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| | In addition to the U.S. Constitution and functions of the three branches of the federal government, what is left to this course? Political parties, interest groups, the media, and public opinion (as illustrated by polling). | | In addition to the U.S. Constitution and functions of the three branches of the federal government, what is left to this course? Political parties, interest groups, the media, and public opinion (as illustrated by polling). |
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| − | The president has influence partly because of the authority granted to him by the Constitution, and partly because the media finds it easier report on him rather than on thousands of items of local news. Because of the media's attention to the president, he has a “bully pulpit.” When the president says something, the media are more likely to repeat it than when others say something. But a president for the same reason, a president almost never speaks freely about any controversial issue. Most of what a president says is "politically correct" rather than honest or insightful. President Obama reads from a teleprompter that tells him what to say, and it is as bland and uncontroversial as the print on the back of a cereal box. | + | The president has influence partly because of the authority granted to him by the Constitution, and partly because the media finds it easier report on him rather than on thousands of items of local news. Because of the media's attention to the president, he has a “bully pulpit.” When the president says something, the media are more likely to repeat it than when others say something. But, due to the heightened attention, a president almost never speaks freely about any controversial issue. Most of what a president says is "politically correct" rather than honest or insightful. President Obama reads from a teleprompter that tells him what to say, and it is as bland and uncontroversial as the print on the back of a cereal box. |
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| | Some view the president as just another bit player in a system that has grown far bigger than anyone can control. We now live in the “regulatory state,” where massive regulations govern most aspects of our lives. Inevitably government grows larger and the regulations become more complex. Under this characterization of government, there is nothing the president or anyone else can do about it, except perhaps slow the growth a bit. | | Some view the president as just another bit player in a system that has grown far bigger than anyone can control. We now live in the “regulatory state,” where massive regulations govern most aspects of our lives. Inevitably government grows larger and the regulations become more complex. Under this characterization of government, there is nothing the president or anyone else can do about it, except perhaps slow the growth a bit. |
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| | == The Funding of Government: Taxes == | | == The Funding of Government: Taxes == |
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| − | Government needs funding in order to run, and the lack of funding for the federal government under the Articles of Confederation was a problem. Here is a brief look at the two types of taxes used to fund government: "direct" and "indirect".<ref>http://www.investorguide.com/article/11164/the-difference-between-direct-tax-and-indirect-tax/</ref> A "direct" tax is how the Roman Empire funded itself: each adult must directly pay a certain tax, whether he has income or not (also known as a "head tax" or "capitation tax," because it is applied per person). Jesus and the Apostles had to pay this type of tax, because they were in the Roman Empire. Another example of a "direct" tax is a tax on real estate, which the federal government imposed in its early years but does not anymore. (Now State and local governments impose real estate taxes.) | + | Government needs funding in order to run, and the lack of funding for the federal government under the Articles of Confederation was a problem. Here is a brief look at the two types of taxes used to fund government: "direct" and "indirect" taxes.<ref>http://www.investorguide.com/article/11164/the-difference-between-direct-tax-and-indirect-tax/</ref> A "direct" tax is how the Roman Empire funded itself: each adult must directly pay a certain tax, whether he has income or not (also known as a "head tax" or "capitation tax," because it is applied per person). Jesus and the Apostles had to pay this type of tax, because they were in the Roman Empire. Another example of a "direct" tax is a tax on real estate, which the federal government imposed in its early years but does not anymore. (Now State and local governments impose real estate taxes.) |
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| | Many taxes are "indirect" in nature, such as "excise taxes." An excise tax is based on an activity, such as a sale of a product from a business to a customer. It is a tax on activity rather than on a person or on property itself. An example of indirect or excise federal taxes are the taxes on gasoline, and in telephone bills. | | Many taxes are "indirect" in nature, such as "excise taxes." An excise tax is based on an activity, such as a sale of a product from a business to a customer. It is a tax on activity rather than on a person or on property itself. An example of indirect or excise federal taxes are the taxes on gasoline, and in telephone bills. |
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| | *What the the most significant Amendments after the Bill of Rights, and what do they mean? | | *What the the most significant Amendments after the Bill of Rights, and what do they mean? |
| | *When and why was the U.S. Constitution written and ratified? | | *When and why was the U.S. Constitution written and ratified? |
| − | *What do "federalism", "separation of power," "checks and balances," and "judicial activism" mean? | + | *What does"federalism" mean? |
| | + | *What does "separation of powers" mean? |
| | + | *What do "checks and balances" mean? |
| | + | *What does "judicial activism" mean? |
| | *What is incorporation doctrine? | | *What is incorporation doctrine? |
| | *What is the "Elastic Clause"? | | *What is the "Elastic Clause"? |