PLSC 250 Texts Final

Allen - Why I love the constitution Main ideas

• Constitution is morally flawed document

  • 3/5 compromise

• But it is practical genius

  • structure of government that splits/separates powers

  • checks power because ambition of individuals in one branch makes them want to maintain/increase the power of their branch (in order to increase their own power). Thus each branches ambition pushes against the other, balancing out

• Constitution is ammendable

Allen - main analysis of importance

Important to American political system because it guides us to maintain/conserve the structures of our government that work well, but also calls us to use our power to improve it as we are called to

Anti Federalist #1

Main ideas:

• Size…one big republic or many small?

  • USA is too damn big for federal gov (representatives) to accurately reflect the ppl while not being to large to not be able to preform business.

• Confederation or federation?

  • Constitution gives way to much power to federal gov

    • necessary and proper clause; supremacy clause; taxation

  • because it is human nature to increase power, federal gov will inevitably get rid of state gov bc state gov will be hinderance to their power

Anti-federalist 1 size worry importance analysis

this idea of USA being to big is important because now Congress’s size has halted to preserve the ability to the legislature to get anything done, but the USA pop has only grown. This means each congressperson represents far more people than they once did, which makes it harder for them to act in the common good because there are disagreements between their constituents about what is in the common good

Anti-federalist #1 supremacy clause importance analysis

this passage is important in American politics because it points out the large shift in power that came when we became a federation. Feds were now able to make laws that overruled state power, giving them much more authority in comparison to in the Articles of Confed. in which individual states held authority and power

Federalist #10

FACTIONS:

• cant prevent without destroying liberty, so must manage effects

• Republic > Democracy

  • wishes of ppl are filtered through representatives, preventing extremism and such

  • still chance for corruption

• Large Republic > Small

  • more people per rep means more people that rep will have to convince (harder to manipulate and be corrupt)

  • Greater chance of fit choice to lead

Federalist #10 Importance Analysis Republic > Democracy

This is important to the development of American government because it explains why the founders chose to create a democratic republic, not a direct democracy. The ideals of a republic (representation) are central to the way we vote and how much influence the people have in government

Federalist #10 Importance Analysis Large > Small republic

This is important for American politics because as we have seen, the USA has grown a lot since the ratification of the constitution. More representatives per person has now lead to a bigger distance between the ppl and government influence, and corruption still seems quite prominent. Perhaps Madison’s ideas were wrong

Federalist 51 main idea — Separation of powers/Compound Republic

double security

• federalist system provides separation between state and fed powers

• 3 branches of federal gov provide separation of powers in feds

  • ambition to counteract ambition

  • structure of gov is such that the self-interest of gov officials will lead to a balancing effect (more power means ur branch gotta have more power, all branches pushing against each other)

Federalist 51 main idea - Protection of minority rights/factions

In a republic with so many ppl/branches/separations there will be lots of conflicting interests. This will make it unlikely for a majority to form unless in pursuit of a policy that actually is just and in the common good.

Federalist 51 analysis of importance

separation of powers was put in place to ensure that government controls itself. IE: the self-interest of government officials can be dangerous and the set up of our government works to prevent this danger by making it so the ambition (seeking of power) by individuals requires them seeking power for their branch. All branches and ambitions then push against each other and balance out

Racial Authoritarianism Main Ideas

Contemporary political science/theorists overlook the existence of racial Authoritarianism in US democracy, or not analyze it in connection with US democracy

• racial Authoritarianism increases after periods of democratic expansion

• There needs to be US democracy political theory that focuses on connection and existence of racial Authoritarianism

Marybury V Madison Main idea

Established Judicial Reivew

Marbury V Madison Analysis of Importance

Important because it expanded the power of the judicial branch. Ability to interpret and rule based on Const., which is highest and most respected law of the land, is powerful because it allows Judicial branch to overturn actions of other branches and laws passed by congress (ie: constitution > laws passed by congress).

Grutter V Bollinger Main Idea

SCOTUS decided that including race as a factor in university of U of M law school is constitutional, as long as no rigid quota and students are still evaluated based on individual merits. Some attention to numbers, without more, does not constitute a rigid quota.

Grutter v Bollinger analysis of Importance

Important bc of immediate impacts and precedent setting

Immediate impact = law school could continue it admission practices

Precedent: while rigid quotas are unconstitutional, flexible goals to achieve diversity are not quotas and are constitutional as long as there is a compelling government interest. In this case there was, achieving more diversity amongst lawyers, particularly in Michigan. This set precedent that future SCOTUS cases refered to, until they overturned this and banned race conscious admissions

Hollow Hope Main Idea

Constrained court view understates judicial significance in bringing about substancial social reform; dynamic court view overstates it

• Courts are limited by

  • limited language in constitutional about rights

  • lack of judicial independence

  • Lack of implementation powers

• But can achieve substantial social reform when following conditions are met

  • ample legal precedent

  • support in Congress or Exec for change

  • Broad public support / or lack of broad public oppositon

Hollow Hope analysis of importance

This is important because it helps us evaluate in what political/historical moment using courts might be the most effective/efficient avenue for enacting social change. Those interested in achieving certain social reforms can figure out which route to take (venue shop) and see if the courts might be a good option or not (are conditions met or not)

