Politics and Government Homework - Due - Thursday, Oct 15

HW:

1 - Read Dahl pgs 29-46 answer the following questions:

a) Who was responsible for creating the two party system?

b) What questions does Dahl raise about factions/parties?

c) Discuss, analyze, and interpret the following quote:

"Today we take for granted that political parties and party competition are essential to representative democracy: we can be pretty sure that a country wholly without political parties is a country without democracy."

Do you agree of disagree? Explain your answer.

d) Define: partisan politics

e) Which features of the Electoral College are undemocratic?

f) Discuss James Madison's credentials as a politician prior to the Constitutional Convention.

h) Discuss the evolution of James Madison's views regarding majoritarianism. Provide evidence from varied places in the text. Moreover, use Federalist #10 to help you form your answer.

i) Discuss James Madison's evolving views on universal suffrage.

j) How might the Constitution have been different if written in 1820 instead of 1787? Why? Provide evidence from the text.

k) Discuss, analyze, and interpret the following quote:

"The Framers were not philosophers searching for a description of an ideal system. Nor--and we may be forever grateful to them for this--were they philosopher kings entrusted with the power to rule."

What is a "philosopher king?" Why should we be grateful? Explain?

l) How does Dahl define "advanced democratic country?"

m) Take a look at Tables 1 and 2 on page 186-187. What do you notice?

n) What is the difference between a federal and a unitary system?

o) Which places have absorbed their chamber?

p) Which countries have maintained a strong bicameral legislature?

2 - Finish classwork 

 

1 – What percentage of the nation’s population was enslaved?

2 – What provisions of the Constitution protected slavery?

3 – Identify: William Lloyd Garrison, Luther Martin, Frederick Douglass

4 – Did the new Constitution give African Americans reason to be hopeful? Explain

5 – Why did a significant number of artisans support the Constitution?

6 – Why were some artisans concerned about the Constitution?

7 – In what way did artisans begin to politically realign themselves during the late 18th century?

8 – Primary source analysis: WBA pg 270

9 – Discuss Singletary’s social status and background. How might this background have helped shape his perspective?

10 – Why did frontier farmers take issue w the Constitution?

11 – Why did some farmers support it?