Political Science HOMEWORK

Please review this week's readings and the websites; then answer one of the following questions. 

Choose one of the following and respond:

1. What are the sources of worsening inequality in American society in recent decades? What effects has this trend had on elites and the masses?

2. Explain elite and mass attitudes toward immigration in contemporary America.

3. What are the reasons for mass activism in the U.S.? How do counter elites exploit the fears and insecurities of the masses? How do the elites respond to these challenges to the established order?

Your posts must be in accordance with the  University's Threaded Discussion Guidelines.

Please review this week's readings and the websites; then answer one of the following questions.

Choose one of the following and respond:

1. In what ways are the Democratic and Republican parties different? In what ways are they similar?

2. What are realignment and dealignment? What effects have they had on the Republican and Democratic parties?

3. What are the importance of independent candidates and third parties in the American political system?

Your posts must be in accordance with the  University's Threaded Discussion Guidelines.

Chapter 10 and Ch14

Please review this week's readings and the websites; then answer one of the following questions. 

Choose one of the following and respond:

1. Compare and contrast judicial activism and judicial self-restraint. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each theory?

2. Describe the structure and jurisdiction of the U.S. federal court system.

3. Explain the main approaches to U.S. foreign Relations.

Your posts must be in accordance with the  University's Threaded Discussion Guidelines.

Please review this week's readings and the websites; then answer one of the following questions. 

Choose one of the following and respond:

1. Identify the categories of lobbying techniques discussed in the textbook. How does each method advance the influence of interest groups on decision-makers?

2. Describe political action committees (PACs) and explain their impact on congressional elections.

3. How does the textbook explain the "business, professional, and class bias" of interest groups in the U.S.?

Your posts must be in accordance with the  University's Threaded Discussion Guidelines.

Chapter 9

Please review this week's readings and the websites; then answer one of the following questions. 

Choose one of the following and respond:

1. What are the formal powers of the president in foreign and domestic affairs?

2. What were the effects of the Vietnam War and Watergate on the presidency and presidential powers?

3. Explain the origin of the War Powers Act of 1973 and evaluate its effectiveness as a tool to limit presidential actions. Give specific examples of how various presidents have dealt with this law.

Your posts must be in accordance with the  University's Threaded Discussion Guidelines.

Please review this week's readings and the websites; then answer one of the following questions. (In no less than  200 words for this and all futures discussion assignments.)

Choose one of the following and respond:

1. Compare and contrast [Similarities and differences] the key components of the theories of elitism and pluralism.

2. Explain the potential threats to democracy. Which are the most serious, and why?

Your posts must be in accordance with the  University's Threaded Discussion Guidelines.

Week Four Reading

Read the following Chapters in  The Irony of Democracy:  An Uncommon Introduction to American Politics.

Chapter 10: Courts: Elites in Black Robes  Chapter 12: Federalism Chapter 13: Civil Rights (Elite Response to Mass Protest) Chapter 14: The United States as a Global Elite

Please review the following websites for Units 7 & 8.

Unit 7 & 8 Websites

· The Supreme Court

· About the Supreme Court 

· US Courts

Please review this week's readings and the websites; then answer one of the following questions. 

Choose one of the following and respond:

1. Explain why elites were dissatisfied with the Articles of Confederation. How did their concern with the weakness of the document motivate them to write a new constitution?

2. What were the differences between the philosophy of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson? How were these differences resolved by the Republicans in power during the early 1800s?

3. What were the reasons for the elite cleavage that led to the Civil War? How did President Lincoln attempt to reestablish consensus? What effects did the Civil War have on the evolution of American elites?

Your posts must be in accordance with the  University's Threaded Discussion Guidelines.

Week One Reading

Read the following Chapters in  The Irony of Democracy:  An Uncommon Introduction to American Politics.

Chapter 1: The Irony of Democracy Chapter 2: The Elite Consensus of the Founding Fathers Chapter 3: Elites in American Federalist 10-  http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fed10.asp Federalist 51-  http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fed51.asp

Please review the following websites for Units 1 & 2.

Unit 1 Websites

· The US Constitution

Unit 2 Websit

· The Civil War

· Towards a Corporate State

Week Four-Civic Engagement Reflection paper (Do not reply to classmates)

Students in this course are expected to complete a civic engagement reflection paper that demonstrates their capacity for responsible citizenship in a diverse society. 

