From 9-11 pm the 2 Regular Guys will be broadcasting their "Cram For the Exam" Review Show on 560 AM WIND. I'll be listeningand simulcasting questions. Some other students are alreading posting answers and questions that you can join at CBS 2 School, or follow along here with me in the comments section.
http://560wind.townhall.com/
74 comments:
Question:
what is the difference between fiscal and monetary policy?
Answer:
Fiscal = budetary choices of taxing and spending
Monetary = federal reserve decisions on interest rates and monetary supply.
various lobbying techniques-
testifying at legislative hearings, contacting gov officials directly/indirectly, presenting research results/other info, entering into coalitions with other organizations, talking to press and media, filing suit/engaging in litigation, constituents contacting their member of congress
Top 5 powerful interest groups (in that order)-
AARP (retired people), National Rifle Association, national federation of independent business, american israel public affairs committee, AFL-CIO (labor/industrial organization)
What makes groups effective- large membership, information
Question:
What are characteristics of a political system that strengthen political efficacy?
Political efficacy -
That's a pretty broad question. Political efficacy is the citizens' faith and trust in government.
Answer:
Transparency can increase efficacy. Efficacy usually is higher in older, more educated voters as they understand the ways in which they can influence their government.
It might be easier to think about what decreases efficacy such as scandals, whether it be stealing tax dollars, being bought by certain individuals or groups, etc.
From A Conneen at CBS 2 School:
We're going to predict some essays on air (WIND AM 560) starting at 9 p.m. central. Some possibel topics: civil liberties, supreme court decision making, congressional leadership.
Look forward to your calls at 877-560-WIND.
In the issue of full-disclosure transparency, I have to say listening this show on AM 560 is really making me ill. It will be incredible how the intelligence on the airwaves will go up when the regular guys get going at 9 pm.
Question:
What methods do political action committiees (PACs) use in order to gain influence in elections?
Answer:
PACs: collect campaign contributions and channel to particular candidates (usually incumbents) who have power in the policy making process, or a favorable stand on issues. by providing campaign support, they gain acess to the candidates.
Question: Is radio host Guy Benson an hate-spewing, lying idiot?
Answer: YES!
Congress (Leadership)
Seniority no longer rules in Congress. Leadership is selected by the majority party in an open election voted on by the members.
(Lawmaking/logjamming)
"Poison pills" are amendments attached to a bill that almost certainly guarantees that the bill will be defeated.
(SC inturpetation)
Conservative judges today lean toward judicial restraint. Activism and liberalism tend to be partners.
(Weakening Political Parties/Media)
Like TV, the Internet is changing the way politics is being played. The big loser has been political parties. Candidates today no longer need the parties as much as personal followings bring money and votes. Images can be disseminated via TV and the Internet.
(Bureaucracy)
Independent agencies, a part of the federal bureaucracy, are found outside of the cabinet structure. Examples would be CIA and NASA.
Questions:
In article 1 sect 8, it says that Congress has the power to coin money, but isn't that the job of the treasury?
And, is a bill of attainder simply a law passed that declares a person guilty without a trial? or is it more complicated than that?
Answers:
Congress has the formal power to coin money. Remember, the Congress makes laws but it is the Executive Branch which enforces them. Congress gives the OK, an appropriation, to coin money. The President carries it out through the Treasury Department.
The original Constitution protects citizens from a Bill of Attainder. You are correct, this is being found guilty of something without first being given your day in court. The Executive Branch is not allowed to punish without help from the Judicial Branch.
The key idea is "limited government" and "separation of powers."
How about these amendments?
1 (free speech,press,religion -establishment and exercise,petition,assembly)
4 (Search and Seizures)
5 (due process, eminent domain)
6 (speedy trial, right to an attorney)
8 (free from cruel and unusual punishment)
10 (State's Rights)
15 (suffrage for African-Americans)
19 (suffrage for women)
26 (suffrage for 18-20)
22 (limit president to 2 terms of 4 years)
What were the problems of the Articles of Confederation
AND
What was Federalist Paper #10 about?
The Articles lacked a strong central government that could tax and keep the peace.
Fed 10 called for large republics where elected officials would have to build factions of voters together to get elected. This is the way the electoral college stills works in getting states like Ohio and Florida to support a single candidate.
Answer: What is a dual primary?
Answer: A dual primary is actually two primary elections conducted concurrently
Illinois conducts it's primaries this way with Dems and GOP voters going to the same precincts but asking for separate ballots.
Baker v. Carr reapportionment and the "one man, one vote" principle. Overturned racial gerrymandering.
