14 Jan Innocent civilians

POLI330 Political Science

Week 1 Discussion

Why Study Political Science?

Identify why students should learn about political science. Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, and at least one outside scholarly source.

POLI330 Political Science

Week 2 Discussion

DQ1 Political Systems

What is the Marxist critique of capitalism? Do you agree or disagree? Explain your reasoning and provide examples to support your argument.

DQ2 Utopian Ideas

Explain one of the perfect political systems of Plato, Bacon, Marx, or Skinner. Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, and at least one outside scholarly source.

POLI330 Political Science

Week 3 Discussion

Stability and Governing

“The US is a stable government.” Develop an argument for why you think this is true or false. Use specific historical examples. Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, and at least one outside scholarly source.

POLI330 Political Science

Week 4 Discussion

DQ1 Petition the Government for Redress of Grievances”

Analyze why older, white adults vote in elections more than other groups while describing how each political party cultivates voters and the role an interest group plays in turning people out to the polls.

You can explore political voting data at the United States Census Bureau’s website here: https://www.census.gov/topics/public-sector/voting.html (Links to an external site.)

Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, and at least one outside scholarly source.

DQ2 US Supreme Court

Using the Supreme Court’s website, research one case that deals with a contentious issue of your choice. (These issues can be racial discrimination, right to bear arms, same-sex marriage, hate speech, suicide, etc.) After finding a case, describe the Constitutional issue at the heart of the case. Summarize the points, the opinion, and at least one dissent used to come up with their conclusions. Did you agree with the majority opinion or the dissent?

US Supreme Course Case Search Job Aid

POLI330 Political Science

Week 5 Discussion

Learning Politics

Think about conversations around politics when you were in primary school (around age 10). What were some of the ways you learned about the political establishment through family members and friends? How were you politically socialized as a child? Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, and at least one outside scholarly source.

POLI330 Political Science

Week 6 Discussion

DQ1 Presidential Advisor

You are an advisor to the President tasked with cutting at least $300 billion from the budget. The president wants your recommendations to cut lines, not large categories. Explain why you chose those cuts.

Note: These are not true US budget numbers.

DOMESTIC PROGRAMS AND FOREIGN AID

Cut some foreign aid to African countries

?$17 billion

?

Eliminate farm subsidies

?$14 billion

?

Cut pay of civilian federal workers by 5 percent

?$14 billion

?

Reduce the overall federal workforce by 10%

?$12 billion

?

Cut aid to states by 5%

?$29 billion

MILITARY

Cut the number of nuclear warheads, and end the “Star Wars” missile defense program

?$19 billion

?

Reduce military to pre-Iraq War size and further reduce troops in Asia and Europe

?$25 billion

?

Cancel or delay some weapons programs

?$19 billion

HEALTHCARE

Enact medical malpractice reform by reducing the chances of large malpractice verdicts

?$ 8 billion

?

Increase the Medicare eligibility age to 68

?$ 8 billion

?

Raise the Social Security retirement age to 68.

?$ 13 billion

EXISTING TAXES

Return the estate tax to Clinton-era levels, passing on an estate worth more than $1 million to their heirs would have portions of those estates taxed.

?$ 50 billion

?

End tax cuts for income above $250,000 a year

?$ 54 billion

?

End tax cuts for income below $250,000 a year

?$ 172 billion

?

Payroll tax increase for people making over $106,000 annually contributing more to Social Security and Medicare.

?$ 50 billion

NEW TAXES

Institute a Millionaire’s tax on income above $1 million

?$ 50 billion

?

Add a national 5% sales tax

?$ 41 billion

?

Add a tax on carbon emissions

?$ 40 billion

?

Tax banks based on their sizes and the amount of risk they take.

?$ 73 billion

Total gap covered by your budget plan

?

$_________________

Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, and at least one outside scholarly source.

DQ2 Political Theory and the Budget

Explain how a liberal and conservative would approach developing the US budget. Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, and at least one outside scholarly source.

