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PSC 499Capstone Research Seminar

Presentations, November, 2007

Page maintained by Dr. Jeremy LewisRevised, 30 Nov. 2007, with new dates, new outlines, and new PPT links.
Presentation materials posted to the web are fully testable in the appropriate course.
Biographies of students, Text outlines [quick], Powerpoint slideshows [slow] are linked below.

Contents:
Click a name for the biography, click "title" for the outline, or click [PPT] for the show.
  • Lindsay Curry, "The Constitution of Alabama," [PPT] at 08:00 on Mon. 19 Nov. in PSC 201, FL 101.
  • Samantha Mosier, "The War on Drugs," [PPT] at 09:30 on Tues. 27 Nov. in PSC 207, FL 205.
  • John Martin, "The History and Development of the European Union, since 1951,"[PPT] at 12:30 on Tues. 27 Nov. in PSC 371A, FL 102
  • Jesseca Holcomb, "Privacy at Issue: the US Supreme Court's Abortion Cases," [PPT] at 08:00 on Wed. 28 Nov. in PSC 201, FL 101.
  • Jonathan T. Lyons, "Exclusion at the Golden Door: US Immigration Policy," [PPT] at 09:30 on Thurs. 29 Nov. in PSC 207, FL 205.
  • Haydyn Hedgspeth, "Health Care Compared: The US, UK and Canada," [PPT] at 09:30 on Thurs. 29 Nov. in PSC 207, FL 205
  • Charles U. Walters, "Genocide: Inconsistency and Dilemma," [PPT] at 12:30 on Thurs. 29 Nov. in PSC 371A, FL 102.
  • Amanda L. Spiegel, "The Theory of Sovereignty,"[PPT] at 13:00 on Thurs. 29 Nov. in PSC 371A, FL 102.

  • Patti M. Lee,  "The Social and Economic Consequences of a ban on Abortion," [PPT] at 08:00 on Fri. 30 Nov. in PSC 201, FL 101.


