American Democracy Now: Harrison & Harris Chapters 1-6 & 10

Note: To study for the quizzes, review these questions & take the practice quizzes on the text website

Ch. 1: Introduction: 

1. What makes America a democracy?  By modern standards, was it always democratic?
2. Discuss the central characteristics of American Political Culture: Liberty, Equality, & Democracy (consent of the governmed).  Note: the text also adds Capitalism and Individualism, but I consider them to be linked with liberty.

3. Watch the ideology minilecture and explain the two different models of ideology (linear and EFO).  Which better explains ideology in the US?  If you're unsure about this, do the extra credit assignment on ideologies. NOTE: I prefer this model better than the one the text uses
   

4. What does Lasswell mean when he argues that ‘politics is who gets what, when & how’?  How does this clip regarding state & local budget cuts reflect that?  How would you balance the budget?
   
5. Go to the article on Traffic Stops.  Also go to Table 1 of the executive summary of the findings (2009) and compare the "search rate" and "contraband hit rate" between whites, blacks & hispanics.   According to the facts from the study, which group is most likely to be carrying drugs or other illegal contraband?  Which group is pulled over and searched the most? Based on this study, have we reached true equality in our society?

6. Watch Episode 4 of the Harvard Justice Project (from 33:00 to 51:45 minutes--especially from 33 to 40 minutes).  Based on the clip, explain Locke's views of property, taxing and collective consent.  In what sense is property a "natural right" given by God?  In what sense is it a "conventional right" assigned by government?  According to Locke, what can't legitimate democratic governments do?  Do you agree?

• Fun Clip: Daily Show: Government as Big Brother

Ch. 2: The Constitution & the Federalist Papers #10 & #51

1. List two weaknesses (problems) of the Articles of Confederation? How did the Constitution address those?
2. Distinguish between a Federal, Confederate, and Unitary system of government.
3. Explain the impact of Locke & Rousseau on Thomas Jefferson.
4. Outline the basic tenets of the Great Compromise (CT Plan), including the duties and powers of each branch.  Be sure to look at the "Powers of Government" slide on the minilecture).  Be sure to understand the impact of McCulloch v Maryland on the power of the national government.
5. Discuss the views and arguments of both the anti-federalists and the Federalists, espeically with regards to individual rights and the power of the national & state governments.
6. The textbook discusses how the Bill of Rights was originally aimed at limiting the power of the national government.  Watch this Daily Show clip on states rights and be able to explain the "revolutionary" impact of the 14th Amendment (we'll discuss this more in chapter 4).
7. Discuss the main thrust of the Federalist #10 and of #51.  Why did Madison (and the other founders) want change (passing laws) to be difficult?
8. Differentiate between the two types of democracy (direct & indirect) that Madison discusses in the Federalist Papers. Explain why Madison feels that one type helps prevent factions from taking over the government.
9. Why did the framers originally create the unusual process for choosing Senators (since changed) and the President (essentially unchanged)?  Why weren't these processes more democratic?
10. What are the two ways to Propose & the two ways to Ratify amendments to the Constitution?
11. Explain how the amendment process and changes in interpretation make the Constitution a living, evolving document.  

Ch. 3: Federalism

1. Distinguish between Horizontal (state-to-state relations) and Vertical (national-state relations) Federalism.
2. Explain how the Full Faith and Credit Clause affects the debate over gay marriage. 
3. Discuss the following three eras of Vertical Federalism: Dual, Cooperative, and New Federalism.  Note: the text calls our current model "conflicted" (not New) Federalism.
4. Explain the benefits and drawbacks of devolution.
5. Discuss the three ways in which the national government increased leverage (extended its reach) over the states (the commerce clause, grants, & incorporation/nationalization of the bill of rights (also see ch 4)).
6. In the NLRB v Jones Laughlin Steel Company ruling, the Supreme Court ruled that companies involved in manufacturing are engaged in interstate commerce.  Why is this significant for the growth of national power?
7. Explain how having a federal system affects the debate over the role of government and the tension between liberty and equality. 

