Real World of American Politics

Peter J. Steinberger is Robert H. and Blanche Day Ellis Professor of Political Science and Humanities at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. Chris Koski is Dan B. Greenberg Professor of Political Science and Environmental Studies at Reed College in Portland, Oregon.

• Table of ContentsBold are topics within chapters; Italics are documentsChapter 1: The Other Founding DocumentsMayflower CompactMayflower Compact – 1620Articles of ConfederationText from the Articles of Confederation – 1777Notes on the Constitutional ConventionOn the question of salaries for public officialsOn the question of a single magistrate versus divided executive powerWhether the House of Representative should be popularly elected or appointedElection of senatorsOn writing a constitutionProportional vs. equal representation in the House of RepresentativesThe three fifths compromiseLength of terms for Senators and the economic role of the SenateThe Federalist Papers Federalist 10 (Madison) – (On the virtues of an extensive republic)Federalist 14 (Madison) – (On republican versus democratic government)Federalist 39 (Madison) – (National and Federal)Federalist 51 (Madison) – (On checks and balances)Federalist Paper 78 (Hamilton) – (On the independence of the judiciary)The Anti-Federalists “Centinel,” writing to the “freemen of Pennsylvania” (1787)The Gettysburg AddressThe Gettysburg Address (1863)Chapter 2: FederalismAchieving StatehoodOregon Admissions ActState LegislaturesLegislative Representation: State by State Representation (Figures)State ConstitutionsExcerpts from the Montana ConstitutionPublic Policy at the State Level: The Death PenaltyDeath Penalty Comparison Across States (Figures)Law of Oklahoma Regarding Capital PunishmentGovernor George Ryan (R-IL) remarks on death penalty moratorium in Illinois (2003)Public Policy at the State Level: Marijuana LegalizationTexas Health and Safety 481.21 Offense: Possession of MarijuanaState of Washington Proposition 502: Voters’ Guide Explanatory StatementFederal-State Policy Relationships: Block Grants and the Case of Welfare Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (Excerpts)Comparison of TANF Benefits Across States (Figure)State of Mississippi TANF ApplicationLeadership at the State Level: Two Case StudiesState of the State Address: Governor Rick Scott of Florida (2018)State of the State Address: Governor Jerry Brown of California (2018)CHAPTER 3: PUBLIC OPINION AND ELECTIONSThe American National Election SurveyMethodology Report for the ANES 2016 Time Series StudyANES Letter to Potential RecipientsANES Case Folder for InterviewersSelected Questions from ANES 2016 Time Series Pre-Election QuestionnaireThe Gallup PollMethodology of the Gallup PollSample Questions from the Gallup Poll of June 2018Sample BallotsNebraska (Douglas County) BallotOhio (Cuyahoga County) BallotPennsylvania (Philadelphia County) BallotCalifornia Special Election BallotContested ElectionsMinnesota statute 209.12Minnesota statute 204C.22Requirements to Appear on the BallotMinnesota 200.02Recount RulesWisconsin Law on RecountsSuperPACs and the Electoral ProcessFederal Election Commission InstructionsPriorities USA Action letterTrump Has Tiny Hands PAC: statement of organizationFederal Election Commission Letter to Trump Has Tiny Hands PACCampaign AdsCampaign Advertisement TranscriptsVoter IDTexas Senate Bill 5Felon Voting RightsKentucky Constitution, Section 145Legislative AppointmentConstitution of the State of Florida, Article III, Section 16Ohio Revised Code, Title 1Individual Campaign ContributionsIndividual Contribution from Donald J. Trump, Jr. to Hillary Clinton for President (2007)Individual Contributions from Miriam and Sheldon Adelson to Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. (2016)CHAPTER 4: THE MEDIA Media ConsolidationTelecommunications Act of 1996Newspaper Broadcast Cross-Ownership RuleRegulation of the AirwavesFCC Rule: Candidate RatesFCC Rule: Equal TimeThe Politics of the Media: Part OneSinclair Broadcast Prepared StatementThe Politics of the Media: Part TwoRT Registration Form as a Foreign AgentRegulation of the InternetMemorandum of Understand: ICANN and the Department of CommerceNet NeutralityFCC Report and Order on Remand, Declaratory Ruling, and Order: March 12, 2015FCC Declaratory Ruling, Report and Order: January 4, 2018Politics on Social Media: Self-RegulationTwitter: How to get certified as a political campaigning advertiserTestimony of Mark Zuckerberg, Hearing Before the House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce (April 11, 