Political Science Commons^™

A Pre-Apocalyptic Masterpiece, Brad Orleck

Senior Honors Projects

This article or section or project is not written in the formal tone expected of an honors project. Please improve it or discuss changes on the talk page. See URI's guide to writing better articles for suggestions. For years, various groups have predicted the end of the world, usually a spiritual or nuclear armageddon. Religious groups have predicted the second coming, Hollywood directors have predicted devastating wars with artificial intelligence, and conspiracy theorists predicted Y2K, among others. But every year, the world keeps not ending (widely regarded by scholars as a good thing). And while the world may not end …

Music, The Non-Governmental Actor Changing Political Policy: Have We Failed The Power Of Music?, Alex Hershey

Senior Honors Projects

Music, the Non-Governmental Actor Changing Political Policy: Have We Failed the Power of Music? People learn that making music as well as listening to it frees them from the toil and tedium of a life dominated by the privileged and the powerful. Music means trouble for those who would own and control it as they perpetuate injustice and suffering. – Mat Callahan It is believed that the pen is mightier than the sword, but is the guitar playing vocalist, a beatnik, mightier than the M-16 machinegun and an American political oligarchy? To find the answer to this question we must …

The Convenient Alliance: President Reagan And Pope John Paul Ii, Cold Warriors, Tighe P. Flatley

Senior Honors Projects

Historians and non-scholars alike have long regarded the work of President Reagan and Pope John Paul II to be a tremendous force in helping to end the Cold War. In 1992, Time Magazine cited the relationship as a “Holy Alliance”, a political partnering of two men who, after surviving separate assassination attempts merely six weeks apart, saw their role in global politics as a divine signal to promote the free world and take down communism internationally. By the time the President and the Pope first met at the Vatican in 1982, the two were privately discussing Cold War politics. They …

Politique Partisane Et Indépendence Judiciare, Neal Devins

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Evolution And Impact Of Documentary Films, Amma Marfo

Senior Honors Projects

Long considered either high art or the bane of every student’s existence when a substitute teacher came to class, documentary film has developed into a popular and visible form of entertainment. As a result, they are starting to have a bigger effect on society, as they begin to address issues with the goal of informing the public and pushing for social change. This project will first address historical documentaries, the reasons that they were made, and what techniques were established that have carried through to documentary film today. My paper will then examine today’s documentary films, what techniques they use …

The Politic 2007 Spring, The Politic, Inc.

The Politic

No abstract provided.

Equality News (Spring 2007), Matthew R. Dubois

Equality news / EqualityMaine (2004-2008)

No abstract provided.

A Critical Comparison Of The Church-State Jurisprudence Of Chief Justice William Rehnquist And Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Christy Harrison

Honors Theses

The relationship between government and religion is a difficult one. The question of how religious beliefs and practices should be treated by the government remains at the forefront of constitutional debate. There are concerns about religious freedom and the extent to which it conflicts with public duty. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." The Supreme Court's interpretation of the religion clauses has been unclear, inconsistent, and, therefore, extremely controversial. In fact, it has not become less controversial over time, but quite …

Scientific Advice To The House : Who Has The Congressional Ear?, Kristen Greenholt

Honors Theses

In 2001, President George W. Bush remarked, "Science and technology have never been more essential to the defense of the nation and the health of the economy." The responsibility for formulating science and technology policy primarily falls into the hands of Congress. However, since few members of Congress possess a broad base of knowledge in either science or technology, they must rely on external sources of information. I examine the sources of information on which they rely, or the question "Who has the Congressional Ear?"with regard to science and technology issues. Using the downfall of the Office of Technology Assessment …

The Electronic Ballot Box : Class, Age And Racial Bias On The Internet., Jason Gainous, Kevin M. Wagner

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

This research creates a theoretical framework for understanding the effect of Internet voting on the electorate. Based on standard Downsian rational choice voting theory, we claim that Internet voting lowers the cost of voting for certain voting demographics based upon race, age, and income.We further contend that this electoral advantage may crystallize the growing turnout disparity be-tween demographic groups. The theory is tested using Bayesian inferential methods with data from the Internet turnout in the 2000 Arizona Democratic Presidential Primary merged with demographic data obtained from the 2000 Census. Our findings lend support for the theory that the Internet provides …

The Perceived Effects Of Increased Fuel Prices, Sean O'Roark

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

This project, “Perceptions About the Causes and Effects of Increasing Fuel Prices,” seeks to understand the attitudes of major newspaper editorials concerning the increase of fuel prices. A content analysis of various newspaper editorials from the New York Times, Washington Times, Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post was conducted to gain an understanding of the attitudes and predictions these writers put forth concerning the increase in the price of fuel. Some of the areas this study focused on included what the writer’s attitude was, what were the attributions of and consequences of increased prices, and what was the main …

Evangelicals, Education, And Exile, Harold Dean Trulear

Pro Rege

Dr. Trulear delivered this paper at the Dordt College Convocation, January 13, 2005.