POLI330 Political Science

Week 7 Discussion

Our Global Neighborhood

Pick one international organization (UN, EU, ICC, etc.). Explain its mission and function. Assess how issues of state sovereignty are dealt with for member countries. Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, and at least one outside scholarly source.

POLI330 Political Science

Week 8 Discussion

Political Compass Results

Go to the site: https://www.politicalcompass.org. (Links to an external site.)

Scroll to the end of the site where it says “take the test.”

Answer all of the questions.

After you answer the questions, there will be a chart with your Economic and Social numbers.

After taking the political compass test, tell the class what your scores are and what they mean. Then, analyze why you believe the results or do not believe the scores. Finally, discuss how this course has been beneficial to your daily life and career choice. Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, and at least one outside scholarly source.

POLI330 Political Science

Week 1 Assignment

Essay – Benefiting the Public Good

One role of government is to ensure that policies benefit the people within their jurisdiction.

For local governments, it would be the townspeople or city dwellers.

For the state governments, it would be the people living within the state.

For the federal government, it would be everyone within the borders of the country.

Using an ideology discussed in the textbook, construct an argument explaining how this ideology upholds the public good by examining power, order, and justice.

Select an ideology discussed in the textbook. In an essay, examine how power, order, and justice as it relates to the ideology you choose promotes the public good.

POLI330 Political Science

Week 3 Assignment

Essay – Developing a Democracy

Many countries have gone through various ways of governing-by one, by a group, or by the people. Pick one developing country. Examine this country’s political history and current barriers in developing their democracy. Create a concise argument on the type of democracy they should institute and why.

Use the following list to select your developing country: https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1876/310mab.pdf

POLI330 Political Science

Week 5 Assignment

Essay – Ideal Citizen in a Totalitarian Government

Aristotle defined tyranny as an illegitimate form of government by one individual that tightly controlled every part of life and government. Adolf Hitler is the most notorious tyrant. Using a totalitarian society from the past or present, discuss how the state and its leader attempt to impede citizens from exercising their rights. In your discussion, explain some components of an “ideal citizen,” consequences of voter apathy, and ways the state controls the citizen.

POLI330 Political Science

Week 7 Assignment

Essay – Creating Your Ideal State

Your country just overthrew its dictator, and you are the newly elected President. Unfortunately, due to the divisions in the country and the years of war, economic, military, and political structures are non-existent. A group of loyalists to the old dictator have been detonating bombs, murdering civilians, assassinating leaders, and terrorizing towns with help from a neighboring country’s dictator.

Create a comprehensive plan for your new government. While creating this government identify 1) the governing style of your government and the principles that govern your leaders (see rubric); 2) the functions of various branches of government; 3) how to maintain public good in domestic areas through at least two programs; 4) an economic structure that is most beneficial to your citizens; 5) ways to create national unity; 6) ways to combat terrorism and violence; and, 6) international organizations to join.

See rubric for specific ways to meet the requirements of the paper.

Paper headings: (Use of APA paper format with headings required!)

Introduction (1 paragraph)

Introduce your country

Briefly outline all of the parts of the paper

Domestic Concerns (1-2 pages)

Identify governing style and principles that correlate to this style

Identify the branches of government and its functions

Development of two public good domestic programs and how they will meet the public good

Economic structure and reason why this should be used

Socializing citizens is noted with rationale for how it creates national unity

Foreign Concerns (1-2 pages)

Two international organizations are noted, one for economics and one for security

Descriptions of both organizations

Rationales for joining these organizations

Steps to joining

Two ways your country will combat the neighboring country’s terrorist threat and the domestic threat

Two ways these will be effective

Conclusion (1 paragraph)

Summarize information

POLI330 Political Science

Week 2 Quiz

Question 1 Which author focused on how to “arrange” society in a methodological way?

Karl Marx

Francis Bacon

Plato

B. F. Skinner

John Locke

Question 2 What did Marx believe would happen once private property was eliminated?

Proletariat upheaval

The beginning of revolution in the form of armed conflict

The emergence of a technologically-driven society

The end of social inequality

New models for human behavior

Question 3 Whose work is considered to offer a dystopian vision of society?