2018)The Op-Ed PageWashington Post Op-Ed GuidelinesJeff Sessions Op-Ed from USA TodayWilbur Ross Op-Ed from New York TimesThe Press ConferenceSarah Huckabee Sanders Press Briefing: August 1, 2018Communicating with the Public: Donald Trump and TwitterTwitter 2016 Campaign – Donald TrumpTwitter 2016 Campaign – Hillary ClintonTwitter 2016 Campaign – Ted CruzTwitter 2016 Campaign – Bernie SandersPresidential Tweets - Donald TrumpCHAPTER 5: POLITICAL PARTIESParty Platforms: What the Two Major Parties Stand ForPreamble to the 2016 Democratic Party PlatformPreamble to the 2016 Republican Party PlatformDefining a Party: Charters, Bylaws and RulesCharter of the Democratic Party – Article Two: The Democratic National CommitteeCharter of the Republican Party – Rule No. 1: Organization of the Republican National CommitteeWho Is the Party: OfficersChoosing the National Committee: DemocratsChoosing Officers: The Republican PartyWho Is the Party: Selecting Convention DelegatesCharter of the Democratic Party: Article 2 – The National ConventionCharter of the Republican Party: Selection of Convention DelegatesWho Is the Party: State by State Comparison of Delegate Selection ProcessesDemocratic Party Presidential Primary Election Procedures by State (2016)Republican Party Presidential Primary Election Procedures by State (2016).Parties and Federalism: The Iowa CaucusesIowa Democratic Party 2016 Precinct Caucus GuideRepublican Caucus Rules: Constitution of the Republican Party of IowaThe National ConventionsDNC Convention ScheduleRNC Convention ScheduleParties and Federalism: State Party PlatformsOregon Democratic Party Platform – EducationCHAPTER 6: INTEREST GROUPSThe National Rifle AssociationNRA BylawsNRA Contributions ReportsInterest Groups Writing LawsPublic Employee Bargaining Transparency ActDirect Contact with LegislatorsAARP Letter of 2017 regarding the American Health Care ActTestimony as a Form of Lobbying: ALaPierre testimony before the U. S. Senate (2013)Testimony as a Form of Lobbying: BNancy Keenan, NARAL Testimony (2011)Regulating Lobbyists: ALobbying Disclosure Act of 2010Regulating Lobbyists: BSquire Patton Boggs Lobbying ReportRegulating Lobbyists: Foreign AgentsTitle 22: Foreign Agent Registration Squire Patton Boggs: Memorandum of Understanding with People’s Republic of ChinaEthics Rules for Government EmployeesExecutive Order: Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch AppointeesCHAPTER 7: CONGRESSWriting a Bill: The House GuideHouse Office of the Legislative Counsel Guide to Legislative DraftingWriting a Bill: Legislative Counsel’s ManualHouse Legislative Counsel’s Manual on Drafting StyleRules of Procedure of the House of Representatives: Discharge, Taxes and GiftsHouse Rules: Discharge Petitions (115th Congress)House Rules: Tax and Tariff Measures (115th Congress)House Rules: Limitations on Outside Earned Income and Gifts (115th Congress)House Rules: HearingsWays and Means Rule on Hearings Witnesses (116th Congress)Rules of the Senate: ClotureSenate Rule on Cloture (United States Senate Manual, 113th Congress)Congressional Budget Office (CBO)Establishment of the Congressional Budget Office (2 U.S. Code §?601)Making a Budget in Congress: ReconciliationBudget Reconciliation (2 U.S. Code §?641)Limits on Reconciliation: The Byrd Rule ((2 U.S. Code §?644)Making Laws: Dear Colleague LettersDear Colleague Letter from Anna Eshoo: Presidential Tax Transparency ActDear Colleague Letter from James Sensenbrenner: Build Wall ActDear Colleague Letter from Timothy Walz and Jeff Denham: Vet-2-FARM Act of 2018Nomination HearingsHearings on the Nomination of Betsy DeVos to Serve as Secretary of Education: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (2017)The Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017: Legislative HearingsTestimony of Rebecca Boenigk before the Subcommittee on Tax Policy, House Ways and Means Committee, July 13, 2017Written Testimony of Chye-Ching Huang: Center on Budget Policy and PrioritiesStatements From Committee Chairs Regarding Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017Statement of Keven Brady (R-TX), Chair of House Ways and Means Committee (November 3, 2017)Statement of Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Chair of the Senate Finance CommitteeMark-Up: Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017: Mark-Up ExampleOnline Message from Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) on Tax Cuts and Jobs Act MarkupLegislation: The Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017: Summary of Selected FeaturesPrivate BillsPrivate Bill for Sopuruchi