American Government (POL 100): course “Civic Engagement and Young People’s Participation” by Prof. Remi Alapo
Week 1 – 2
Assignment 1
Complete Quiz: public opinion survey on immigration
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdFPynn64rBGO9wURS8vam_h21aYVgVxSrKtPPFb0l8be4Ctg/viewform
Assignment 2
The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli and Thomas Paine – Common Sense. Post under week 3 Discussion Board.
Common Sense by Thomas Paine.
Read http://www.ushistory.org/us/10f.asp
Watch the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpEpv7d_vDY
- What was common sense about?
- What conclusions were made?
- What did Thomas Paine propose?
- What did he oppose?
- What conclusions did he reach?
- Did “Common Sense” make any sense? Why or why not?
The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli
Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEL66zOIHns
The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli:
Read: The Prince by Nicholo Machiavelli 2019.pdf
- What is the prince about?
- What were Machiavelli’s main arguments?
- Do you agree with any of Machiavelli’s advice? Why or Why not?
- Which of his advice speaks to you the most? Why or Why not?
4) Download the Common Sense Worksheet:
Thomas Paine Lesson-StudentVersion.pdf
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Please note that I have made some adjustments to the weekly discussions on the BB page. We will continue our discussion on BILL OF RIGHTS in week 5 which leads to discussions on Civil Rights and Liberties.
TUESDAY
1) Bills or Rights: 4.14_Handout_A_What_Is_the_Scope_of_the_Bill_of_Rights.pdf
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/educate/educator-resources/teaching-with-current-events/
2) Equal and Inalienable Rights: 4.14_Handout_B_Supreme_Court_Personal_Liberty_Decisions.pdf
https://www.docsoffreedom.org/student/readings/equal-and-inalienable-rights
3) Due Process Under the Law: 4.12_Handout_A_The_Bill_of_Rights.pdf / 4.12_Handout_B_Excerpts_from_the_State_of_the_Union_Address_by_FDR.pdf
https://www.docsoffreedom.org/readings/due-process-of-law
4) Student Rights and Freedom of Expression: https://billofrightsinstitute.org/elessons/student-rights-and-the-freedom-of-expression/
5) Individual Rights vs Duties (positive vs Negative Rights) 4.12_Handout_C_Negative_and_Positive_Rights.pdf / 4.12_Handout_C_Negative_and_Positive_Rights_Answer_Key.pdf
https://www.docsoffreedom.org/readings/rights-and-the-new-deal
Current Events on Civil Rights and Liberties
1) Modern Debates on Rights – Inalienable vs Natural Rights – modern debates on rights.pdf
https://www.docsoffreedom.org/readings/modern-debates-on-rights
2) National Government, Crisis and Civil Liberties https://www.docsoffreedom.org/readings/modern-debates-on-rights
3) Know Your Rights: ACLU Know Your Rights – ACLU.pdf
3) Civil Liberties
3.6_Handout_F_Civil_Liberty_Laws.pdf : https://www.docsoffreedom.org/activities/national-government-crisis-and-civil-liberties-activity-lincoln-and-habeas-corpus
3.6_Handout_G_The_History_of_Civil_Liberty_La_Answer_Key.pdf : History of Civil Liberties Law
Current Affairs
House Blocks Trump’s Border wall “Emergency Declaration”: https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/house-vote-trump-national-emergency/h_f580d72beab7069b360e9340bb38e7f0
THURSDAY
4) Civil Rights
a) Civil Rights Movement : 3.6_Handout_F_Civil_Liberty_Laws.pdf
b) State and Federal Law : 5.6_Handout_C_State_and_Federal_Law _1_.pdf
c) Images of Segregation: 5.6_Handout_E_Images_of_Segregation.pdf
d) Civil Rights 5.6_Handouts_A_H_Answer_Keys.pdf
e) Civil Rights Declaration and MLK Handout_A_The_Declaration_and_MLK.pdf
https://www.docsoffreedom.org/readings/the-civil-rights-movement
Discussion
1) Should there be a 2nd Bill of Rights amended to cover what the 1st bill of rights did not include?
2) What are positive and negative rights?
3) Discuss some civil rights as applicable to today’s current events in the United States.
Current Affairs
1) House passes gun control bill after GOP undocumented bill: https://www.aol.com/article/news/2019/02/27/house-passes-gun-background-check-bill-after-GOP-undocumented-amendment/23680014/
2)Lawmakers Racial dispute Mare’s Cohen’ hearing – https://www.aol.com/article/news/2019/02/27/lawmakers-racial-dispute-mars-cohen-hearing/23680048/
3) Trump and Nuke deal with N. Korea (meeting in Vietnam): https://www.aol.com/article/news/2019/02/28/pelosi-kim-jong-un-the-big-winner-of-summit-with-trump/23680774/
Assignment
1) The Declaration and MLK Jnr. (Hand out A)
Answer the 4 questions after reading the text.
2) Know Your Rights (handout: protest)
a) Describe a Civil Rights / Liberties that you have experienced or witnessed.
b) What amendments were violated? Why / Why not?
c) What could have been done / prevented? (eg under what amendment or rights?)
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Assignment: post your responses under week 5-6 thread on BB
1) The Declaration and MLK Jnr. (Hand out A)
Answer the 4 questions after reading the text.
2) Know Your Rights (handout: protest)
a) Describe a Civil Rights / Liberties that you have experienced or witnessed.
b) What amendments were violated? Why / Why not?
c) What could have been done / prevented? (eg under what amendment or rights?
Video
Civil Liberties / Civil Rights – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI01oMUM0Ek&t=703s
Guide Star list of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Organizations: https://www.guidestar.org/nonprofit-directory/public-societal-benefit/civil-rights-liberties/1.aspx
Civil Rights Project (UCLA) https://www.civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/resources/civil-rights-organizations
Human Rights Organizations: http://www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org/human_rights_organizations
Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Project: https://www.psjd.org/Civil_Rights_and_Civil_Liberties
Insiders Guide to Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (Harvard University): guide-civil-rights.pdf
https://hls.harvard.edu/content/uploads/2008/07/guide-civil-rights.pdf
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