ODE
HIGH SCHOOL
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
Students examine the Founding Documents, which form the basis for the United States of America and how the American people govern themselves at national, state and local levels of government. Students may also impact issues addressed by governments through service learning and senior projects.
Crash Course U.S. Government and PoliticsU.S. Government and PoliticsIn 50 videos, Craig Benzine (aka WeezyWaiter) teaches you U.S. government and politics! The course is based on the 2014 AP U.S. Government and Politics curriculum. By the end of this learning playlist, you will be able to:
* Become a more engaged and active citizen * Understand how the US government works and how you can make it better for you and your community * Explain the differences between the three branches of government * Describe how political ideology, parties, and media influence elections and public policy * Identify the limitations of democracy and the U.S. political system Crash Course is on Patreon! You can support us directly by signing up at http://www.patreon.com/crashcourse
Produced in collaboration with PBS Digital Studios: http://youtube.com/pbsdigitalstudios Support is provided by Voqal: http://www.voqal.org
Introduction: Crash Course U.S. Government and Politics Craig Benzine introduces a brand new Crash Course about U.S. Government and Politics! This course will provide you with an overview of how the government of the United States is supposed to function, and we'll get into how it actually does function. The two aren't always the same thing. We'll be learning about the branches of government, politics, elections, political parties, pizza parties, and much, much more!
Produced in collaboration with PBS Digital Studios: http://youtube.com/pbsdigitalstudios |
50 videos 11,489,494 views
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Hillsdale College
Introduction to the Constitution
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Constitution 101: The Meaning and History of the Constitution
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Civic Engagement
1. Opportunities for civic engagement with the structures of government are made possible through political and public policy processes.
Political processes are related to the acquisition of governmental power and influencing governmental decision making. Public policy processes are related to the institutional actions and procedures involved with the government carrying out its functions.
Resource: Project Citizen, Ohio Center for Law-Related Education
Political processes are related to the acquisition of governmental power and influencing governmental decision making. Public policy processes are related to the institutional actions and procedures involved with the government carrying out its functions.
Resource: Project Citizen, Ohio Center for Law-Related Education
What is Civic Engagement?
Civic Engagement happens any time someone takes action to better their community and encourages others to do it, too.
Learn more about the basics of Civic Engagement and how you can engage in your community as a civic leader! This film was produced by the Presidential Precinct with support from the University of Virginia's Bicentennial. A special thanks to Next Day Animations. New models for civic engagement: Ben Warner at TEDxJacksonville
Despite our technological advancements, we live in a time where we are increasingly disconnected from one another. Ben Warner believes that, if you don't like it, you should quit talking about it and change it. Join Ben and learn how your community gets to decide what matters most. Ben Warner is the President & CEO of Jacksonville Community Council Inc. (JCCI). He has been at JCCI since 1998, serving most recently as the organization's Vice President before becoming the organization's fourth executive leader since 1975.
Education and Civic Engagement: Seth Andrew at TEDxHarlem
Seth Andrews brings to the TEDxHarlem audience his approach to creating the next generation of world and responsible citizens in Harlem.
Why Citizen Engagement: Roxane White at TEDxMileHigh
How are participation and good government linked in America? What can government do to create and preserve trust? Roxane White believes citizens are taking a few ideas simple ideas and changing the future of politics in Colorado for the better.
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OHIOWe The People IntroductionAttorney General Mike DeWine and Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor introduce the We The People program for middle school and high school students.
Ohio High School Mock Trial Video TutorialA Mock Trial how-to for teachers and students, the video outlines Mock Trial elements -- opening statement, direct and cross examinations, and closing arguments -- with examples of each in a simulated trial. Thank you to Westerville South High School Mock Trial team and the Ohio State Bar Association.
Ohio Votes 2019 Civic Engagement Program
Learn about what we're doing, how you can plug into our nonpartisan voter outreach, and other nonpartisan resources available to Ohio voters.
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Political Parties, Interest Groups and the Media
2. Political parties, interest groups and the media provide opportunities for civic involvement through various means.
Political parties consist of organizations whose members hold similar views on public issues. Political parties seek to determine public policy through winning elections and having their members hold public office.
Interest groups consist of organizations whose members hold similar views on public issues. Interest groups seek to influence the making and execution of public policy by engaging in political and public policy processes.
Media are various means of mass communication with different audiences. Political parties and interest groups use media to influence the political and public-policy processes.
Political parties consist of organizations whose members hold similar views on public issues. Political parties seek to determine public policy through winning elections and having their members hold public office.
Interest groups consist of organizations whose members hold similar views on public issues. Interest groups seek to influence the making and execution of public policy by engaging in political and public policy processes.
Media are various means of mass communication with different audiences. Political parties and interest groups use media to influence the political and public-policy processes.
What are Political Parties?
Get the workbook here: https://www.amazon.com/President-Exec... This short video provides a brief description of political parties, including their history, purpose, and functions.
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What is an interest group?
What exactly IS an interest group -- and why are they such a contentious topic? In this video, the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project examines the role interest groups play in Virginia politics.
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Who Owns The Media?
Subscribe to NowThis World: http://go.nowth.is/World_Subscribe
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Researching Civic Issues
3. Issues can be analyzed through the critical use of information from public records, surveys, research data and policy positions of advocacy groups.
- Researching a civic issue involves determining which sources of information are relevant to the task, identifying the perspective or position of each source and evaluating the credibility of the sources.
- Public records can include sources such county tax records, a report issued by a state agency or the Congressional Record.
- Surveys of public opinion could be conducted by students or could come from major polling organizations. Surveys also could consist of data collections pertaining to a public issue (e.g., a survey of waterway contamination resulting from the runoff of snow removal chemicals).
- Research data comes in many forms and may originate with organizations ranging from universities to research institutes. Research into local issues can be conducted by students.
- Advocacy groups (interest groups, lobbies) produce literature and maintain websites that outline their positions on public policy issues.
The Truth in Social Research: Rebecca Huntley at TEDxSydney
Dr Rebecca Huntley is a researcher, author and social commentator with a background in publishing, academia and politics. She holds degrees in law and film studies and a PhD in Gender Studies. Rebecca is the Director of The Mind and Mood Report, Australia's longest-running social trends report, currently in its 35th year. Rebecca is the author of numerous books including a memoir, The Italian Girl. She is also a columnist for BRW and a feature writer for Vogue. She is a sought-after commentator on social trends on radio, in print and on television.
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Considerations involved with determining the credibility of sources include:
Researching candidatesAt election time it's important to find out where each candidate stands on the issues you care about.
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Basic Principles of the U.S. Constitution
5. As the supreme law of the land, the U.S. Constitution incorporates basic principles that help define the government of the United States as a federal republic including its structure, powers and relationship with the governed.
Resource: National Constitution Center
Resource: Ted Talks - The making of the United States’ Constitution
- Basic principles which help define the government of the United States include but are not limited to popular sovereignty, limited government, federalism, separation of powers, and checks and balances.
- Popular sovereignty is the principle that governmental authority is derived from the people. Under this principle, government governs with the consent of the governed.
