Answer All of the Following Questions. Explain Your Answers. Give Examples

ANSWER ALL OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWERS. GIVE EXAMPLES.

NOTE: final exam exemptions subject to completion of this take home test by the due date.

DIRECTIONS: You may not type your answers; write neatly on this packet. Use specific facts and examples to support you answers. No introduction or conclusion statements are necessary; you are only required to answer the questions.

PART 1

1. The U.S. Founding Fathers often cited Natural Law as the basis of our founding principles. Why is objective truth so valued in Natural Law philosophy?

2. What are natural rights? Discuss the ideas of the U.S Founding Fathers to support your answer.

3. Why did the U.S. Founders believe that our natural rights are not safe unless government is established?

4. Why did the U.S. Founders believe that excessive government power threatens our natural rights?

PART 2

5. Discuss James Madison’s criticism of pure democracy (refer to The Federalist Papers #10).

6. What is a republic? Why did the U.S. Founders believe it was the best form of government?

7. identify and describe the three branches of U.S. government. Explain: how does the U.S. Constitution prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful?

8. Why is federalism part of the American approach to government?

9. Describe one way the U.S. Constitution protects civil liberties.

10. In your opinion, do any present day laws or social trends unjustly threaten or limit civil liberties? Give a specific example and explain.

11. Cincinnatus was a hero of the Roman Republic. Why was his story so important to the U.S. Founders?

12. What is civic virtue? Explain your opinion: do the American people show enough civic virtue for the success of our republic?

PART 3

13. Why is the United States often described as “exceptional”?

14. How do some criticize America’s status as the lone super power?

15.How do some argue that America’s status as the lone super power was justly earned and benefits the world?

PART 4

16. Who attacked the U.S. on 9/11/2001, and why did they attack?

17. Why did the U.S. invade Afghanistan in October 2001? What were the results?

18. Why did the U.S. invade Iraq in March 2003? What were the results?

19. Why was the U.S. invasion of Iraq so controversial?

20. After the attacks of 9/11/2001, why did the U.S. government pass the USA PATRIOT ACT, and create the Department of Homeland Security? Why were these actions controversial?

21. What are some of the methods used by the National Security Agency (NSA) to prevent terrorist attacks on Americans? Why is the NSA criticized by many Americans?

PART 5

22. How do American liberals and conservatives differ over the issue of personal versus social responsibility? Give a specific example.

23. How do American liberals and conservatives differ over the issue of equality of opportunity versus equality of condition? Give a specific example.

24. How do American liberals and conservatives differ over the issue of “big government” versus “small government”? Give a specific example.

25. How do American liberals and conservatives differ over the issue of identity? Give a specific example.

26. How do American liberals and conservatives differ over the use of force? Give a specific example.

27. How do American liberals and conservatives differ over social issues (the “culture wars”)? Give a specific example.

28. Explain one issue in American politics in which you agree more with a liberal position.

29. Explain one issue in American politics in which you agree more with a conservative position.

FINAL THOUGHTS

30. In your opinion, what is the most important thing you learned in this class? Explain.