Approaching Democracy

Provide thoughtful short answers to the questions below. The course book is titled “Approaching Democracy” eighth edition by Berman and Murphy . Chapter 1 (Read Approaching Contemporary Issues in Democracy on page 12 to answer question 1) 1. To protect the legitimacy of elections, governments must protect against voter fraud. What do you think should be the proper balance between ensuring limited fraud in elections and allowing every eligible citizen the chance to vote? 2. In April 2009, the Department of Homeland Security issued a report titled “Right-wing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment.” The report suggested that acts of violence could come from unnamed “right-wing extremists” concerned about illegal immigration, abortion, increasing federal power, and restrictions on firearms. It singles out returning war veterans as susceptible to recruitment. At what point are people with divergent views from those holding power a danger to the stability of the government rather than legitimate political opposition? Chapter 2 3. Have President Barack Obama’s initial policy changes in the war on terror from the Bush administration policies “approached democracy”? Have they traded a reduction in security to achieve that goal? 4. If the new national government had been more successful in organizing the states, would the United States have been successful under the Articles of Confederation? Or was the redrafting process inevitable because the national government would have tried to acquire more power? 5. How would the U.S. government be different today if just the Virginia or New Jersey plans had been wholly adopted? 6. What role should the Constitution and The Bill of Rights play during times of crisis? How much of that determination should reflect the Constitution’s role in earlier times of crisis? Should that interpretation of rights under the Constitution depend on which political party has been able to appoint the majority of the members of the Supreme Court? Chapter 3 7. In the Spring of 1970, protesting student on college campuses around the nation sought to nullify the national government’s war in Vietnam by “Striking” from classes and gathering to protest. Under what conditions do you think that students, localities, and states should seek to nullify policies, and under what conditions should succession be considered? 8. In 1937, President Roosevelt believed the Supreme Court was so out of tune politically with his policies, which had been supported by the voters in the previous election, that he proposed to add justices to that body to change its voting direction. With the Court’s voting majority now reflecting the membership in 1987, more than two decades ago, under what conditions should the Court be changed, and how?