- The principle of limited government holds that a government can only exercise the powers granted to it. Government must be conducted according to the rule of law.
- Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent units. Under the U.S. Constitution, this principle is reflected in the division of powers between the national government and the states.
- The principle of separation of powers requires a distribution of governmental powers among independent branches. Each of the branches has a specific field of authority and unique set of responsibilities within the operation of the government.
- Checks and balances constitute a system for controlling government power. Under this principle, the branches of government possess the ability to restrain certain actions of other branches.
Resource: National Constitution Center
Resource: Ted Talks - The making of the United States’ Constitution
Basic Principles of the U.S. ConstitutionCenter for Civic Education
The Framers of the Constitution agreed agreed that certain basic ideas about government should be included in the new constitution they were writing. 60-Second Civics, Episode 3916: March 11, 2020 Subscribe and take the Daily Civics Quiz at http://civiced.org/60-second-civics The show’s theme song is “Complacent” by Cheryl B. Engelhardt. You can find Cheryl online at cbemusic.com. Many thanks to Audiogram for supporting the podcast. Visit https://getaudiogram.com/ and make your own audiograms! Image: Washington as Statesman at the Constitutional Convention by Junius Brutus Stearns, American, 1856, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Constitution 101 | Lecture 1
Learn the meaning of the Constitution and the principles of American government in this new version of Hillsdale's most popular course. Visit hillsdale.edu/con101 to begin your course today. The form of government prescribed by the Constitution is based on the timeless principles of the Declaration of Independence. These two documents establish the formal and final causes of the United States and make possible the freedom that is the birthright of all Americans.
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Center for Civic EducationThe Center for Civic Education partners with a network of 50 state civics, government, and law programs sponsored by state bar associations and foundations, colleges and universities, and other civic and law non-profit organizations to promote teaching and learning about the Constitution and Bill of Rights. These state programs conduct local teacher professional development, hold conferences and organize local and state simulated congressional hearings for elementary and secondary students. Each year these state programs impact thousands of teachers and tens of thousands of students. If you would like to know more about your state program click on the map.
Ohio
State Coordinators Kelly Masterson Ohio Center for Law-Related Education Email: kmasterson@oclre.org Phone: 800-282-6556 Ryan Suskey Ohio Center for Law-Related Education Email: rsuskey@oclre.org Phone: 800-282-6556 Ohio Center for Law-Related Education
The Ohio Center for Law-Related Education empowers citizens with an understanding of our democratic system through student programs and teacher conferences. We partner with teachers to bring Citizenship to life.
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Federalist & the Anti-Federalist
6. The Federalist Papers and the Anti-Federalist Papers framed the national debate over the basic principles of government encompassed by the Constitution of the United States.
Resource: The Library of Congress - The Federalists Papers
- When the Constitution of the United States was before the states for ratification, various attempts were made to influence the ratification debates. The proponents of ratification became known as Federalists and the opponents as Anti-Federalists. Both sides prepared essays that outlined their arguments. The Federalist Papers and the AntiFederalist Papers discussed key principles of government as they related to the circumstances of that time.
- One key argument during the ratification debate concerned the extent of power that should be held by the national government. Federalists argued that the powers bestowed upon the national government helped to counteract the problems encountered under the Articles of Confederation. State sovereignty would have to give way in favor of the general welfare of the nation. In any case, according to the Federalists, federal power was defined and limited, while the states still held many residual powers. The Anti-Federalists responded that the truly important powers to govern had been delegated to the national government and that the states had little role other than to oversee the selection of federal officials. In addition, argued the Anti-Federalists, the “necessary and proper” and “supremacy” clauses rendered ineffective any limitations on the powers of the national government.
- Federalists can be said to have won the overall debate on the basic principles of government with the ratification of the Constitution of the United States. Anti-Federalists did achieve some success with the limitations on government embraced by the Bill of Rights
Resource: The Library of Congress - The Federalists Papers
James Madison, the Federalist Papers
Before serving as the fourth President of the United States, James Madison made a major contribution to American political thought through his role in writing the Federalist Papers.
Why did Federalists and Anti-Federalists disagree about representation?
Gordon Wood, Brown University More videos with Wood: https://www.choices.edu/scholar/gordo... Learn more about the early years of the United States in our curriculum unit We the People: A New Nation - https://www.choices.edu/curriculum-un...
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The Federalist Society
The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies is a group of conservatives and libertarians interested in the current state of the legal order. It is founded on the principles that the state exists to preserve freedom, that the separation of governmental powers is central to our Constitution, and that it is emphatically the province and duty of the judiciary to say what the law is, not what it should be. The Society seeks both to promote an awareness of these principles and to further their application through its activities. This channel contains videos of Federalist Society panel discussions, debates, addresses, and other events related to law and public policy. Additional audio and video can be found at https://fedsoc.org/commentary.
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Hillsdale College
The Federalist Papers
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Written between October 1787 and August 1788, The Federalist Papers is a collection of newspaper essays written in defense of the Constitution. Writing under the pen name Publius, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay explain the merits of the proposed Constitution, while confronting objections raised by its opponents. Thomas Jefferson described the work as “the best commentary on the principles of government, which ever was written.” This course will explore major themes of The Federalist Papers, such as the problem of majority faction, separation of powers, and the three branches of government.
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A More Perfect Union
7. Constitutional government in the United States has changed over time as a result of amendments to the U.S. Constitution, Supreme Court decisions, legislation and informal practices.
Resource: National Constitution Center
- Popular sovereignty – Federalist No. 39, Amend. 14 (definition of citizenship) and suffrage amendments, Baker v. Carr and Reynolds v. Sims, political parties, election procedures;
- Limited government – Federalist No. 44, Amendments 1 and 11, Kelo v. City of New London, Connecticut;
- Federalism – Federalist No. 45, Amend. 10, Gibbons v. Ogden and McCulloch v. Maryland, Force Bill (1833), use of federal grants and interstate compacts;
- Separation of powers – Federalist No. 47, Myers v. United States, Buckley v. Valeo and Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Chadha, legislative oversight; and
- Checks and balances – Federalist No. 51, War Powers Act of 1973, impoundment.
Resource: National Constitution Center
Popular SovereigntyWhat is Popular Sovereignty? [No. 86]
Why is the idea of popular sovereignty so important in the American system of government? Professor Kurt Lash explains this unique American concept and its ramifications. The will of the people manifests itself in a written Constitution which supercedes any government activity. The Constitution is designed to maintain the delicate balance between the national government and the state governments. The popular sovereignty of the people is thus preserved at both the local and national levels.
Popular Sovereignty Leads to Bleeding Kansas
The proposal that each territory decide for itself whether or not slavery should exist seemed like a fair solution to the slavery issue. But, it didn't turn out that way.
Separation of PowersExploring Federalist 51: Separation of Powers
How does the U.S. Constitution promote liberty? This video essay explores the insights from Federalist 51 about the role that structural safeguards play in promoting freedom--in particular, checks and balances.
