Politics and Government - Homework - Due - Tues, Nov 17

1 - Finish work from class: Based on article, why is democracy failing in Russia? How does this failure of democracy reflect the ideas expressed by Dahl regarding democratic stability?

2 - What is the difference between a parliamentary system and a presidential system?

Democratizing 20th Century America - Homework - Due - Tues, Nov 17

Read the Hollingsworth article up to page 4, annotate, and answer analysis questions handed out in class.

Politics and Government

Please bring a baked good on Friday for a fundraiser to cover the shortfall from the Constitution Center trip.

Cope 

Democratizing Twentieth Century America - Homework - Due - Tues, Nov 10

Read and take notes.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/pill/peopleevents/p_sanger.html

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/pill/peopleevents/e_comstock.html

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/pill/peopleevents/e_options.html

Make sure you are considering:

Point of view: What are the central ideas? What is stated directly? What is implied? What is left ambiguous?

Evidence: Direct quotes

Connections: How does this confirm, refute, or elaborate on something you've read in another text? Provide a quote with another text and supporting analysis.

Significance: Why is this important? Why should people know and care about this?

Politics and Government Homework - Due - Thurs, Nov 12

Dahl 99 - 119

·         What are the two types of constitutional systems Dahl presents? How are they different? What are the pros and cons of each system? Which is more democratic? Why/How?

·         Identify: Arend Lijphart

·         Why are proportional governments called consensus governments?

·         What are the four major groups in the Netherlands?  In what ways are these groups divided? How did the Netherlands resolve these divisions? What is the present status of the Dutch government?

·         Discuss the cultural divisions in Switzerland

·         Why is 1917 considered the point of democratization Switzerland?

·         Discuss and summarize the findings on the 1990 survey of citizens.  How do you think the U.S. would have placed in such a survey?  Explain

       Why do the Dutch, Swiss, and Swedes prefer proportionality?

       Discuss and summarize the 1990 survey of citizens' views.  How do you think the U.S. would have placed in the survey? Why?

       Explain how/why the compositions of the three majorities in the U.S. Constitutional system differ from one another.

       What is divided government?

       In what ways is the president a blend of a monarch and a prime minister.

       How has the presidency evolved?  How have opinion polls impacted this evolution?

       Discuss citizens' expectations of the president in the American system.  Are these expectations appropriate?  Realistic?  Explain.

       What impact do you think population has on democratic effectiveness?

       What impact do you think diversity has on democratic effectiveness?

       Discuss the democratic effectiveness in the U.S. relative to other democracies.  

Politics and Government Homework - Due - Tuesday, Nov 10

1 - Read Dahl 89 - 99 and take notes

What indicators does Dahl mention as useful to test for constitutional performance? Are these measures appropriate?

What is Dahl’s criteria for determining how well a constitutional system performs?

What are some factors that impact the likelihood of democratic stability?

Why does Dahl focus on democracy in the second half of the Twentieth Century?

Why does Dahl believe the Civil War occurred?

Discuss the questions Dahl raises regarding the impact of presidential vs parliamentary systems on democratic stability.

What criteria makes for democracy for the purpose of Dahl’s study?

Discuss Freedom House and its findings and summarize. What conclusions might one try to draw from the data.

What is federalism? What countries, in addition to the U.S., have federal systems?

What determines how well rights and liberties are protected in a mature democratic country?

2 - Submit a response to the Constitution Center Trip (2 pages, typed)

Did the Constitution Center suggest the founders intended to create a revolutionary and democratic government? Pick any three things you saw and discuss them in relation to this question.

How did your experience at the Constitution Center confirm, refute, or deepen your own thinking about a text or texts you've read in class? (provide textual evidence)

What would you change or add if you were designing a Constitution Center?

Constitution Center

Take notes on the exhibit. Select any 4 images and consider:

How does this confirm, refute, or deepen your understanding of the Constitution and U.S. History. 

What did the museum get right? Explain. 

What did it get wrong? Explain.

You can take pictures to support your analysis.