The Electoral College
The Framers of the Constitution worked diligently to establish an effective system for electing a president and vice president. The members of the Constitutional Convention were reluctant to allow a popular vote because information dissemination, in their time, was very limited. They rejected direct election of the president by Congress because it would give too much power to the federal government. Likewise, they felt that presidential elections held by the various state assemblies would result
Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions
Political parties determine their presidential candidates through primaries, caucuses, and conventions. Until the early part of the twentieth century, every state used caucuses to choose a candidate. Caucuses began to lose favor because many of the “political machines” that controlled the caucuses were corrupt and did not necessarily carry out the will of the people. Still, caucuses continue to be used in 12 states. (Video is narrated with slides and speeches.)
Incumbency
While the president is limited to serving two terms in office, members of Congress can serve an unlimited number of terms. In the mid-nineteenth century, most congressional representatives served only a single term because at that time politics was not considered a career. However, by the mid-twentieth century, congressional representatives began to view holding congressional office as a prestigious career. (Video is narrated with slides and speeches.)
Power, Committees and Debates
Power in the Senate is not as clearly defined as it is in the House, and it is much more widely dispersed. Although the Constitution makes the vice president of the United States the president of the Senate, the real power is held by the majority and minority leaders who dictate legislative agenda. The party whips are the senators who ensure good communication among party members and work with the party leaders to urge members to vote with the party on key issues
Andrew Jackson: Reinventing the Presidency
Video discusses how Jackson fought in the Revolutionary War when he was just thirteen, how Jackson led the American army to the most surprising victory in its history in the Battle of New Orleans, how Jackson was the first great champion of the common white man -- but also "owned" over a hundred black Americans; how Jackson dramatically expanded the United States -- by brutally wresting vast regions of the south from Native Americans; how Jackson, in one of the boldest political strokes in histo
Presidential Management Models
Political scientists have examined several models for how presidents run the White House and control their administrations. These models are helpful in understanding the daily workings of the executive branch of government.
(Video is narrated with slides and speeches.)
Political situation
This video is accompanied by text and it is about the political situation and political causes of the American Revolution. "The Revolution generated radical changes in the principles, opinions, and sentiments of the American people. New ideas and issues affected social customs, political ideals, and gender and racial roles as the thirteen colonies evolved into the United States. Debate and conflict over government authority, diverse state economies, federal control of western territories, and th
Social Situation
This is a video accompanied by text. It is about the social situation and the social causes of the American Revolution. Although the concept of forming an autonomous American nation was not new, Thomas Paine’s call to create a democratic republic resonated with a growing number of colonists. By the late eighteenth century, many towns, particularly in Massachusetts, experienced republicanism firsthand in the form of town meetings and elections. Terminating the British monarch’s arbitrary auth
The Great Declaration
Video accompanied by text. "By the end of 1775, the military conflicts with Great Britain increased the eagerness of many Patriots to declare their independence, but many other colonists, including influential members of the Second Continental Congress, were wary about breaking completely from the Crown. The ties to England remained strong for many Americans and the thought of losing their political and commercial connections to one of the world’s most powerful nations seemed irrational to the
Learning Latin with Virgil - Pt. 1
Learning Latin with Virgil is a completely new and original Latin video series. It hopes to bring you engaging, effective and regular lessons to enhance your knowledge and enjoyment of Latin. In this series, the emphasis is on understanding the Latin you read, not on translating it. The course centers around the characters and the stories of the great epic work of Virgil, the Aeneid.
Learning Latin with Virgil - Pt. 2
Learning Latin with Virgil is a completely new and original Latin video series. It hopes to bring you engaging, effective and regular lessons to enhance your knowledge and enjoyment of Latin. In this series, the emphasis is on understanding the Latin you read, not on translating it. The course centers around the characters and the stories of the great epic work of Virgil, the Aeneid.
Learning Latin with Virgil - Pt. 3
Learning Latin with Virgil is a completely new and original Latin video series. It hopes to bring you engaging, effective and regular lessons to enhance your knowledge and enjoyment of Latin. In this series, the emphasis is on understanding the Latin you read, not on translating it. The course centers around the characters and the stories of the great epic work of Virgil, the Aeneid.
Learning Latin with Virgil - Pt. 4
Learning Latin with Virgil is a completely new and original Latin video series. It hopes to bring you engaging, effective and regular lessons to enhance your knowledge and enjoyment of Latin. In this series, the emphasis is on understanding the Latin you read, not on translating it. The course centers around the characters and the stories of the great epic work of Virgil, the Aeneid.
Learning Latin with Virgil - Pt. 5
Learning Latin with Virgil is a completely new and original Latin video series. It hopes to bring you engaging, effective and regular lessons to enhance your knowledge and enjoyment of Latin. In this series, the emphasis is on understanding the Latin you read, not on translating it. The course centers around the characters and the stories of the great epic work of Virgil, the Aeneid.
Learning Latin with Virgil - Pt. 6
Learning Latin with Virgil is a completely new and original Latin video series. It hopes to bring you engaging, effective and regular lessons to enhance your knowledge and enjoyment of Latin. In this series, the emphasis is on understanding the Latin you read, not on translating it. The course centers around the characters and the stories of the great epic work of Virgil, the Aeneid.
Learning Latin with Virgil - Pt. 7
Learning Latin with Virgil is a completely new and original Latin video series. It hopes to bring you engaging, effective and regular lessons to enhance your knowledge and enjoyment of Latin. In this series, the emphasis is on understanding the Latin you read, not on translating it. The course centers around the characters and the stories of the great epic work of Virgil, the Aeneid.
Latin Lesson 1 - Cerberus
This is the First Episode in a series of Latin Tutorials based on the Cambridge Latin Course. Perfect for absolute beginners. salve! In this video series you can see the text from the Cambridge Latin Course on the screen, and it is being read and translated by a person seen in the bottom right of the screen. While the text is being translated, you also see pictures of what the words mean up above.
Latin Lesson 2 - mercator I This is the 2nd Episode in a series of Latin Tutorials based on the Cambridge Latin Course. Perfect for absolute beginners. salve! In this video series you can see the text from the Cambridge Latin Course on the screen, and it is being read and translated by a person seen in the bottom right of the screen.While the text is being translated, you also see pictures of what the words mean up above.
Latin Lesson 3 - mercator II This is the 3rd Episode in a series of Latin Tutorials based on the Cambridge Latin Course. Perfect for absolute beginners. salve! In this video series you can see the text from the Cambridge Latin Course on the screen, and it is being read and translated by a person seen in the bottom right of the screen.While the text is being translated, you also see pictures of what the words mean up above.
Latin Lesson 4 - in triclinio This is the 4th Episode in a series of Latin Tutorials based on the Cambridge Latin Course. Perfect for absolute beginners. salve! In this video series you can see the text from the Cambridge Latin Course on the screen, and it is being read and translated by a person seen in the bottom right of the screen.While the text is being translated, you also see pictures of what the words mean up above.