Constitutional Principles: Separation of Powers
Do you understand why separation of powers is important for protecting our freedom? This short, engaging video focuses on the constitutional principle of separation of powers. Clear definitions and graphics, an engaging historical narrative, brief scholar interviews, and memorable quotes will make this 6-minute video perfect for use any time of the year! A short viewing guide is also available at www.BillofRightsInstitute.org.
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Limited GovernmentLimited government and the Constitution
From our free online course, “American Government”: https://www.edx.org/course/american-g.
Why Do We Need Limited Government? | Constitution Minute
Checks and BalancesChecks and Balances
This video discusses the three branches of government in the United States and the system of checks and balances incorporated into the U.S. Constitution to ensure one branch did not become more powerful than another. For more free educational resources, visit our webpage at https://www.lincolnlearningsolutions...
FLVS Civics: Foundations - Checks and Balances
Learn how checks and balances keep each branch of the government from using their job to become to powerful.
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FederalismWhat is federalism?
What is federalism? This video introduces federalism and why there are state and federal courts in the United States. uslawessentials.com
Constitution Hall Pass: Federalism
Constitution Hall Pass explores the relationship between the states and the national government; a system known as Federalism!
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The Bill of Rights
8. The Bill of Rights was drafted in response to the national debate over the ratification of the Constitution of the United States.
Resource: The Library of Congress - The Federalist Papers
Resource: LOC - The Bill of Rights
Resource: TedTalks about The Bil of Rights
- A key argument during the course of the debate over the ratification of the U.S. Constitution concerned the need for a bill of rights. Federalists pointed to protections included in the original document but Anti-Federalists argued that those protections were inadequate. To secure sufficient votes in the state ratifying conventions, Federalists pledged to offer a bill of rights once the new government was established. Massachusetts and Virginia, in accord with Anti-Federalist sentiments, went so far as to propose amendments to the Constitution, including amendments to protect the rights of citizens.
- The amendments which were ratified in 1791 and became known as the Bill of Rights addressed protections for individual rights (Amendments 1 – 9). These amendments reflect the principle of limited government. The 10th Amendment also addressed the principle of limited government as well as federalism.
Resource: The Library of Congress - The Federalist Papers
Resource: LOC - The Bill of Rights
Resource: TedTalks about The Bil of Rights
Why wasn’t the Bill of Rights originally in the US Constitution? - James Coll
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-wasn-t-... When you think of the US Constitution, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Free speech? The right to bear arms? These passages are cited so often that it's hard to imagine the document without them. But the list of freedoms known as the Bill of Rights was not in the original text and wasn't added for three years. Why not? James Coll goes back to the origins of the Constitution to find out. Lesson by James Coll, animation by Augenblick Studios.
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A 3-minute guide to the Bill of Rights - Belinda StutzmanDaily, Americans exercise their rights secured by the Constitution. The most widely discussed and debated part of the Constitution is known as the Bill of Rights. Belinda Stutzman provides a refresher course on exactly what the first ten amendments grant each and every American citizen.
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The 13th, 14th, & 15th Amendments
9. The Reconstruction Era prompted Amendments 13 through 15 to address the aftermath of slavery and the Civil War.
Resource: The United States Senate
- The conflict over slavery was a primary cause of the American Civil War. As the war came to a close, plans to “reconstruct” the rebellious states were instituted. The 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, was not part of President Lincoln’s original plan to readmit former Confederate states to Congress. Ratification of the 13th Amendment became a requirement under President Johnson’s Reconstruction plan.
- Once Southern state efforts to curtail the rights of freedmen became known, two further amendments were proposed. Ratification of these amendments became a requirement under the congressional plan of Reconstruction.
- The 14th Amendment defined what persons were citizens of the United States and offered protection from state infringements on citizens’ rights. It also revised the means for determining representation in the House of Representatives and included punishments for former Confederates and their states. The 15th Amendment extended the right to vote to citizens regardless of race, color or previous condition of servitude
Resource: The United States Senate
The 13th AmendmentConstitution Hall Pass: The 13th Amendment
13TH | FULL FEATURE | Netflix
Combining archival footage with testimony from activists and scholars, director Ava DuVernay's examination of the U.S. prison system looks at how the country's history of racial inequality drives the high rate of incarceration in America. This piercing, Oscar-nominated film won Best Documentary at the Emmys, the BAFTAs and the NAACP Image Awards. US Rating: TV-MA For mature audiences. May not be suitable for ages 17 and under.
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The 14th AmendmentThe 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: A History
The Fourteenth Amendment was added to the Constitution in 1868 to empower the federal government -- including particularly federal courts -- to stamp out a culture of lawless tyranny and oppression in the South by enforcing basic civil rights of newly freed blacks and their white supporters. This culture of oppression took many forms, including widespread censorship, the systematic disarmament of freedmen and white unionists, and the wholesale denial of economic liberty. At the heart of the Fourteenth Amendment was the Privileges or Immunities Clause, which the Supreme Court effectively deleted from the Constitution in the 1873 Slaughterhouse Cases. Today, that judicial error continues to take its toll on important freedoms like private property and the right to earn an honest living, which receive virtually no protection from courts despite their obvious importance to ensuring the economic autonomy of the freedmen following the Civil War and all Americans today. http://www.ij.org/cje
The 14th Amendment interpreted against its original meaning [No. 86]
Could an Originalist interpretation of the 14th Amendment have prevented egregious court decisions?
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The 15th AmendmentSound Smart: The 15th Amendment | History
Historian Yohuru Williams give a brief rundown of the history of the 15th Amendment, which outlawed votings rights discrimination after the Civil War.
Opinion | How voter intimidation and suppression have evolved since the 15th Amendment
Historian Carol Anderson traces the evolution of voter suppression tactics, from poll taxes and literacy tests instituted after the passage of the 15th Amendment to the rise of strict voter ID laws and poll closures after the election of America’s first Black president. Anderson argues voter suppression is rooted in white supremacy and White rage. Anderson is a professor of African American Studies at Emory University and author of ‘White Rage’ and ‘One Person, No Vote: How Voter Suppression is Destroying Our Democracy.’ Subscribe to The Washington Post on YouTube: https://wapo.st/2QOdcqK
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The 16th, 17th, 18th, & 19th Amendments
10. Amendments 16 through 19 responded to calls for reform during the Progressive Era.
- The Progressive Era was a time of political, economic, and social reform in response to problems which emerged throughout the United States in the late 1800s. Progressive reforms began at the local level and gradually spread to the national level, including four constitutional amendments. These amendments addressed issues related to taxation, representation in Congress, alcohol use and suffrage.
- Concerns over the usage of tariffs by the federal government and distribution of wealth in the country had been raised by the Populist Party. Progressives took up the call for reform and the 16th Amendment was passed to allow for a federal income tax. Critics of state politics viewed political party bosses and business leaders as having too much influence on state legislatures and their selection of senators. Amendment 17 provides for the direct election of senators by the people. Proponents of prohibition had for decades linked alcohol use to problems such as poverty and the destruction of family life. Efforts to ban the use of alcoholic beverages led to passage of the 18th Amendment. Another longstanding reform effort was focused on obtaining the right to vote for women. The 19th Amendment ended the denial of suffrage based upon the sex of a citizen.
