POLS 1301

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POLS 1301 American Government Organization

• Instructor Dr. Jeff Karp
• TA Josh Ozymy

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Some announcements

• Books no need to purchase Politics after Sept.
  11. no class reading from book
• Even if do not have books now must complete the
  reading prior to exams
• Notetaker

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Outline for Day

• Instructions for Clickers
• Does the republic need reform?

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Instructions for Clickers

• Response pads can be purchased at the campus
  bookstore. Registration codes can be purchased
  online for a reduced price (see details below).

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Purchase Device

• You are required to purchase and register an
  eInstruction response pad which will be used to
  participate in course exercises.
• You can purchase the device at the university
  bookstore for 4. The cost for registration is
  15 which can be completed through the
  eInstruction website (see below).
• Alternatively there are a limited number of
  registration codes for purchase at the university
  bookstore for 22.50.

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Register device

• After you purchase the device you must register
  it at http//www.einstruction.com/.
• On the home page select students in the top
  right hand corner and then select Texas Tech from
  the drop down menu and choose course The class
  key is S2072P457.
• You must purchase and register these devices in
  your name by Tuesday, September 16, 2004.

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Does the Republic Need Reforming?

• Indicators for Reform
• Prospects for Reform
• Types of Reform

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Indicators for Reform

• Does the republic need reforming?
• Citizen Dissatisfaction
• Low Turnout
• Failure to achieve electoral majorities - Loss of
  mandate
• Lack of competitive elections mostly
  congressional level
• Crisis events 2000 election and 1998 Clinton
  impeachment

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Turnout Plurality Systems
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Loss of Electoral Majorities U.S. Presidential
Elections
Popular Vote Popular Vote Popular Vote Electoral Votes () Electoral Votes () Electoral Votes Electoral Votes
Year Dem Rep Ttl Dem Rep Dem Rep
1984 40.6 58.8 99.4 2.4 97.6 13 525
1988 45.6 53.4 99.0 20.7 79.3 111 426
1992 43.2 37.7 80.9 68.8 31.2 370 168
1996 49.2 40.7 89.9 70.4 29.6 379 159
2000 48.4 47.9 96.3 49.5 50.5 266 271
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1 Lack of Competitive Elections

• 2002 Election Results
• Range Number of races
• Landslide wins (gt20 margin) 356
• Comfortable wins (gt10) 41
• Tight (lt10 margin) 38
• Total Races 435

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2 lack of competitiveness
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Prospects for Reform Is the idea of reforming
the republic radical?

• Prior Reforms National Level
• 17th amendment - Direct election of senators
• 1920 19th amendment women vote
• 1964 24th eliminate poll tax/extend voting rights
  to nonwhites
• 1971 extend voting rights to 18 yr old

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Types of Reforms

• Change electoral system
• Proportional representation
• Abolish electoral college

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Less extreme

• Term limits
• early voting (see Texas)
• voting by mail
• direct democracy initiative and recall
• Direct primaries

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Next Class

• Reading Squire ch 2, the Constitution, Fedarlist
  10 51
• Topic The Constitution