For the Final on 5/21: Review Blog

Ahhh... the last blog of the semester. Like the midterm review blog this is simply an opportunity for you to ask and answer each other's questions and discuss anything that you think will be helpful in preparation for the final. I would suggest looking at your class notes, handouts from class, your reading assignments, as well as the chapter reviews in the textbook. I will check into the blog every couple of days but this is primarily an open forum for you so check back often during the week and comment/question/ponder/review as much as you would like. Good luck with all of your studying!

For Class on 5/19: Civil Rights

Civil rights are the obligations imposed on the government to protect citizens from illegal action, often associated with discrimination based on race, gender, age, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, or disability.

The issue of civil rights is a central tenant in a government of the most diverse nation on Earth. The people, events, images, and processes involved in the ongoing story of civil rights are as dynamic as any in American history, and it is remarkable that our nation has evolved from a long tradition of slavery into a society which elected its first African American president. That remarkable event does not mean that discrimination or civil rights are issues of the past, however. On that same day in November 2008, a series of state initiatives across the nation restricted the rights of gays and lesbians including the right to marry and adopt children, providing a strong example of the numerous civil rights battles that are continuing nationwide.

While there is much to discuss regarding civil rights in America today, our time is short and we will be focusing on one topic that affects us all as members of an academic community: the debate over affirmative action. For this week’s blog, read the chapter that was assigned, making sure to focus on the page which outlines the two sides of the affirmative action debate. As you do so, please think about affirmative action broadly (going beyond race alone) and answer the following question:

Does affirmative action in college admissions create more of a positive or negative effect?

For Class on 5/14: Civil Liberties

As we near the end of the course it is time to put many of the elements of the American political system together in order to discuss some of the most important policy issues and debates in a more complete manner. We will frame many of these final issues through the lenses of civil liberties and civil rights. One of the most important and enduring debates was perhaps most famously expressed by Ben Franklin when he said:

“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”
- Benjamin Franklin (1755)

The balance between security and liberty is especially difficult during times of crisis or physical threat. Examples include Abraham Lincoln’s suspension of habeas corpus during the Civil War and the PATRIOT Act and the use of warrantless wiretapping after 9/11 along with dozens of examples in between. For this week, interpret Ben Franklin’s quote above and weigh in on how to best balance liberty and security in America. Does the proper balance change during times of crisis? Is there really any balance at all or is one clearly more dominant? Can we maximize both at the same time? This should help prepare us for a great discussion next class.

For Class on 5/7: The Courts

In Federalist #78, Alexander Hamilton was perhaps the first to forcefully argue that the judicial branch is the weakest branch of the American government. However the powers and roles of the Supreme Court has evolved over time along with the size of the federal judiciary. Many have argued that it is perhaps the most powerful branch due to the finality of its Constitutional interpretations and independence from the political forces which dominate the executive and legislative branches. Based on the reading in the textbook and your background knowledge, how would you rate the power and influence of the Judicial Branch relative to the other branches? Explain your position with some real life example if possible. Also feel free to open the discussion to the justice system in general, including local and state courts. This will serve us well as we look forward to discussing civil rights and civil liberties in the next few weeks.