Plato

Francis Bacon

Karl Marx

B. F. Skinner

George Orwell

Question 4 Which country has the modern world’s first, and oldest, constitutional democracy?

The United States

France

Russia

Israel

Britain

Question 5 Which of the following best represents the ideas of John Locke?

Meaningful freedom could not exist without written laws.

The rule of law was unacceptable because it suppressed individual freedoms.

Government must be free to function without restrictions.

The seventeenth century saw limited advances in the rule of law.

Reason is always influenced by passion.

Question 6 Which of the following is an idea inherent in a constitutional democracy?

The majority always gets its way.

Government should be responsive, limited, and effective.

Ineffective government is an unavoidable side-effect.

There should be a popularly elected head of state.

The majority is never morally correct.

Question 7 What was the legislative body of the United States was designed to be?

Tyranny of the majority

Parliamentary

Bicameral

Cosmopolitan Democracy

Unicameral

Question 8 In the Western tradition, what does the broad meaning of “justice” involve?

Questions of proper punishment for violations of the law

Questions of who should be elected

Questions of distribution

Questions of power

Questions of protection

Question 9 In establishing the American democratic republic, the Founding Fathers borrowed from the works of all of the following earlier thinkers EXCEPT

Thomas Hobbes

Alexis de Tocqueville

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Niccolò Machiavelli

Baron de Montesquieu

Question 10 Even if we could create a utopian society, why would it not survive?

It would be impossible to continue a perfect society.

Outside influences would destroy it from within.

Citizens could not resist the urge to make it more perfect.

A perfect society would be static, but the world is always changing.

Perfection cannot remain balanced indefinitely, and most likely could not correct itself.?

POLI330 Political Science

Week 4 Quiz

Question 1 (TCO 3) What is the most important tool for interest groups seeking to change or influence public policy?

An educated public

A large membership

A strong sense of how the political process works

Money

An elected official as an advocate

Question 2 (TCO 3) What is a major criticism of the winner-take-all electoral system?

It emphasizes political parties at the expense of individual candidates.

It limits voter choice and makes it impossible for minor parties to compete in elections.

It causes a pronounced tendency toward party decentralization.

It makes forming a national consensus more difficult.

It encourages the emergence of single-issue splinter parties.

Question 3 (TCO 3) Which theory says that the necessities involved in managing an organization inevitably become concentrated in the hands of a few bureaucrats, who then wield true power in the organization?

Political apathy

Low-information rationality

Elitist theory of democracy

Iron law of oligarchy

Political efficacy

Question 4 (TCO 4) When can government outlaw religious practices?

If the religion is not approved beforehand

If the religion is too small

If the religion moves overseas

If the religion poses a threat to society

If the religion obscures or misinterprets the words of God

Question 5 (TCO 3) What did Thomas Hobbes believe was the main responsibility for government to provide?

Prosperity in moderation

Justice for all

Safety from harm

Racial equality

Limited privacy

Question 6 (TCO 3) What term is used to describe a question on the ballot asking citizens to give the state permission to repeal an existing law?

Recall

Primary

Legislative referendum

Run-off

Republic

Question 7 (TCO 4) What do conservatives argue about the middle class in America?

That it is disappearing

That it remains large and essential to the U.S. economy

That government needs to enact new legislation to protect and assist the middle class

That the tax burden falls disproportionately on the middle class

That the middle class’s share of the nation’s prosperity has fallen since the 1970s

Question 8 (TCO 4) Which of the following have American courts allowed under the First Amendment?

Speech that constitutes a direct personal provocation

Clergy to offer nondenominational prayers at public high school graduations

Polygamy, as long as it is part of traditional religious practice

Schools to require children who are Jehovah’s Witnesses to salute the flag

Schools to exempt Amish children from public education requirements

Question 9 (TCO 3) Which of the following would be considered a public interest group?