Did Brown Matter Main ideas

• Courts are limited in their power to produce real social change, especially when much of the public/gov is against said change

• Brown V Board shows that although the court overturn Plessy, there was such backlash, and little effort/ability of the courts to enforce ruling that schools continued to be segregated for a long time (and even now although not legally segregated, in practice many are

Did Brown Matter Analysis of Importance

Important that we understand that the judiciary can rarely produce actually social reform on its own, especially without the consent/support of the people and other branches. This understanding is important because we have got to realize that even though discriminatory practices might no long be legal under the law, many still exists and harm (ie: just cause court says so doesn’t magically make it so)

Setting the agenda main idea

• Parties cartelize the agenda by creating (inheriting)committees that control the agenda, stacking them with party members, and rewarding party loyalty with more powerful committee positions

• Parties exist to solve collective action problems

  • internal: prevent from having to reorganizing voting allies on every vote (transactional costs)

  • external: maintain brand

• Positive v negative agenda power

  • job of committee members to never aid bills that would pass despite a majority of party disapproval (split party)

  • Sometimes help advance bills that most in the party like

Setting the agenda Party Cartel Importance analysis

important because it allows parties to maintain brand name and party cohesion by preventing certain bills from ever reaching the floor

Setting the agenda Importance analysis Parties to solve collective action

Important because many people vote based off party name so maintaining legitimacy of brand is essential for party to re-gain control in future

Setting the agenda Importance analysis positive/negative agenda setting power

Important because congresspeople are often held accountable by their constituents and can’t just blatantly go against their wishes without consequence. Having positive/negative agenda setting power in committees allows members to maintain party loyalty whilst not floor voting in a way that would make their constituents mad

Broken Branch Main Ideas

• Party loyalty > institutional loyalty

  • results in foot soldiers for prez, not independent oversight

• Legislative ends justify any procedural means

  • breakdown of institutional norms which results in bad policy

Broken branch analysis of importance

important because Congress was created with the responsibility to check and oversee the executive. If they are refusing to do so out of party loyalty, this puts the balance of power in our government at risk (gives exec too much power) which can result in corruption or tyranny

Power without persuasion main ideas

1) Presidents have the power of unilateral action, and have increasingly used this over time

2) Unilateral action allows president to move first and act alone

3) Bureaucrats can hinder presidents power

Power w/o persuasion analysis of importance unilateral action increase

this is important for understanding American government because it explains that the increase in demand for presidents to solve an extensive set of problems has meant presidents need to rely on unilateral action, specifically unilateral action on public policy, more often. One way this impacts american government is a tendency for a massive and rapid public policy shift after each election (where the president party switch) because they just undo the actions of past prez and add a whole bunch of new public policy.

Power w/o persuasion analysis of importance move first and act alone

1) acting alone is much easier/faster than collective action which allows president to make laws that would have never/taken forever to get through the legislature

2) moving first forces an issue onto the agenda and puts a remedy in place. Sets a norm and forces other forces onto the defensive (undo and redo)

Democracy for realists main ideas

Folk theory of democracy does not hold up in practice because in reality people are not able to fulfill on of their essential role in a democratic structure » enlightened understanding/voting

Democracy for realists analysis of importance

This is important because it tells us that people political opinions are rarely rationally informed, if informed at all. They are more often based off party or community loyalties, with little grounding in ideology or political reality. This is important to understand because a generally uninformed public cannot successful fulfill their role of informed voting in a functioning democracy, leading us to the question of whether our democracy works like we like to think it does. If it doesn’t, shouldn’t we look for ways to fix it?

Uncivil Agreement Main Ideas

• Americans are growing increasingly emotionally reactive to politics as people with cross-cutting identities, who are less emotional reactive, disappear from the electorate

• Convergence of identities tend to generate increase emotional reactivity

Uncivil Agreement Analysis of Importance Convergence of identities

this is important to an understanding of American politics because identity characteristics are becoming increasingly associated with one policy position or another. Even if people agree on the basis of an issue, the convergence of a persons identities in connection with a party/policy position makes it more or less likely that others will get very angry/enthusiastic about your cause.

Uncivil Agreement Analysis of Importance Identity Sorting

important because people are becoming more sorted (geographically, politically, socially) and this increases the amount of polarizations and anger in American politics by reducing the face-face human connections/conversation between people of different views. This increase in polarization makes compromise/agreement more difficult, which makes collective action harder, which makes our government less effective

Social media and fake news in 2016 election Main Idea

Spread of fake news has increased due to social media, and people are more likely to believe fake news that affirms their current worldviews

Social media/fake news analysis of importance

this is important because if people believe fake news, they are more likely to spread it and the spread of misinformation can harm our voting process. If people are being manipulated by misinformation, when the go to the polls they might vote different than how they would if not consuming fake news, and therefore their actual opinions are not being voiced as well

Soft news main ideas

through soft news people who are not normally interested in politics can receive information about particularly dramatic or widely discussed current events, allowing them an entry way to the conversations of the politcal world

Soft news analysis of importance

this is important because it can give people who are not normally interested in politics a bit of information about political events, making them a little bit more informed, and provide them an entry way to get more involved in widespread discussions about politics (perhaps increasing their chances of becoming more continuously politically involved.

