American Politics Commons^™

The Mormon Plot That Wasn't, Nathan B. Oman

Popular Media

No abstract provided.

Open Secret: Why The Supreme Court Has Nothing To Fear From The Internet, Keith J. Bybee

Institute for the Study of the Judiciary, Politics, and the Media at Syracuse University

The United States Supreme Court has an uneasy relationship with openness: it complies with some calls for transparency, drags its feet in response to others, and sometimes simply refuses to go along. I argue that the Court’s position is understandable given that the internet age of fluid information and openness has often been heralded in terms that are antithetical to the Court’s operations. Even so, I also argue the Court actually has little to fear from greater transparency. The understanding of the Court with the greatest delegitimizing potential is the understanding that the justices render decisions on the basis of …

Governor Deval Patrick And The Representation Of Massachusetts’ Black Interests, Ravi K. Perry

Trotter Review

This article examines the rhetorical strategies and legislative initiatives of Deval Patrick and his efforts to represent black interests in Massachusetts. Utilizing speech content analysis, census data, interview data, and archives of executive and legislative actions, the article identifies that Massachusetts’ only black governor has been able to advance policies and programs designed to represent black interests. The results indicate that when black interest policy actions are framed utilizing a targeted universalistic rhetorical strategy, Patrick advanced black interests as he detailed how his proposed initiatives benefited all citizens. At the state level, the finding exposes the limits of the deracialization …

Considered A Foreign Policy Neophyte, Barack Obama Emerges As One Of The Nation’S Most Competent Commanders In Chief, Howard Manly

Trotter Review

During the 2008 presidential campaign, the main criticism against Barack Obama was that he was too green to lead America’s foreign policy and military.

It was a charge that Republican conservatives made against Democratic candidates with predictable frequency and had become a proven winning strategy after Ronald Reagan steamrolled perceived military bumbler Jimmy Carter in 1980. Conventional wisdom suggested that strategy would work even better against Obama.

In a move that foreshadowed his military decision-making, Obama authorized within the first four months of his administration the military rescue of Richard Phillips, the American sea captain taken hostage by pirates in …

Latino Voters 2012 And Beyond: Will The Fastest Growing And Evolving Electoral Group Shape U.S. Politics?, Sylvia R. Lazos

Scholarly Works

The author reviews two recent books, Marisa A. Abrajano’s Campaigning to the New American Electorate: Advertising to Latino Voters (2010) and Marisa A. Abrajano’s and R. Michael Alvarez’s New Faces New Voices: The Hispanic Electorate in America (2010). These books are part of a growing literature that scientifically studies the evolving Latino electorate, and attempts to answer difficult questions about this ethnic group’s electorate cohesiveness and how candidates might be able to influence the Latino electorate. A careful read of Abrajano’s recent books brings additional understanding to Latino voter behavior, and by implication, how this key group will influence the …

Split Definitive, Lawrence Baum, Neal Devins

Popular Media

For the first time in a century, the Supreme Court is divided solely by political party.

Phelps, Lilburn, 1870-1956 (Sc 699), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid and scan (Click on "additional files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 699. Papers of Lilburn Phelps, a lawyer and State Representative of Jamestown, Ky., which chiefly relate to his professions. They mainly include speeches and letters to the editor that he penned. See Scrapbook Collection for additional material.

The Next Swing Region: Reapportionment And Redistricting In The Intermountain West, David F. Damore

Brookings Scholar Lecture Series

During the first decade of the 21st century no region in the nation experienced the political and demographic changes that occurred in the Intermountain West region, including the states of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. These states grew at unprecedented levels and are now demographically more diverse and increasingly urbanized. This presentation will explore the status of redistricting and reapportionment efforts, and the implications for state and national politics.

Humphreys, George Gary, B. 1949 (Fa 564), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 564. Interview conducted by George Gary Humphreys with Lexington attorney and political memorabilia collector Julius Edward Rather. Rather discusses 20th century politicians he knew and how he got involved in collecting political memorabilia.

Magoffin, Beriah, 1815-1885 - Letters To (Sc 821), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Fidning aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 821.  Facsimiles of two letters to Magoffin while he was governor of Kentucky. John E. Records, a Falmouth Democrat, writes of his reaction to the newly-founded Republican Party in his 31 March 1860 letter. Major General Leonidas Polk writes from Columbus 9 September 1861, telling  of the occupation of this Mississippi River town by Confederate troops. Also, photocopies of census records.

Use Of Social Media In Presidential Campaigns: Do Social Media Have An Effect On The Political Behavior Of Voters Aged 18-24?, Samantha Hamilton

Honors Senior Capstones and Theses

Today, the idea of social media is radically different from the media of a decade ago. While a decade ago the Internet was considered new media, our society now turns to Facebook, Twitter, and blogs as sources of information. In the United States during election cycles, the use of social media by presidential candidates has become a way for many voters to find out about candidates. As a result, presidential candidates have had to adapt their campaign strategies to work with these media in a way that will effectively target these audiences. This study examines whether campaigns that are more …

2011 Mandate: Should Our President Be Able To Start A War?

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

The 2011 Citizens’ Assembly for Critical Thinking about the United States (CACTUS) must study the role of Presidents and Congress in involving the United States in wars and in the overall conduct of wars including the “war on terror,” and consider specific changes that may be needed in the Constitutional provisions governing the war powers of the President and of Congress. Specifically, the Assembly must consider whether changes are needed in the portion of Article I of the Constitution that empowers Congress to declare war, the portion of Article II that assigns the President the role of Commander-in-Chief, the War …