Chukwueke (2012)CHAPTER 8: THE PRESIDENTInaugural AddressBarack Obama, Inaugural Address, Jan. 20, 2009Donald Trump, Inaugural Address, Jan. 20, 2017The Organization of the President’s StaffOrganization Chart for the Executive Office of the President – Trump Administration: Councils and OfficesOrganization Chart for the Executive Office of the President – Trump Administration: The White House OfficeThe President’s DayObama Schedule, December 14, 2012Trump Schedule, July 24, 2017The State of the Union AddressBarack Obama State of the Union Address, February 13, 2013Donald Trump State of the Union Address, January 30, 2018Executive OrdersExecutive Order 9981 – President Truman (July 26, 1948): Composition of the MilitaryExecutive Order 13768 – President Trump (January 25, 2017): Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United StatesSigning StatementsPresident Obama - Statement on Signing the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Conservation and Recreation Act (March 13, 2014)President Obama - Statement on Signing the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year (December 26, 2013)Statement by President Donald J. Trump on the Signing of H.R. 3364 (August 2, 2017)Access to the President: State DinnersFirst Trump Administration State Dinner - April 24, 2018 with French President Emmanuel MacronCHAPTER 9: THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACYThe Civil ServiceIntroduction to Position Classification StandardsPolitical Activities of Federal EmployeesThe Hatch Act of 1939Office of Special Counsel Letter regarding Kellyanne ConwayCreating a Cabinet DepartmentHomeland Security Act of 2002 (excerpts)Defining a Cabinet DepartmentUSDA Strategic Goals for 2018-2022USDA Organization ChartThe Federal Reserve BoardFederal Reserve Open Market Committee Minutes, 2008Rules and RegulationsThe Regulatory MapRules and Regulations: A Case StudyFlyersRights.org Petition for Rule-MakingFAA Denial of PetitionFlyersRights.org Response to DenialFAA Reassertion of its DecisionCircuit Court Decision: FlyersRights.org v. FAAFlyersRights.org Re-PetitionFAA Expert OpinionFAA Decision Again Denying Rule-MakingFlyersRights.org ResponseEmail Supporting FlyersRights.org ArgumentFlyersRights.org Withdrawal LetterCHAPTER 10: THE JUDICIARYThe Confirmation ProcessExcerpts from Elena Kagan’s Confirmation Hearings, 2010CertiorariGideon v. Wainwright Writ of CertiorariDissent from DenialJoseph Jones, Desmond Thurston, and Antwuan Ball v. United StatesAmicus BriefsState of Montana, et al, Amicus BriefSenator John McCain, et al, Amicus BriefCalifornia First Amendment CoalitionOral ArgumentsExcerpt from Oral Arguments: Roe v. WadeExcerpt from Oral Arguments: Massachusetts v. EPASupreme Court DecisionsBipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 – Sec. 203Majority Opinion by Justice KennedyConcurring Opinion (With Dissent) by Justice ThomasDissenting Opinion by Justice StevensState CourtsNelson Dissenting Opinion, Western Tradition Partnership, Inc and Montana Shooting Sports Association, Inc v. Attorney General of the State of Montana and Commissioner of the Commission for Political PracticesCHAPTER 11: CIVIL RIGHTS AND LIBERTIESVoting RightsVoting Rights Act (excerpts)Shelby County v. Holder (excerpts)Gender Issues: Sexual HarassmentEEOC Rule and Regulation regarding Sexual HarassmentGender Issues: Non-Binary Sex and GenderTrump Administration Dear Colleague Letter for Department of Education Rules Regarding Transgender DiscriminationPrivacyOrder from Federal Magistrate regarding the iPhoneTim Cook statement regarding iPhone privacyFISA ruling regarding wire-tapsExcerpts from United States v Jones (2012)ReparationsHR40 Reparations billImmigration and Child SeparationLeaked Memo from Dept. of Justice to Dept. of Homeland SecurityNielsen/Feinstein Senate testimony: Jan. 2018Questions for the Record Following Nielsen HearingThe Right to Bear ArmsState of Utah Concealed Weapon Permit FormDistrict of Columbia v Heller (2008) (excerpts)Rights of the Differently AbledAmericans with Disabilities Act (1990) (excerpts)Native AmericansBureau of Indian Affairs certification statementCHAPTER 12: FOREIGN POLICYThe North Atlantic Treaty OrganizationNATO CharterNATO and the War on TerrorismRumsfeld Speech to NATO, 2002NATO InterventionObama Speech on LibyaThe War on Terrorism and TortureYoo Memo on TortureCyber-WarfareGuccifer IndictmentClimate PolicyParis AccordTrump Speech on withdrawing from the Paris AccordSanctions2017 Sections Bill for Iran, Russia, and North KoreaTariffs and TradeTrump Announcement of Steel Tariffs