    Brief Biographies of Capstone Researchers:
  • Lindsay Curry, "The Constitution of Alabama,"
  • Lindsay Curry, a Political Science and English major, came from Stanhope Elmore High School and Deatsville, AL.  A former cheerleader; she is a member of College Democrats and Phi Eta Sigma academic honorary society.  She made Dean's List every semester; and worked as an administrative assistant in the Montgomery law firm of Rushton, Stakeley.   She is interested in a career in administration of government or law, and intends to earn a Master's degree in Public administration or public policy.
  • Jonathan T. Lyons, "Exclusion at the Golden Door: US Immigration Policy,"
  • Jon Lyons is a Political Science major from Loganville, GA.  A High School football tight end, he enjoys recreational and team basketball.  He travelled to Ontario with his mother who holds a political science degree from SUNY Buffalo. A member of college democrats, he opened the Hawks Nest, and is interested in a possible career in public administration.
  • Haydyn Hedgspeth, "Health Care Compared: The US, UK and Canada,"
  • Haydyn Hedgspeth, from Gadsden, AL, is a political science major since Fall 2006.  Her family interest in law & politics includes a district attorney and a mayor.  She is a member of the college softball team, College Democrats, panhellenic council, AOII sorority, and J board member.  Her community service includes helping organize Habitat for Humanity and member of Circle K.
  • Samantha Mosier, "The War on Drugs,"
  • Samantha Mosier, our final Public Affairs major, came from BTW Magnet School (Booker T.) in Montgomery AL.  Sam was an organizer of the Model United Nations for BTW, and for two years a participant in Great Decisions in Foreign Policy at Huntingdon. She became a member of the freshman honor society and she edited the Gargoyle newspaper in Fall 2005-2006, taking it to associated collegiate press status.  She lives on three acres with a labrador mix dog called Wednezday [sic] and works in a flower shop and a political public relations firm, Winners Circle Communications.  She has travelled to New Zealand and Australia.  She intends to head to law school or graduate school in a state with good hiking country.  In May '07, she enjoyed the HC tour of Bavaria.
  • John Martin, "The History and Development of the European Union, since 1951,"
  • John Martin, of Montgomery, AL, is a Political Science major.  He travelled all over US and British mainland, and is an Alabama supporter.  On the Football team he has been running back #30, and he enjoys listening to classic rock music, travelling (British isles, western US). He transferred to HC from AUM and Sewanee, University of the South.  He worked in a law firm for a couple of years, and is interested in political science for graduate school.
  • Amanda L. Spiegel, "The Theory of Sovereignty,"
  • Amanda L. Spiegel, our final International Studies major, and a political science major, graduated from Daphne High School. She came to Huntingdon with multiple national and local scholarships. She is a 2004 Horatio Alger National Scholar, J.L. Bedsole Scholar, Papa Johns Scholar, Burger King Scholar, recipient of the Marian Gaynor Yanamura scholarship, the Alabama Municipal Electric Authority scholarship, the Fairhope Elks Lodge scholarship, and the Eastern Shore Federation of Women scholarship.
  • Amanda has served numerous leadership positions in student and service clubs including Student Government Association, Freshmen Forum secretary, Co-Director of the Freshmen Forum, Joie de Vivre French Club secretary, Huntingdon Host, First Year Orientation Guide, and Freshmen Orientation Student Leader. She currently serves on the Student Government Association Executive Council as Webmaster. Amanda received the International Studies award and is a member of the freshmen honor society, Phi Eta Sigma. Her academic research includes: “An Overview and Analysis of Eastern Europe’s Integration into the European Union: 1989 – Present”, “The European Union and British Politics”, “The Role of Women in Terrorism: Female Suicide Bombers” “Mission-Driven Government: Governor Riley’s SMART Governing” and co-authored research with Chrystine D. Lake entitled “The Fourteenth Amendment: Guarantying the Rights of the Citizen”.
  • Amanda interned for the 2004 Alabama Supreme Court Place 1 candidate, Robert H. Smith, at Galloway, Smith, Wettermark and Everest firm in Mobile, AL the summer of 2005. This past summer, she was able to gain a perspective on non-profit organizations while serving as Assistant to the Volunteer Coordinator at Montgomery Area Nontraditional Equestrian (M.A.N.E.) therapeutic riding center. She has enjoyed speaker events at Alabama World Affairs Council and has attended the National Security Workshop at Air War College. She is interested in a career of law.
  • Jesseca Holcomb, "Privacy at Issue: the US Supreme Court's Abortion Cases,"
  • Jesseca Holcomb is a political science major, a defender and occasional forward on the women's soccer team.  She earned NCAA's all-academic honors for three years.  In summer 2005, she took an internship with Judge Lucie McLemore's district court.  She also adopted the Athletic Training major and studied an additional year at HC for the double major.  She is a member of Phi Eta Sigma, the honor society for freshmen.  She plans a master's degree in human performance or sports medicine.
  • Patti M. Lee,  "The Social and Economic Consequences of a ban on Abortion,"
  • Patti Lee, a political science and communications minor from Millbrook, AL, who is an ex Softball player, Braves baseball diehard fan, and travels regularly to Oregon, California and Washington state, visiting friends. She is an enthusiastic fan of rock music concerts.  She won the Spanish award as a freshman, and is a member of Lamda Pi Eta, a communications honor society.  Her mom has been active in local politics.    In May '07, she enjoyed the HC tour of Bavaria.  After a gap year in the workplace, she plans on a master's of communications.
  • Charles U. Walters, "Genocide: Inconsistency and Dilemma,"
  • Charles Walters, a Political science major interested in sustainable development, comes from Demopolis High School and Linden, AL.  A tennis team player, Charles is active, as well as the Alabama World Affairs Council.  He is a former treasurer of the International students Association; a former member of Judicial Board; and a former member of the women's council [sic].  He has also been a residential adviser and has appeared on the Dungeon stage as Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream.  In spring 2006 he co-authored and co-presented a conference paper with Dr. Lewis for the Shakespeare and Politics panel of the Alabama PSA.   In May '07, he enjoyed the HC tour of Bavaria.  In Fall 2007, he rehearsed the part of Revd. Shaw, in Footloose.  His summer jobs have included work at a Georgia Pacific paper mill, shovelling, painting and attending to water filtration.  He also worked for Marlowe air conditioning systems and electric systems.  He has travelled on a mission trip to Nicaragua, where he helped install water lines for schools.

