American Politics Commons^™

The End Of The Great Fiscal Compromise, Nathan B. Oman

Popular Media

No abstract provided.

Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Constitution

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

The Cost Of Going For The Gavel: Individual Candidate Spending In Intermediate Appellate Court Elections, Brian Frederick, Matthew J. Streb

Political Science Faculty Publications

Substantial research in recent years has studied judicial campaign spending. Most of this research has concentrated on state supreme court elections. Less is known about candidate spending in lower-level judicial elections. Moreover, research has focused on the costs of campaigns with the race as the unit of analysis. This study probes patterns of spending by 470 candidates in all contested races for state immediate appellate court seats from 2000 to 2009. It makes the first comprehensive evaluation of the systematic factors that drive spending in lower-level judicial elections with the individual candidate as the unit of analysis. It explores several …

Buckeye Battleground, Daniel J. Coffey, John C. Green, David B. Cohen, Stephen C. Brooks

Buckeye Battleground

Buckeye Battleground is the result of a decade’s worth of research at the Bliss Institute on elections in Ohio, with special emphasis on the 2004 and 2008 presidential campaigns, and the 2006 gubernatorial campaign. This book seeks to explain why Ohio is, and has been, at the center of American elections. Using historical analysis, demographic data, and public opinion surveys, the authors demonstrate Ohio’s role as the quintessential “battleground” state in American elections. This title is unique in its approach and coverage.

Did America Have A Christian Founding?, Mark David Hall

Faculty Publications - Department of History and Politics

"Did America have a Christian Founding? This disputed question, far from being only of historical interest, has important implications for how we conceive of the role of religion in the American republic. Mark David Hall begins by considering two popular answers to the query— “Of course not!” and “Absolutely!”—both of which distort the Founders’ views. After showing that Christian ideas were one of the important intellectual influences on the Founders, he discusses three major areas of agreement with respect to religious liberty and church–state relations at the time of the Founding: Religious liberty is a right and must be protected; …

Metropolitan-Rural Voting Patterns In U.S. Legislative Elections, Elizabeth A. Stiles, Larry Schwab

Political Science

This paper examines the relationship between partisan political success, in both the United States House of Representatives and in the lower houses of U.S. state legislatures, and distance from the central city. The increasing Republican success over time, first in suburbs generally, and then in outer suburbs, is illustrated. Correspondingly, the paper shows that Democrats have retained their advantage in the central city, lost advantage in the rural areas and compete most effectively in inner ring suburbs. Also, different measures of distance from the central city (distance in miles, in types of living arrangements (e.g. urban, suburban, and rural) and …

Horse-Trading In Smoke-Filled Rooms: Power In The 2008 West Virginia Republican Presidential Convention, Nora Kay Ankrom

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The 2008 West Virginia Republican Presidential Convention was the first of its kind and presents an intriguing case study of power in politics. A small percentage of West Virginians are Republican and an even smaller percentage of those Republicans participate in politics. Based on this situation, the elite members of the West Virginia Republican Party would be expected to produce their candidate as the winner of the state's first ever presidential convention. This, however, was not the case. A perceived second tier candidate claimed victory instead, much to the anger and dismay of the party regulars. This study interprets and …

Socialist! Hatemonger! Can Democratic Problem-Solving Survive In An Age Of Polarization And Hyperbole? , Benjamin Cole

The University Dialogue

No abstract provided.

The Perseverance Of Neoliberalism: Why Obama Has Not Shifted Trade Policy In Response To The Great Recession, Brian Pratt

Theses & Honors Papers

This thesis examines Obama’s reasons for not shifting trade during the recession. The author goes into depth about how business groups influence Obama and his decisions on trade policies. Obama’s and Clinton’s administrations and their policies, through documents, speeches, and other sources, are also compared due to the fact that Clinton was the last Democratic president. Scholarly literature is also examined in regards to both Clinton’s and Obama’s presidency.

Off To The (Horse) Races: Media Coverage Of The "Not-So-Invisible" Invisible Primary Of 2007, Lori Cox Han

Political Science Faculty Books and Book Chapters

"While it may seem obvious to even the casual observer of U.S. politics how important news media coverage is for a presidential candidate in the heat of the primary or general election battle, it is the media attention garnered during the pre-nomination phase of the campaign that can play a crucial role in deciding if the candidate even makes it to the first nominating contest. Often referred to as the "invisible primary;' the pre-primary period for the 2008 election occurred earlier and lasted longer than in any previous campaign in modern American history...This chapter will consider two aspects of news …

The New American Civil Religion: Lesson For Italy, Andrew Koppelman

Faculty Working Papers

American civil religion has been changing, responding to increasing religious plurality by becoming more abstract. The problem of increasing plurality is not only an American one. It is also presented in Italy, where civic identity has been centered around a Catholicism that is no longer universal. Perhaps Italy has, in this respect, an American future.