The 16th AmendmentA taxing history: The origin of U.S. income tax laws
Kenneth C. Davis, author of the popular "Don't Know Much" series of history books, joins "CBS This Morning: Saturday" to take a closer look at the origins and complexity of America's tax system.
What If There Were No Taxes?
Viewers like you help make PBS (Thank you 😃) . Support your local PBS Member Station here: https://to.pbs.org/DonateORIG Subscribe to Origin of Everything! http://bit.ly/originsub Special Note: This is a corrected re-upload.* Everybody hates paying taxes, but what if no one had to pay them? As strange as this may seem to modern Americans, until the 16th amendment, the USA didn’t have a permanent federal income tax. So how would America be different if federal income taxes had never been made into law? Watch the episode to find out.
The 18th AmendmentProhibition, a film by Ken Burns and Lynn NovickPROHIBITION is a three-part, five-and-a-half-hour documentary film series directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick that tells the story of the rise, rule, and fall of the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the entire era it encompassed.
Prohibition was intended to improve, even to ennoble, the lives of all Americans, to protect individuals, families, and society at large from the devastating effects of alcohol abuse. But the enshrining of a faith-driven moral code in the Constitution paradoxically caused millions of Americans to rethink their definition of morality. Read More… Prohibition Repealed - 1933 | Today In History | 5 Dec 17
On December 5, 1933, national Prohibition came to an end as Utah became the 36th state to ratify the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, repealing the 18th Amendment.
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The 17th AmendmentElected v. Appointed: Senators & the Seventeenth Amendment [POLICYbrief]
Prior to the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, U.S. senators were appointed by their state legislators and not directly elected by the people. Professors Wendy Schiller from Brown University and Todd Zywicki from George Mason University discuss the genesis of the amendment and how it fundamentally changed American politics.
CNN: Repeal 17th Amendment?
CNN's National Political Correspondent Jessica Yellin talks to Utah Tea Party Senate candidate Mike Lee.
The 19th AmendmentThe 19th Amendment | History
In 1920, women in the U.S. gained the right to vote - but only after a struggle that lasted more than 70 years! Learn how suffragists fought for the 19th amendment.
Ratifying the 19th Amendment | The Vote | American Experience | PBS
Just months before the presidential election that fall, the suffragists raced to ratify the 19th amendment and join the voting block. They'd make their last stand in Tennessee. Learn more about THE VOTE, including where to watch the documentary: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexpe... One hundred years after the passage of the 19th Amendment, The Vote tells the dramatic culmination story of the hard-fought campaign waged by American women for the right to vote — a transformative cultural and political movement that resulted in the largest expansion of voting rights in U.S. history. In its final decade, from 1909 to 1920, movement leaders wrestled with contentious questions about the most effective methods for affecting social change. They debated the use of militant, even violent tactics, as well as hunger strikes and relentless public protests. The battle for the vote also upended previously accepted ideas about the proper role of women in American society and challenged the definitions of citizenship and democracy. Exploring how and why millions of 20th-century Americans mobilized for — and against — women’s suffrage, The Vote brings to life the unsung leaders of the movement and the deep controversies over gender roles and race that divided Americans then — and continue to dominate political discourse today.
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Disenfranchisement Amendments
15th, 19th, 24th, & the 26th
11. Four amendments have provided for extensions of suffrage to disenfranchised groups.
- A recurring theme in amending the Constitution of the United States has been the extension of voting rights to more citizens. Over time, the fundamental democratic practice of voting has been made possible for different groups of people.
- Amendment 15 prohibits the denial of suffrage to people because of race, color or previous condition of servitude. Amendment 19 prohibits the denial of suffrage on account of sex. Poll taxes disenfranchised the poor and were also used as Jim Crow legislation to deny the right to vote to African Americans. Amendment 24 prohibits the use of poll taxes in federal elections. Finally, as a result of many young men being drafted to fight in the Vietnam War, but not being able to vote, Amendment 26 extends the right to vote to citizens who are 18 years of age or older
Disfranchisement
Disfranchisement is the revocation of suffrage of a person or group of people, or through practices, prevention of a person exercising the right to vote. Wikipedia
The 24th AmendmentBarriers for Black Voters in the South in the Early 1960s | Iowans Return to Freedom Summer
During the summer of 1964, Freedom Summer volunteers helped black citizens of rural Mississippi prepare to go to the courthouse and register to vote. While blacks had the right to vote, some local governments and communities had put barriers in place that prevented them from registering to vote. Barriers included literacy tests, monetary charges, threats, harassment, and possible loss of employment. In this video segment from Iowans Return to Freedom Summer, Shel Stromquist, Richard Beymer and Marcia Moore describe what they observed while helping citizens of rural Mississippi register to vote during the summer of 1964. Classroom resources available on PBS LearningMedia: https://iptv.pbslearningmedia.org/col...
The ratification of the 24th & 26th Amendment
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The 26th Amendment26th Amendment & Voting Age - Decades TV Network
The 26th amendment set a national uniform voting age for men and women of all races and ethnicities in 1970. Not all states were on board and in favor of lowering the voting age to 18. Several states challenged it but after the House and Senate voted to lower the voting age in 1971, three-fourths of the union approved making the 26th amendment part of the U.S. Constitution.
Twenty-sixth Amendment Certification CeremonyClip from the Twenty-sixth Amendment certification ceremony on July 5, 1971 in the White House.
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Presidential Amendments
12. Five amendments have altered provisions for presidential election, terms and succession to address changing historical circumstances.
- Constitutional provisions related to the executive branch of the federal government have been frequent subjects for amendment. The amendments have responded to events impacting presidential elections, terms and succession. Amendment 12 altered the procedures of the Electoral College. The change allowed separate balloting for president and vice president to avoid a tie in electoral votes, as happened in the election of 1800.
- The main provisions of Amendment 20 shortened the time between elections and when presidents and members of Congress take office. These changes reflected the improvements in transportation which allowed for easier travel to Washington and also reflected the desire to avoid “lame duck” periods in the transition from one administration or session to another.
- Amendment 22 imposed a two-term limit on presidential terms. This amendment was passed following the four-term presidency of Franklin Roosevelt to institutionalize the twoterm tradition established by George Washington.
- Amendment 23 provided electors for the District of Columbia. The Electoral College was originally based upon electors representing states. As the population of the District of Columbia grew, it was decided that the residents there deserved to have the opportunity to vote for electors in presidential elections.
- Presidential succession and disability were addressed by Amendment 25. Lyndon B. Johnson, who had a history of heart problems, took office following the assassination of John F. Kennedy. As with other presidential successions, this left the office of the vice president vacant. The 25th Amendment clarified that a successor to the presidency was designated as President of the United States and included provisions for filling the office of Vice President. It also outlined procedures to be used in case of presidential disability.