  • Top of Page


    Outlines of Capstone Research Presentations:
  • Lindsay Curry, "The Constitution of Alabama,"
  • The Problems with the Alabama Constitution
  • A look at Amendments, Taxes, Home Rule, Racial Language, Economic Development, and Reformation
  • By Lindsay Curry, 2007.
  • Introduction
  • History of Alabama’s 1901 Constitution
  • Goals of the Convention
  • Problems with the constitution
  • Length
  • Issues
  • The Power of Interest Groups
  • ALFA
  • Alabama Citizens Against Constitutional Reform
  • Alabama Citizens For Constitutional Reform
  • Alabama Arise
  • Amendments
  • 777 amendments as of 2007
  • Most pertain to one city or county
  • ¾ of all amendments are locally based
  • Amendment 555 requires statewide vote on all local amendments
  • 2004 elections
  • Examples
  • Amendment 351 pertains strictly to Mobile county
  • Amendment 482 is for Lauderdale county
  • Amendment 520 applies to Madison county
  • Amendment 497 applies to Jefferson county
  • Racial Language
  • Segregated School Requirements
  • -Section 256
  • Miscegenation Laws
  • Section 102
  • Federal Government
  • Amendment 667
  • Voting Rights
  • White Supremacy
  • 15th Amendment of U.S Constitution
  • Poll Taxes
  • 1942 Alabama Policy Institute
  • Lack of Home Rule
  • What is Home Rule ?
  • Dillon's Rule
  • Why Home Rule in Alabama
  • Framer’s thoughts
  • Problems with Home Rule
  • Slow
  • State Legislature
  • Delegates
  • Examples of Home Rule Issues
  • The Gulf Shores Parkway and the accumulated billboards because Alabama  counties do not have the authority to adopt-a-sign ordinances
  • Lack of Zoning Powers in counties
  • Madison County rock quarry
  • Economic Development or a Lack there of
  • Agricultural State
  • The Big Mule Alliance
  • Goals and Accomplishments
  • Constitution prohibits economic development indirectly
  • Section 93
  • 1920 amended constitution
  • Public Services to Rural Areas
  • Economic Development
  • The North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA)
  • The General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT)
  • Effects of Alabama Economy
  • Alabama Taxes
  • Three major problems : lack of fairness, inefficiency and inadequacy
  • Who does the tax system benefit?
  • Lowest property taxes in nation
  • Earmarking of certain funds
  • Taxes
  • Alabama taxes income at $ 4600
  • [Orally: Gov. Riley raised threshhold in 2006]
  • Mississippi at $19,000
  • Mississippi brings in more revenue
  • What does Alabama Tax
  • Groceries
  •  Citizens pay more tax on groceries than their homes
  • Example:
  •  Average taxes paid on groceries is $ 450 yearly
  •  Average taxes paid on $ 100,000 home is $250 yearly
  • Reforming the Constitution
  • Other southern states constitutions
  • Georgia has had 10 constitutions
  • Mississippi has had 4
  • Alabama 6
  • Tennessee has had 3
  • Types of reform
  • Full Revision
  • What is it
  • What are the issues for revising the Constitution
  • Convention
  • Constitutional Limitations
  • Section 286
  • Types of Reform
  • Constitutional Amendment
  • Amendment that would define all changes made
  • State legislatures propose possible changes
  • Why this will not occur
  • Constitutional Commission and Florida
  • Constitutional Commission
  • Florida: An example or successful reform efforts?
  • Article 11 of Florida’s 1968 Constitution
  • Revision Commission
  • Success or Failure?
  • Alabama’s failed attempts to Reform
  • Why we can’t reform
  • Attempts by past leaders
  • James E. Folsom
  • Brewer Commission
  • Conclusions
  • Alabama’s Constitution is the longest legal document in the world
  • Lack of Home Rule keeps local gv’t from making laws
  • One of the most unfair tax systems in U.S
  • Constitution prohibits economic development
  • Conclusions
  • Despite amendments preventing racial language it is still present throughout the constitution
  • Reform efforts are on the rise, it will be hard to accomplish because of legislature’s power
  • Florida’s example could be beneficial for Alabama’s problems with reform
  • Select References
  • Flynt, Wayne. 2004. Alabama in the Twentieth Century. Tuscaloosa, AL:  The
  •  University of Alabama Press.
  • Thomson, Bailey, ed. 2002. A Century of Controversy: Constitutional Reform in Alabama. Tuscaloosa, AL:  The University of Alabama Press .
  • Top of Page