Ch. 4: Civil Liberties 

1. Discuss the Lemon Test.  How has the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Establishment Clause changed since?  When can taxpayer money (indirectly) aid religious organizations?  Give examples.  Table 4.4 on page 127 does a nice job laying this out.  Be familiar with the rulings, but don't worry about the names of the cases EXCEPT you should know Lemon v Kurtzman & Engle v Vitale. 
2. When is prayer in school constitutional?  Why can't the government prevent students from praying (on their own time) at public schools?   Should public schools be able to teach "intelligent design" in science class?
3. A proposed Missouri constitutional amendment would guarantee students the right to pray in school as long as it does not disrupt class.  Would this violate the US constitution?
4. In 1954, in response to the threat of godless communists, the US added the words “one nation under God” to the pledge of allegiance.  Based on other court rulings, do you think it is constitutional?
5. Can the government limit other kinds of religious activity?  Read Susan Dunn's article in the Monitor.  Do you agree with her? This interview on"American Gospel" is helpful.  
6. When can speech be limited? Distinguish between political speech and the less-protected (conditionally protected) speech.  Give examples of each.
7. Discuss the impact of the Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project (2010) ruling on free speech.  Read the arguments behind the ruling as well as the dissent.   According to Georgetown Professor David Cole, "for the first time ever, the Supreme Court has ruled that the First Amendment permits the criminalization of pure speech advocating lawful, nonviolent activity." Should it be a crime for Americans to help terrorist groups find peaceful means to resolve differences? 
8. Read the Palast assignment (pp311-315) and discuss the importance of having a free press. (As an option, you can read the entire chapter online here (this is longer than the selected pages on reserve); so it's preferable to read the pages on-campus if possible.) This CS Monitor article (Throwing our judicial junk...) is also useful for the "Free Press" assignment.  This clip and this one about Prince Charles  are helpful in understanding the difference between freedom of the press in the US and UK -- be warned, they are CRUDE (especially the one with Prince Charles).
9. Does the 2nd Amendment give individuals or state militias the right to bear arms (review DC v Heller here or in the text)? How does the 2010 McDonald v. City of Chicago ruling illustrate "selective incorporation" of the Bill of Rights?  How does this issue reflect the tension between minority rights and majority rule?
10. Discuss the importance of ‘due process’ in a free society.  Why did the framers want everyone to have the right to a lawyer, a fair trial...?  Do you agree?
11. Ben Franklin argues that "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."  Based on chapter 4 and the "Civil Liberties in Post-9/11 America" section, discuss one area where we have reduced our liberty in the name of security (FISA; USA PATRIOT Act; FBI surveillance of peaceful protestors, warrantless searches/wiretapping, rendition...).   Do you think the freedom that has been limited is "essential?" Do you think the safety we gain is real or temporary?
12. Watch this clip: War & Freedom --The Bush perspective and explain the Bush administration's "paradigm shift." Watch this clip War, Freedom & Democratic Values and explain Tom Ridge's views on giving up civil liberties.  Given that the "War on Terror" will last decades, if not longer, do you think civil liberties should be limited?    For a more humorous look at the problem of "too many dots," watch this Daily Show clip.
13. Discuss the significance of Due Process, such as the exclusionary rule, in criminal investigations and in protecting the innocent. 
14. Watch this Colbert clip.  Do you think the President has the constitutional authority to order the assasination of American citizens (not in battle) without a trial?
15. What is the constitutional basis for the right to Privacy?  Explain the development of the Right to Privacy since its inception as well as what is (and is not) covered under this right.  Be sure to discuss Griswold v CT, Roe v Wade, and Lawrence v Texas.

Useful (but not required) Civil Liberties links:

Daily Show: Free Speech Zone 
Silly Daily Show clip on Executions: http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=106310&title=whaaaa

Interesting Christian Science Monitor article on the DC v Heller (2nd Amendment) ruling 

Watch this Colbert clip for a fun look at relevant SC rulings in 2009.

Chapter 5

1. Differentiate between Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
2. Discuss modern civil rights issues, including discrimination against blacks, women, homosexuals, and people w/ disabilities.  For a fun look at modern civil rights concerns, watch this Larry Wilmore clip on Civil War re-enactments.
3. Understand the history of disenfranchisement for minorities and the suffrage movements for blacks and women (the extra credit "One Woman One Vote" video would be helpful here).  For more info on Historic sites, go here
4. Discuss the shift in the Supreme Court rulings from the Plessy decision to the Brown decision.  For fun, watch the part of this clip where Colbert discusses Omaha's re-segregation.
5. Discuss the importance of both the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act (also see Figure 5.2 to compare voter registration rates).
6. Distinguish between de jure and de facto segregation.  Which is harder to eliminate?
7. What is affirmative action and when can it be used (specifically, when is it unconstitutional)?  Be sure you can explain the Bakke and the 2003 Michigan rulings.
8. Look at the chart on page 5 of this study. What does it suggest about wealth of whites, blacks and hispanics? Also read this article on traffic stops (and find the 2008 updated numbers here)  Does all this evidence prove racism inherent in our society? Given that African Americans and Hispanics are not inherently stupid, criminal or lazy, what else could account for all this evidence that they face huge disadvantages in our society?  (For a more sports-oriented approach to this topic, read this article on NBA foul calls (http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/05/02/news/referees.php#).)  Here is a recent article on the economic downturn's impact on African Americans.
9. Watch this clip on the gender gap on college campuses  and this NPR clip.  Do you agree that diversity is important in the classroom and workplace?
10. Based on all this evidence and the 10/7/2005 Leonard Pitts' article about his son, explain why Civil Rights are still relevant today.    For fun, watch Larry Wilmore discuss racism.