The 12th AmendmentWhat Happens If A Presidential Election Ends In A Tie?James Madison and Alexander Hamilton talk about the Electoral College and 12th Amendment
Discover how our Founding Fathers intended on electing a President. Never before in recent history has the Electoral College considered not electing the President chosen by the states. Through Trump won the popular vote in enough states to foresee his Election by the Electors his election is far from guaranteed. This video uses primary sources to support the original intent of the Constitution's role of Electors nominating the presidential candidates.
The 23rd AmendmentWashington, D.C. History in 5 Minutes - Animated
A 5-minute animated history of Washington, D.C. - The capital of the United States of America.
How Washington, D.C., could become a state -- and why it probably won't
The roughly 700,000 residents of Washington, D.C., have no voting representation in Congress -- yet pay more taxes per capita than anyone else in the U.S. On Friday, the House of Representatives voted for the first time ever to turn the nation’s capital into its 51st state. But D.C. statehood is not likely to happen soon, for reasons both constitutional and political. Lisa Desjardins reports.
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The 20th AmendmentDecode Dictionary: Lame Duck
Some sit in Congress, others in governors' mansions, and pundits have started to wonder if there might even be one in the White House. Lame duck...you've heard the term bandied about on talk radio, op-eds and cable news but what does it actually mean and where does it come?
Lame-Duck Lawmaking & the 20th Amendment
What is the origin of the term “lame-duck?” Edward J. Larson, Professor and Hugh & Hazel Darling Chair in Law at Pepperdine University gives a history of the 20th Amendment and discusses how lame-duck lawmaking has been part of our nation's history. More about Prof. Edward J. Larson: http://law.pepperdine.edu/faculty-res...
The 25th AmendmentThe 25th amendment: What you need to know
The 25th amendment formally explains the plan of succession if the president dies, resigns or is removed from office. It also details how the president can be removed from office.
50th Anniversary of the 25th Amendment: February 10, 1967
Amendment clarifies Presidential & Vice-Presidential succession in case of a vacancy. This is a portion of an American Artifacts program called "Amending America" https://www.c-span.org/video/?420048-...
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The 22nd Amendment5th November 1940: President Roosevelt elected for an unprecedented third term
Franklin D. Roosevelt was inaugurated as the 32nd President of the United States on 4 March 1933, and quickly introduced initiatives designed to counter the effects of the Great Depression. Known as the New Deal, the combination of “relief, recovery and reform” introduced Social Security and unemployment benefits that proved popular with the American people. This led to Roosevelt being elected to a second term in 1936 with 98.49% of the electoral vote.
America 101: Why Do We Have Presidential Term Limits? | History
Today, every President is restricted to serving two full terms in office. But that wasn't always the case. Historian David Eisenbach explains why.
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The 11th, 21st, & 27th Amendments
13. Amendments 11, 21 and 27 have addressed unique historical circumstances.
- Three amendments to the United States Constitution have come about due to particularly unique circumstances. One amendment addresses judicial power and another repeals a previous amendment. The most recent amendment took more than 200 years to be ratified.
- The 11th Amendment was proposed in 1794, one year after the Supreme Court ruled in Chisholm v. Georgia (1793) that a lawsuit involving a state being sued by a citizen from another state could be heard in a federal court. Concerns over the extent of federal power led to the passage of this amendment, which limits the jurisdiction of the federal courts in cases of this type. The amendment repeals a portion of Article III, section 2, clause 1 of the Constitution.
- Congress enacted the Volstead Act to implement the provisions of the 18th Amendment. Difficulties in enforcing the law led to widespread disregard for Prohibition and increased criminal activities during the 1920’s. A successful 1932 Democratic Party campaign against Prohibition led to the proposal and ratification of the 21st Amendment, which repealed the 18th Amendment.
- Originally proposed in 1789 to limit conflicts of interest among members of Congress in determining their own compensation, the 27th Amendment was not ratified with the 10 amendments known today as the Bill of Rights. Popular opposition to congressional pay raises in the 1980’s renewed interest in the amendment and it was ratified in 1992.
The 11th AmendmentAmendments 11-18 | Principles of the Constitution
Following the first ten amendments to the constitution, the U.S. Congress ratified 17 additional amendments by two-thirds vote. An amendment is the only way to change the constitution and provide a new law that is protected by the federal government. Enjoy this eighth video in our Principles of the Constitution Series
Amendment 11: Property Rights; Removal of Obsolete Provisions; Criminal Statutes
Local 10 News reporter Glenna Milberg explains the pros and cons of Amendment 11.
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The 21st Amendment15th December 1933: 21st Amendment ends prohibition in the USA
Having been proposed on the 20th February 1933, the Amendment was ratified on the 5th December.
Prohibition Repealed - 1933 | Today In History | 5 Dec 17
On December 5, 1933, national Prohibition came to an end as Utah became the 36th state to ratify the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, repealing the 18th Amendment.
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The 27th Amendment"No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.”
The Unlikely Story of the 27th Amendment
In the late 1970's the Dallas County Community College District offered a government class on a local cable TV station.
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Structure & Functions of the Federal Government
14. Law and public policy are created and implemented by three branches of government; each functions with its own set of powers and responsibilities.
Laws are rules recognized as binding and enforced by a government. Public policy consists of institutional actions and procedures pursued by a government in carrying out its functions.
The U.S. Constitution establishes roles for each of the three branches of government related to law and public policy. It assigns each branch special powers and responsibilities.
Laws are made by the legislative branch. Laws are enforced by the executive branch. Laws are interpreted by the judicial branch as it resolves disputes under the laws. The actions and procedures of all three branches establish public policy. These include:
Resource: TedEd Talk about the division of powers among the three branches of government
Laws are rules recognized as binding and enforced by a government. Public policy consists of institutional actions and procedures pursued by a government in carrying out its functions.
The U.S. Constitution establishes roles for each of the three branches of government related to law and public policy. It assigns each branch special powers and responsibilities.
Laws are made by the legislative branch. Laws are enforced by the executive branch. Laws are interpreted by the judicial branch as it resolves disputes under the laws. The actions and procedures of all three branches establish public policy. These include:
- Legislative – conducting oversight investigations, instituting impeachment proceedings, approving treaties, passing resolutions;
- Executive – making rules and regulations, proposing the federal budget, recognizing foreign nations, issuing executive orders; and
- Judicial – issuing writs of certiorari, establishing judicial procedures, sentencing offenders, accepting amicus curiae briefs
Resource: TedEd Talk about the division of powers among the three branches of government
Ted-Ed: How is power divided in the United States government?
Articles I-III of the United States Constitution allow for three separate branches of government (legislative, executive, and judicial), along with a system of checks and balances should any branch get too powerful. Belinda Stutzman breaks down each branch and its constitutionally-entitled powers.
Lesson by Belinda Stutzman, animation by Johnny Chew.
Lesson by Belinda Stutzman, animation by Johnny Chew.
Executive BranchWhat Is the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government? | History
What are the powers of the executive branch of the U.S. government? Who can be president in the United States? And what exactly goes into electing the person who sits in the Oval Office?