A Benchmark Report On Diversity In State And Local Government, Carol Hardy-Fanta Phd

Publications from the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy

The Pipeline to Public Service Initiative asked the McCormack Graduate School’s Center for Women in Politics & Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts Boston to ascertain the racial diversity in state and local government. The project had the following three goals:

--To identify the race (and gender) of those holding top-level positions filled through gubernatorial appointments, e.g., secretaries, commissioners, directors, deputy commissioners/directors, and undersecretaries, in the Commonwealth’s executive offices and major departments.

--To compile the same information for members of the most influential boards and commissions in the Commonwealth filled through gubernatorial appointments.

--To assess the diversity of elected …

Toward A New Economic Constitution: Judicial Disciplines On Trade Politics, Sungjoon Cho

All Faculty Scholarship

This article first observes that protectionism is an icon of trade politics and thus likely to gather fresh momentum as a domestic election approaches. The paper then problematizes protectionism beyond mere seasonal election politics by revealing its fatal pathologies both to the United States and to the rest of the world. Protectionism basically caters to the special interest at the expense of the larger public interest, which may be coined as a Madisonian constitutional failure. It also deviates from global trading norms, which the United States hypocritically continues to preach adherence to for the rest of the world. This double …

“Those Who Cannot Learn From History Are Doomed To Repeat It"/"Los Que No Pueden Aprender De La Historia Son Condenados Para Repetirla.", Gil Villagran

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

The early 1900s Spanish philosopher, Harvard graduate and professor George Santayana wisely coined this often quoted proverb:  “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it,”  as he reflected on World War I,  the “war to end all wars;”  a war of choice whose peace treaty led to World War II just 21 years later with twice the deaths at 50 million.  Then came Korea, Vietnam, the killing fields of Cambodia, civil wars and death squads in Latin America, ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia, a frenzy of ethnic killing in Rwanda, and countless brutalities in countless locations. …

Iraq: The Betrayal Of Another Generation/Iraq: La Traicion De Otra Generacion, Gil Villagran

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

It's been said that the old men start the wars and the young men have to fight them. Gil's perspective on the war in Iraq and its consequences.In both English and Spanish.

Will Another White Male Be Elected President In 2008?, David E. Drew, Hedley Burrell

CGU Faculty Publications and Research

Barack Obama. Hillary Rodham Clinton. Bill Richardson. The field of minority and female candidates for president has never been so strong. But the question remains: Despite the expected presence of an African- American, a woman, and a Latino, will America in 2008 elect yet another male president of northern European descent?

No one can say for certain, but we hope this streak ends soon, because it's important that America elect its leaders from the full breadth of talent available in its diverse population.

U.S. Flag And National Anthem, Fort Hays State University

Democracy/Government

Bibliography and photographs of a display of government documents from Fort Hays State University, Kansas.

Executive Branch And Cabinet, Mesa Public Library

Democracy/Government

Bibliography and photographs of a display of government documents from Mesa Public Library, AZ.

Your Vote Counts!, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Elections/Voting

Bibliography and photographs of a display of government documents from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Election & Veteran's Day, University Of Guam

Elections/Voting

Bibliography and photographs of a display of government documents from the University of Guam.

We The People, Emporia State University

Constitution

Photographs of a display of government documents from Emporia State University, Kansas.

The Words We Live By, University Of South Alabama

Constitution

Bibliography and photographs of a display of government documents from the University of South Alabama.

To Form A More Perfect Union, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Constitution

Bibliography and photographs of a display of government documents from Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Constitution Day, St. Mary's University, Texas

Constitution

Bibliography and photographs of a display of government documents from St. Mary's University, Texas.

Constitution Day, University Of San Francisco

Constitution

Photograph of a display of government documents from the University of San Francisco.

Presidential Visits, Lacrosse Public Library

Democracy/Government

Photographs of a display of government documents from LaCrosse Public Library, Wisconsin.

Vote, It's Your Choice, Oklahoma State University - Main Campus

Elections/Voting

Photographs of a display of government documents from Oklahoma State University, Stillwater.

"I Do Solemnly Swear...", Arizona State University

Elections/Voting

Bibliography and photographs of a display of government documents from Arizona State University.

The National Institute Of Standards And Technology: An Overview, Wendy H. Schacht

Congressional Research Service Reports

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has a mandate to increase the competitiveness of U.S. firms and provide the measurement, calibration, and quality assurance techniques that underpin U.S. commerce. Congressional debate has focused on the merits of NIST’s external R&D programs directed toward increased private sector commercialization, including the Advanced Technology Program (ATP) and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). The level of funding for internal research efforts has also been scrutinized by Congress. FY2006 appropriations legislation provided $752 million for NIST, an increase of 8.2% over FY2005 (after mandated rescissions) and financed ATP, although at a reduced rate, …