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Lecture Week 3 PPs

POL 201 American Politics

  • Instructor: Dr. Rabidoux

  • Course Term: Spring 2025

  • Focus: Current events and federalism in relation to politics; Discussion of Trump’s administration and laws affecting immigration.

WEEK 3 Overview

  • Themes include federalism and immigration laws in the U.S.

  • Events of the week provide context for discussions on policies and political actions.

Recent Developments

TikTok Ban

  • Law banning TikTok recently enacted in the U.S.

  • President Trump suggested to work on reinstating TikTok.

Significant News Events

  • Trump Appearance: Appeared at a Las Vegas casino, cheered by attendees.

  • DEA Raids: Almost 50 undocumented immigrants arrested in Colorado, some identified as TdA gang members.

  • Public Reaction: Selena Gomez emotionally responds to Trump's immigration orders.

Current Actions by Trump Administration

  • Executive Orders: Multiple orders issued addressing immigration and diversity equity initiatives.

  • Deportation Flights: Colombian Prime Minister steps back from deportation plans.

  • Birthright Citizenship: Trump ends birthright citizenship for illegal immigrants.

  • CIA Report: Classified report indicates COVID may have originated from a lab leak in Wuhan.

Key Immigration Laws in the U.S.

  • Immigration and Nationality Act (1952): Major law governing immigration policy.

  • Immigration Reform and Control Act (1986): Addressed illegal immigration and amnesty.

  • Alien Act (1798): Early immigration law, addressing alien rights and regulations.

ICE Arrests and Federalism Issues

  • Local reactions to ICE actions, including public confrontations and community fear.

  • Public responses to enforcement of federal immigration laws vary, with some communities resistant to ICE cooperation.

Federalism Overview

Definition of Federalism

  • Federalism is the division of power between national and state governments.

  • Levels of government involved:

    • Federal

    • State

    • Local

    • Other governmental units (approx. 88,000)

Division of Powers

  • Differentiates between unitary, federation, and confederation structures in governance.

  • Key constitutional references:

    • Article I, Section 8: Discusses the "Necessary and Proper" clause (Elastic Clause).

    • Commerce Clause: Grants Congress the power to regulate commerce.

Legal Framework and Constitutional Provisions

  • Article IV, Section I: The "Full Faith & Credit Clause" requires states to respect each other's laws.

  • Emphasizes the need for a unified currency and fiscal collaboration among states.

U.S. Federal Budget FY 2024

  • Total Expenditure: $6.75 trillion with a $1.85 trillion deficit.

  • Total National Debt: $35 trillion; Annual GDP: $25.5 trillion.

State Budgets and Debt Analysis

California (CA)

  • GDP: $3.2 trillion

  • Debt: $1.6 trillion

  • Annual Deficit: $58 billion

Texas (TX)

  • GDP: $2.3 trillion

  • Surplus: $32.5 billion

Types of Federalism

  • Dual Federalism: Clear distinction between federal and state responsibilities.

  • Cooperative Federalism: Collaboration between federal and state governments.

  • New Federalism: Recent trends in federalism aiming to shift power back to the states.

Discussion and Team Activity

  1. Reactions to the Trump administration's agenda.

  2. Debate on whether Democratic mayors and governors should resist ICE arrests, including campaigning and public action.