Italian-American Foundation

American Association of Retired Persons

Disabled American Veterans

National Association of Manufacturers

Sierra Club

Question 10 (TCO 3) Which of the following is true with regard to health care in the United States?

The U.S. population is aging and thus requires increasing public expenditures for Medicare and Medicaid.

The cost of health care is increasing at a lower rate than inflation.

Most Americans receive adequate health insurance through their employers.

All Americans are adequately covered by private health insurance policies.

The U.S. population is growing so prosperous that it will not require Medicare or Medicaid.

POLI330 Political Science

Week 6 Quiz

Question 1 (TCO 7) What is the term for Karl Marx’s theory of historical progression that is focused on class struggle?

Monopoly capitalism

Law of capitalist accumulation

Gradualism

Dialectical materialism

Law of pauperization

Question 2 (TCO 7) Which theorist argued that the main purpose of government was to protect private property?

John Locke

Adam Smith

Milton Friedman

Baron de Montesquieu

Karl Marx

Question 3 (TCO 7) Which of the following events opened a new “values divide” between liberals and conservatives framed by a neoconservative worldview?

The election of Ronald Reagan

The rise of the KKK

The Contract with America

The war on terror

The election of Barack Obama

Question 4 (TCO 7) Who was the main architect behind the restoration of classical liberalism in economics during the twentieth century?

Friedrich Hayek

Milton Friedman

Adam Smith

Helmut Kohl

Ronald Reagan

Question 5 (TCO 7) Which of the following do conservatives tend to stress the most?

Increased military spending

The rejection of property ownership free from government’s interference

Egalitarian ideals and civil liberty

Economic rights and freedom of enterprise

The role of government in ending poverty?

POLI330 Political Science

Week 8 Final Exam

Question 1(TCO 1) During the consolidation stage of totalitarian development, what do revolutionary leaders attempt to do?

Reach a consensus with rival factions and form a broad-based coalition.

Begin the immediate transformation of society.

Eliminate real or imagined rivals for power and place loyal associates in key posts.

Calm the public by ending the violence that marked the revolutionary stage.

Reinterpret the past and attribute any failures to a clearly identifiable enemy.

Question 2(TCO 1) Which former totalitarian system currently features a hybrid known as “state capitalism”?

Iraq

Iran

Soviet Union

North Korea

China

Question 3(TCO 1) Which of the following most significantly accelerated the “values divide” between liberals and conservatives?

The election of Ronald Reagan

The rise of the KKK

The Fiscal Cliff

The war on terror

The election of Barack Obama

Question 4(TCO 1) Which of the following would favor a public assistance program, cuts in military spending, more regulation of business and industry, and a progressive tax system?

Capitalists

Liberals

Libertarians

Marxists

Conservatives

Question 5(TCO 1) What government agency promotes and preserves media competition in the United States?

Federal Communications Commission

Department of Commerce

Federal Bureau of Inventions

Federal Television Commission

Justice Department

Question 6(TCO 1) What is the first exercise in democracy for students in the U.S.?

Playing sports

Studying the nation’s history

Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance

Electing or becoming class officers

Speaking out against school policies that seem unfair

Question 7(TCO 2) Least developed countries have all of the following problems in common EXCEPT

illiteracy.

political instability.

ethnic conflict.

anarchy.

inequality.?

Question 8(TCO 5) Who serves as Britain’s Head of State?

The Prime Minister

The President

The Queen

The House of Lords

The House of Commons

Question 9(TCO 5) What element of the Israeli and British parliamentary systems distinguishes them from most other parliamentary democracies?

A dual executive

The lack of a written constitution

A mixed regime

The existence of a loyal opposition

The enforcement of strict party discipline

Question 10(TCO 2) Which of the following transitional states has the most powerful economy?

Mexico

Taiwan

South Korea

Czech Republic

Poland

Question 11(TCO 5) The U.S. Congress and British Parliament both have all of these powers in common EXCEPT the ability to

pass or defeat legislation.

confirm new cabinet members.

bring down the executive office with a vote of no confidence.

play an oversight role.

levy taxes. control budgets.