  • Jonathan T. Lyons, "Exclusion at the Golden Door: US Immigration Policy,"
  • Exclusion and the Golden Door: U.S. Immigration Policy
  • Overview
  • First Immigration Legislation
  • Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)
  • Open-Door Era (1790-1882)
  • Open-Door Era
  • Opposition to Early Immigration
  • Nativist cartoon depicting drunken immigrants [image]
  • The Gold Rush: Immigration Explosion
  • Open-Door Era
  • Door-Ajar Era
  • Door-Ajar Era
  • Chinese Immigration to the US [chart]
  • Quota System
  • Asiatic Barred Zone [map]
  • Quota System
  • National Origins System
  • Immigration 1851-2000 [table]
  • Immigration During Quota System
  • Bracero Program
  • Bracero Program
  • Civil Rights Legislation
  • Shift in Ethnicity
  • Illegal Immigration
  • Proposition 187
  • Post 9/11 Immigration Policy
  • Illegal Immigrants mostly from Latin America [chart]
  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement
  • 2008 Presidential Candidates [images]
  • Candidates Statements and Recent Voting
  • Further Reading
  • Top of Page

  • Haydyn Hedgspeth, "Health Care Compared: The US, UK and Canada,"
  • Health care Compared: U.S., U.K. and Canada
  •  U.S. health care
  • U.S. health care
  • U.K. health care
  •  U.K. health care
  • Canadian health care
  • Canadian v American HCS
  • Cancer in Females [table]
  • Cancer in Males [table]
  • Canadian v American HCS  (cont)
  • U.K. v U.S. HCS
  • Conclusion
  • References
  • Top of Page

  • Samantha Mosier, "The War on Drugs,"
  • Reconsidering the American Drug War
  • Thinking In Time (Neustadt and May)
  • Science of ‘Muddling Through’ (Lindblom)
  • Trends and Events
  • Historical Significance
  • Trends and Events
  • Trends and Events Cont’d
  • Historical Significance
  • Trends and Events: Johnson and Nixon
  • Trends and Events: Ford and Carter
  • Trends and Events: Reagan and Bush
  • Reagan and Bush Cont’d
  • Historical Significance
  • Jeffrey Miron
  • Jeffrey Miron Cont’d
  • The Netherlands (Korf)
  • Robert Charles
  • Conclusion
  • References
  • Top of Page

  • John Martin, "The History and Development of the European Union, since 1951,"
  • The History and Development of the European Union, Since 1951
  • European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC)
  • Treaty of Rome (1957)
  • Schengen Agreement (1985)- borders and police cooperation
  • Single European Act (1986)
  • Maastricht Treaty (1992)- European Union (EU)
  • Treaty of Nice (2001)
  • Modern EU Politics and Governance
  • Recent Trends and Statistics
  • EU Problems and Conflicts
  • Conclusion
  • Further Reading
  • Top of Page

  • Amanda L. Spiegel, "The Theory of Sovereignty,"
  • Top of Page

  • Jesseca Holcomb, "Privacy at Issue: the US Supreme Court's Abortion Cases,"
  • The History of American Government
  • Natural Law vs. Natural Rights
  • Philosophers’ theories
  • Are some rights implied within the Bill of Rights?
  • Views of Privacy Based on the Constitution
  • Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)
  • Roe v. Wade (1973)
  • Maher v. Roe (1977)
  • Akron v. Akron Center of Reproductive Health (1983)
  • Thornburgh v. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (1986)
  • Webster v. Reproductive Health Services (1989)
  • Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey (1992)
  • Stenberg v. Carhart (2000)
  • Public Opinion
  • Conclusion
  • Selected References
  • Top of Page

  • Patti M. Lee,  "The Social and Economic Consequences of a ban on Abortion,"
  • Top of Page