"incorporation is the doctrine by which the bill of rights is applied to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause", and some of the cases that do have to do with this are:
Gitlow v New York (1st Amendment--Free Speech)
Mapp v Ohio (4th Amendment--Protection from Search and Seizure)
Miranda v Arizona (5th Amendment -- Protection from self incrimination)
Gideon v Wainwright (6th Amendment -- Right to counsel)
8th Amendment (Protection from cruel and unusual punishments)
A 527 group is a tax-exempt group created to influence political candidates in any way possible... they gained clout because of a loophole in BCRA. Think Swift Boats.
Plurality system -- electoral system where most votes wins (first past the post) even if not a majority.
Contrast with Russia and France that majority to win (2nd round).
Plurality system work against third parties, if the US had a proportional system we might have more third-party representation but less legitimacy.
Civil Rights Act of 1964 was just mentioned. The Act, which banned segregation in public places was enforced by the federal government in states through the COMMERCE CLAUSE.
wow, there's already 13 comments. and so far, i think i'm the first student.
What are some ways in which Congress ensures that federal agencies follow legislative intent?
Congress has a lot of financial power, like in terms of the budget and how much federal agencies actually get. The Constitution gives Congress power to appropriate funds and to levy taxes.
More generally, they exercise congressional oversight - they can review, monitor, etc. federal agencies. They can investigate into federal agency activity and create special committees to make sure that agencies are acting in appropriate ways. They can overrule agency decisions or narrow jurisdiction if something screws up.
im listening too!
Hey Jeremy,
I don't mind talking to myself....but I'm glad you're here.
i have a question about the commerce clause, actually
it seems like the case often is that different parts of government use it for different purposes (i.e. expanding the power of the executive i think it was on that one practice ap question?) and what you just said about it being used in conjunction with the civil rights act
how does the commerce clause relate to these things in a way that allows it to be used for those purposes?
Soft Money out - 527s growing and growing!
Know Iron Triangles -- Interest grups, connected to Congress, connected to the bureaucracy.
Example Judy Biggert calling me (and others) NEA members to ask about reforms to No Child Left Behind (perfect federalism example). The Dept. of Education would be implimenting any chnges to the law.
I'm glad to be out of the wilderness and listening
The Commerce Clause is an important source of those powers delegated to Congress, and therefore its interpretation is very important in determining the scope of federal power in controlling innumerable aspects of American life.
Article I, Section 8, Clause 1,3:
“ The Congress shall have power . . . To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes; "
While the 10th Amendment reserves powers not enumerated in the Constituion to the states, te federal government has used this clause to extend its influence on things like civil rights, education, and drug enforcement.
Lauren,
I heard it was nice weather down there!?
i missed what 23 had to do w/
New Deal Coalition -- Big Tent Coalitions
GWB -- Big Tent Latinos
Critical elections -- realighnment of coalitions (groups0 changin party allegience.
i think that was the host's age.
Check the blog (earlier) on that case
I has a hard time listening to his show. This guy, Guy Larson, I'm not a big fan. Yes he is a huge nerd.
how could you not be a fan of a huge government nerd, mr.wolak?
Dederal Election Hard Money Limits
Individual -- $2000 (to candidate)
$5,000 (PAC)
$10,000 (state/local)
$25,000 (national party)
37,000 to all candidate
57,500 t all national parties & PACs
some of these questions have to be plants. it sounds like these guys gave their students some specific questions to ask. those kids are speaking way to intelligently and eloquently to be speaking off the cuff.
How Justices Decide Justice:
1. Constitutionality
2. Precedent
3. Intent of the Law
4. Public Opinion (Briefs of Amicus Curai)
5. Personal Opinions (politics)
As I have said, use No Child Left Behind....(from the soapbox) It's got to be good for something!
does anyone else agree with my question planting theory?
whats legislative intent?
Fed. Bureacracy has grown so large.
CIA and NASA examples of independent executive agencies that are of Cabinet Agencies. They still are subject to Congressional Oversight and "power of the purse" appropriations.
Federal Reserve Board is an example of independent regulatory agencies.
Sachin,
See Above how the Justices Decide Justice 3. Intent of the Law. The justice will be using their inturpret what the law is designed to do.
States Rights, New Federalism, Devolution....less federal government more state responsiblities.
The plants are ways that Conneen and Larsen are using Layer Cake Federalism with their students.
They are free to get famous on the radio with their calls, but they better be on topic.
Federal judges are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Senatorial courtesy is just a custom, and means that the Senate refuses to confirm the appointment if there are objections raised by the senior senator of the president's party, or the senators from the state where the appointment resides.
A blue slip = an opinion written by a senator from the state of a federal judge appointee. Think of it as the document that helps determine whether senatorial courtesy is carried out.