Constitution Hall Pass:The PresidencyJust in time for the 2012 election, this engaging, interactive lesson traces the history of the American presidency and features a special introduction by ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos—former adviser and communications director for President Bill Clinton. Join constitutional experts and the Center's education staff to explore why it was important for our young nation to have an executive branch, and why nevertheless some people were worried about giving it too much power. We'll also take a trip to a very special location in America's presidential history. We'll be hailing to the chief as we ring in the Constitution's 225th anniversary!
The Intelligence AgenciesAmerica's intelligence community, explainedFrom the Armed Forces to the NSA to the Treasury Department, PostTV breaks down the 16 different agencies and organizations that collect intelligence for the U.S. government—and the 17th office that oversees them all.
CIA vs FBI: What’s The Difference?
What Are The CIA’s Biggest Failures https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz2iD...
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Legislative BranchWhat Is the Legislative Branch of the U.S. Government? | History
How did the legislative branch of the U.S. government come to be? How does Congress work? And how does a bill get passed?
Constitution Hall Pass: The Legislative BranchGive your students a "hall pass" to travel through American history—without leaving the classroom! Constitution Hall Pass video lessons and live chats are a hit with millions of students and teachers nationwide. Our brand-new episode, "Constitution Day 2013: The Legislative Branch," provides a behind-the-scenes look at how laws are made in the United States. Plus, we'll explore some famous historic sites which bring the story of the legislative branch to life!
The Federal ReserveThe Fed in Five | A History of the Federal Reserve
Experience 100 years of Fed history in just five minutes! This video, which was only previously available inside our museum, takes a look back to the early 1900s to see why the Fed was created … and then flashes forward to see how the Fed has responded to different economic crises.
What Does the Federal Reserve Do?
The Federal Reserve, or the Fed, is an important and influential part of the U.S. economy. But what exactly does it do? In this video from the Income Investing course, our Education Coach gives you a simple explanation.
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Judicial BranchWhat Is the Judicial Branch of the U.S. Government? | History
What are the origins of the judicial branch of the U.S. government? What powers does the Supreme Court have, and what are its most notable rulings?
Constitution Hall Pass: The Judicial BranchJustice SystemHow Does The US Court System Work?
Ever wondered what all the different courts in the U.S. justice system do? Wonder no longer. AJ+ breaks down the roles of the different courts and how they function within the wider justice system.
How Our Criminal Justice System Is Almost Entirely Negotiated Behind Closed Doors | Think | NBC News
There is an ideal of the American criminal justice system where defense attorneys and prosecutors are equal, with a neutral judge and jury presiding over everything. U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff joined THINK to discuss why the actual system functions nothing like that.
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Hillsdale College
The Presidency and the Constitution
This course, taught by the Hillsdale College politics faculty, will help you understand the structure and function of executive power in the American constitutional order. The course begins with the place of the president in the constitutionalism of the Founding Fathers and examines how that role has changed with the rise of the modern Progressive administrative state.
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Congress: How It Worked and Why It Doesn’tThe Framers of the Constitution institutionalized the legislative power in Article I, which grants limited powers to a bicameral Congress, with the aim of securing the rights of American citizens. In the early 20th century, Progressives introduced new conceptions of Congress and the legislative power, which resulted in a massive and ongoing transfer of legislative authority to unaccountable bureaucratic agencies. This course explores the Founders’ understanding of the legislative power and how Congress should work, the Progressive rejection of that understanding, and how that rejection has affected American politics.
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The U.S. Supreme CourtArticle III of the U.S. Constitution vests the judicial power “in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.” According to Federalist 78, the judicial branch “will always be the least dangerous” to the liberty of the American people. Yet, judicial decisions have done much to advance a Progressive agenda that poses a fundamental threat to liberty. This course will consider several landmark Supreme Court cases in relation to the founders’ Constitution.
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The Political Process
15. The political process creates a dynamic interaction among the three branches of government in addressing current issues.
Current issues are addressed by all three branches of the government as they make public policy. The interactions among the branches range from instances where they work in concert to instances involving the exercise of checks and balances. In this context, the political process becomes one of the branches exercising their powers to influence public policy.
The U.S. Constitution addresses the interaction among the branches of government with a system of checks and balances. Checks and balances include:
Resource: The U.S. Government’s Official Web Portal
Current issues are addressed by all three branches of the government as they make public policy. The interactions among the branches range from instances where they work in concert to instances involving the exercise of checks and balances. In this context, the political process becomes one of the branches exercising their powers to influence public policy.
The U.S. Constitution addresses the interaction among the branches of government with a system of checks and balances. Checks and balances include:
- Legislative on executive – veto override, impeachment of civil officers, Senate approval of appointments and treaties, raise and govern military forces;
- Legislative on judicial – creation of lower courts, determination of appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, impeachment of judges;
- Executive on legislative – convene either or both houses of Congress, veto legislation;
- Executive on judicial – appoint judges, issue pardons and reprieves;
- Judicial on legislative – Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides over impeachment trials for the president, interpret and apply laws;
- Judicial on executive – judges not subject to removal by president, interpret and apply laws.
Resource: The U.S. Government’s Official Web Portal
Checks and Balances
This video discusses the three branches of government in the United States and the system of checks and balances incorporated into the U.S. Constitution to ensure one branch did not become more powerful than another. For more free educational resources, visit our webpage at https://www.lincolnlearningsolutions....
The Role of the People
16. In the United States, people have rights that protect them from undue governmental interference. Rights carry responsibilities that help define how people use their rights and that require respect for the rights of others.
There also are responsibilities associated with the exercise of particular rights. Examples include:
Citizenship also entails service to the nation which guarantees the rights of the people. This may include military service, community service and serving in public office. Individual rights are relative, not absolute. The exercise of rights must be balanced by the rights of others and by the common good.
Resource: Center for Civic Education
Resource: The Bill of Rights Institute
Resource: National Park Service - We Shall Overcome
- People in the United States have claims to protection from government intrusion in certain aspects of their lives. These claims are called rights.
- During the American Revolution, various state bills of rights were drafted. The original U.S. Constitution outlined many rights held by the people (see Art. I, sec. 9 and 10, Art. III, sec. 2, Art. IV, sec. 2). The federal Bill of Rights not only enumerates many rights, but other unstated rights are alluded to under the Ninth Amendment. The U.S. Supreme Court, in its interpretation of the 14th Amendment’s dueprocess clause, has instituted the doctrine of incorporation meaning that most of the guarantees in the Bill of Rights also apply to state and local governments.
- Many of the rights held by American citizens protect the ability to participate in the political process (e.g., speech, press, assembly, petition, suffrage, hold public office). There are general responsibilities of citizenship (e.g., respecting the rule of law, paying taxes and fees, accepting responsibility for one’s actions).
There also are responsibilities associated with the exercise of particular rights. Examples include:
- Entitlement to privileges and immunities – respecting the rights of others;
- Right of free speech – engaging in civil discourse;
- Right to bear arms – receiving firearms training;
- Right to jury trial – serving on juries; and
- Right to vote – becoming informed on public issues
Citizenship also entails service to the nation which guarantees the rights of the people. This may include military service, community service and serving in public office. Individual rights are relative, not absolute. The exercise of rights must be balanced by the rights of others and by the common good.
