Individual Rights and the Obligations of Government

Week 4 - Instructor Guidance

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT: CIVIL RIGHT AND CIVIL LIBERTIES, POLITICAL PARTIES, INTEREST GROUPS, AND ELECTIONS

“If a political party does not have its foundation in the determination to advance a cause that is right and that is moral, then it is not a political party; it is merely a conspiracy to seize power.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower (Political Parties Quotes, 2015)

Week Four Instructor Guidance

Civil Rights and Civil Liberties This week we will focus on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties are actually two different things. Civil rights are protections BY government power. This requires the government to act in your interest. For example, when the government stepped in to force schools to desegregate (the idea that separate is not equal) – they were acting on behalf of African Americans and protecting their civil rights. Civil liberties are protections FROM government power. These require the government to do nothing. For example, our first amendment protects our right to free speech. This means the government cannot imprison you (or otherwise punish you) for what you say. It does not apply to anyone else – so, if you work at a restaurant and scream at your customers, you can be fired. Free speech does not mean anything there. But, if you are saying negative things about an elected official your right to do that is protected.

Additionally, as you read through Chapter 8, think about what you learned in Chapter 7, and how the Court has stepped in to protect both the rights and liberties of people in the United States.

Political Parties It is important to note that there are no mentions of political parties in the Constitution. In fact, the framers actively sought to avoid political parties. However, parties emerged almost immediately – even while the framers were still involved in the government. Think about why parties emerged and what purpose they serve.  Are these factors still true today?

Another important concept this week has to do with why the U.S. only has two main parties. The answer can be found in the idea of Duverger’s law (section 9.3 of your text). Duverger’s law is the idea that a plurality system tends to favor two parties. Here is an interesting video that uses animals to explain how we end up with only two parties.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7tWHJfhiyo – link to video

(Grey, 2011)

Interest Groups What is the role of interest groups in our political system? How do interest groups differ from political parties? What is the role of interest groups in American elections? What is the role of interest groups in American politics? How do interest groups impact policy formation? Take a look at the tables in Section 9.5 and ask yourself how this amount of money impacts democracy. Is American democracy something that is for sale?

Elections Chapter 10 takes the information from Chapter 9 and applies it to the study of elections. What is the purpose of an election? What makes people turn out to vote? How do we increase voter participation (if this is something we even want to do)? In particular, you will want to pay attention the role of public opinion and the media in elections (sections 10.4 and 10.5). With the media, your text discusses the role of framing and priming in the news. Can you think of any examples where the media has framed or primed a particular story?

For example, if you are watching a news story about the war in Iraq and the news story starts with a picture of President Bush standing in front of the “Mission Accomplished” banner, it is framing the story in a particular way. An example of priming the issue would be a story about war casualties in Iraq, and then coverage of the war. Here you would be primed to evaluate the situation in light of the dangers of war.

It’s a Free Country: Constitution USA with Peter Sagal

Link to video - https://cdnsecakmi.kaltura.com/p/1067292/sp/106729200/thumbnail/entry_id/0_duv8ltz1/version/100001/acv/171/width/560

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Discussion #1 – Individual Rights and Obligations of Government

1st Post Due by Day 3 – Thursday

In Discussion #1 you will analyze the U.S. government’s obligations to its citizens, focusing on the balance between civil liberties and national security. Neither civil liberties nor national security are ever absolute, and an optimal balance maximizes each while minimizing the costs to the other. Context matters here, meaning that the balance takes on different arrangements depending on the circumstances. This theoretical tension between liberty and security has been examined by government thinkers and practitioners for centuries.

In this discussion you will focus on real-world examples in order to illustrate your views regarding how the U.S. government balances security obligations with individual and group rights. There are many different topics you could use for your response, and I’ve composed a short list of sample topics below. Please note that this is not a comprehensive list, and you might choose to explore topics other than those described below. Also, this list focuses on contemporary U.S. issues, but you may also analyze historical circumstances that demonstrate tension between liberty and security.

a. Soon after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the Bush administration developed a plan for holding and interrogating prisoners captured during the conflict. They were sent to a prison inside a U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay on land leased from the government of Cuba. Hundreds of prisoners have been held at GITMO since 2001, and most have been released without charges or turned over to other governments. However, without access to a legal system, these prisoners have been denied the right of habeas corpus. Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution states, "The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it." Under this provision, persons detained by the government are entitled to a judicial hearing to determine if there is any legal basis for their detention. However, this right has been denied from the Guantanamo detainees, including those who are U.S. citizens.

b. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution states, “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated.” In 2002 the National Security Agency began conducting warrantless collection of perhaps countless U.S. citizens’ and legal residents’ email messages and telephone calls. This NSA program demonstrates tension between potential terrorist threats and constitutional rights to privacy. If you’re especially interested in this topic, here is a link to an excellent two-part PBS Frontline piece that investigates the NSA’s warrantless spying program.

c. Thousands of Americans are murdered each year by firearms, and far more are injured. However, legal and responsible gun use is an ingrained feature of U.S. culture. The Second Amendment to the Constitution states that “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed”. Thus there is conflict between security threats associated with widespread access to guns and a constitutional right to keep and bear these arms.

d. On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, establishing that same-sex marriage is legal in all 50 states. Writing for the majority, Justice Anthony Kennedy argued that marriage is a basic right, and that under the protections of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, same-sex couples could not be denied this right. On the other hand, some opponents of same-sex marriage believe that it threatens traditional notions of marriage, family, and raising children. According to this perspective, same-sex marriage fundamentally challenges the idea of domestic life itself in the U.S. Although this issue might not appear to be a conventional example of balancing liberty and security, it highlights how same-sex marriage is viewed as both an important group right and a domestic threat.

Again, these are only suggested topics intended to offer guidance. After studying the assigned materials, take time to think about this assignment and respond thoughtfully.

Your initial post should at least 300 words, and written in paragraph form in your own words. Support your position with at least two of the assigned resources required for this discussion, and/or peer reviewed scholarly sources obtained through the AU Library databases. Include APA in-text citations in the body of your post and references at the end, to support or provide evidence to back up your arguments as you demonstrate understanding of these resources, integrate them into your position, and cite them properly.

Respond to Peers: By Day 7, respond to at least two of your classmates' initial posts. Your peer responses should be substantive and at least 100 words each. Please feel free to reach out to your instructor if you have questions.

Week Four Journal

Due by Day 7 – Monday

Once you have read all of the course readings for the week, and completed your discussion question post, you are ready to critically analyze the content, and write a meaningful self- reflection on how these concepts may impact your academic, personal and/or professional lives.

1. This journal asks you to think about a specific issues or policy that you are interested in or that has had a personal impact on your life. Select one focus issue that you want to investigate, and use only this issue for your entire response. Think about the platforms of three different political parties regarding this issue. Discuss in your journal where each of the three political parties (Republican, Democrat, and your choice for a third party) currently stand on the issue you have selected. Does each party have national support regarding this issue? Explain your thoughts on this.

2. Next, review your results from the Political Typology Test in Week 1 and explain your general views on the issue you’ve chosen to analyze. Then compare your views on this issue with the approaches of the three different political parties. Which party is most similar to your views, and which party is least similar? Why?

3. Your Journal must be a minimum of 1 page, in APA format. It should include specifics, significance and analysis to fully address each of the content items, and illustrate your understanding of the content and context in which it impacts you

It might be helpful to utilize the table below to help organize your response for this journal

Week Four Quiz

Due by Day 3- Thursday

This quiz covers the material from the textbook in Chapters 8, 9, and 10. Please be sure to note that it is due on Thursday and plan accordingly. You have two attempts to complete the quiz. Your last score is the one that is recorded in the gradebook.

Week Four Learning Activity

Due by Day 7 – Monday

This week you will continue the process of preparing for your Final Paper through the learning activity worksheet. For this week’s Learning Activity you will analyze one of the following in detail: political parties, interest groups, or elections. Once you have selected which of the three you would like to write about, think about the positive and negatives associated with the topic you’ve selected and research to find supporting information to backup your ideas.

Remember, it is vital to support your ideas with full APA citations and to fully explain how the sources you’ve selected support your main point. As part of this assignment, you will be required to obtain, effectively use, and cite in the body of your paragraphs at least two scholarly sources, in addition to the text book if it also used.

Your Week Four Learning Activity focuses on federalism. Utilizing the worksheet template, you will address the following with specifics, significance and analysis as you :

1. Describe one the positive and one negative impact of one of the following topics: political parties, interest groups, or elections.

2. Recommend one option to accentuate the positive impact and one to lessen the negative impact of the topic discussed above.

3. Develop a thesis statement for your Final Paper. The thesis statement should be for the Final Paper and not just focus on the topic you are utilizing for this week’s Learning Activity. Be sure to review the final assignment prompt and reflect back on your previous learning activity worksheets. You will be provided with feedback regarding your thesis statement that will allow you to revise the statement if needed for your Final Paper. Remember, the Ashford Writing Center has several resources that will help you to develop a strong thesis statement.

