POL
303 Entire Course The American Constitution
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POL 303 Entire Course The American
Constitution
POL 303 Week 1 DQ 1 The Four Pillars
of U.S. Government
The Four Pillars of U.S. Government.
The federal government of the United States was constructed using the
directions provided in the U.S. Constitution. Our Founding Fathers had the
wisdom and foresight to create a very flexible and intelligently structured
government framework that has endured. The entire American political system is
based on four constitutionally derived pillars: a national government;
separation of powers; federalism; and individual rights. Briefly describe each
pillar, how it interacts with the other three pillars, and then provide
real-world examples of how each pillar supports our government. How does the
U.S. Constitution establish checks and balances and federalism using these
pillars? Please explain the reasoning behind your response.
POL 303 Week 1 DQ 2 Judicial
Independence Within a Political Process
Judicial Independence Within a
Political Process. Our judicial branch of government was designed not only to
serve as a check on the power of the executive and legislative branches but
also to be the final arbiter on disputes among states and between the states
and the federal government. One important arbitration tool utilized by the
judicial branch is judicial review. Judicial review is one of the U.S.
Constitution’s most provocative features as it plays an important role in
shaping the laws that impact our society. For this discussion, complete the
following:
Define judicial review.
Explain why the origins and
legitimacy of judicial review are often called into question.
Discuss whether the framers of the
Constitution intended for the judiciary to have this role in the policy making
process.
Share your opinion on judicial
review. Explain why you support or do not support judicial review.
POL 303 Week 2 DQ 1 Legislative and
Executive Powers
Legislative and Executive Powers.
Congress passes legislation and the president is tasked with implementing that
legislation unless the legislation is vetoed. The powers of both the
legislative and executive branches were on full display with the passage and
implementation of the Patriot Act. The U.S. Patriot Act was signed into law on
October 26, 2001 – after the events of September 11th that same year. This act
was passed because the legislative and executive branches felt there was a need
for more cooperation between key government intelligence agencies and broader
powers for law enforcement and the overall goal was a safer more secure United
States. However, as the events of September 11th become a more distant memory,
many have begun to question whether the Patriot Act is too broad in its scope
and if the Act infringes on individual civil rights and liberties. In your
opinion, does the Patriot Act infringe on civil rights and liberties? Explain
your reasoning, discuss why you do or do not support the Patriot Act, and
provide at real-world examples/evidence that support your answer. \
POL 303 Week 2 DQ 2 Federalism and
the Exercise of National Power
Federalism and the Exercise of
National Power. Our federal government has many duties, obligations, and powers
under the Constitution. Some scholars argue that the reach of the federal
government should be limited and constrained. Other scholars argue that the
federal government should not be constrained or limited where the welfare of
the U.S. people is concerned. For example, in the case, Gonzales v. Raich, the
boundaries of the federal government’s definition of interstate commerce are in
question. In this case, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) agents took marijuana
plants from a woman’s home in California under the Federal Controlled
Substances Act. However, under California’s Compassionate Use Act of 1996, the
plants were allowed for medical use. For this discussion, address the following
questions:
a. Does the federal government have
the right to ban marijuana under the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution?
b. Is this an overreach of the
federal system, or is this effort in line with the duties and obligations of
our central government described in the Constitution?
POL 303 Week 2 Federalism and
Constitutional Debates
Federalism and Constitutional
Debates. This assignment will require you to use your critical thinking skills
in evaluating how the concept of federalism interacts with various current
constitutional debates. In the prompt for the Final Research Paper (located in
Week Five of your online course or the Components of Course Evaluation section
of this guide), you have been provided a list of current constitutional debate
topics. Select one of these topics for this assignment and create a
hypothetical personal opinion article (op-ed) for your local newspaper. In this
op-ed, you must take a position supporting or opposing the issue you select.
Even though you will be choosing a side, you must discuss both sides of
the argument and then provide a logical argument why your position is valid,
credible, and should be supported.
Your paper should be organized into
the following sections:
§ Introduction
§ Discussion/claims supporting your position
§ Discussion/claims against your position (counter-arguments)
§ Summary argument supporting your
position
POL 303 Week 3 DQ 1 Establishment
and Exercise of Religion
Establishment and Exercise of
Religion. The lack of a national religion supported and established by the
federal government has been hailed as one of the most important principles that
ensure religious freedom in the United States. In addition, the ability to
practice any religious or non-religious beliefs is equally applauded as a core
tenant of religious freedom. Still, the debate over religious freedom continues
throughout our nation. Currently, numerous organized religions co-exist with
organizations for non-believers. In your opinion, what are the essential
elements of religious freedom? Is separation of church and state necessary?
Does the U.S. Constitution equally and effectively protect the rights of all
religious believers and non-believers? Explain your reasoning, discuss why you
are taking the positions you are taking in your response
POL 303 Week 3 DQ 2 Freedom of
Speech, Press, and Assembly- Today and Tomorrow
Freedom of Speech, Press, and
Assembly: Today and Tomorrow. Certain freedoms identified and protected by the
Constitution have been the subject of intense political, social, and cultural
controversy. The right of all Americans to believe, say, and write what they
want, to protest in our streets, and to challenge the pervading political,
social, cultural thoughts of the day are the most fundamental of American
freedoms. Yet, these freedoms have been, are, and will continue to be modified
and will evolve as our nation evolves. For instance, in the last 10 years,
numerous types of social media have been developed that have changed the way
society operates. New versions of social media, from Facebook to SnapChat, are
available at the click of a button – and even on our cellphones. When the
Founding Fathers wrote the U.S. Constitution, they had no idea how technology
would advance or how this would impact citizens’ rights. Is virtual freedom of
speech the same as freedom of speech in other media outlets (i.e., freedom of
the press)? What are some of the civil liberty balancing concerns between
freedom of speech/civil liberty supporters and security/law enforcement
officials? Be sure to consider the Reno v. ACLU case, found in your course
text, in your response.