The 'Truthiness' Of The 'Daily Show Effect': A Presidency Study, Holly Thomas

2011 Awards for Excellence in Student Research & Creative Activity - Documents

News-gathering for the American public changed in the past decade with a decline in trust for journalists and news media (Jones 2009), technology advancement (Haynes and Pitts 2009), and entertainment becoming a priority (Jones 2009; Haynes and Pitts 2009; Baumgartner and Morris 2006; Colletta 2009). Television, radio, and newspapers (the traditional media) are still used today with broadcast and cable television being the dominate news source (Colletta 2009; Haynes and Pitts 2009), however, an increased amount of Americans utilize the internet for their news information through what is known as new media, referring to Web blogs and social networks. Haynes …

Campus-Wide Electronic Survey Referendum: Announcement And Results

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

Campus-wide Electronic Survey Referendum: Announcement and Results

Parrish, Erin Kate, B. 1989 (Fa 558), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid and full-text paper (click on "Additional Files" below) for Folklife Archives Project 558.  Includes interviews conducted by Erin Parrish with James Pennycuff, Shelby Ferrill and James Bray about campaiging for political office in Clinton County, Kentucky.  Also includes campaign ephemera from various informants.

Romney And Huntsman: Two Answers To The 'Mormon Question', Nathan B. Oman

Popular Media

No abstract provided.

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

Popular Media

No abstract provided.

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.

Latino Political Power In California, Gustavo Adolfo Cubias Ii

CMC Senior Theses

California has now become a majority-minority state. Latinos, currently the largest minority group in the Golden State, have made remarkable political gains in the past two decades, more recently since the the approval of Proposition 187 in 1994. How have Latinos used this new political power? This thesis provides an in-depth look into the dynamics of the Latino political entity in California, along with a quantifiable analysis of voting trends. Discussion of policy implictions since the Latino wave into the state Legislature is also provided, along with interviews with notable Latino figures, such as Senator Art Torres and Redistricting Commissioner …

Recent Legislation To Promote Wind Energy In Nebraska, Ryan Lemke

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Nebraska is currently ranked 4th in the nation for wind energy potential, but ranks low in actual wind power production. The lack of wind energy production could be the result of Nebraska’s unique public power districts that have eminent domain of distribution and retail sales of electricity in the State. Public Power districts are prohibited from receiving benefits of state and federal tax incentives for the development of wind farms, however some Nebraska power districts still pursue wind energy as a renewable source of energy.

Recent legislation changes, including the passing of laws LB629 and LB1048, have provided the State …

Prosperity Versus Equality At The Polls, Nathan B. Oman

Popular Media

No abstract provided.

Richards, Frances, 1893-1991 (Sc 2363), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid and scan (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 2363. "John Rowan" by Frances Richards, a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts degree, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 1930.

Sex V. Race, Again, Tracy A. Thomas

Akron Law Faculty Publications

In this book, feminists speak out on race and gender in the 2008 presidential campaign. Who should be first? With Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as frontrunners, the 2008 Democratic primary campaign was a watershed moment in U.S. history. Offering the choice of an African American man or a white woman as the next Democratic candidate for president, the primary marked an unprecedented moment—but one that painfully echoed previous struggles for progressive change that pitted race and gender against each other. Who Should Be First? collects key feminist voices that challenge the instances of racism and sexism during the presidential …

In The Wake, Lindsey Mantoan

Faculty Publications

Lindsey Mantoan reviews a performance of In the Wake (by Lisa Kron) for Theatre Journal.

Forgy, Samuel Walton, 1866-1927 (Mss 254), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Collection 254. Correspondence related to the legal career of Forgy, of Todd County, Kentucky, as well as to his personal business dealings. Includes political correspondence related to Kentucky’s 1915 governor’s race.

God-Talk In The Age Of Obama: Theology And Religious Political Engagement, Charlton C. Copeland

Articles

No abstract provided.

Putting Ideas To Work: A Practical Introduction To Political Thought (Book Review), Steven Michels

Political Science & Global Affairs Faculty Publications

Book review by Steven Michels.

Mattern, M. (2006). Putting ideas to work: A practical introduction to political thought. Rowman and Littlefield.

ISBN 9780742548893 (hardcover); 9780742548909 (pbk.)

Hunter, Whiteside Godfrey, 1841-1917 (Sc 1765), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid and scans (Click on "Additional Files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 1765. Letters from Whiteside Godfrey Hunter, former state legislator and U.S. Congressman, to E. Scott Brown, attorney, Scottsville, Allen County, Kentucky, requesting his support for Republican candidates. He also indicates he has requested Sidney P. Hardcastle be appointed postmaster at Settle, Allen County, Kentucky.

The Crash And A Third Bloomberg Term, Timothy Zick

Popular Media

No abstract provided.

Political Conventions - Democratic, 1852 (Sc 40), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid and scan (Click on "additional files" below) for Manuscripts Small Collection 40. Letter to Dr. W.P. Reyburn from four Louisiana state delegates to the National Democratic Convention, Baltimore, Maryland, June 1852, appointing him their representative and instructing him to vote for General Lewis Cass for President.