Revolutionary Critical Pedagogy For A Socialist Society: A Manifesto, Peter Mclaren

Education Faculty Articles and Research

"As advocates of revolutionary critical pedagogy, we stand at the turning point in this process. Critical pedagogy is an approach that we have chosen as a necessary (albeit insufficient) vehicle for transforming the world. The work that we do has been adapted from the pathfinding contributions of the late Brazilian educator, Paulo Freire, whose development of pedagogies of the oppressed helped to lay the foundations for approaches (feminist, post-structuralist, Marxist) to teaching and learning that utilizes the life experiences of students in and outside of traditional classrooms to build spaces of dialogue and dialectical thinking. We have renamed our critical …

Proposed Constitutional Amendment On War Powers

CACTUS--Citizens' Assembly for Critical Thinking About the United States

The power to declare war or to authorize warfare by the United States, and to regulate the use of funds for military action, shall be vested in the Congress.

Media Citations (2004-2011), Matthew Hale

Political Science Publications

No abstract provided.

Sectarianism And Citizenship: Church And State Debates In Nineteenth Century New York, Sean Mcgonigle

American Studies Senior Theses

My senior thesis for American Studies, entitled “Sectarianism and Citizenship: Church and State Debates in Nineteenth Century New York,” examines the origins of Catholic integration into mainstream American Society, particularly by looking into the changing landscape in New York during the mid-1800’s. American citizenship was defined in terms of Protestant nationalism, and, as such, American institutions also had strains of American Protestantism. I contend that this American Protestant hegemony was challenged in New York by the growing presence of Catholics in the city. Through natural birth rates and immigration, the Catholic population in New York dramatically increased, and forced the …

We The People, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Constitution

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

Oppositional Identities: The Military Peace Movement’S Challenge To Pro-Iraq War Frames, Lisa A. Leitz

Peace Studies Faculty Articles and Research

In the United States, rhetoric in support of the Iraq War often focuses on discourses of patriotism and supporting the troops. These discourses hold enormous sway over the American public because of the discursive legacies of the Vietnam War and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. In response, members of the peace movement who are veterans, soldiers, and military families stress their military identities during activism. These individuals have organized as an important branch of the U.S. antiwar movement that challenges the pro-war framing of patriotism and troop support by strategically deploying 'oppositional identities.' The oppositional identity strategy involves highlighting …

The Declaration Of Independence And The Constitution Of The United States Of America, Deborah G. Stevenson, Gary L. Rose

Sacred Heart University Press Books

Preface by Deborah G. Stevenson, J.D. Attorney Stevenson practices Constitutional Law, Appellate Law, Educational Law, and Criminal Law in a variety of courts, including Connecticut Appellate and Supreme Courts, federal District Courts, and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. She has written many articles on Constitutional Law, and has given many lectures on the Constitution and individual rights in workshops held in several States across the country. She also serves as Chief Counsel for We the People of Connecticut, Inc., the nation’s first lobby devoted solely to preserving, protecting and defending the Constitution.

Introduction by Gary L. Rose, Ph.D. Gary …

Non-Partisan ‘Get-Out-The-Vote’ Efforts And Policy Outcomes, Dan Kovenock, Brian Roberson

Economics Faculty Articles and Research

This paper utilizes a simple model of redistributive politics with voter abstention to analyze the impact of nonpartisan ‘get-out-the-vote’ efforts on policy outcomes. Although such efforts are often promoted on the grounds that they provide the social benefit of increasing participation in the electoral process, we find that they have a meaningful impact on policy outcomes and are an important political influence activity for nonprofit advocacy organizations. In equilibrium, nonpartisan gotv efforts are more likely to arise in those segments of the electorate that are sufficiently small and disenfranchised (as measured by the ex ante voter abstention rate). Among those …

The Cold War's Last Battlefield: Reagan, The Soviets And Central America, Edward A. Lynch

Books by Hollins Faculty and Staff

"Central America was the final place where U.S. and Soviet proxy forces faced off against one another in armed conflict. In The Cold War's Last Battlefield, Edward A. Lynch blends his own first-hand experiences as a member of the Reagan Central America policy team with interviews of policy makers and exhaustive study of primary source materials, including once-secret government documents, in order to recount these largely forgotten events and how they fit within Reagan's broader foreign policy goals. Lynch's compelling narrative reveals a president who was willing to risk both influence and image to aggressively confront Soviet expansion in …

Art Of Representation: Portraits Of The Founding Fathers, Ellen Kathryn Corrigan

Faculty & Staff Research & Creative Activity

Text panel from “The Art of Representation: Portraits of the Founding Fathers,” a local exhibit in support of the Booth Library installation of the ALA-PPO/NEH traveling exhibition Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World, on display January 12-February 25, 2011.