  • Charles U. Walters, "Genocide: Inconsistency and Dilemma,"
  • Stance versus Response
  • Shouldn’t they be similar?
  • Our stance has been a diametrical opposition to genocide
  • Our response has been to intervene where feasible and if the situation poses a risk to national interests which in happenstance hasn’t involved intervention to prevent or curb the occurrence of genocide
  • The Development of the Genocide Concept and American Feelings
  • The Armenian Genocide
  • Henry Morgenthau
  • The Holocaust
  • Rafael Lemkin
  • Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide (1948)
  • The Contracting Parties confirm that genocide, whether committed in time of peace or in time of war, is a crime under international law which they undertake to prevent and to punish
  • In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.
  • Persons committing genocide or any of the other acts enumerated in article III shall be punished, whether they are constitutionally responsible rulers, public officials or private individuals.
  • Any Contracting Party may call upon the competent organs of the United Nations to take such action under the Charter of the United Nations as they consider appropriate for the prevention and suppression of acts of genocide
  • From the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights
  • http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/p_genoci.htm
  • Reservations along with the US Ratification of The Genocide Convention (1988)
  • Before any dispute to which the United States is a party may be submitted to the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice under this article, the specific consent of the United States is required in each case.
  • That nothing in the Convention requires or authorizes legislation or other action by the United States of America prohibited by the Constitution of the United States as interpreted by the United States.
  • The United Nations Treaty Collection (2001)
  • US Inconsistency
  • The inconsistency is not in but between our rhetoric, values and our actions.
  • The United States has, since its coinage, condemned genocide.
  • “American leaders… have repeatedly committed themselves to preventing the reoccurrence of genocide.
  • Prior to Bosnia however, the US “had never in its history intervened to stop genocide and had in fact rarely even made a point of condemning it as it occurred” (Power). (though it has condemned genocide with hindsight)
  • The Dilemma
  • When and where should America and the UN intervene?
  • Peacekeepers have been in Somalia, Bosnia, and Rwanda but have pulled out when the situations became dire.
  • Only after the genocide has taken place has the US and the UN taken action to punish those responsible.
  • Realism
  • If intervention is costly or non-beneficial to national interests then it should be avoided at all costs.
  • But focuses on cost/analysis such as the fiscal costs of intervention, the human costs, not on an ethical standard
  • “Realism in its purest form argues that statesmen ought to absolutely disregard considerations like human rights in favor of a focus on national interests” (McKay).
  • “To expect human beings and organizations to think about the interest of others before their own is to ask them to deny their own instincts for self-preservation” (Kaplan 101).
  • Idealism
  • America has a moral responsibility to intervene on the behalf of humanity.
  • “Idealism argues that one ought to take the moral route in all circumstances, regardless of whether doing what’s right is in the national interest or not” (McKay)
  • Should not democracy be a source of hope?
  • Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms
  • “There is a level of violence and atrocities so offensive to the American and democratic conscience as to override considerations of the national interest” (Kissinger)
  • Selective Engagers
  • Believe intervention is necessary but realize that it is only possible in some cases, so make your point to the world in select instances.
  • Believe that moral responsibility and the works of day-to-day foreign policy do not have to be intertwined, that the ability to intervene militarily in humanitarian crises is “bounded by circumstance.”
  • Bosnia (1992-1995)
  • What Happened?
  • Serb militia began slaughtering Croats and Muslims denying the autonomy that had passed with 99.4% of voters voting for removal from Serbia.
  • 200,000 Bosnian’s killed in 3 ½ years and more than 2 million were displaced
  • “The Bush and Clinton Administrations’ responses to the atrocities in Bosnia were consistent with prior American responses to genocide”—they allowed it to proceed, “unimpeded by U.S. action and often emboldened by U.S. inaction” (Power).
  • Rwanda 1994
  • What happened?
  • Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana was killed and a military coup took control.
  • Estimated between 800,000 and 1,000,000 million Tutsi and moderate Hutus were slaughtered
  • “Did we have a moral responsibility to stay there? Would it have made a difference?” (U.S. Ambassador David Rawson)
  • The Clinton administration avoided the use of the G-word because the term would nearly demand US intervention
  • What Now?
  • Realistically America cannot intervene in all cases of humanitarian need.
  • Ideally America creates an inconsistency when it intervenes only during times of national interests
  • To move towards a solution America must not try to act unilaterally but rather work through multilateralism relying largely on the UN
  • Major Works
  • Samantha Power, A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide, 2007 edition
  • Henry Kissinger’s Does America Need a Foreign Policy? 2001
  • Jon Western, Selling Intervention in America, 2005
  • Eric A. Heinz, “The Rhetoric of Genocide in U.S. Foreign Policy: Rwanda and Darfur Compared,” Political Science Quarterly, 2007
  • Andrew Kohut and Bruce Stokes, America Against the World, 2006
  • Robert D. Kaplan, Warrior Politics: Why Leadership Demands a Pagan Ethos, 2002
  • David McKay, & Andrew Wroe, Controversies in American Society and Politics, 2002
  • Top of Page