    The reflection paper should be 2-3 pages (about 500 words), excluding references. Use Microsoft Word. The paper is to follow the APA format, double-spaced; size 12 Times New Roman font, and the margin 1 inch from all sides. 

    Please submit your paper on the last Friday of the class. If you turn in your paper late, you might lose 10% of the point value of the assignment for each late day. The paper will not be accepted after the third day of the due date.  

The Paper:     

Please read Chapter 13: Civil Rights (Elite Response to Mass Protest) of your textbook and reflect on the following issue of affirmative action.  

    There is no doubt that affirmative action programs have raised controversy around equality and discrimination. Do you think American colleges should be able to use affirmative action programs to promote diversity and to remedy past discrimination and current inequality? In your paper, be sure to analyze the significance of the 14th Amendment in relation to decisions about affirmative action policies. Defend your opinion and respond to the opposing views. In explaining your answer, refer to the recent Supreme Court decision “Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, 600 U.S. ___ (2023)” and examine if the Supreme Court has been able to provide equality to minority groups.

Grading Rubric: 

Civic Engagement and Personal Reflection (40% of 5 points): 

Demonstrates an understanding of civic engagement and its role in shaping public policy. 

Thoughtful and reflective opinion with well-supported reasoning. 

Content and Understanding (25% of 5 points): 

Depth of analysis and understanding of affirmative action and the Fourteenth Amendment. 

Clarity in explaining the importance of diversity and historical context. 

Argument and Evidence (25% of 5 points): 

Coherent and well-structured argument defending the opinion. 

Incorporation of diverse perspectives and counterarguments. 

Organization and Clarity (10% of 5 points): 

Clear and logical organization of the paper. 

Correct grammar, punctuation, and style. 

Total Points: 100

Week Two Reading

Read the following Chapters in  The Irony of Democracy:  An Uncommon Introduction to American Politics.

Chapter 4 , 5 and 6

Chapter 4: Masses In America

A Republican form of government envisions an informed, participating citizenry committed to the values—liberty, equality, freedom of speech and the press, diversity, and due process of law. A Republic envisions a people who believe in equality of opportunity—the opportunity to improve their lives through hard work and initiative. The masses—especially un- and semiskilled workers—have seen their average hourly wages decline over time. Despite mass opposition, immigration, both legal and illegal, has skyrocketed. Inequality in America is increasing. These trends are a product of elite support for globalization. Elites benefit from the expansion of international trade, the globalization of capital markets, and worldwide competition among workers for jobs

Chapter 5: Elite –Mass Communication

Communication in the American political system flows downward from elites to masses. Mass media are the means by which elites communicate to the masses information, values, and attitudes. Pollsters measure mass response to these communications, which often fail as masses misinterpret elite messages.

Chapter 6: Elections ,Political Parties And Democracy

The two major political parties have little incentive to offer clear policy alternatives. Voters do not divide clearly along ideological lines. Party organizations are oligarchic and dominated by activists who are largely out of touch with voters. Candidates are selected in primary elections in which personal organization and financial assets are crucial to victory. Party voting in general elections is declining over time. Television has replaced party organizations as a means of linking candidates to voters. The party system fails to provide the masses with an effective means to direct public policy.

Elections do not serve as policy mandates but function as symbolic reassurance to the masses. Elections contribute to the legitimacy of government by allowing the masses to participate. Elected officials can claim voting legitimizes what they do in office. Money drives political campaigns.

Please review the following websites for Units 3 & 4.

Unit 3 Websites

· Campaigns and Elections  -"Insider" information for hardcore activists from Congressional Quarterly.

· National Election Studies  - Datasets from the University of Michigan. You need some familiarity with statistics programs to use this.

Unit 4 Websites

· Directory of Political Parties

· Democratic Party

· Republican Party

· The Gallup Organization  - A good site from one of the biggest polling organizations - you can check out the numbers, the trends, the wording.

· The Roper Center for Public Opinion  - This group maintains extensive archives of public opinion poll research, including the General Social Survey, as well as recent reports such as "America at the Polls 1998.

Please review this week's readings and the websites; then answer one of the following questions. 

Choose one of the following and respond:

1. What are the sources of worsening inequality in American society in recent decades? What effects has this trend had on elites and the masses?

2. Explain elite and mass attitudes toward immigration in contemporary America.

3. What are the reasons for mass activism in the U.S.? How do counter elites exploit the fears and insecurities of the masses? How do the elites respond to these challenges to the established order?

Your posts must be in accordance with the  University's Threaded Discussion Guidelines.