The party decides main ideas

• political parties exists to achieve the demands of the intense policy demanders within the party

• it is more efficient for intense policy demanders to control the process of who is chosen to run for office, rather than trying to appeal to a person already in power

• The most successful policy demanders will build collations that broader their appeal and base, without contradicting main interests of policy demanders within the party

The party decides analysis of importance intense policy demanders run parties

this is important to understanding american government because if we want to figure out why parties prioritize what they do, and act how they do, we need to look not just at the politicians we have to look at the interests of the intense policy demanders.

The party decides analysis of importance efficiency of power of choosing candidates

This is important to an understanding of American government because it shows us that in many ways, it is not the people themselves who have the most influence on elections, nor the candidates running, but the party organizations itself. The party decides who gets to run, leaving only a small part of the election decision to the people, which party you choose. If people realize this, and want to more power in the political process, they might be more inclined to become intense policy demanders themselves within their party

The party decides analysis of importance broad coalitions

this is important to an understanding of American government because it shows us that even though political. parties serve the interests of intense policy demanders, they also have to have broad appeal to the majority of voters in order to be able to get the politician who will serve their needs into office. Thus, one of the main jobs of parties is to have a diverse enough collation to appeal to a majority of voters, but not so much that conflict arises between the interests of the intense policy demanders. This is important because it forces intense policy demanders within a party to at least pay some attention to the interests of the majority, or else they will not be able to advance their agenda because they will not convince voters to put their candidates into office.

Making young voters main ideas

• Younger generations vote less, not because they are not politically motivated, but because they lack the “non-cognitive” skills necessary to engage in voting/overcome voting obstacles

• Low turnout among youth results in issues important to younger generations not being important to politicians as much

Making young voter analysis of importance low turnout amongst youth

this is important because it means that the interests of younger voting age people are not being represented at the polls, therefore things that are important to younger people particularly, like cheaper higher education, are not being spoken up for by politicians because they aren’t working as hard to appeal to the young voter base

Making young voter importance analysis non-cognitive skills

this is important to understanding american government because identifying that a lack of non-cognitive skills is preventing youth from following through with voting turns us to asking questions about how to reform education and institutions to make voting easier, and how to increase the non-cognitive skills of young voters. Instead of just blaming low young voter turnout on political apathy, we are directed to solutions that might actually help increase youth voter turnout, like civic education that focuses on development of non-cognitive skills

Politics is for power main ideas

• Political hobbyism (and why it is dangerous)

• Alternatives:

  • politics about listening not speaking politics about showing we care

Politics is for power analysis of importance political hobbyism

political hobbyism is important to an understanding of American government because it tells us that many political motivated people are pulled away from actually participating in politics and influencing policy/helping their communities, and instead just consume news constantly. These people might think they are politically engaged, but in reality none of their actions are helping them gain power to achieve their goals, meaning that they aren’t actually making any difference. Realizing this can help people move away from political hobbyism and become involved in a way that will actually make an impact

Still Bowling Alone main ideas

• Importance of social capital

• Post 9/11 splits of civic engagement between

  • those in developmental prime during 9/11

  • lower-class and affluent youth civic engagement

Still bowling along analysis of importance social capital

social capital is importance because the stronger our generalized trust in communities, the easier collective action is as people are more willing to sacrifice individual interests for the common good.

Still bowling along analysis of importance post 9/11 split developmental prime

this is importance because 9/11 boosted the civic engagement of youth, which increased the social capital of youth which is important for democracy as it makes collective action easier

Still bowling along analysis of importance affluence shift in engagement

this is important to an understanding of American government because it identifies the gap in social capital between affluent and less affluent youth. When less affluent youth are less engaged in their community, they will have less social capital, which will make collective action toward their goals much harder. Meanwhile affluent youth will continue building these connections and thereby have more ability to have their voices heard/goals accomplished, leaving the interests of less affluent youth further and further behind and less represented

Political polarization in the American Public main idea

American public is increasingly polarized (politically, socially, community wise)

Political polarization in the American Public analysis of importance

more polarization = less ability to compromise/agree = collective action is harder = government is less effective and efficient because it is hard to get shit done

Gen Z political power main ideas

Gen Z are tending to turn out in high numbers to the vote, but they also report feeling like they do not have enough information when marking the ballot

Gen Z political power analysis of importance

this is important to an understanding of american government because enlightened understanding is an important element of a well-function democracy. If Gen Z are voting, but are not taking the time to inform themselves, they are more likely to just vote based on party affiliation or what they have read about candidates on social media, which could cause them to vote for/in ways they wouldn’t actually agree with if well-informed.