Resource: Center for Civic Education
Resource: The Bill of Rights Institute
Resource: National Park Service - We Shall Overcome
Privileges and Immunities Clause
The Privileges and Immunities Clause of Article IV, Section 2 of the Constitution states that "the citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states." This clause protects fundamental rights of individual citizens and restrains state efforts to discriminate ...
Free SpeechWhat Does "Freedom of Speech" Mean in the U.S.? | History
What is free speech? How does the freedom of speech factor in to the U.S. Constitution? What are limitations and protections of free speech in the U.S.?
Does Free Speech Offend You?
Should offensive speech be banned? Where should we, as a society, draw the line where permitted speech is on one side, and forbidden speech is on the other? Should we even have that line? And should free speech be limited by things like trigger warnings and punishments for microaggressions? Greg Lukianoff, president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, answers these questions and more.
Jury TrialWhat happened to trial by jury? - Suja A. Thomas
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/what-happen... In the United States today, juries decide less than 4% of criminal cases and less than 1% of civil cases filed in court. At the same time, jury systems in other countries are growing. So what happened in the US? And could the disappearance of juries be a good thing? Suja A. Thomas explores both sides of this dilemma. Lesson by Suja A. Thomas, animation by Globizco.
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Bear ArmsThe Second Amendment: Firearms in the U.S. | History
How did the right "to keep and bear arms" become a part of the U.S. Constition? How have ideas about this right and its protections changed over time?
Is Gun Ownership a Right?
What does the Second Amendment say? Is gun ownership a right for all Americans? Or just for a small militia? Eugene Volokh, Professor of Law at UCLA, explains what the Founding Fathers intended.
VoteThe fight for the right to vote in the United States - Nicki Beaman GriffinIn the United States today, if you are over eighteen, a citizen, and the resident of a state, you can vote (with some exceptions). So, how have voting rights changed since the first election in 1789? Nicki Beaman Griffin outlines the history of the long fight for a more inclusive electorate.
Lesson by Nicki Beaman Griffin, animation by Flaming Medusa Studios. |
Majority Rule
17. Historically, the United States has struggled with majority rule and the extension of minority rights. As a result of this struggle, the government has increasingly extended civil rights to marginalized groups and broadened opportunities for participation.
- The U.S. Constitution guarantees rights to the people of the United States. Historically, despite those guarantees, certain groups of people have not been able to fully exercise their rights. Over time, the U.S. government has taken actions to ensure the free exercise of rights by all people and to protect their ability to participate in the processes of governing.
- For instance, the ratification of the 19th Amendment guaranteed suffrage to all women and the ratification of the 24th Amendment eliminated the failure to pay taxes as a reason to deny participation in voting for federal officeholders. The executive branch used National Guard troops to help integrate schools and used the Department of Justice to bring charges against violators of open housing legislation. The legislative branch enacted a series of civil rights acts and voting rights acts in the second half of the 20th century. The U.S. Supreme Court, through the process of incorporation, has used the due process clause of the 14th Amendment to apply most of the federal Bill of Rights to the states
Should Majorities Decide Everything?
Under a democratic system of government, how is an individual protected from the tyranny of the majority? According to Professor Munger, democratic constitutions consist of two parts: one defining the limits within which decisions can be made democratically, and the other establishing the process by which decisions will be made. In the United States Constitution, the individual is protected from majority decisions. Professor Munger warns, however, that these protections are slowly being stripped away as American courts of law fail to recognize the limits of what can be decided by majority rule. Professor Munger uses the case of Kelo v. New London to illustrate the dangers of confusing majority rule with a democratic system.
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Constitutional Principles: Representative Government
Do you understand the key differences between a Republic and a Democracy? The Bill of Rights Institute has created a short, engaging video for Constitution Day on the constitutional principle of representative government. Exciting visuals from current events, an engaging historical narrative, brief scholar interviews, familiar music, and memorable quotes will make this 5-minute video perfect for use on Constitution Day, and every day! A short viewing guide is also available to guide you through the content.
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Ohio’s State & Local Governments
18. The Ohio Constitution was drafted in 1851 to address difficulties in governing the state of Ohio.
Resource: Ohio Secretary of State
- Under Ohio’s original constitution, the General Assembly was the preeminent branch of the government. Key judicial and executive officers, other than the governor, were appointed by the legislature and were not elected by the people of Ohio. The governor, although an elected official, had few specific powers. The Supreme Court, which was required to meet once each year in every county, found it difficult to meet its obligations. In addition the state was burdened with a significant amount of debt.
- The Constitution of 1851 provided that major executive officials and all judges were to be elected by popular vote. While the powers of the governor were not significantly increased, legislative powers to enact retroactive laws were prohibited and all laws of a general nature were required to be uniform throughout the state. District courts were added to the court system to reduce the burdens upon the Supreme Court. The new constitution instituted debt limitations, banned poll taxes and required that tax funds be used only for their stated purpose
Resource: Ohio Secretary of State
The Ohio Constitution
19. As a framework for the state, the Ohio Constitution complements the federal structure of government in the United States.
Resource: State of Ohio Websites
Resource: Local Government Directory
Resource: Ohio Local Government Structure and Finance – Bulletin 835
- The government of the State of Ohio fits within the federal structure of government. The Ohio Constitution must be consistent with the basic principles outlined in the U.S. Constitution (Article VI). The Ohio Constitution outlines the powers and functions of state government and provides the context for local government in the state.
Resource: State of Ohio Websites
Resource: Local Government Directory
Resource: Ohio Local Government Structure and Finance – Bulletin 835
Ohio Constitution
Office of Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine
OHIO’S STATE TEST
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Citizens' Responsibilities
20. Individuals in Ohio have a responsibility to assist state and local governments as they address relevant and often controversial problems that directly affect their communities.
- Ohioans can assist government in addressing problems affecting the state and local communities. Involvement at the state level can range from paying taxes to serving in the National Guard, running for state office, voting and signing petitions to place issues on the ballot. Involvement at the local level can range from organizing civic activities to attending meetings of local boards and commissions, joining community watch groups, and serving in a volunteer fire department.
Citizen: The Most Important Title in American Democracy | Chris Hand | TEDxJacksonville
Each of us holds the most important title in American democracy: citizen. Yet most Americans believe we are powerless to make government respond or hold public officials accountable. A 2015 Pew Charitable Trusts survey found that 74% of Americans believe that most elected officials don’t care what people like us think. But we can make them listen—if we fully embrace our rights and responsibilities as citizens in a democracy, and use the skills of effective citizenship to make government work for us. This is not just a theory. Americans frequently prove that we can make government respond. We, the people, are the beginning and the end of our democracy—and today, more than ever, we must build and flex our citizenship muscles to fulfill that exalted status.
Public Policy
21. A variety of entities within the three branches of government, at all levels, address public policy issues that arise in domestic and international affairs.
Public policy issues are matters of discussion and debate related to the functions of government. They frequently revolve around problems the government is attempting to address and the projected consequences of public policy decisions.
