PLS 201 Study Guide - Spring 2018, Comprehensive Midterm Notes - United States Constitution, Liberty, United States Congress
12 Oct 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
PLS 201
MIDTERM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE
Fall 2018
American Political Culture Video
● Democracy is sustained by culture.
● Ideology vs Political Culture
○ Ideology
■ What our government should be doing.
○ Political Culture
■ How political and economic life should be lived.
● Components to our political culture.
○ Liberty
○ Democracy
○ Individualism
○ Civic Duty
○ Self Reliance
● Root of our culture is found in our solidarity.
● MOST IMPORTANT!
○ Efficacy
■ Internal - We understand what the government is doing. Stable.
■ External - We think the government understands us by being
responsive to our needs. Decline.
● Orthodox
○ Morality is more important than self expression.
● Progressive
○ Personal freedom is more important than traditional moral rules.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Constitution Notes
● Sept. 17 1787
○ Created framework for new nation
● Resulted in a compromise and protects president and residents
● Constitution is in Washington D.C
○ The meaning has been undecided since it’s written.
● Liberty and prevents the government from having too much pwoer
● Congress - debate issues and pass laws and power to declare war
● House - Power to impeach.
● Checks and Balances - Leads to tensions between branches.
● Surveillance approved by many government officials.
● Supreme court has the final say
Discussion Board
1.) We think we know the U.S. Constitution like the back of our hands, but do we really
know the true interpretation set by the framers in the late nineteenth century? More
importantly, is it a living document or a dead document? Why?
a.) I believe we do not know the true interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, because
the Constitution is kind of broad which causes multiple interpretations today.
b.) I believe that the Constitution is a living document because we still follow these
rules and continue to try and interpret it in so many ways and use it in plenty of
different cases.
2.) Choose one of the twenty-seven amendments, and interpret it based on how you see it.
a.) I chose the 13th amendment, and I interpret it as America knows slavery is bad,
but they justify it by saying it’s alright if that person is in prison.
3.) What factors played a role in your interpretation? Do you think your interpretation of the
amendment today reflects how people felt when it was ratified? If so, how? If not, why
not?
a.) Understanding my Black history, having family members that have been to jail,
and public information such as; ‘The 13th’ documentary.
b.) Yes, because in our history nobody really said ‘slavery is bad and we need to
stop it at all costs in all shapes and forms’ but instead we had things such as;
‘Emancipation Proclamation’ signed by President Lincoln which was ‘supposedly’
freed the slaves; however, he had slaves and slavery was not completely
abolished them because the Civil War lasted years after this and we still went
through Reconstruction. And those who created the Constitution obviously didn’t
want to give up slavery because they included an exception to justify slavery
which is taken advantage of today even if many people believe slavery should be
banned altogether with no exceptions.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
