Question 1

What are the arguments that have been made for and against formal apologies and reparations? Why would apologies and reparations be necessary under a system that is based on equality, liberty, and freedom?

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Question 2

How did a government that was founded on theories of equality, liberty, and freedom engage in and institutionalize inequitable and unjust policies? Have these inequitable and unjust policies been fully eradicated? Even if everyone is now equal under the law (de jure), does this mean that they are treated as equal in society (de facto)?

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Question 3

Explain the nature of government. What is it and why is it necessary?

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Question 4

Government engages in various essential functions for its citizens. What are these functions? How are they carried out? Why do we find that governments perform these functions in differing ways and to various degrees?

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Question 5

The 1968 Fair Housing Act and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 have been described as means by which the U.S. government has provided security for its citizens. Describe an argument for why this is the case. Do you believe these pieces of legislation provide greater security? Why or why not?

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Question 6

The second function of government is to provide for the public good. What does this mean? What theoretical foundation of the U.S. government does this most closely relate to and how?

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Question 7

Democracy is a system of government that is now relatively widespread; however, not all democratic governments are the same. What is democracy? What is direct democracy? Indirect or representative democracy? Which form do we have in the United States and why?

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Question 8

Constitutional democracies are democratic systems of government in which authority for government stems from the constitution. What is a constitution? What are several of the characteristics shared by constitutional democracies? Why is a constitution important for a government?

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Question 9

While many nations with different cultures, histories, and populations operate under a democratic system that is run under a constitution, they do share some important similarities. What are the three main principles shared by constitutional democracies? Describe them and indicate how these principles work together.

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Question 10

Despite having a constitutional democracy, America has a history of applying different systems of law for different groups (particularly based on race). Give examples of how different systems of law have been applied to groups in the United States. How does this history diminish the concept of the rule of law in the context of the concept of natural rights?

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Question 11

Classical liberalism and classical republicanism are widely understood as the main theoretical foundations of the U.S. government. Less well understood and less widely acknowledged is the theoretical foundation of inegalitarianism. Define each of these theories. Highlight the ways in which the theories overlap and diverge. Have all three of these theories been equally influential in the American system of government?

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Question 12

Classical liberalism is largely concerned with the freedom of the individual, whereas classical republicanism is largely concerned with the welfare of the community over the individual. Explain and examine the main points of these theories. Make an argument concerning how these theories are related to the tradition of exclusion and which of the two theories is most in line with this tradition.

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Question 13

Civic virtue is defined as the subordination of individualism and individual self-interests to the interests of society. Many classical republican theorists and Founders believed in the idea of a virtuous citizenry and the concept of natural law. Given these philosophical realities, how was it possible for these individuals to reconcile the concepts of civic virtue (led by a virtuous citizenry) and the importance of natural law with the tradition of exclusion? Be sure to define and discuss each of these concepts in your answer.

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Question 14

Given that the Declaration of Independence espoused that "all men are created equal," how is it that significant proportions of the population at the founding were prohibited from political, economic, and social participation and inclusion? Examine in detail the justifications for racial exclusion at the founding. Which groups were excluded from the system? How were they excluded and why? Be sure to also indicate whether there was any variation in this exclusion in the context of various non-white groups.

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Question 15

Inegalitarianism, or the tradition of exclusion, is a concept that existed long before the founding of the United States. Explain in detail the underlying premises of inegalitarianism during the nascent stages of the nation. Which groups were subjugated under this system and how? Give examples of the continuing influence of inegalitarianism in U.S. politics today.

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Question 16

The existence of the Iroquois Confederacy demonstrates that democratic theories, ideals, and principles were not solely held and created by Europeans. Outline the setup of the Iroquois Confederacy and provide at least two examples of democratic principles that were upheld by this governing body. How did the Iroquois Confederacy influence the development of the American political system?

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Question 17

Three of the concepts at the base of the theoretical foundations of the United States are life, liberty, and property. Nevertheless, there are circumstances under which these concepts were at odds with one another. Examine competing ideological theories concerning property and liberty, in the context of the main justifications used by the Founders for the continuation of slavery.

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Question 18

Evaluate this claim: "The Founders did not intend the Constitution to apply to Blacks and Indians." What evidence do we have to support this claim? Can it be refuted?

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Question 19

Examine how race influenced the American political system. How was race used to define who could and could not be a citizen? Does race continue to be a factor in the political system?

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Question 20

Evaluate this claim: One cannot truly study and understand the American political system without studying and understanding the effects of race on the development of that system.

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Quiz 1: American Government and Politics in a Racially Divided World