Essay assignment
Rather than having essay questions for the quizzes, you will answer essay questions (of your choosing) at home and submit them for grading through a link on TITANium, and checked for plagiarism via turnitin.com. You will answer question 1 and then choose four additional questions to answer for a total of five essay questions answered. In paragraph format, answer the questions directly, clearly, and completely. Each answer must not exceed one typed page worth of text. Do not use bullet points. Answers that do not address the question directly will not favorably contribute towards your examination grade. All questions are worth 5 points for a total of 25 points.
Answer this question:
The entire textbook on California discusses the similarities and differences between the US national government and the government of the State of California. Choose at least three major topics we covered in the course and compare how the state and national governments are similar or different.
Choose four of the following:
During the Constitutional Convention, there were some significant compromises made. Describe two major compromises made at the Constitutional Convention and explain who the compromise was aimed at – which groups had to agree? Do you believe these compromises were necessary? Why or why not?
Federalists and Anti-Federalists had different views on whether the constitution should be ratified. Identify what each of these groups were worried about, what they wanted, and how these ideas ultimately ended up in our government structure.
Citizenship is a major component of a democratic system. Describe some of ways that our government has either facilitated or prevented citizenship in its various forms. What is required of people who want to be citizens of the USA now?
Political parties and interest groups have different roles in our political system. What makes them similar or different from each other? What functions do they perform? How do they recruit and retain members?
Because the framers of the constitution were afraid that one branch of government would exercise too much power over the other branches or over the citizens, they set up a number of checks and balances on Judicial, Executive, and Legislative power. Identify the responsibilities and powers of each branch and discuss some of the ways that they check each other’s power.
The two main political ideologies in the United States are liberalism and conservatism. Compare the two in the context of their views on the role of government in both domestic and foreign issues. Which political parties best line up with each ideology?
The process by which a bill becomes a law appears confusing to many people. Write an essay describing this process to someone who doesn’t understand it.
A lot of cases are appealed to the Supreme Court, but not many are heard. How do the justices decide that a case is interesting enough to hear? Describe what happens from the point of an appeal to the Supreme Court until the justices publish a formal decision. Be sure to use the correct vocabulary.
Course Texts:
(GLW) Benjamin Ginsberg, Theodore J. Lowi, Margaret Weir, Caroline J. Tolbert, and Robert J. Spitzer. 2011. We the People: An Introduction to American Politics, 10th Essentials Edition. W.W. Norton & Company
(TAS) Yuan Ting, Shelly Arsneault, and Stephen Stambough eds. 2011. California Government in National Perspective, 7th Ed. Kendall Hunt Publishing: Dubuque IA.
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