The US Constitution: From Articles to Amendments
Types of Government
- Monarchy: A single monarch holds the power (e.g., Saudi Arabia).
- Oligarchy: A small group of people rules the country (e.g., North Korea).
- Democracy: Rule by the people through voting. The U.S. is a representative democracy.
Key Events Leading to the Constitution
- Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Quartering Act, Boston Massacre, Tea Act, Boston Tea Party, Intolerable Acts: Series of British policies that fueled colonial discontent.
- Sons of Liberty: Founded by Samuel Adams, this group played a
Understanding U.S. Government: Constitution, Rights, and More
The U.S. Constitution: Foundation of American Governance
The Constitution, the nation’s rulebook, is the product of conflict and compromise.
Key Historical Events
- Continental Congresses:
- 1774—First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia with the goal of reconciling with Great Britain.
- April 19, 1775—Tensions between colonists and British soldiers result in the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
- May 1775—Second Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia with divided sympathies. Some were for
US Political System: Parties, Elections, Congress, Presidency
Political Parties and the Two-Party System
Political Parties: Swing states are states in which both major parties receive significant support; they typically determine the outcome of an election, along with independent voters. National political parties write and distribute a party platform—a document or statement developed by a political party to include its official positions on issues of public concern. Platforms should both satisfy party loyalists (sometimes called “the base,”) who can
Read MoreEnvironmental Politics: Scalar Governance, Energy, and Corporate Power
Lecture 11 – Scalar Politics & ‘Local’ Environmental Governance
1. Context: Global environmental governance: the norms, rules, laws, expectations, and structures to guide behavior (GEP as complex interactions).
Rescaling of GEP: Increasing linkages, issues that cross traditional boundaries, shifting political action across geographical space from local to global.
From the global to the domestic: Pathways of influence:
- International rules (treaties, international organizations – compliance mechanism,
US Presidency: Requirements, Powers, and Roles
US Presidency: Qualifications, Powers, and Roles
1. What are the qualifications needed to be President?
- a. 35 years old, 14 years resident, naturalized citizen
- b. 35 years old, 9 years resident, natural born citizen
- c. 30 years old, 9 years resident of their home state, studied law
- d. 35 years old, 14 years resident, natural born citizen
2. Which statement best describes the Electoral College?
- a. Each state has the same number of electoral votes
- b. The winner of the popular vote automatically wins the entire
Maulvi Tameez-ud-Din vs. Federation: A Landmark Case
Maulvi Tameez-ud-Din vs. Federation
The Judiciary plays a very important role in the interpretation of statutes and laws. It has an important role in the development of law. In Pakistan, the superior courts gave judgments which became precedents. There have been many important and leading cases in the history of Pakistan. Maulvi Tameez-ud-Din vs. Federation is one of the most important cases in the history of Pakistan.
Facts of the Case
Following are the important facts of the case of Moulvi Tameez-
Read More