Introduction to Political Systems, U.S. Government, and Federalism Notes
Course Administration and Current Events Protocol
Current Events Presentation Protocol:
Every week, one assigned group ("ones," "twos," or "threes") gives a brief (~1 minute) overview of a current political news article.
Current event presentations occur strictly on Tuesdays, not Thursdays.
Students must submit a physical photocopy of the article or email it at the end of class.
Each student must complete 3 to 4 articles across the semester to avoid negative impacts on their grade.
Analysis of Contemporary Political News Events
Resignation of Civilian Defense Leadership:
Dan Driscoll, the 39-year-old civilian head of the Department of Defense, resigned.
Significance: Department of Defense leadership instability is critical because the nation is actively engaged in military/shooting conflicts.
Voting Regulations and the SAVE Act:
President Donald Trump proposed executive and legislative changes to mail-in voting rules, advocating for the SAVE Act.
Trump claims elections are subject to fraud and that non-citizens are voting.
Constitutional Context: Electoral administration in the United States is decentralized; states (not the federal government) hold constitutional authority to run elections. Pennsylvania's voting laws differ from New Jersey's or Michigan's.
Strategic Media Deflection & Executive Naming:
Trump issued an executive order attempting to rename Lake Ontario to "Lake America."
Strategic Purpose: Used as a media deflection technique during an ongoing trade war with Canada. By generating controversial or unusual headlines, public news cycles shift focus away from other substantive political issues.
Tech Industry Disruption and Chaos Strategy:
Technology companies (e.g., Uber and Lyft) operate on business models centered on market disruption or legal chaos.
In Philadelphia, rideshare services like Uber operated in violation of local taxi medallion licensing laws initially, eventually forcing legal adaptation after establishing dominance.
Military Expansion and Defense Infrastructure:
An executive order was signed creating a new military academy for the United States Space Force.
Location: Houston, Texas (co-located with NASA operations).
Congressional Recess, Funding Bills, and Separation of Powers:
The House of Representatives returned from recess to introduce funding legislation (a continuing resolution) to prevent a federal government shutdown prior to midterms.
Separation of Powers: The President cannot raise funds independently (e.g., unilateral tariffs were struck down by the Supreme Court). Revenue and funding legislation must originate in the House of Representatives.
Foreign Energy Stakes:
The United States government holds approximately a investment/stake in Venezuelan oil operations.
Comparative Political Systems and Structures
Definition of Government: The formal political arrangement by which a land and its people are ruled.
Direct vs. Representative Democracy:
Direct (Pure) Democracy: Citizens vote directly on laws and budgets. Operating examples exist in small New England town meetings, where local residents gather annually to vote directly on municipal budgets and policies.
Representative Democracy: Citizens elect representatives (e.g., Governors, U.S. Senators, House Representatives) to make legislative and policy decisions on their behalf.
Types of Territorial Power Distribution:
Federal System: Power is constitutionally divided between a central national government and subordinate regional governments (states), creating coequal spheres of authority.
Examples: United States, Germany, Mexico.
Federal Powers: Declaring war, conducting foreign relations, maintaining foreign service/embassies, printing money, operating the postal service (monopoly on first-class mail).
State Powers: Education curriculum, local infrastructure/state roads (excluding federal highways designated by "I" or "US"), state-level law enforcement, voting procedure administration.
Confederal System (Confederation): Regional governments (provinces/states) retain primary authority, making the central national government dependent on them.
Example: Canada. Canadian provinces exercise immense internal sovereignty (e.g., Quebec enforces strict language laws making French mandatory on commercial signs and business operations).
Unitary (Centralized) System: The central national government holds absolute statutory authority; local or regional administrative units possess only the powers explicitly granted to them by the central authority.
Example: France.
Regime Types Based on Leadership Authority:
Autocracy: Governance concentrated in a single individual ruler/dictator (e.g., North Korea, historical Soviet Union).
Oligarchy: Governance by a small elite group based on wealth, corporate status, or military standing.
Debate over U.S. Oligarchical Trends: Media consolidation (e.g., single entity control over major platforms like Facebook or X) and tech-billionaire influence (e.g., Elon Musk) conflict with democratic participation.
Progressive Counter-Movement: Figures like Chris Rand (Philadelphia), Adam from Maui (New Jersey), Abdul El-Sayed (Michigan), and Bernie Sanders push back against corporate political influence.
Campaign Finance Disparities: In Florida (the Sunshine State), Democratic candidate Vintman raised but was defeated in the primary by Andre Anixon (a Black woman from Miami) who raised .
Monarchy: Governance theoretically led by a sovereign.
Constitutional/Symbolic Monarchies: Kings exercise moral/ceremonial role with no legislative power (e.g., King Charles in England, Norway).
Absolute Monarchies: Rulers retain total political and legal control (e.g., Gulf States such as UAE, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait).
Constitutional Limits and Economic Foundations of the United States
Four-Part Classification of the United States Government:
Federal System
Representative Democracy
Capitalist Economy
Limited by a Constitution
Constitutional Limitations:
The Constitution acts as a boundary preventing government from becoming all-encompassing.
Protects individual rights (separation of church and state, due process, legal counsel, protection against arbitrary arrest/property seizure).
Contrast with Authoritarianism: Authoritarian regimes feature no constitutional constraints, permitting arbitrary arrests, land seizures without cause, and suppression of voting.
Capitalism vs. Socialism:
Capitalism Definition: An economic system defined by private ownership of the means of production and reliance on free markets.
Socialism Definition: An economic system defined by public (state) ownership of the means of production (e.g., historical Soviet Union, modern Cuba, North Korea).
Socialist Elements in State Governance: Pennsylvania retains a state-managed monopoly over hard liquor sales via "Fine Wine and Good Spirits" state stores, staffed by civil service union employees receiving state benefits and pensions (unlike private liquor systems in New Jersey).
State Power, Coercion, and Property Protection
Monopoly on Coercion:
Government holds a unique authority not shared by private institutions or Homeowners Associations (HOAs): the legal monopoly on physical force and coercion.
Coercive Capabilities: Restricting physical freedom, incarceration, asset forfeiture, child custody removal, revoking professional/driver licenses, military conscription, capital punishment (practiced in states like Texas and Mississippi).
Selective Service and Military Conscription Dynamics:
All adult males in the United States must register for the Selective Service; women are currently exempt.
Public Policy Context: The U.S. transitioned to an all-volunteer military due to the severe political fallout during the Vietnam War. Modern military casualties generate significant political backlash, making a reinstitution of the draft highly unlikely.
Mandatory Obligations and Coercive Policies:
Taxation: Mandatory compliance enforced by law; non-payment results in property seizure or tax evasion charges.
Education: Mandatory school attendance up to a statutorily defined age.
Public Health & Safety: Compulsory vaccinations for school entry; speed limits (e.g., limits enforced on highways like I-95); DUI laws.
Jury Duty: Compulsory legal civic obligation subject to court fines for non-compliance.
Professional Licensing: Mandatory state licenses required to operate businesses (e.g., barber shops, beauty salons) or practice professions (e.g., medicine).
Protection of Private Property:
A core function of capitalist governance is maintaining legal registries (deeds, title tracking) to protect private property ownership.
Property Rights Realities: The U.S. enforces absolute private property borders (e.g., enforceable "No Trespassing" laws).
International Comparison: In Germany, private individuals may own land/forests, but statutory law prohibits landowners from barring the public from walking through private forests.