The Bible And The Ballot: The Christian Right In American Politics, Terence L. Burns

Theses and Graduate Projects

The year was 2004. It was late October in Minnesota and winter was corning. So was an election. The Presidential election of 2004 pitted the sitting President George W. Bush against Senator John Kerry. As a self-described "political junkie", I had been watching the debates and developments during the long campaign with great interest. Of particular interest to me was watching the political involvement of Evangelical Christians and their leaders develop and grow. On this particular Sunday in 2004, I was at my post as musician at an evangelical "mega" church in the western suburbs of Minneapolis. The church was …

Nonvoters: Doing Nothing To Change The Government They Hate, Geoffrey N. Mciver

Political Science Theses and Capstones

The sporadic and often dismal voter turnout of the American public is often regarded as a hole in the democratic model. This research examines the influence of an individual‘s attitude about their government and how it affects their voting habits. Literature in the past has isolated demographic makeup as the reason for nonvoting, i.e. education or income. However, the nonvoter‘s state of mind in relation to their general feelings toward government and the social contract has been broadly overlooked. A new measure of an individual‘s attitude toward government was created using a collection of survey questions centered on a person‘s …

Perspectives On Resignation In Protest, Walter J. Kendall Iii

Human Rights & Human Welfare

A review of:

How Do I Save My Honor? War, Moral Integrity, and Principled Resignation. By William F. Felice. Lanham, Maryland: Rowan & Littlefield Publishers, 2009. 222pp.

Republicanism, Richard Dagger

Political Science Faculty Publications

Republicanism is an ancient tradition of political thought that has enjoyed a remarkable revival in recent years. As with liberalism, conservatism, and other enduring political traditions, there is considerable disagreement as to exactly what republicanism is and who counts as a republican, whether in the ancient world or contemporary times. Scholars agree, however, that republicanism rests on the conviction that government is not the domain of some ruler or small set of rulers, but is instead a public matter - the res publica - to be directed by self-governing citizens.

The State Of The Parties (Sixth Edition), John C. Green, Daniel J. Coffey

The State of the Parties Sixth Edition

Every four years, The State of the Parties brings readers up to date on party action in election years and in between. With the dual themes of continuity and change characterizing the new edition, this essential party primer includes: three new chapters on party roles in the 2008 election, a section on the impact of party resources for the campaign, extensive coverage of party mobilization efforts via the Internet and local activity, and new chapters covering topics ranging from Republicans' fall from grace to party governance under Nancy Pelosi to President Obama's role in party politics.

Art Of Representation: Portraits Of The Founding Fathers, Ellen Corrigan

Faculty & Staff Research & Creative Activity

Text panel from “The Art of Representation: Portraits of the Founding Fathers,” a local exhibit in support of the Booth Library installation of the ALA-PPO/NEH traveling exhibition Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World, on display January 12-February 25, 2011.

The 2008 Us Presidential Campaign As Represented In The Online Edition Of The Korea Times, Sherri L. Ter Molen

Communication Faculty Research Publications

Because public opinion has been found to influence government policy (Page & Shapiro, 1983, p. 185) and because media are cultural products that “mirror society” and “contribute to the reconstruction of the culture” (Czarniawska, 2006, p. 250), I conducted a rhetorical analysis of the coverage of the 2008 US presidential campaign in the online edition of the English language newspaper, The Korea Times. Using Entman’s (2007) concept of framing bias in the media as a means to influence the distribution of power, I found that The Korea Times used the deictic expression ‘we’ to express and (re)construct nationalistic views of …

The Anglo Politics Of Latino Education: The Role Of Immigration Scripts, Edmund T. Hamann

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

In the 41 states without a substantial historic Latino population, large-scale schooling of Latinos is a comparatively new issue and the nature of that schooling is fundamentally shaped by how the more established (usually Anglo) populations understand this task. This chapter describes the understandings that led to, but also limited, one particularly comprehensive attempt in Georgia to respond to Latino newcomers. In that sense, this is a study of the cosmologies that can undergird the politics of schooling of Latinos. This chapter utilizes the concept of the script, or broadly shared storylines about how things are or should be, to …

Connecticut's Fourth Congressional District: History, Politics, And The Maverick Tradition, Gary L. Rose

Sacred Heart University Press Books

Connecticut's Fourth Congressional District: History, Politics, and the Maverick Tradition is a case study of one of the most unique congressional districts in the United States. Located in Fairfield County, the fourth district is a bedroom community close to New York City. The district's close proximity to Wall Street, the tendency of the district's constituents to elect free-thinking congresspersons, and the wealth and celebrity status of many district residents have resulted in a setting which can be described as an anomaly in the larger context of congressional politics. Contents: Introduction -- Connecticut's Fourth Congressional District: geography and demographics -- A …