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
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, and at least one outside scholarly
source.
DQ2 Utopian Ideas
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, and at least one outside
scholarly source.
POLI330
Political Science
Week 3
Discussion
Creating Stability Through 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.)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
|
|
?
|
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
|
?
|
$_________________
|
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 libertarian 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
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 2 Quiz
Question 1
(TCO 6) In The Republic, what common theme is explored
throughout Socrates’ text?
Power
Social class
Intellectual merit
Justice
Liberty
Question 2
(TCO 6) Which author focused on how to “arrange” society in
a methodological way?
Karl Marx
Francis Bacon
Plato
B. F. Skinner
John Locke
Question 3
(TCO 6) What was the legislative body of the United States
was designed to be?
Tyranny of the
majority
Parliamentary
Bicameral
Cosmopolitan
Democracy
Unicameral
Question 4
(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 5
(TCO 6) Whose work is considered to offer a dystopian vision
of society?
Plato
Francis Bacon
Karl Marx
B. F. Skinner
George Orwell
Question 6
(TCO 6) What is essential to the success of any government?
History
Democratic
principles
Symbolism and ritual
Tradition and strong
leadership
Continuity and
stability
Question 7
(TCO 6) Which country has the modern world’s first, and
oldest, constitutional democracy?
The United States
France
Russia
Israel
Britain
Question 8
(TCO 6) Which writer's utopianism was based on the notion:
"From each according to his abilities; to each according to his
needs"?
Plato
Francis Bacon
Karl Marx
B.F. Skinner
George Orwell
Question 9
(TCO 6) 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 10
(TCO 6) What term describes the concept of a form of
government ruled by active citizens rather than elected/appointed officials?
Constitutional
democracy
Republic
Direct democracy
Segmented democracy
Tyranny of the
majority
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) What term is used to describe the system of voting
where the seats of the legislature are assigned to parties based on the
percentage of the popular vote that each party receives?
Plurality
Proportional
Mechanized
Subjective
Repetitional
Question 4
(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 5
(TCO 3) All of these are among the four "P's" of
public policy EXCEPT
principles.
power.
politics.
priorities.
practices.
Question 6
(TCO 3) Which age group has been the most supportive of the
Democratic Party in the 2004, 2006, and 2008 general elections?
Young adults aged
18–29
Middleaged adults,
30–39
Older adults aged
40–49
Seniors in their
golden years, aged 50–64
Retired seniors,
aged 65 and older
Question 7
(TCO 3) What kind of vote takes place most often in America
for deciding the winner of a single-member district?
Majority vote
Simple majority vote
Supermajority vote
Objective vote
Plurality vote
Question 8
(TCO 3) Which statement about political parties in the
United States is true?
George Washington
was the original advocate of the two-party system.
Political parties
are included the U.S. Constitution.
Political parties in
the states are identitical to their national chapters.
Opportunities to
participate in political parties and their activities are at an all-time low.
Thomas Jefferson and
other early thinkers thought parties fostered narrow self-interest over the
common good.
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) 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
POLI330
Political Science
Week 6 Quiz
Question 1
(TCO 7) The richest
15 percent of Americans control approximately
of financial assets in America?
50 percent
60 percent
70 percent
80 percent
90 percent or more
Question 2
(TCO 7) Liberalism
and conservatism are both rooted in principles found in the political
philosophy of
John Locke.
Adam Smith.
Friedrich Hayek.
Baron de
Montesquieu.
G.W.F. Hegel.
Question 3
(TCO 7) The
statement, “That government is best, which governs least” best characterizes
which ideology?
Liberalism
Libertarianism
Communism
Conservatism
Nihilism
Question 4
(TCO 7) Which
ideology tries to achieve collectivist ends by using democratic means?
Communism
Liberalism
Capitalism
Conservatism
Democratic Socialism
Question 5
(TCO 7) Conservatives
believe that rich people what?
Rich people should
be taxed according to their income.
Cuts to entitlement
programs will be made up by philanthropic means.
The rich deserve to
keep their money.
All people are able
to get rich but some people choose not to work hard.