4. Effectively utilize and cite at least two scholarly sources to provide evidence or support, to back your arguments (opinions) expressed.

As part of this assignment, it is vital that you support your ideas with full APA citations both within the paragraphs and as a reference list. It is highly suggested that you review the Final Paper prompt in Week 5 and the POL 201 Model Paper Template as part of this assignment as the weekly Learning Activities build to develop your Final Paper. The  POL201 research guide  is also recommended as part of completing the learning activity assignments to help you to ensure that your sources are strong.

	Week 4 Learning Activities	Due Date
	Review Materials and Course Syllabus	Tuesday – Day 1
	Review and Reflect on Instructor Guidance	Tuesday – Day 1
	Read Chapter 8, 9, and 10 of  American Government  by Levin-Waldman	No later than Day 3
	Review the Required Articles and Multimedia: The threat of terrorism and civil liberties http://www.people-press.org/2013/12/03/section-4-the-threat-of-terrorism-and-civil-liberties/ Political Typology Overview http://www.people-press.org/2014/06/26/the-political-typology-beyond-red-vs-blue/ Constitution Party http://www.constitutionparty.com/our-principles/seven-principles/ Democratic Party http://www.democrats.org/about/our_party Green Party http://www.gp.org/tenkey.php Libertarian Party http://www.lp.org/issues Republican Party https://gop.com/our-gop/	No later than Day 3
	Post initial response to Discussion #1 – Individual Rights and Obligations of Government	Thursday – Day 3
	Complete Week Four Quiz focusing on Chapters 8, 9, and 10 of the text	Thursday – Day 3
	Week Four Journal	Monday – Day 7
	Complete Research and Worksheet for Week Four Learning Activity	Monday – Day 7
	Post two responses to peers in Discussion #1 – Individual Rights and Obligations of Government	Monday – Day 7

UPCOMING ASSIGNMENTS

Final Research Project: America’s Democracy: Your Report Card

Please continue the process of working on your final research project this week. Be sure to refer back to the feedback provided to you on your previous Learning Activities and utilize this feedback as you construct your final paper. Be sure to utilize the POL 201 Model Paper Template and format your paper according to APA 6th edition guidelines.

Final Thoughts

We are already over halfway done with this course! You are in the home stretch! As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to post a question in the Ask Your Instructor Forum or email your instructor directly.

REFERENCES

· Constitution Party. (2015).  Seven principles . Retrieved from http://www.constitutionparty.com/our-principles/seven-principles/

· DNC Services Corporation. (2015).  Our party . Retrieved from http://www.democrats.org/about/our_party

· Fine, T. S., & Levin-Waldman, O. M. (2016). American Government, Second Edition. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education

· Grey, C. (2011, March 9). The Problems with the First Past the Post Voting Explained. Retrieved October 11, 2015, from YouTube.com: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7tWHJfhiyo

· Green Party of the United States. (2015).  The Ten Key Values of the Green Party . Retrieved from http://www.gp.org/tenkey.php

· Hinck, T., & Buchanan, C. (Producers). (2013, May 14). Episode II - It’s a free country [Series episode]. In Constitution USA with Peter Sagal. Retrieved from https://secure.films.com/OnDemandEmbed.aspx?Token=58628&aid=18596&Plt=FOD&loid=0&w=640&h=480&ref=

· Libertarian Party. (2015).  Issues . Retrieved from http://www.lp.org/issues

· Pew Research Center. (2013, December 3). Section 4: The threat of terrorism and civil liberties. In Public Sees U.S. Power Declining As Support For Global Engagement Slips. Retrieved from http://www.people-press.org/2013/12/03/section-4-the-threat-of-terrorism-and-civil-liberties/

· Pew Research Center. (2014, June 26). Overview. In Beyond Red vs. Blue: The Political Typology. Retrieved from http://www.people-press.org/2014/06/26/the-political-typology-beyond-red-vs-blue/

· Political Parties Quotes. (2015). Retrieved October 11, 2015, from Notable Quotes: http://www.notable-quotes.com/p/political_parties_quotes.html

· Republican National Committee. (2014).  Our party|GOP . Retrieved from ://gop.com/our-gop/

The following faculty contributed to this guidance: Jamie Weitl, M.A., Stacy Manning, M.A., Jeffrey Hall, Ed.D., David Kraff, M.A. & Nicole Kalaf-Hughes, Ph.D.