Politics For Dummies (For Dummies Series)

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Plato, 427–347 BCE: Plato discussed how politics can be used to bring about justice in society. In 360 BCE, Plato’s The Republic was published . Cold War: The period between 1946 until 1991 is called the Cold War because there were no large-scale physical conflicts (wars) between the two great powers, the United States and the Soviet Union. In the UK, we have the House of Commons and House of Lords. Similarly, there are two chambers in the US Congress. Behavioralism: The study of human beings and their behavior. Behavioralism was a direct response to the failures of traditionalism and was an attempt to turn political science and the social sciences overall into real scientific disciplines.

Several people on death row were innocent and have been exonerated. The justice system is not perfect and it would be wrong to kill an innocent person. While some on the right are moving from strongly and wholly supporting the Second Amendment to accepting a ban on assault weapons, many still stand firmly in support of the right to bear arms. Their argument is that guns don't kill people; people kill people, and every citizen should retain the right to defend himself. The right to bear arms is enshrined in the U.S. constitution, and any attempt to regulate gun sales infringes on this right. The legislative branch is located in Congress, which is made up of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The legislative branch creates laws that pass through several layers of committees and review before being voted on by both houses of Congress and, if it passes, the president. The House of Representatives currently has 435 members, each of whom represents a district from the state that they are voting on behalf of. More populous states like California and Texas have more representatives than less populated states like Alaska and Wyoming. Even though the Senate only has 50 members, each state is still represented with two members from each. For a bill to go to the president’s office, both houses need to pass it. Representatives serve 2 year terms while senators serve 6 year terms, and can be elected into office as many times as their voters want. If the scales are to remain in balance, then neither the collective or the oligarchs can have too much power. At a given time, either one will be weaker, but if we value liberty we can eliminate neither. It may seem counter-intuitive to protect your opponent, especially when they pool money to brainwash your parents into fighting against your interests, but oligarchs are a natural artifact of liberty. One can’t prevent monied power without force, and in a nation that values liberty and law, force should never be the go-to solution.A simple explanation of American politics including an overview of US history, the political parties, and the political system. Because you’ve only one vote to cast, your candidate choice is crucial. How do you know what to look for in a political candidate? Do a little research to help you get to know something about each candidate and use these useful tips: Things to Look For Neorealism: An update to classical realism by including the role international law, international organizations, and domestic politics can play in international relations. Environmentalism: Key political concern is protecting and improving the condition of the natural environment. Many believe there is a need for much greater regulation of humans’ interaction with the environment, as well as aspects of our lifestyles that are environmentally unsustainable. Just like Athens or Rome, America distributes power to different “branches” of government, and this juxtaposes the naturally occurring roles of individuals, and the groups they form (like unions, political parties, and grassroots groups; AKA factions).

You may think income inequality is an issue in America, but wealth inequality is even more problematic, and it always has been. Wealth inequality was what Athens rebelled against, it contributed to the downfalls of Rome, and it was the reason America rebelled too. The battle has always been the same, and war aside, the battle is always fought with money and rhetoric. In Nebraska, a 1936 referendum saw residents vote to get rid of the two chamber system in favour of one house – the Nebraska Legislature, made up of state senators. The executive branch puts into use the laws that the legislative branch makes. The president of the United States leads the executive branch. The PresidentStates also have their own Supreme Courts which act as the state’s highest court of appeal and interpret state laws. Even if you already think you know where you stand on an issue, it’s never a bad idea to step into the other side’s shoes. You’ll either strengthen your own stance or find valid reasons to question it. There are two basic political parties, “the left” (Democrats) and “the right” (Republicans). These groups have always contained a variety of viewpoints, and the names and positions of the parties have changed over time (we can explain this as the idea that “factions have changed parties.”) Sometimes, like in the 1890’s with the Socialist and Populist parties, or leading up to the 2016 primaries, with Democratic-Socialists and Democrats on “the left”, and Republican-Libertarians and Republicans on “the right”, we can see multiple versions of the left and right. While this better represents the true four-quadrant political spectrum, it also democratizes the election in a way that, counter-intuitively, hasn’t been shown to work well for America in practice. Socialism: A political and economic system where most property is owned by the state and a centralized planning agency that plans for all of society replaces the free market. The federal government, or national government, looks after things like immigration, foreign affairs and minting money. Other powers, such as taxation, lawmaking and law enforcement are shared between state and federal governments.

Realism: School of thought that emphasizes the role of the state, national interest, and military power in international relations. The judicial branch is made up of American courts, the most powerful being the Supreme Court. For court cases that aren’t quite solved through lower courts, eventually they can make their way up to the Supreme Court where the judges, which are called justices, rule on the dispute. Many cases that make their way to the Supreme Court aren’t answered easily by a simple glance at the Constitution, so justices must read between the lines and make educated guesses on how the situation should be handled. Justices are nominated by the president and confirmed by Congress, and if they’re confirmed to the Supreme Court, they serve lifelong terms. The justices use the Constitution as their Bible for interpreting whether or not laws and actions are allowable. Consider why politics can be so polarizing. It’s common wisdom that you shouldn’t bring up politics or religion at dinner parties, since they tend to elicit strong opinions and disagreements. Politics strikes right at the core of your individual worldview, on topics like the proper structuring of society, individual rights and responsibilities, and the power of government over your life. So it shouldn’t be surprising that people get worked up or even angry discussing politics. [6] X Research sourceEmbryonic stem cell research: People on the left support embryonic stem-cell research, which involves the creation, usage and destruction of human embryos, believing that the research has the potential to save and improve lives, and cure many diseases. People on the right are horrified by what they believe is the taking of a human life. Voting is the cornerstone of a democratic system. But Australia has different methods of voting in elections, as well as having many elections. Here are a few tips so you’ll go into a polling booth with greater confidence and cast your vote more effectively: States have governors who take on the executive role as per the president nationally. With the exception of Nebraska, the remaining 49 states all have two chambers – an upper house, or Senate made up of state senators and a lower house (known as the House of Representatives, Assembly or House of Delegates).

The 16th Amendment Explained: The Constitution for Dummies Series. The 16th Amendment, why we have an income tax. Gabriel Almond, 1911–2002: Almond not only brought behavioralism to comparative politics but also created the concept of the civic culture (with Sidney Verba) to explain how an ideal political culture can sustain democracy. Their book The Civic Culture was published in 1963. Judicial review: The power of courts to declare laws of the legislature or acts of the executive unconstitutional, thereby nullifying them. Believe parents who want to home-school their kids or send them to private school should be able to get vouchers for opting out of the public school system. Generally not opposed to public education. Political socialization: The term refers to the process of how people acquire their political values.

Understand voting behavior. Knowing why people vote the way they do can make your own vote more effective. Adam Smith, 1723–1790: Smith created the concept of laissez faire capitalism, advocating for a small, limited role of government in the economy. His The Wealth of Nations was published in 1776. Targeting seats: Examine why some seats are classified as safe, marginal or swinging, and understand how outcomes in these seats shape which party wins or loses the election. The left wing generally supports abortion rights, but does not outwardly and necessarily believe that abortion is a good thing. Those on the right, largely due to religious beliefs, would like to see Roe v. Wade overturned to make abortions illegal. Some majority-right states have enacted legislation recently that would make it harder for women to attain abortions while not outlawing it entirely.