Senatorial Courtesy is when the senator of a state blocks the federal judge appointment.
Question:
i would like to know what the join, select, and conference committees do.
joint committee: committee made up of people from both chambers. they have jurisdiction over matters of interest to both chambers.
select committee: created/appointed to do something outside the normal function of a standing committee. it's created by resolution. they tend to be investigative, rather than legislative - they don't pass too many laws.
conference committee: they resolve disagreements about bills.
Hah, if nice means thunder storms then yes, it was lovely! But I studied on the trail when I could, no worries
I liked how the two stevenson teachers spent an hour talking about themselves. i need a 5, not ur hour long history career.
and thanks for doin this mr. wolak, it's really helpful
Implied Powers, Necessary & Proper Clause, Elastic Clause expands Congressional Power greatly.
Coatails -- Popular presidential candidate that carries lower ticket candidates with them to victory.
Suffrage -- Voting Rights and Regulations (Reserved to the States)
Review some more on these cases in our packet and on the BLOG
Federal Govts role on national elections, despite state/local rules on ballots/ IDs.....Bush v. Gore (2000)
other informal presidential powers are:
world leader, executive agreements, access to media/bully pulpit/morale building, agenda setting, meet with world leaders, crisis manager, international coalition building. access to more info than congress....
Bully Pulpit
formal powers include:
recognition of nations, make treaties, receive ambassadors, apoint ambassadors/foreign policy officials, commander-in-chief
Breakfast 6:30 am in Room 302....I'll get muffins, fruit, donuts and OJ.....No Life cereal....
Conneen: Money: Mother's Milk of Politics
Yeah,
The Founding Preident's were Elitists.....
Logrolling -- trading votes....leads to more pork barrell spending.....
Remember, pork, riders, earmarks -- all basically the same thing. Earmarks government contracts.
President Enforces the Law...Bureaucracy (3 million staff) to enforce the law.
common law?
Congress at Work is Congress in Committee.
House Ways & Means -- Committee deals with tax law first
Appropriations -- In both house and Senate, deal with spending, Muststart in House.
Buckley v. Valeo
Money is a first amendment privilage.....Campaign Finance Reform Act got rid of soft money. Other countries publicly finance committees, we have federally matching (hard money) funds, which you can donate to presidential candidates from your taxes, but no public financing.
In 2004, even after the Bi-Partisan Campaign Finance Reform Act, $4 BILLION was spent on the election.
See earlier comments that touched on 527s.
The power of coattails is/could be unbelievably huge this election.
Local example: Bill Foster. Obama endorsed him and there was an immediate bump in the polls from the endorsement of the popular Senator. Foster went on to beat Jim Oberweis in the special election.
Public Policy Examples through referendum, examples, physisan assisted suicide in Oregon.
thanks for the summary mr wolak, its a really good review. see you tomorrow morning!
Picks to Click on FRQs:
Incumbency and Leadership in Congress. (Review the article in our review packet where leadership is not automatically picked by senority anymore) We have a decentralized congressional leadership.
Sepration of Powers/Checks & Balances/ Federalism
Increasing role of the media in campaigns. (My perosnal pick to click)
Along with No Child Left Behind. "Cooperative Federalism." You might be asked to analyze Federalism....remember our case study of Hurricane Katrina.....
Realightment -- critical elections, high voter turnout where one side gets lots of voters from the other side ie: (1932) FDR won plenty of former GOPs and set up Democratic dominance
dealignment -- example white southerners that went from democratic to republican (Nixon's southern strategy)...
Good buzz phrase...Third parties in America are like bees...once they sting they die....house rules committee schedules debate....conference committee both houses to get legislation down to one bill.
this article from this past january talks about the difference between primaries and caucuses:
follow this link: http://www.wnbc.com/politics/14994300/detail.html
Authority of the Media as the 4th Estate -- Free press, analayze and media has become Youia with blogs websites and 24/7 cable news connected to email.
Good Night Guys, Get some sleep....You'll be great tomorrow....Breakfast at 6:30 AM
One more:
"can you explain the role of the house speaker?"
The Speaker of the House is not only a prominent member of their respective party, but is the chief administrator and oversees procedure concerning debate and when bills reach the floor and where bills go in terms of committee. The Speaker also manages the officers of the House, such as the Clerk.
In a majority election, the candidate that gets >50% of the votes wins the election.
in a plurality election, the candidate with the largest number of votes wins:
Candidate A: 40%
Candidate B: 30%
Candidate C: 30%
Candidate A wins even though he did not have a majority of the votes
Note on majority election:
In the U.S., it is possible that the winner does not have a majority of the popular vote but has a majority of the electoral votes (as was the case in 2000).
