Zoekresultaten voor: Democracy
Resultaat 1 - 20 (van 32)
Global politics
In the world of the 21st century, the basic tools of diplomacy are not far different than they were at the country's inception. The primary goal of United States foreign policy is the preservation of the American state. This requires not only military readiness to protect the territorial integrity and international interests of the United States, but also global policies that foster economic growth and preserve the nation's position in the international marketplace. This episode takes a close look...
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The glorious burden
The writers of the Constitution had a basic idea of what they wanted in a president: a national leader who would carry out the law of the land, a statesman who could negotiate with world powers, a commander-in-chief in times of conflict. But they had no models to follow, and the vague words they used to describe the position in in Article II, Section I, of the Constitution left a lot of questions unanswered. This episode explores the foundations of the modern presidency, and takes viewers from the...
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Government by committee
Most of the actual work of legislating is performed by the committees and subcommittees within Congress. This division of legislative labor has emerged as a means of responding to the profusion of bills introduced each congressional term. Such an approach also allows members to gain expertise in particular aspects of governmental activity. This episode explores the committee structure and formal leadership of Congress, and various routes bills may take before being enacted into law. Members of Congress...
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Health of the Nation, Health of the Planet/ producer, Sally Beaty
Despite attempts to provide an equitable baseline of healthcare for Americans, an estimated 44 million people in the United States have no health insurance at all, public or private. This episode looks at various governmental attempts to insure a "healthy" America, from the work of various research agencies (NIH and CDC) and regulatory units (EPA and FDA) to specific governmental programs, like Medicare and Medicaid
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Leader for a nation
The president operates within a system of separate institutions that share power. Without congressional authorization and funding, most presidential proposals are nothing but ideas, empty of action. Theodore Roosevelt longed to "be the president and Congress, too" if only for a day, so that he would have the power to adopt as well as propose programs. Whether a president's initiatives are likely to succeed or fail depends on several factors, including the force of circumstance, the stage of the president's...
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Legal precedent
In recent years the judiciary has become an increasingly powerful policymaking body. Although judicial decisions are constrained by applicable constitutional law, statutory law, and precedent, the courts have considerable discretion in the way they interpret these laws, causing some people to question the judiciary's proper role in a democracy. This episode probes contemporary questions regarding the federal judiciary including the debate surrounding originalism, textualism, judicial review, and...
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The nation's welfare
Poverty is a large and persistent problem in the United States, deeply affecting about one in seven Americans, including many of the country's most vulnerable groups: children, female "head of household" families, and minorities. Just what government's role should be in alleviating this problem is an intensely debated, partisan issue. Social welfare programs are designed to reward and foster self reliance or, when this is not possible, to provide benefits only to those individuals who are truly in...
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Party politics
The patterns of party politics in the United States provide a fascinating platform from which to view American political history. Divergent interests, seeking to strengthen their voice, join with others in creating a common political agenda, often under the Republican or Democrat banner. In recent years, as the two major parties have become more narrowly defined, many political moderates feel they've lost their political home. Third party ventures tend to work to only a limited degree because of...
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Pressure politics
Alexis de Tocqueville observed in 1834, "that no country of the world have the principles of association been more successfully used or applied to a greater multitude of objectives than in America." The French traveler was amazed as the degree to which Americans formed groups to solve civic problems, establish social relations, and speak for their economic or political interests. The structure of the American government invites the participation of interests groups. The system has many points of...
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Rights of the accused
The United States has one of the highest violent crime rates in the world. It is not surprising, therefore, that many citizens have extremely strong opinions about the rights of those accused of criminal offenses. When an accused person is set free because of an apparent legal technicality, some people feel that the rights of the accused are being given more weight than the rights of society and victims of crime. The courts and the police must constantly engage in a balancing act of competing rights....
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Rule nine
The writers of the Constitution were determined that the judiciary would be a separate branch of the federal government but, for practical reasons, did not spell out the full structure of the federal court system. Article III establishes the Supreme Court of the United States, and then grants Congress the authority to establish lower federal courts of its choosing. Unlike the executive and legislative branches, there are no age, residency, or citizenship qualifications for federal judicial office,...
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The struggle for equality
When the Declaration of Independence was written in 1776, the term "all men" did not include slaves, Native Americans, men without property, or women. During the last two hundred years, various minority groups have struggled to strengthen and expand constitutional guarantees of equality
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Voices of the people
Americans attach great significance to the right to vote. But the privilege of voting, so basic to democratic government, is a right that took many Americans centuries to achieve. In comparison to many nations in the world, voter participation in the United States is declining. Studies show a relationship between voting and a person's age, education, and economic status. In addition to voting, citizens participate in the political process through community and campaign activities, and by participating...
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The fourth estate
On a daily basis, more Americans connect to politics through the news media than through the activities of parties or groups. The press brings events and problems into public view, serves as a channel through which political leaders can address the public, and scrutinizes political behavior for evidence of deceitful, careless, or corrupt acts. The increasing tendency of the media to probe into all aspects of a politician's life, private as well as public, has made many officials less candid and forthcoming...
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The living constitution
A look at the Constitution in contemporary terms reveals a short document-7,000 words long-shorter than every state constitution except Vermont's. Only thirty-three of the more than 11,000 amendments that have been proposed have been approved by Congress and submitted to states. Twenty-seven have been ratified. Nevertheless, the Constitution is an unfinished work that has evolved through less formal methods of change-congressional legislation, presidential actions, judicial review, custom and use
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Frames of reference
The United States is a country marked by divergent political views. Political attitudes formed early in life seldom change dramatically, however the basic framework is etched and refined by life experiences. The Vietnam War in the sixties, the Watergate scandal in the seventies, reaction to the impeachment of President Clinton reflect the powerful role public opinion plays in the politics of this country. In fact, the scientific measurement of public opinion has become a permanent fixture of the...
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The most basics of rights
Without government, people live in a state of anarchy. With unbridled government, men and women may live in a state of tyranny. The civil liberties imbedded in the Bill of Rights place specific limitations on governmental power. For example, the basic rights addressed in the first amendment-freedoms of religion, speech, press, and assembly-cannot be abridged or taken away. But the Bill of Rights, like the rest of the Constitution is relatively brief. Broad guidelines are set forth in the language...
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The power imperative
Although agencies are subject to scrutiny by the president, Congress, and the judiciary, bureaucrats are able to achieve power in their own right. They often develop an "agency point of view" because of their expert knowledge, support from clientele groups, and backing by Congress or the president. This episode, featuring among others former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich and former Secretary of State James Baker, depicts the nature of the federal bureaucracy and the politics that surrounds it.
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Preserve, protect and defend
It was a sparkling September morning in New York City. The familiar cacophony of taxi horns and street vendors greeted commuters as they emerged from the subway. No one anticipated that in a matter of moments the city-the country-would be under attack. Since 11 September 2001, the protection and defense of the United States has occupied center stage. This episode looks not only the nation's response to the terrorist attacks, but also examines the defense and "peace keeping" policy of the country...
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