Politics and Government HW - Due Wed, Jan 4

1) Write each of the following in notebook or print, cut out and paste into notebook. Pick any 10 and use each in a sentence.

immunities: protection or exemption from something, esp. an obligation or penalty:
"immunity from prosecution"

emancipated: Set free, esp. from legal, social, or political restrictions: "the citizen must be emancipated from obsessive government secrecy".

subordinate: Lower in rank or position: "his subordinate officers".

consequently: As a result.

erroneous: (adj) Wrong; incorrect.

expansionist: (adj) of or involving or guided by expansionism; a policy of expansion, as of territory or currency: the colonial expansionism of Europe in the 19th century.

rendered: (v) Provide (a service).
Give (help).

unwieldy: (adj) Difficult to carry or move because of its size, shape, or weight: "the first mechanical clocks were large and unwieldy".

(of a system or bureaucracy) Too big or badly organized to function efficiently.

cumbrous: (adj) cumbersome: difficult to handle or use especially because of size or weight; "a cumbersome piece of machinery";

precedent: (n) An earlier event or action regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances.

novelty: (n) The quality of being new, original, or unusual.
A new or unfamiliar thing or experience.

exposition: (n) A comprehensive description and explanation of an idea or theory.
The part of a movement, esp. in sonata form, in which the principal themes are first presented.

mandamus: (n) A judicial writ issued as a command to an inferior court or ordering a person to perform a public or statutory duty: "a writ of mandamus".

consequent: (adj) Following as a result or effect.

writ: (n) A form of written command in the name of a court or other legal authority to act, or abstain from acting, in some way.

appellate: (adj) (typically of a court) Concerned with or dealing with applications for decisions to be reversed.


clause: (n) A particular and separate article, stipulation, or proviso in a treaty, bill, or contract.

enumerate: (v) Mention (a number of things) one by one.
Establish the number of.

criterion: (v) A principle or standard by which something may be judged or decided: "violating safety criteria".

repugnant: (adj) Extremely distasteful; unacceptable.
In conflict with; incompatible with.

illimitable: (adj) without limits in extent or size or quantity; "limitless vastness of our solar system".

expound: (v) Present and explain (a theory or idea) systematically and in detail.
Explain the meaning of (a literary or doctrinal work).

indictment: (n) A formal charge or accusation of a serious crime: "an indictment for conspiracy".
The action of indicting or being indicted.

insubordination: (n) defiance of authority.

confirmatory: (adj) To support or establish the certainty or validity of; verify.

impassioned: (adj) Filled with or showing great emotion.

disparage: (v) Regard or represent as being of little worth

solemn: (adj) Formal and dignified. Not cheerful or smiling; serious.

conscription (n) Compulsory enlistment for state service, typically into the military.

conspiracy: (n) A secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful.
The action of plotting or conspiring.

stringent: (adj) (of regulations, requirements, or conditions) Strict, precise, and exacting.

injunction: (n) An authoritative warning or order. A judicial order that restrains a person from effecting legal action, or orders redress to an injured party.

hindrance: (n) A thing that provides resistance, delay, or obstruction to something or someone.

encroachment: (n) To take another's possessions or rights gradually or stealthily: encroach on a neighbor's land.
2. To advance beyond proper or former limits: desert encroaching upon grassland.

dictatorial: (adj) Of or typical of a ruler with total power. Having or showing a tendency to tell people what to do in an autocratic way.

statutory: (adj) Required, permitted, or enacted by statute: "the courts did award statutory damages to each of the plaintiffs".
(of a criminal offense) Carrying a penalty prescribed by statute: "statutory theft".

quash: (v) Reject as invalid, esp. by legal procedure: "his conviction was quashed on appeal".
Put an end to; suppress: "a hospital executive quashed rumors that nursing staff will lose jobs".

parliamentary: (adj) Relating to, enacted by, or suitable for a parliament.

impairment: (n) To cause to diminish, as in strength, value, or quality

utterance: (n) A spoken word, statement, or vocal sound.
The action of saying or expressing something aloud: "the simple utterance of a few platitudes".

inimical: (adj) Tending to obstruct or harm: "actions inimical to our interests".
Unfriendly; hostile.

imperative: (adj) Of vital importance; necessary; crucial.



2) Read the packet Supreme's Greatest Hits. Take notes. Notes will be graded on a four point scale:

4 - includes all the text's central ideas; mentions important people, institutions, governmental entities and events; uses titles to distinguish different topics; includes content specific vocabulary and any new level 2 vocabulary; is neat and organized

3 - includes most of the text's central ideas; mentions important people, institutions, governmental entities and events; uses titles to distinguish different topics; includes content specific vocabulary and any new level 2 vocabulary; is neat and organized

2 - includes a list of information, but does not show any evidence of thought or attempt to summarize central ideas and themes; sloppy

1 - ?



3) A - Read Exploring Constitutional Conflicts: Judicial Review.

B - Based upon the handout on judicial review, answer the questions:

1. Is judicial review a good idea? Should nine unelected judges be able to tell our elected representatives what they can and cannot do?
2. Are courts more likely to block an enlightened consensus with their adherence to outdated principles or to protect the politically weak from oppressive majorities?
3. Are judges, protected with lifetime tenure and drawn generally from the educated class, more likely to be reflective and above the passing enthusiasms that drive legislative action?
4. Does Marbury mean that legislators or members of the executive branch have no responsibility to judge the constitutionality of their own actions?
5. Could we have a workable system of government without judicial review?


4) Based on the handout, construct a case analysis for Dred Scott case. (Analysis will be graded on a 4 pt scale) Case analysis should:

-include facts of case (a summary of what happened before the case was taken to the Supreme Court)
-state constitutional question
-mention any legal rules that were developed as a result of the ruling
-include discussion of majority opinion
-address dissenting opinion if available
-include a reflection and your opinion