Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:- Textbook: Chapter 1, 2
- Lesson
- Minimum of 1 scholarly source
Instructions
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.
Writing Requirements (APA format)
- Length: 1.5-2 pages (not including title page or references page)
- 1-inch margins
- Double spaced
- 12-point Times New Roman font
- Title page
- References page (minimum of 1 scholarly source and textbook/lesson)
Grading
This activity will be graded based on Week 1 Essay Grading Rubric.
Course Outcomes (CO): 1
Due Date: By 11:59 p.m. MT on Sunday
RUBRIC
Week 1 Assignment: Essay – Benefiting the Public Good
Week 1 Assignment: Essay – Benefiting the Public Good
Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
- Textbook: Review Chapter 2: pgs. 37-47, Chapter 3
- Lesson
- Additional scholarly sources you identify through your own research
Initial Post Instructions
Explain how conservatism and socialism are incorporated in the US political system. Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, andat least one outside scholarly source.
Follow-Up Post Instructions
Respond to at least two peers or one peer and the instructor. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification. Minimum of 1 scholarly source, which can include your textbook or assigned readings or may be from your additional scholarly research.
Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
- Textbook: Review Chapter 2: pgs. 37-47, Chapter 3
- Lesson
- Additional scholarly sources you identify through your own research
Initial Post Instructions
Explain one of the perfect political systems of Plato, Aristotle, Bacon, Marx, or Skinner. Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons, andat least one outside scholarly source.
Follow-Up Post Instructions
Respond to at least two peers or one peer and the instructor. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification. Minimum of 1 scholarly source, which can include your textbook or assigned readings or may be from your additional scholarly research.
Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
- Textbook: Chapter 7, 8, 9
- Lesson
- Additional scholarly sources you identify through your own research
Initial Post Instructions
"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, andat least one outside scholarly source.
week 3Instructions
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
(Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Writing
Requirements (APA format)
- Length: 1.5-2 pages (not including title page or
references page)
- 1-inch margins
- Double spaced
- 12-point Times New Roman font
- Title page
- References page (minimum of 2 scholarly sources)
Week 4 Discussion 1: "Petition the Government for
Redress of Grievances”
Initial Post
Instructions
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.)Links to an external site.
Use evidence (cite
sources) to support your response from assigned readings or online lessons,
andat least one outside scholarly source.
Week 4 Discussion 2: 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?
Week 5 Discussion: Learning politics
11 unread reply.11 reply.
Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
- Textbook: Chapter 6, 10
- Lesson
- Additional scholarly sources you identify through your
own research
Initial Post
Instructions
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, andat least one outside scholarly
source.
Week 5
Assignment: Essay - Ideal Citizen in a Totalitarian Government
Instructions
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.
Writing
Requirements (APA format)
- Length: 1.5-2 pages (not including title page or
references page)
- 1-inch margins
- Double spaced
- 12-point Times New Roman font
- Title page
- References page (minimum of 2 scholarly sources)
Week 5 Assignment: Essay - Ideal
Citizen in a Totalitarian Government
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Week 5 Assignment: Essay - Ideal Citizen in a
Totalitarian Government
|
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 | ? | Reduce funds for the Smithsonian and the National Park Service, and close the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools | ?$30 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 | ? | $_________________ |
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Week 7 Assignment: Essay - Creating Your Ideal State
Instructions
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 the governing style, functions of various
branches of government, principles that govern leaders, the maintaining of
public good, which economic structure is most beneficial to your citizens, at
least two domestic programs, ways to create national unity, ways to combat terrorism
and violence, and international organizationsto join. (See rubric for specific
ways to meet the requirements of the paper.)
Paper headings:
• Introduction
(1 paragraph)
o Introduce
your country
o Briefly
outline all of the parts of the paper
• Domestic
Concerns (1-2 pages)
o Identify
governing style and principles that correlate to this style
o Identify
the branches of government and its functions
o Development
of two public good domestic programs and how they will meet the public good
o Economic
structure and reason why this should be used
o Socializing
citizens is noted with rationale for how it creates national unity
• Foreign
Concerns (1-2 pages)
o Two
international organizations are noted, one for economics and one for security
o Descriptions
of both organizations
o Rationales
for joining these organizations
o Steps to
joining
o Two ways
your country will combat the neighboring country's terrorist threat and the
domestic threat
o Two ways
these will be effective
• Conclusion
(1 paragraph)
o Summarize
information
Writing Requirements (APA format)
• Length:
3-4 pages (not including title page or references page)
• 1-inch
margins
• Double
spaced
• 12-point
Times New Roman font
• Title
page
• References
page (minimum of 2 scholarly sources)
Week 8 Discussion: Political Compass Results
Initial Post Instructions
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, andat least one
outside scholarly source.
Follow-Up Post Instructions
Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response from
assigned readings or online lessons, and at least one outside scholarly source.
Week 6 Discussion 2: Political Theory and the Budget
11 unread reply.11 reply.
Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
• Textbook:
Review Chapters 2, 3 (pgs 56-59), 13
• Lesson
• Additional
scholarly sources you identify through your own research
Initial Post Instructions
Explain how a libertarian and conservative would approach
developing the US budget. Use evidence (cite sources) to support your response
from assigned readings or online lessons, andat least one outside scholarly
source.
Week 7 Discussion: Our Global Neighborhood
Initial Post Instructions
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, andat least one outside
scholarly source