What are some cases the incorporation doctrine has been applied to?
First Amendment - Gitlow v. New York (Freedom of Speech);
Fourth - Mapp v. Ohio (warrents, exclusionary rule);
Sixth - Gideon v. Wainwright (right to council);
Eigth - Roper v. Simmons (capital punishment for under 18);
***Remember 2nd Amendment being reviewed currently on Washington DC handgun ban could incorporate 2nd Amendment.
What are the voting trends in terms of race, ethnicity, income, career, and location\home state?
Now, the Red State vs. Blue State phenomenon is highly exaggerated in many instances. After 2000 and 2004, there was a feeling that the country was very divided and the media really ran with this concept. However, the vast majority of the country lies close to the middle of the political spectrum. The idea that the country is divided comes from the enthusiasm of activists in the parties. Moderate activists are quite rare. So the media and the public hear mostly the voices from the extremes. When there are two close elections, it's quite easy to feel that the country is very divided.
Now, the demographics based on the last two general elections: South is typically Republican by state, Northeast and West coast are Blue. Upper Midwest is Blue. The mountain West and most of the Plains are Red. Swing states: Ohio, Penn, Florida.
By race: whites are fairly evenly split. African-Americans vote heavily for Democrats. Latinos have recently voted Democrat but Bush has brought the Republicans back into contention among Latinos. Asian-Americans are fairly evenly split, leaning Democrat.
Age: As voters age, they are increasingly conservative
Education: Education is the most liberalizing force. The higher the education, the more liberal typically.
Income: higher income is USUALLY more conservative, but this really varies by region. Low-income in the South is not definitely Dem. However, I have never heard of a union endorsing a Republican so your blue-collar workers are Democrats.
Hope I didn't miss anything there.
As for this year... things could change pretty drastically. Polls have shown Obama competitive in many Mountain West states and possibly less competitive in Ohio and Penn. So the entire map could be changing this year.
So you might here more "Purple" states being in play.
What are the voting trends in terms of race, ethnicity, income, career, and location\home state?"
Big question you've asked there; trust me, there are books on this subject alone. I'll go over a very basic primer, but it is by no means complete.
Race - Blacks vote heavily Democratic, as do Hispanics (except for Cubans, they tend to vote Republican). Whites tend to vote for either, and race for them doesn't make much of a difference (WARNING: MAY CHANGE DEPENDENT ON DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION [hopefully not])
Income - Working class tends to vote Democratic. Middle class is fairly split. Upper middle class and wealthy tend to vote Republican. The super wealthy, surprisingly vote slightly Democrat (see Warren Buffet). This is always subject to change, depending on the party's fiscal platform.
Career - Teachers often vote Democratic (Government teachers are a wild card [Conneen, Mr. John from WV), Union workers are strong Democrats. Everyone else is subject more to race and income.
Location - Changes every so often. But basically: South votes Republican, Northeast votes Democrat, West Coast votes Democrat, Near Midwest votes Democrat mostly, Far Midwest votes Republican mostly. See election maps from the past to get a better sense of this.
Bureaucracy is the structure and set of regulations in place to control activity, usually in large organizations and government. Think of the FDA.
Recent work (recall of children's cold medicine or lead-paint based inmports from China, tainted pet food)
What does "wall of separation" refer to, church and state or separation of powers?
Wall of separation refers to the separation of church and state. There is also the Free Exercise Clause - people are allowed to exercise the religion they choose and Establishment Clause - the government cannot form it's own religion.
Senatorial courtesy- the practice of gaining legislative acceptance of federal judge nominees. Basically, while considering potential justices, the President knows that the Senate will play a key role in finalizing the appointment process. Therefore, he will brief the senators about the justices and assess the likelihood of their acceptance by the Senate.
Mandate (after elections) The Will of the People.
there are also funded and unfudned mandates. (passed legislation)
they are what they sound like (funded=gov gives money to implement the programs it is requiring, and the unfunded mandates put all the financial pressure on the state)
comparative question...tell me what a politburo is
"Politburo" is short for political bureau, and is the executive organization for political parties, especially the Communist Parties. It's a Russian term. They did a whole bunch of central policymaking and governing.
politboro: top executive group within a communist regime
-Soviet Union & China are examples
Soft Money is Banned by the Bi-Partisan Campaign Finance Reform Act (McCain-Feingold), but it has Constituional Questions still as McConnel v. FEC (2003) said that the ban on soft money was against the first amendement so how could it now be banned?
Campaign Finance Law is complicate, but if we know the basics you'll be ready for any FRQ on the subject.
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