Philosophical and Historical Foundations of the American Political System (Blog #6)

Your Assignment: (*You are to get in groups of 3 or 4 and answer the following questions.  Each group member is still responsible to post on the blog to get points for their work.)

1).  How would you distinguish between a government with a constitution and a constitutional government?  Why is that distinction important?
     A). Why is a constitution considered a higher law?  What are the major characteristics of a higher law?
     B). What are the advantages of a written constitution?

2).  Compare the major purposes of government according to classical republicanism with the major purposes according to the natural rights philosophy.
     A). When classical republicans spoke of the "office" of citizen, what did they mean?
     B). Classical republican thinkers believed that civic virtue must be learned, therefore all young people     must receive moral education.  Do you agree or disagree?  Why?

3).  Although the states experimented with various models in writing their new constitutions, all of them included some basic principles.  What were those basic principles and why were they important?
     A). How would you explain legislative supremacy and why did most states favor it?
     B). What ideas drawn from the natural rights philosophy were reflected in the new state constitutions?


Due:  Sunday by no later than 11:59pm

Principles of the Constitution (Blog #5)

Your Assignment:

1)  Click on the link below and watch the video.  Then answer the question below.

http://www.hippocampus.org/History & Government?loadLeftClass=CourseCombination&loadLeftId=18&loadTopicId=1295

2)  Contained within the United States Constitution are 6 key principles that guide our democracy. Out of the 6 principles contained within the Constitution which of the 3 do you think is the most important and why. Explain in detail.


Due: By Sunday no later than 11:59 p.m.

Requirements for Citizenship (Blog #4)

Now that you have expressed you feeling about immigration and its importance, or lack there of, we now turn to "Citizenship" itself. Answer the following questions fully and completely. Research in your text or on the internet to find the correct answers.


Your Assignment:

1). What are the three basic requirements for citizenship?
2). Proof of what other qualifications is required during the naturalization process?
3). If you could change anything about the naturalization process, what would it be and why?


Due: By Sunday no later than 11:59pm

Citizenship and Immigration (Blog #3)

I have received some comments stating the want for more opinion type blog assignments, so here we go!!

Recently, we have discussed citizenship and immigration issues. For this assignment you are to state what you think the government should do about immigration (Not just illegal immigration, but legal immigrants too). Remember, the U.S. is a country made up of immigrants. Then the second and third parts of this assignment is to look at two of your classmates blogs and comment/reply on their opinion.


******* http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis *******


**(Do not forget about the posting rules and being respectful to others. If you violate the posting rules, you will receive a zero for this assignment.)

Due: By Sunday no later than 11:59 p.m.