None of the above
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
Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
Textbook: Chapter 7, 8, 9
Lesson
Minimum of 2 scholarly sources
Instructions
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)
POLI330
Political Science
Week 5 Assignment
Essay - Ideal Citizen in a Totalitarian Government
Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
Textbook: Chapter 6, 10
Lesson
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)
POLI330
Political Science
Week 7 Assignment
Essay - Creating Your Ideal State
Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
Textbook: Chapter 15, 16, 17
Lesson
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 organizations to join. (See rubric for specific
ways to meet the requirements of the paper.)
Paper headings:
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
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)
POLI330
Political Science
Week 8
Final Exam
Question 1
(TCO 1) What is true
about what it means to be a "good citizen"?
It is based largely on an individual's moral fiber.
It is defined by adherence to basic human rights.
It refers exclusively to how law-abiding a person is.
It is defined by the state.
It is in the eyes of the beholder.
REFERENCES p289
Question 2
(TCO 1) Which of the following would be considered a
totalitarian political system?
Capitalism
Fascism
Anarchism
Communism
Socialism
Question 3
(TCO 1) In the changing world of television media, what has
suffered most?
Freedom to criticize the government
The entertainment value of news shows
The range of dramatic television shows
The quality of in-depth news and analysis
The state of tabloid journalism
?
Question 4
(TCO 1) Which term is used to describe the ability to get
others to want what you want?
Political power
Authority
Hard power
Soft power
Legitimacy
Question 5
(TCO 1) Which form totalitarian system currently features a
hybrid known as "state capitalism"?
Iraq
Iran
Soviet Union
North Korea
China
Question 6
(TCO 1) What government agency promotes and preserves media
competition in the United States?
Federal Communication Commission
Department of Commerce
Federal Bureau of Inventions
Federal Television Commission
?Justice Department
Question 7
(TCO 5) What makes Britain a model of what Aristotle called
a mixed regime?
It combines a queen and a prime minister.
It is based on a constitution.
It places legislative power in the hands of the House of
Lords.
It includes different branches of government that represent
different classes.
It gives parliament the power to oust the prime minister.
Question 8
(TCO 2) Where are most of the least developed countries
located?
East Asia
Sub-Saharan Africa
Central Europe
The Pacific Islands
South America and the Caribbean
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) Least developed countries have all of the following
problems in common EXCEPT
illiteracy.
political instability.
ethnic conflict.
anarchy.
?inequality.
Question 11
(TCO 5) To join the European Union, what must a country
prove?
That it is financially solvent
That it disavows terrorism
That it will contribute to a common defense
That it rejects communism
?That it supports free elections
Question 12
(TCO 3) A good leader should have all of the following
traits EXCEPT
an emphasis on the public good.
common sense.
the ability to delegate.
lust for power and a willingness to use it to remove all
obstacles or challengers.
the ability to face the historical circumstances of the
times.
Question 13
(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 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 3) What did eighteenth-century British writer and
legislator Edmund Burke believe?
That elected officials should act as trustees for their
constituents
That while representatives must pay careful attention to
public opinion, they must also maintain their independence of thought and
action
That a natural aristocracy, made up of the best and
brightest, should govern
That the trustee theory of representation worked
All of the above
?
Question 16
(TCO 4) The Supreme Court would likely view all of these
actions as violating the constitutional right to free speech EXCEPT
organizing a terror strike against our government.
burning a replica of the American flag.
asking for a list of names of all organizers and
participants of an anti-government rally and then investigating them.
wiretaps of individuals without their knowledge and without
a warrant.
Ku Klux Klan rally designed to start a riot against the minorities.
Question 17
(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 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) Who are the most common victims of terrorism?
Political leaders
Innocent civilians
Journalists
Diplomats
Members of the military or security services
?
Question 21
(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 22
(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 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) What is a
characteristic of most terrorist groups?
They exist for long periods of time.
They have large membership bases.
They operate locally.
They receive a great deal of publicity.
They are ethnically and politically diverse.
Question 25
(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 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 8) What do we
call the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting
attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures?
Marshall Plan
Monroe Doctrine
Cold War Doctrine
Truman Doctrine
Chamberlain Plan
?
Question 28
(TCO 5) Explain the
duties of the Monarchy, Prime Minister, and President.
Question 29
(TCO 7) Assess at
least two economic problems the United States faces today. In the assessment,
explain the economic issues and what a conservative and modern liberal
administration would most likely do to mitigate the problem.