Question 12(TCO 3) What is a major criticism of the winner-take-all electoral system?

It emphasizes political parties at the expense of individual candidates.

It limits voter choice and makes it impossible for minor parties to compete in elections.

It causes a pronounced tendency toward party decentralization.

It makes forming a national consensus more difficult.

It encourages the emergence of single-issue splinter parties.

Question 13(TCO 4) Which statement about health care in the United States is FALSE?

Health care facilities in the U.S. are among the best in the world.

U.S. citizens spend more on medical expenses than people in other countries.

The federal government spends less on medical research than other modern nations.

The Affordable Care Act was upheld as constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Federal government expenses for Medicare and Medicaid exceed those related to defense.

Question 14(TCO 3) According to the delegate theory of representation,

officials should act according to the views of the electorate.

focus groups are of little use.

politicians should let their conscience guide them in making decisions.

only the most intelligent members of society should serve in leadership roles.

opinion is only a barometer, to be used as the legislator sees fit.

Question 15(TCO 4) When can government outlaw religious practices?

If the religion is not approved beforehand

If the religion is too small

If the religion moves overseas

If the religion poses a threat to society

If the religion obscures or misinterprets the words of God

Question 16(TCO 3) What did Thomas Hobbes believe was the main responsibility for government to provide?

Prosperity in moderation

Justice for all

Safety from harm

Racial equality

Limited privacy

Question 17(TCO 3) What event ended — albeit briefly — the long-term trend of political apathy in the U.S.?

The 2008-2009 recession

The terrorist attacks of 9/11

The war in Iraq

The invasion of Afghanistan

The 2012 reelection of Barack Obama

Question 18(TCO 6) In the Western tradition, what does the broad meaning of “justice” involve?

Questions of proper punishment for violations of the law

Questions of who should be elected

Questions of distribution

Questions of power

Questions of protection

Question 19(TCO 6) What term does Walden Two use to describe good health, a minimum of unpleasant labor, and a chance to exercise your talents and true leisure?

Political equality

The good life

Behavioral freedom

Scientific society

Personal nirvana

?Question 20(TCO 9) Revolutionaries differ from terrorists in that

revolutionaries never resort to violence.

terrorists seek to overthrow the government in existing circumstances.

terrorists show concern for the innocent.

revolutionaries see terror as a tactic, not a strategy.

revolutionaries seek to change the circumstances.

Question 21(TCO 9) What form of government is most vulnerable to terrorism?

Totalitarianism

Theocracy

Authoritarian

Monarchy

Democracy

Question 22(TCO 8) What term was used to describe America’s foreign policy towards Russia and Communism during the Cold War?

Structural rigidity

Balance of power

Military consensus

Containment

Marshall Plan

?Question 23(TCO 8) The Monroe Doctrine is an example of what type of foreign policy?

Imperialist

Status quo

Unipolar

Expansionist

Regionalist

Question 24(TCO 9) State-sponsored terrorism is defined as terrorism that

occurs within a country by people who are not connected to the government.

is international in focus and helped by an established government.

involves groups from different countries cooperating with each other.

involves the governments, interests and people of more than one country.

is defined by a government’s use of its security forces to subdue or intimidate its own people.

Question 25(TCO 9) What tool does the U. S. government use to broaden the definition of who is a terrorist and grant broad powers to the Attorney General?

USA Patriot Act

United Nations

NATO Coalition

Kyoto Accords

Department of Homeland Security

?Question 26(TCO 9) What did Rousseau believe was the cause of war?

Religion and intolerance

Society and private property

Psychology and survival instincts

Nationalism and hatred

Moral relativism

Question 27(TCO 9) Who are the most common victims of terrorism?

Political leaders

Innocent civilians

Journalists

Diplomats

Members of the military or security services

?Question 28(TCO 5) Compare and contrast the selection of the Prime Minister and Monarch in the UK with the selection of the US President and how this selection influences their roles.

Question 29 (TCO 7) Describe what economic factors distinguish a conservative, liberal, and socialist in the United States.