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{{inuse}}'''American Government'''

'''American Government'''

'''First Lecture - THE [[Constitution|CONSTITUTION]]'''

'''First Lecture - THE [[Constitution|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 [[Homo Sapiens|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 [[Homo Sapiens|people]], even after [[law]] school, don't know it very well. Most [[politician]]s don't know it at all. We will.

It will help you to read, and reread, those 12 pages, and constantly refer to them throughout the course. Put a post-it or paperclip on page 317 to mark it for easy reference. When you hear news about our national [[government]], refer to the [[Constitution]] see what it gives it a particular [[power]].

It will help you to read, and reread, those 12 pages, and constantly refer to them throughout the course. Put a post-it or paperclip on page 317 to mark it for easy reference. When you hear news about our national [[government]], refer to the [[Constitution]] see what it gives it a particular [[power]].

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 the acclaimed movie “[[A Beautiful Mind]],” the [[professor[[ began his class by asking the [[question]]: “Why are you here?” The better [[answer]] you can give, the better you will do. I’m very glad you are here, but you should be able to explain your own goals in being here.

In the acclaimed movie “[[A Beautiful Mind]],” the [[professor]] began his class by asking the [[question]]: “Why are you here?” The better [[answer]] you can give, the better you will do. I’m very glad you are here, but you should be able to explain your own goals in being here.

Let me ask myself: why am I teaching this course? Because I know that many of you will become experts in [[government]] as a result. You will use your [[knowledge]] for the benefit of everyone. Maybe you will limit [[government]], or maybe you will improve it, or both. Or maybe you will use [[government]] to accomplish something more important in the [[free market]].

Let me ask myself: why am I teaching this course? Because I know that many of you will become experts in [[government]] as a result. You will use your [[knowledge]] for the benefit of everyone. Maybe you will limit [[government]], or maybe you will improve it, or both. Or maybe you will use [[government]] to accomplish something more important in the [[free market]].

Third, if you’re thinking about working for [[government]], you need to know who to apply to. Don’t apply to [[state]] [[government]] for a [[job]] at the [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]]. It’s [[federal]] . Don’t apply to [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]] for a [[job]] as a [[public school]] [[teacher]].

Third, if you’re thinking about working for [[government]], you need to know who to apply to. Don’t apply to [[state]] [[government]] for a [[job]] at the [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]]. It’s [[federal]] . Don’t apply to [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]] for a [[job]] as a [[public school]] [[teacher]].

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.

But sometimes local officials have more [[power]] than [[federal]] officials. The superintendent for a public school district often makes more money than the Congressman or Senator, and has more influence too. And if you ever receive a traffic ticket, I guarantee you will care more about the municipal judge than the [[President of the United States of America|president]].

But sometimes local officials have more [[power]] than [[federal]] officials. The superintendent for a [[public school]] district often makes more money than the [[Congressman]] or [[Senator]], and has more influence too. And if you ever receive a traffic ticket, I guarantee you will care more about the municipal [[judge]] than the [[President of the United States of America|president]].

How about the [[media]]? Which [[government]] does the [[media]] pay more attention to? The [[federal]] [[government]], by far. Why? Because it is more profitable for the [[media]], and easier. It much simpler and cheaper simply to wake up each day and report on what the [[President of the United States of America|president]] is doing, whether it is newsworthy or not. That is one quick story to tell to the entire [[country]]. To report on each [[state]] would require 50 different stories, at 50 times the expense. The [[media]] would go broke trying to do that. You’ll almost never see your [[mayor]], local school, [[Congressman]] or even [[governor]] on [[CNN]] or [[Fox News]]. It doesn’t mean they are less important than the [[President of the United States of America|president]].

How about the [[media]]? Which [[government]] does the [[media]] pay more attention to? The [[federal]] [[government]], by far. Why? Because it is more profitable for the [[media]], and easier. It much simpler and cheaper simply to wake up each day and report on what the [[President of the United States of America|president]] is doing, whether it is newsworthy or not. That is one quick story to tell to the entire [[country]]. To report on each [[state]] would require 50 different stories, at 50 times the expense. The [[media]] would go broke trying to do that. You’ll almost never see your [[mayor]], local [[school]], [[Congressman]] or even [[governor]] on [[CNN]] or [[Fox News]]. It doesn’t mean they are less important than the [[President of the United States of America|president]].

The [[federal]] [[government]] has three branches: [[executive]] (the [[President of the United States of America|president]]), legislative ([[Congress]]) and the judiciary (the [[Supreme Court]]). Each branch employs [[powers of ten|thousands]] of [[Homo Sapiens|people]]. The [[executive]] branch even employs [[powers of ten|millions]], including the armed services.

The [[federal]] [[government]] has three branches: [[executive]] (the [[President of the United States of America|president]]), legislative ([[Congress]]) and the [[judiciary]] (the [[Supreme Court]]). Each branch employs [[powers of ten|thousands]] of [[Homo Sapiens|people]]. The [[executive]] branch even employs [[powers of ten|millions]], including the armed services.

==V. U.S. [[Constitution]]==

==V. U.S. [[Constitution]]==