POLS 21 1st Edition Lecture 1Outline of Current Lecture:The Current Political Situation in the USA and the origins of Democracy and the Republic:I. Current political situationa. Barack Obama and relationship with the Senate/House b. George W. Bush and Dick CheneyII. Origins of Democracy and Republic a. Philosophersb. Ancient Greece HistoryLecture Notes:Current Political Situation in the USA:- Current President: Barack Obama- Republicans are in control of the Senate and the House of Representatives- The largest Republican majority since the 1920s (which ended after the stock market crash)- Democrats lost 9 seats in the senate in the last electionObama’s resource: The Veto – His vetoes will stand because, in order to override a veto, Congress must pass the act by a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate. Because democrats still have enough power in the House and Senate (meaning at least 1/3 are democrats), Obama’s vetoes will stand. By threatening a veto, the President can persuade legislators to alter the content of the bill to be more acceptable to the President. George W. Bush – Yale legacy – A congenial guy who was voted as the candidate voters would rather have a beer withDick Cheney – Was head of George W. Bush’s vice presidential search committee. He chose himself, and was announced as the Republican vice presidential nominee. The Vietnam War: Dick Cheney avoided the draft by asking for and receiving five deferments. 4 received because he was a student (for 6 years instead of 4) and the other because he was a new father. These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.After Vietnam War (1975): Dick Cheney was nominated by Donald Rumsfeld to succeed him as Secretary of Defense. As Vice-President, Dick Cheney recommended Donald Rumsfeld for the position of Defense Secretary in late 2000 (appointed in January 2001 by President George W. Bush). The U.S. Democracy and Republic:Rome/Latin: “Res Publica” meaning “public affair”: power resides in the people. Etymology (study of the origin of words): Demos = people. Krátos = power. Periclean Democracy 461-429 B.C. – Equal justice to allSocrates 469-399 B.C. – Executed for “corrupting the young”Plato (student of Socrates) 428-348 B.C. – Power to philosophers (not to all people): did not trust thepublic, especially after killing his mentor. Aristotle (student of Plato): Forms of Government:Number of Rulers Ruled in Self-Interest Ruled in Society’s InterestOne Tyranny MonarchyFew Oligarchy AristocracyMany Democracy PolityThe Peloponnesian War: reshaped Ancient Greece—Demise of Greek InfluenceAlexander’s Empire: 334-323 B.C.Monarchial Rome 753-510 B.C.Roman Republic 509-527 B.C.Civil War is often responsible for the demise of civilization.Roman Empire (peaked around 200 A.D.): Caesar murdered by Roman Senate in 44 B.C.Emperor Augustus and Tiberius: "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's" (Separation of Church and State). Tension between the secular and the spiritual will always exist. Diocletian (Roman Emperor) splits the Roman Empire in 285 A.D.Edict of Milan 313 A.D: Agreement to treat Christians benevolently within the Roman Empire (change of policy towards Christianity).Romans were afraid of fighting Christians because Christians believe in afterlife after death and therefore are not afraid of