Examples of public policy at different levels of government by different branches of government include:
The complexity of public policy issues may involve multiple levels and branches of government. These levels and branches may engage in collaboration or conflict as they attempt to address public policy issues (e.g., 2010 Federal Race-to-the-Top education grants, the cleanup of the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Arizona’s planned enforcement of immigration laws in 2010)
Resource: League of Women Voters of Ohio (LWVO)
Resource: Smart Voter/ LWVO
Public policy issues are matters of discussion and debate related to the functions of government. They frequently revolve around problems the government is attempting to address and the projected consequences of public policy decisions.
Examples of public policy at different levels of government by different branches of government include:
- Federal Executive – the Department of State, which advises the president on foreign policy and directs activities of embassies in foreign countries;
- Federal Legislative – the Congressional Budget Office, which provides analyses of economic and budgetary data;
- State Legislative – the Ohio Legislative Service Commission, which assists in drafting legislation;
- State Judicial – the Ohio Courts of Common Pleas, which apply sentencing guidelines for convicted felons; and
- Local Legislative/Executive – County commissions, which determine and grant tax abatements.
The complexity of public policy issues may involve multiple levels and branches of government. These levels and branches may engage in collaboration or conflict as they attempt to address public policy issues (e.g., 2010 Federal Race-to-the-Top education grants, the cleanup of the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Arizona’s planned enforcement of immigration laws in 2010)
Resource: League of Women Voters of Ohio (LWVO)
Resource: Smart Voter/ LWVO
Making public policy more fun | Vasiliki (Vass) Bednar | TEDxToronto
An aggressive debater and playful inquisitor, Vass works at the University of Toronto's School of Public Policy & Governance while enjoying an Action Canada fellowship. For fun (and so she can finally play), she's designing a Canadian board game that simulates policy-making in the federation that will highlight the joys of contemporary governance. When she's not playing basketball, reading Maclean's, or blogging, the McMaster Arts & Science graduate spends a lot of time thinking about why things are the way they are and how they can be better.
Hillsdale College
Public Policy from a Constitutional Viewpoint
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The American Founders wrote a Constitution that established a government limited in size and scope, whose central purpose was to secure the natural rights of all Americans. By contrast, early Progressives rejected the notion of fixed limits on government, and their political descendants continue today to seek an ever-larger role for the federal bureaucracy in American life. In light of this fundamental and ongoing disagreement over the purpose of government, this course will consider contemporary public policy issues from a constitutional viewpoint.
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Government & the Economy
22. Individuals and organizations play a role within federal, state and local governments in helping to determine public (domestic and foreign) policy.
Individuals and organizations engage government officials on public policy using several methods. Individuals and organizations can:
Individuals and organizations must know the proper level and branch of government to engage at the various stages of making public policy
Individuals and organizations engage government officials on public policy using several methods. Individuals and organizations can:
- Campaign for candidates who will support their positions once in office;
- Provide information to executive branch officials on the impacts of potential rules and regulations;
- Lobby members of a legislature;
- Provide testimony before legislative committees;
- Prepare briefs to present during judicial proceedings;
- Offer comments during public meetings;
- Conduct letter-writing campaigns; and
- Hold public demonstrations.
Individuals and organizations must know the proper level and branch of government to engage at the various stages of making public policy
Can the Government Run the Economy?
With the smartest experts and the best economists, could the federal government run the U.S. economy? Could it keep America's $17 trillion economy going like a well-oiled machine? Steve Forbes, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media, explains why no one person or group can "run" the economy, and why any attempt to do so can only make things worse.
Tax Policy
23. The federal government uses spending and tax policy to maintain economic stability and foster economic growth. Regulatory actions carry economic costs and benefits.
- Fiscal policies fall into two broad categories: expansionary policies (involving increased government spending and reduced taxes) to increase the level of aggregate demand and contractionary policies (involving decreased government spending and increased taxes) to decrease the level of aggregate demand.
- There are difficulties in using fiscal policy to maintain economic stability and foster economic growth. Much government spending is fixed (e.g., entitlement programs), so only a small portion of the federal government’s budget is discretionary. Predicting the impact of spending and taxing is difficult as is predicting future economic performance. Government spending and taxing does not produce immediate results and economic conditions may change; thus, expansionary policies could result in inflation and contractionary policies could result in recession. Coordinating federal spending and taxing with monetary policy and with state policies is difficult and may be contradictory.
- Fiscal policy is subject to political pressures; in the past, expansionary policies have tended to be popular and contractionary policies have tended to be unpopular. The imposition of government regulations may foster economic benefits such as prohibiting unfair business practices and providing consumer protections. Government regulations may carry costs such as reduced corporate profits and slower economic growth.
How Tax and Spending Policies Can Reduce Poverty and Inequality
Tax and spending policies have a powerful role to play in the fight to end poverty and reduce inequality. But depending on how they are structured, taxes could have a different effect on poverty and inequality. Governments need to assess the short-term and long-term impacts of their tax and spending policies. Learn more: http://wrld.bg/6jxW30ff2K5
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Is America's Tax System Fair?
Is the U.S. tax system fair? Are the rich paying too little or too much? What about the middle and lower class? New York Times bestselling author Amity Shlaes answers these questions, and offers a tax solution that most Americans could get on board with.
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The Federal Reserve System
24. The Federal Reserve System uses monetary tools to regulate the nation’s money supply and moderate the effects of expansion and contraction in the economy.
Monetary tools employed by the Federal Reserve System to regulate the nation’s money supply include:
Purchasing government securities, reducing the discount rate and reducing the reserve requirement all serve to increase the money supply, decrease interest rates, encourage consumer and business spending, and foster economic expansion. Selling government securities, increasing the discount rate and increasing the reserve requirement all serve to reduce the money supply, increase interest rates, depress consumer and business spending, and foster economic contraction.
Monetary tools employed by the Federal Reserve System to regulate the nation’s money supply include:
- Open market operations (purchase and sale of government securities);
- Adjusting the discount rate (interest rate on loans the Fed makes to financial institutions); and
- Adjusting the reserve requirement (required reserve ratio – the fraction of deposits that banks must keep on reserve and not use to make loans).
Purchasing government securities, reducing the discount rate and reducing the reserve requirement all serve to increase the money supply, decrease interest rates, encourage consumer and business spending, and foster economic expansion. Selling government securities, increasing the discount rate and increasing the reserve requirement all serve to reduce the money supply, increase interest rates, depress consumer and business spending, and foster economic contraction.
What is the Fed?
The Federal Reserve often referred to as “the Fed” is the central bank of the United States. Congress created the Fed in 1913 to help promote a safe and sound monetary and financial system for our nation. The Fed includes the Board of Governors in Washington D.C. which has seven members including the Chairman and Vice Chairman. All of the members of the Board are appointed of the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. The Fed also includes 12 regional Federal Reserve Banks located in cities throughout the country. The Reserve Banks serve as the central banks' operating arms and also gather economic information from all over the country to help the Fed both monitor the economy and get the broad input necessary to develop and implement effective U.S. monetary policy. Transcript (PDF): http://www.federalreserve.gov/mediace... Learn more: http://www.federalreserve.gov/aboutth...