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.