POL 303 Week 3 Final Research Paper
Detailed Outline
Final Research Paper Detailed
Outline. The end of the course is rapidly approaching, and now is a great time
to begin working on your Final Research Paper. This assignment will give you an
opportunity to create a detailed outline of your paper that can be reviewed by
your instructor. The feedback that your instructor can provide will certainly
help you create a better final product.
Make sure to read over the
instructions for the Final Research Paper, which are located in Week Five of
your online course or in the Course Components section of this course guide. As
explained in those instructions, your paper should have six major sections. For
this assignment, you will need to create an outline in a Word document that
contains the following sections:
POL 303 Week 4 DQ 1 Stop and Frisk
Stop and Frisk. As you learned in
this week’s readings, many constitutional scholars consider the prohibition of
unreasonable searches and seizures as one of the most basic freedoms that the
Bill of Rights clearly protects. This central freedom supports and protects
other essential freedoms, like free speech, press, assembly, and religion.
Recently, this core freedom has become a very controversial debate topic as
large American cities, like New York City, have instituted police procedures
described as “stop and frisk.” In these cities, when a police officer has
reason to believe that a person is armed there is a set protocol for officers.
Officers can make stops based on suspicious activities and frisk individuals
for weapons. Courts have found this to be within the boundaries of the Fourth
Amendment until just recently. At what point does a reasonable search become
unreasonable? What is the role of probable cause in these efforts to provide
safety to our citizens? When, during this process, could the police officer
infringe on individual rights? Discuss why you support or do not support stop
and frisk efforts by the police.
POL 303 Week 4 DQ 2 Capital
Punishment and You
Capital Punishment and You. Every
American accused of a crime that could result in loss of life, liberty, and
properly has the right to fair treatment or due process. One of the most
divisive aspects of due process is capital punishment and the prevention of
cruel and unusual punishment to those convicted fairly of crimes. Specifically,
the Eighth Amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, and the ongoing
debate revolves around if the death penalty is or is not considered cruel and
unusual punishment. In your opinion, does the death penalty violate the U.S.
Constitution? Why, or why not? Does the age of those sentenced to death
influence your opinion of the death penalty, and if so, how? Please explain
your answer
POL 303 Week 5 DQ 1 What Right to
Privacy
What Right to Privacy?. The fact
that the Constitution does not have a specific clause or reference to a right
to privacy has become a very contentious cultural, social, and political issue
in the United States. The ability of the government to enter into the private
lives of American citizens has clearly been restricted by provisions in
the Fourth Amendment, yet the debate over certain privacy based rights such as
contraception, abortion rights, and consensual sexual activity continues today.
In particular, when discussing abortion, many immediately begin to debate a
woman’s right to choose. At the heart of the issue constitutionally is not
whether a woman has the right to make this discussion but whether she has the
right to privacy under the Fourth Amendment. Utilizing the U.S. Constitution
and valid case law, explain the role that the right to privacy has in
establishing the legality of abortion.
POL 303 Week 5 DQ 2 Discrimination
and the Future of Marriage
Discrimination and the Future of
Marriage. Three core values are often discussed when it comes to what all
Americans hold dear: democracy, liberty, and equality. Equality, in particular,
is a value and a right that Americans have fought other nations and each other
to preserve and expand. Until the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution was
passed, equal protection of the law was not part of our Constitution. This
critical amendment was the legal vehicle that enabled our nation to prohibit
discrimination based on race and sex and to also support and affirm the need
for diversity. Nevertheless, the struggle for equal protection and due process
continues, and other amendments to the Constitution, which include the Fifth,
Ninth, and Fourteenth Amendments, have become involved in this effort. One of the
most debated legal decisions involving equal protection thus far has been the
Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) of 1996. In a 2013 Supreme Court decision,
Section 3 of the Act was found to be unconstitutional. Did the Supreme Court
justices rightfully interpret the equal protection clause from the Fifth and/or
Fourteenth Amendments in this case? Identify and utilize constitutional
precedents and case law to support your argument
POL 303 Week 5 Final Paper
Focus of the Final Research Paper
In the Final Research Paper, you
will use your critical thinking skills to analyze and evaluate a current events
topic that has constitutional and political implications. Select from the list
below or utilize a topic approved by the instructor. The thesis of the paper will
be a statement identifying how the concepts of federalism, civil liberties, and
civil rights are implicated in and affected by this topic.
Select one topic from the following
list of constitutional issues:
§ Regulation of commerce
§ Religious freedom
§ Free speech
§ Privacy rights
§ Equal protection under law
The paper must be eight to ten pages
in length and formatted according to APA style. You must use at least six
scholarly resources (at least five of which can be found in the Ashford
University Library) other than the textbook to support your claims. Cite your
sources within the text of your paper and on the reference page. For
information regarding APA, including samples and tutorials, visit the Ashford
Writing Center, located within the Learning Resources tab on the left
navigation toolbar, in your online course.
