The United States is often seen as a model of modern democracy. Since 1787, the American Constitution has sought to protect freedom and prevent excessive power from concentrating in the hands of one person. The system of checks and balances was designed to make sure that no branch of government becomes too strong. In recent years, however, many observers argue that American democracy is under pressure: Presidents like Donald Trump have tested the limits of the Constitution, Congress is deeply divided, and the Supreme Court makes decisions that are highly important and often controversial.
This seminar will explore the history of the US Constitution, from the Federalist Papers to today’s political debates. We will examine how American institutions were established, how they operate, and how they are challenged by populism, political polarization, and the impact of social media.
Mögliche Themen zur Orientierung:
- The Federalist Papers in the 21st century: Choose one essay (e.g. No. 10 or No. 51), summarize its arguments, and compare them with one current political debate in the US. How relevant are Madison’s or Hamilton’s ideas today?
- Checks and balances under pressure: Use two concrete examples (e.g. Nixon’s Watergate scandal and Trump’s presidency) to show how the system of checks and balances was tested. Evaluate which crisis was more dangerous for democracy.
- Impeachment in American history: Compare Andrew Johnson’s impeachment (1868) with one of Donald Trump’s impeachments. What do the similarities and differences reveal about the changing role of Congress?
- The Civil Rights Movement and the Constitution: Analyze Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech together with passages from the US Constitution. How did activists use the Constitution to argue for equal rights?
- The Supreme Court as political actor: Study one recent decision of the Court (e.g., Dobbs v. Jackson, Obergefell v. Hodges). Present the arguments of the judges and explain how the case influenced the political debate.
- The “Imperial Presidency”: Select two presidents (e.g. Franklin D. Roosevelt and Donald Trump) and analyze how they expanded executive power. Do you think this expansion of power threatens democracy?
- Donald Trump and the far right: Examine Trump’s speeches or campaign events from 2016 to 2024. How has his rhetoric shifted further to the right, and what effect does this have on democratic institutions?
- Fake news, social media, and January 6, 2021: Collect examples from different media sources (tweets, posts, news articles) and analyze how misinformation influenced the Capitol riots.
- Constitutional crises in comparison: Compare one US crisis (e.g. Watergate, January 6, Trump impeachments) with one German constitutional conflict (e.g. Notstandsgesetze, role of the Bundespräsident). What does the comparison show about the strength of each system?
- Political violence and democracy: Choose one historical case (e.g. assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. or Robert Kennedy) and connect it to debates about the stability of American democracy. How did this violence influence political trust?
- Political rhetoric and violence: The killing of Charlie Kirk: Analyze the public reactions (e.g. Trump’s speeches, media commentary) to the murder of Charlie Kirk. What do they reveal about the connection between free speech, populism, and political violence?
