How would policies and leaders change in America if the disadvantaged segments of society became politically mobilized and began to vote in large numbers
BBD#1: Citizenship in Our Changing Democracy & Citizens’ Rights
REMINDER: Refer to the BBD instructions and BBB Participation Rubric for expectations and posting protocol. Base your responses on the assigned readings and videos, directly citing the materials to substantiate your response where appropriate and applicable WITH DIRECT QUOTES AND PAGE NUMBERS. The political documentaries are intended to complement the assigned readings. I expect to see direct and multiple references to the assigned materials.
***NOTE: The 750 word minimum includes ALL FOUR PARTS of the BBD RESPONSE. You DO NOT need 750 words for each part. Directly reference the AM GOV text 3-4 times in EACH part to earn full credit.
To get the Bulletin Board Discussions (BBD) going for this class, RESPOND TO ALL FOUR PARTS in sufficient detail.
PART I: STREET FIGHT
PART I: STREET FIGHT
Watch the video entitled Street Fight (approximately 80 minutes)
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The video is approximately 80 minutes. In your response, make references and connections to this video as well as the assigned texts and First Day of Class Handout. In sufficient detail, discuss THREE significant aspects of the video.
PART II: DEFINING POLITICS
In the opening dialogue of AM GOV Chapter 1 AND The First Day of Class handout under Modules, we discover politics occurs in private life and civic life. (1) Keeping in mind the concepts of politics, political power, participation, authority, force, and legitimacy introduced, describe some other common situations in which politics occurs. (2) Have any decisions in your life or family been affected by government action(s)? (3) Did you have anything to say about those actions? If you didn’t, do you know who did? (4) Describe your expectation(s) of American government and politics and their primary role in society?
PART III: CHAPTER 1 QUESTIONS
Respond to ONE of the following questions and cite where applicable the assigned texts, videos, and any class materials and resources. Make as many connections to the readings and online resources as possible. DISCUSS IN SUFFICIENT DETAIL.
Question 1. Even in a presidential election, only about half of the eligible adults exercise their right to vote. What are the consequences of a low voter turnout? Does low turnout have any possible benefits?
Question 2. How would policies and leaders change in America if the disadvantaged segments of society became politically mobilized and began to vote in large numbers?
Question 3. The authors state that citizenship in America is at a crossroads. Do you agree? Is it possible to repair the lack of trust between citizen and government? How can the disconnect between citizens and government be bridged? Does the answer depend on which segment of society you are discussing? How has civic engagement and political participation changed over time?
Question 4. Do you agree or disagree that the lines between social classes have blurred? If so, how? What do you think your chances are of advancing into a higher class than the one in which you were born? Do you support or oppose legislation that boosts opportunities for those born into lower socio-economic households?
Question 5. Do you think that joining social groups increases one’s trust of others? Does membership in community organizations make one more interested in political affairs?
Question 6. What factors would make you more likely to vote in the next election? What are the factors and reasons that discourage people from voting?
Question 7. What methods could be used to increase voter participation, such as voting online or by mail, or making registration easier? Why would some people not want increased voter participation?
Question 8. Politics is the process through which a society settles its conflicts. Those who do prevail are said to have power. How does the American system of government limit the influence of those that have achieved power, if at all? Are these limiting functions too restrictive or too weak, and have they changed over time?
PART IV: CHAPTER 2 QUESTIONS
First, making connections to the assigned readings, watch the following video and IN SUFFICIENT DETAIL discuss to THREE significant aspects of the videos:
– The Making of the Constitution (approximately 25 minutes)
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Second, based on the assigned readings and videos and in accordance with the expectations outlined in the BBD Participation Rubric, IN SUFFICIENT DETAIL respond to ONE of the following questions posed:
Question 1: The Constitution is designed to preserve liberty. Americans have traditionally distrusted their perception of big government, and the American system puts a variety of limits on governmental authority and safeguards personal rights. Given the present-day international and domestic environment, is this emphasis still practical and workable? Discuss in sufficient detail.
Question 2: The limited efficacy of constitutional constraints on political power is widely acknowledged. Some of the world’s most repressive regimes are governed by constitutions that solemnly provide for individual rights in theory. What are the social, economic, and cultural conditions that promote limited or repressive government? Discuss in sufficient detail.
Question 3: Since the 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon as well as recent acts of terrorism, our nation has been grappling with the problem of balancing national security with the exercise of individual freedoms protected by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Notable legislation, like the USA PATRIOT Act passed in 2001, has been criticized for sacrificing longstanding civil liberties in return for increased security. Among its terms (and those of its reauthorization in 2006) are the provision for warrantless wiretaps and the ability of federal officials to subpoena libraries and book stores for records of purchases. Supporters of the legislation warn of the genuine dangers posed by international terrorism and believe that additional limits on civil liberties are necessary for defense of the Homeland. How can we best to maintain the balance between security and freedom? Based on the provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act, is such legislation is justified in light of potential and real threats? Discuss in sufficient detail.
Question 4: Are there similar factors and conditions that you can identify that would justify the need to convene a Constitutional Convention in the modern era? What problems, issues, and conflicts would be addressed? Discuss in sufficient detail.
Question 5: The U.S. Constitution restricts political power in a number of ways—grants of power, denials of power, a separation of institutions, and the Bill of Rights. Based on the assigned readings and two videos, evaluate the effectiveness of these various mechanisms restricting political power. Discuss in sufficient detail.
Question 6: The United States government, and particularly Congress, has come under heavy criticism for its inability to take needed action in many policy areas. To what extent is this gridlock a function of the United States Constitution? What can be done about it?
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