the hallways as a track for jogging!

There are other differences between [[federal]] and [[state]] [[government]]. [[federal]] [[job]]s often pay better and are more secure. They are backed by [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]] [[tax]] collections of the [[United States of America|United States]]. They often work in bigger and nicer buildings. One summer I worked in a [[federal]] building in [[Washington D.C.|D.C.]], and it was so big that one employee used the hallways as a track for jogging!

Federal officials generally have more [[power]] than [[state]] officials. The [[Supremacy Clause]] of the Constitution, which is in Article VI (see p. 328), says that [[federal]] [[law]] is supreme. You are not likely to hear about a [[state]] police officer arresting an [[FBI]] agent, because he is a [[federal]] officer.

Federal officials generally have more [[power]] than [[state]] officials. The [[Supremacy Clause]] of the Constitution, which is in Article VI (see p. 328), says that [[federal]] [[law]] is supreme. You are not likely to hear about a [[state]] police officer arresting an [[FBI]] agent, because he is a [[federal]] officer.

About 15 years ago in Wayne, [[New Jersey]], the [[FBI]] arrested the [[mayor]]. They didn’t even bother telling the local [[police]], who thought he had been kidnapped. Not only do the [[federal]] and [[state]] [[government]] fail to communicate with each other, they often fight each other for control.

About 15 years ago in Wayne, [[New Jersey]], the [[FBI]] arrested the [[mayor]]. They didn’t even bother telling the local [[police]], who thought he had been kidnapped. Not only do the [[federal]] and [[state]] [[government]] fail to communicate with each other, they often fight each other for control.

Contrary to what you may hear today, our [[Founding Fathers|Founders]] did not like pure [[democracy|democracies]]. They worried about tyranny by the uninformed masses. They wanted a select group of [[people]] making our [[law]]s.

Contrary to what you may hear today, our [[Founding Fathers|Founders]] did not like pure [[democracy|democracies]]. They worried about tyranny by the uninformed masses. They wanted a select group of [[people]] making our [[law]]s.

An example is our [[electoral college]]. [[Al Gore]] won more [[vote]]s than [[George W. Bush]], but [[George W. Bush|Bush]] won more [[vote]]s in the [[electoral college]]. Our [[President of the United States of America|president]] is not chosen directly by the [[people]]. He is chosen by the [[Electoral College]]. Another example is the original procedure for choosing [[United States of America|U.S.]] [[Senator]]s. [[state]] legislators selected them, not the general public. (This was changed by the [[Seventeenth Amendment|17th Amendment]] in 1913 - see text[[book]] p. 334)

An example is our [[electoral college]]. [[Al Gore]] won more [[vote]]s than [[George W. Bush]], but [[George W. Bush|Bush]] won more [[vote]]s in the [[electoral college]]. Our [[President of the United States of America|president]] is not chosen directly by the [[people]]. He is chosen by the [[Electoral College]]. Another example is the original procedure for choosing [[United States of America|U.S.]] [[Senator]]s. [[state]] legislators selected them, not the general public. (This was changed by the [[Seventeenth Amendment|17th Amendment]] in 1913 - see text[[book]] p. 334)

The [[Constitution]] limits the [[power]] of the national [[government]] in several ways:

The [[Constitution]] limits the [[power]] of the national [[government]] in several ways: