Our Political System How US Politics Work Propaganda

Our Political System How US Politics Work

Propaganda Daisy Ad Santorum vs Romney Any Questions? I Like Ike Kennedy Ad Tammy Baldwin Scott Walker

Two Parties Democrats More Liberal Bigger Government Usually support “controversial issues” (gay marriage, abortion, etc) Republicans More Conservative Smaller Government Usually follow morals of the Founding Fathers

Two Parties Democrats Republicans

Thomas Nast - 1874

Electoral College Process, not a place Consists of 538 electors A MAJORITY of 270 votes is required to elect President Each state gets a number of electors (DC gets 3) Winner takes all mentality! If neither candidate gets a majority of the Electoral Votes, the election for President is decided in the House of Representatives, with each state delegation having one vote. Senators would elect the Vice. President.

Electoral College Map

Electoral College Map

Electoral College Map

Electoral College Map

Electoral College Map

The Issues - Today Jobs The Economy Health Care Education Energy and Environment Social Issues: Gay Marriage, Abortion, ETC Taxes Illegal Immigration

The Candidates Barack Obama (D) Mitt Romney (R)

Barack Obama Born in Honolulu, Hawaii (8/4/1961) Graduate of Columbia and Harvard President of Harvard Law Review Taught Civil Law at the University of Chicago Served as State Senator 2004 -2008 Elected President in 2008 (Def. John Mc. Cain) Re-Elected in 2012 (Def. Mitt Romney)

Willard “Mitt” Romney Born in Detroit, Michigan (3/12/1947) Graduate of Brigham Young University Also graduate of Harvard Business/Law Elected governor of Massachusetts in 2002 Presidential Candidate in 2012 (V. Obama)

Vice-Presidents Advise the President Act as President on trips when President can’t go Take over for President if President is killed or gives up office President of the Senate

VP Facts Four inherited the office because of assassination Andrew Johnson for Abraham Lincoln in 1865 Chester Arthur for James Garfield in 1881 Theodore Roosevelt for William Mc. Kinley in 1901 Lyndon Johnson for John Kennedy in 1963 Four inherited the office through the natural death of the incumbent John Tyler for William Henry Harrison in 1841 Millard Fillmore for Zachary Taylor in 1850 Calvin Coolidge for Warren Harding in 1923 Harry Truman for Franklin Roosevelt in 1945

VP Joe Biden Born in Scranton, PN (11/20/1942) Graduate of the University of Delaware Received his JD from Syracuse University 1973: Becomes Senator for Delaware Ran for President in 1988 Vice President under Obama Gaffe

Paul Ryan Born in Janesville, WI (1/29/1970) Graduate of Miami University in Ohio US House Representative in 1998 (1 st term) VP Nomination under Mitt Romney Known for “the best abs” in congress

Faith & Politics Ponder this statement: Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, ' thus building a wall of separation between church and State.

Faith & Politics Ok, so who said it? ? What does the quote mean? Is it still relevant today? VS

Mormonism A sect of Christianity Believe in Jesus & God Believe in the Bible and it’s third book The Book of Mormon Their prophet was a man named Joseph Smith I Believe Catholic Presidents?

Debates What’s the point of these? The Most Recent Nixon V Kennedy

Branches of the Gov’t

Executive Branch Consists of the President Commander & Chief of Military Grant Pardons Nominate ambassadors Make Treaties (2/3 Senators required) Faithfully execute the laws Veto

Limitations of the Executive Branch Appointments must be approved by Senate Only 1 or 2 terms – not a king! Veto can be over-ridden Impeachment

Legislative Branch Consists of 2 Bodies of Government House Of Representatives & Senate Combined = Congress 100 Senators + 435 Reps = 535 Congress People Equality amongst States = Senate Plan Based on Population = House of Reps.

Powers of the Legislative Branch Can declare war Passes bills onto President Pass budget and taxes Impeach the President 2/3 majority to over-ride veto VP is head of the Senate Speaker of the House leads House of Reps.

Limitations of the Legislative Branch President can veto bills Cannot enact laws that violate the Constitution All laws enacted are up for Judicial Review

Judicial Branch Consists of 9 members – known as Justices Term is for life, or retirement Led by the Chief Justice Appointed by the President

Powers of the Judicial Branch Judicial Review – look over laws to see if they violate Constitution Interpret treaties Can declare bills unconstitutional Interpret Constitutional debates Chief Justice John Roberts – appointed under George W. Bush

Limitations of the Judicial Branch President appoints Justices – can be rejected Cases cannot be, at first, heard by the Supreme Court Judges can overrule one another Certain courts can only hear certain cases (IE: Criminal Court, Civil Court, etc…)

Ruling Activity In Groups of 2, research one of the following cases. You will be responsible for presenting it. You should include the following: Case name, date it took place Major people and places involved Arguments for and against (historical background) Outcome: what was the decision and vote Impact on the nation & reaction I highly suggest looking at the legal briefs!!

Supreme Court Rulings Dred Scott V Sanford (1857) Plessy V Ferguson (1896) Brown V Board of Education (1954) Miranda V Arizona (1966) Tinker V Des Moines (1969) Roe V Wade (1973) National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012) United States V Windsor (2013)