For an interesting clip on the Dred Scott case, watch this clip.

Chapter 6

1. Discuss problems of opinion polling, such as push polls and the bandwagon effect.  For a fun look at polling, watch Colbert interview pollster Scott Rassmussen and this Daily Show clip on polling distortions
2. In chapter 6, the text shows how a question is asked can garner differing results.  Why were the results so different?
3. Explain the two different models of ideology (linear and EFO).  Which better explains ideology in the US?  If you're unsure about this, watch the ideology minilecture.
4. Discuss the importance of key agents of political socialization: family, schools, peers and the media.  Which is the most important in shaping long-term attitudes?
5. People (of all persuasions) believe education is so important that they manipulate what's in the curriculum for their own agenda.  Give an example of ways public schools try to socialize us, based on the text and/OR one of the following two clips

• • Daily Show: Mark Twain (Huck Finn) edited ;
  • daily show: Don't Mess with Textbooks   &   Here's Colbert's take on this topic

--Here's a stilly clip that's not as relevant on parties & socialization for children: daily show: One State two state

Chapter 10 : The Media & Newsweek article: The Fiction Behind Torture Policy -- 8/4/2008; p11 by Dahlia Lithwick

Fun clips: Daily Show -- Talking Points  & this clip on CNN's new "stream team" & this comparing the Media as the Dog from Up (go here for the full clip).

1. Discuss the history of media in politics, including yellow journalism, Fireside Chats and media segmentation. Be familiar with agenda setting (or priming).
2. Read the Newsweek article on "24" (if you have trouble accessing this, check out Moodle "assignment Files").   What is the main point of the Newsweek article?  Discuss the impact of television on Americans' fears and support for expanded police powers.  Why is there a difference between those who get their news from television and those who read the newspaper?
3. While more than 1/2 of Americans believe that the media is biased ideologically, Roesler belives that corporate bias is more important in coverage, since the media is usually a for-profit business.  For a fun look at this commercialization of the media, watch this Colbert clip on the Men's Warehouse. Jon Stewart argues that the media is like 6-year-olds playing soccer (or like the Dog from Up) -- everyone is always running after the ball (same story).  Do you agree with Stewart about the media being biased towards "easy" coverage?
4. What is the issue in this case?  How does it relate to the topics of Media and Political Socialization?  How would you rule?
5. What is "net neutrality?"   Do you think the government should prevent companies from limiting access to some websites?

• interesting article on Media firing several personalitites for politically-incorrect statements 
• fun Colbert clip making fun of "morally bankrupt" television

Cases to Know

McCulloch v. Maryland

Marbury v. Madison

Barron v. Baltimore

NLRB v. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp (I don't always trust wikipedia, but this is a decent entry on the case)

Gibbons v Ogden

Schenk v. US (Clear & Present Danger)

NY Times & Wash Post v. US (Pentagon Papers case)

DC v Heller

Griswold v. Connecticut

Roe v. Wade

Regents of the Univ of CA v Bakke

Brown v Board of Education

Plessy v Ferguson

Lawrence v Texas

Hints for possible short essays (1/2 - 1 page) on the midterm

Read the essays below --I will likely use parts of these for short essay questions (1/2-1 page each).

1.  Discuss the development of federalism in the US, beginning with the relationship between the national government and the states under the Articles of Confederation. Be sure to explain the 3 eras (Dual, Cooperative & New/"conflicted") of federalism since the ratification of our constitution and the 3 tools has it used to institute these changes.
 
2.  According to the Supreme Court, when is Affirmative Action constitutional?   Be specific and cite cases. What factors (evidence) suggest to you that minorities such as blacks and women have not achieved socioeconomic equality (for example: pay, police searches, home mortgage rejection rates, life expectancy...)?  One of our fundamental values is equality, but given that African Americans and other minorities are not inherently stupid, criminal or lazy, does all this evidence suggest that minorities in our society have not achieved full equality?  Be sure to give data to support your argument.  Based on the article by Leonard Pitts and other data, explain why Civil Rights are still relevant, nearly 50 years after the Civil Rights Act.

3. Is our society great because of or in spite of our freedom?  Patrick Henry once declared "Give me liberty or give me death!"  What did he mean?  Explain President Bush's "paradigm shift."  How does this view of the power and role of the governement (which is similar to Obama's) differ from many of founding fathers?  Explain Tom Ridge's views on giving up civil liberties.   Ben Franklin argues that "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."  Do you think the freedoms that have been limited in the two examples you listed are "essential" freedoms (address each one)?  What is Jon Stewart's point in the "too many dots," clip?  Do you agree with him?  Do you think the safety we gain from taking away this liberty is real or "temporary" (again, address each one)?  Given that the war on terror will last decades (if not centuries), if we do give up liberty, when should we get it back?