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Full-Text Articles in American Politics

Postmodernity, Chance, And Judicial Interpretation, Tanner Love Sep 2021

Postmodernity, Chance, And Judicial Interpretation, Tanner Love

Compass: An Undergraduate Journal of American Political Ideas

This essay is about postmodern thought’s view of chance as compared to ancient and modern thought, and how this view turns judicial interpretation into a game of force.

Author information: Tanner Love graduated from Jacksonville State University with degrees in political science and English and is studying law at the University of Alabama School of Law.


Sermon From The Capitol Hill: Abraham Lincoln’S Usage Of The Bible In His Second Inaugural, Ben Atwood Sep 2021

Sermon From The Capitol Hill: Abraham Lincoln’S Usage Of The Bible In His Second Inaugural, Ben Atwood

Compass: An Undergraduate Journal of American Political Ideas

While President Abraham Lincoln’s religious life evades easy explanation, his love for the Bible and its teachings cannot be denied. He frequently laced his speeches with Biblical ideas and language, capturing the attention of a Biblically-aware audience. The question of Lincoln’s attraction to the Bible removed from organized religion deserves consideration. The Bible’s distinct role in Lincoln’s speeches may have peaked with Lincoln’s Second Inaugural address. Given March 4, 1865, only six weeks before his assassination, the Second Inaugural may read as the president’s “last will and testament,” a final opportunity to preach to his nation.

Author information: Ben Atwood …


Kenneth A. Roberts Papers: Finding Aid, Bethany Latham Aug 2021

Kenneth A. Roberts Papers: Finding Aid, Bethany Latham

Finding Aids

This collection contains correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, memos, news releases, and other information related to Democratic Congressman Kenneth A. Roberts’ (1912-1989; representative from 1951-1965) time in office as a member of the US House of Representatives. The materials relate to a few broad categories: the construction of a hospital located at Fort McClellan in Anniston, Alabama; the construction of Howell Mill Shoals Dam; and concerns brought before the House Subcommittee on Health and Safety, such as working mothers, automobile safety, and refrigerator safety.

Kenneth Allison Roberts was born in Piedmont, Alabama in 1912 where he attended public school and then …


Kenneth A. Roberts Congressional Notebooks: Finding Aid, Bethany Latham Aug 2021

Kenneth A. Roberts Congressional Notebooks: Finding Aid, Bethany Latham

Finding Aids

This collection contains notebooks related to legislation brought before the US House of Representatives during the tenure of Democratic Congressman Kenneth A. Roberts’ (1912-1989; representative from 1951-1965). Each notebook contains a table of contents listing legislation sponsored by Roberts, in alphabetical order by subject (eg, Cuba, juvenile delinquency), along with other congressional activities, voting records, etc.

Kenneth Allison Roberts was born in Piedmont, Alabama in 1912 where he attended public school and then Samford College in Birmingham. He graduated from the University of Alabama Law School in 1935 and practiced law in Talladega from 1937-1942. He was elected to the …


Civil Warfare: Where U.S. And Russian Policy Meet Civil Society In Eurasia, Robert Q. Carolan Mar 2021

Civil Warfare: Where U.S. And Russian Policy Meet Civil Society In Eurasia, Robert Q. Carolan

Compass: An Undergraduate Journal of American Political Ideas

Civil society in Eurasia is not always a friend to Washington, and is, at times, an ally to Moscow. This paper reviews select Eurasian civil society organizations and their role in Russian hybrid warfare.

Author information: Robert Quinn Carolan is a master’s student at Sciences Po’s Paris School of Public of Affairs (PSIA) and the Moscow State Institute of Foreign Affairs (MGIMO) (University) and alumnus of Northern Illinois University. He wrote this piece in coordination with the NIU Student Engagement Fund and as a US Gilman Scholar in Ukraine.


The Implications Of A National Popular Vote For President, Julia Jackman Mar 2021

The Implications Of A National Popular Vote For President, Julia Jackman

Compass: An Undergraduate Journal of American Political Ideas

Defenders of the winner-take-all method of the Electoral College predict that implementing a national popular vote would cause less-densely populated cities and states to be forgotten in presidential elections. This paper takes a quantitative approach to evaluate that claim.

Author information: Julia Jackman is a senior at Barrett, the Honors College, at Arizona State University. She is majoring in Biochemistry and Global Health and minoring in Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership. Julia plans to pursue graduate studies in refugee studies and global health before applying for medical school.


Individualism And Self-Interest In Atlas Shrugged, Kush Desai Mar 2021

Individualism And Self-Interest In Atlas Shrugged, Kush Desai

Compass: An Undergraduate Journal of American Political Ideas

The dystopian world portrayed in Atlas Shrugged is an example of the collectivist ideal gone awry. Rand demonstrates the victory of the “men of ability” over the looters and the triumph of self-interest over collective duty.

Author information: Kush Desai is a third-year student studying Computer Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin.


Hate Speech Laws In Democratic Countries, Sean Lehning Mar 2021

Hate Speech Laws In Democratic Countries, Sean Lehning

Compass: An Undergraduate Journal of American Political Ideas

In contrast to the United States policy of protecting hateful expression, a survey of democracy indices indicates that dozens of democracies have hate speech laws that restrict it. This challenges assumptions of debate in the United States by showing such restrictions are feasible in a free society.

Author information: Sean Lehning is currently a law student at Northern Illinois University College of Law. This research project built on his political science background and inspired him to go to law school, while he continues to research issues of free expression and hate speech.