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POL 201 Week 1 DQ 1 The U.S. Constitution
POL 201 Week 1 DQ 2 Week One Reflection
POL 201 Week 1 Learning Activity The Constitution
POL 201 Week 1 Quiz
POL 201 Week 2 DQ 1 Policy and Your Life
POL 201 Week 2 DQ 2 Week Two Reflection
POL 201 Week 2 Learning Activity Federalism
POL 201 Week 2 Quiz
POL 201 Week 3 DQ 1 The Electoral College
POL 201 Week 3 DQ 2 Week Three Reflection
POL 201 Week 3 Learning Activity Branches of Government
POL 201 Week 3 Quiz
POL 201 Week 4 DQ 1 Individual Rights and the Obligations of Gove
rnment
POL 201 Week 4 DQ 2 Week Four Reflection
POL 201 Week 4 Learning Activity Political Parties, Interest Groups,
and Elections

POL 201 Week 4 Quiz
POL 201 Week 5 DQ 1 Voting and Voter Turnout
POL 201 Week 5 DQ 2 Week Five Reflection
POL 201 Week 5 Final Paper America’s Democracy: Your Report Ca
rd
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POL 201 Week 1 DQ 1 The U.S. Constitution
The U.S. Constitution
Prepare: Prior to writing your initial post, read Chapters 1 and 2 of
American Government. In addition, watch the video provided on the
U.S. Constitution, Episode IV - Built to Last.
Reflect: The U.S. Constitution is the cornerstone of our federal gover
nment. The Constitution establishes a basic operational framework th
at enables the three branches of government – executive, legislative, a
nd judicial – to interact and function as a unit. Embedded in this oper
ational framework are two key principles: separation of powers and a
system of checks and balances.

Write: In your initial post, explain why the separation of powers and t
he system of checks and balances are important for our democracy. P
rovide recent, real-world examples of the separation of powers and c
hecks/balances in action (one example each). Also, discuss how the C
onstitution protects individual and group rights. Again, provide a rec
ent real-world example of these Constitutional protections being appl
ied here in the U.S. You must fully respond to all parts of the prompt
and write your response in your own words.
Support your position with APA citations from two or more of the assi
gned resources required for this discussion. Please be sure that you d
emonstrate understanding of these resources, integrate them into you
r argument, and cite them properly. Your initial post should be 200 to
250 words and be written in complete sentences.
Respond to Peers: By Day 7, respond to at least two of your classmat
es' initial posts. Your peer responses should be 75 to 100 words each.
Demonstrate your understanding of the topic by respectfully asking q
uestions, raising new points for consideration, or requesting clarificat
ion from your fellow students. For example, you may want to compar
e your real-world examples to those of your classmates and see how t
hey are similar or different and discuss why.
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POL 201 Week 1 DQ 2 Week One Reflection

Week One Reflection.
Prepare: Prior to beginning your reflection this week, complete all co
urse readings, your introduction, and the
Discussion, “The U.S. Constitution.”
Reflect: Once you have completed these assignments think about how
American politics have and could affect your career aspirations. The
Founding Fathers created an amazing governmental structure that aff
ects almost every aspect of our lives even today. For instance, if you a
re a criminal justice major, what parts of the U.S. Constitution are ap
plicable to what you are learning in your major? If you are a busines
s major, which branch of government – executive, legislative, or judic
ial – has, or will have, the greatest influence on your business ambitio
ns? If you are a political science major, how does separation of powe
rs in the U.S. government affect the operations of most economic, soci
al, and political processes throughout the United States?
Write: In your initial post, based on your current academic major (de
clared or not), complete one of the following:
• Describe which actions of the Founding Fathers are cont
inuing to affect your future career goals.
• Discuss how separation of powers is influencing your cu
rrent or future job.
• Explain why checks and balances are important to know
in your future employment positions.

• Expound on how the Constitution is still relevant to the c
areer you want to pursue.
Fully respond to all parts of the prompt and write your response in yo
ur own words. Support your position with APA citations from two or
more of the assigned resources required for this discussion. Please be
sure that you demonstrate understanding of these resources, integrate
them into your argument, and cite them properly. Your initial post sh
ould be 200 to 250 words.
es' initial posts. Your peer responses should be 75 to 100 words each.
Comment on a peer response that you did not select to respond to and
extend the conversation by examining their claims or arguments in m
ore depth. Keep the discussion on target and try to analyze things in a
s much detail as you can. For instance, you might consider comparin
g your perspectives on how the Constitution affects your career goals
to how it affects a classmate with different career goals.
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POL 201 Week 1 Learning Activity The
Constitution

The Constitution. The weekly worksheets will help you build all the n
ecessary parts for your Final Paper. This week, you will evaluate the
strengths and weaknesses of the most important document for Americ
a’s national government, the U.S. Constitution. In your worksheet, yo
u will describe one strength and one weakness of the Constitution. In
addition, you will need to recommend a way to maintain the strength
of this amazing document and a way to correct a weakness. This effor
t begins the process of critically analyzing key features of our nationa
l government.
To complete the assignment, save the Week One Learning Activity Wo
rksheet (available in the online classroom) to your computer, fill it ou
t, and submit it.
Develop a detailed outline of your first main point using the Week On
e Learning Activity Worksheet.
1.The Constitution:
• Provide a topic sentence that briefly describes one stren
gth and one weakness of the U.S. Constitution.
• Provide a topic sentence that recommends one option to
maintain the strength and one to correct the weakness.
2.Scholarly Support: (Please access the Ashford Writing Center’s Sa
mple Annotated Bibliography)
• Provide two credible sources in APA format to support
your main points.
• Briefly discuss how these sources support your main po
int.
• Briefly evaluate your sources for bias, validity, and reli
ability.
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POL 201 Week 1 Quiz
Question 1. The American system of government can be most accurat
ely described as a _________.
Question 2. In 1607, the English monarch King James I granted a cha
rter to which organization to establish a settlement in the Chesapeake
region?
Question 3. The Connecticut Plan, also known as the Great Comprom
ise, combined elements of which two other plans during the Constituti
onal Convention of 1787?
Question 4. What United States document establishes the core princip
les on which our government is based?
Question 5. The Federalist Papers were intended to
Question 6. The theory of “American Exceptionalism” is rooted in th
e idea that the United States was founded in opposition to the Europe
an feudalistic tradition.

Question 7. True or False: Republicanism prefers small governance u
nits and assumes homogeneity while Liberalism tolerates diversity an
d is thus heterogeneous.
Question 8. English philosophers Thomas Hobbes and John Locke sh
ared the view that all government arrangements should be based on
what principle?
Question 9. Which of these three branches of government was NOT es
tablished by the U.S. Constitution?
Question 10. Which of these beliefs is NOT a tenant of modern liberal
ism?
Question 11. The conservative idea that limitations should be placed
on state actions is known as __________.
Question 12. The Three-Fifths Compromise was included in the Const
itution to resolve tension between northern states and southern states
regarding _________.
Question 13. The Anti-Federalists were concerned that the Constituti
on did not
Question 14. The Articles of Confederation invested the greatest powe
r in the individual states and left the national government weak and p
owerless.

Question 15. English philosopher John Locke wrote in his Second Tre
atise that the individual exists in a hypothetical state of __________.
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POL 201 Week 2 DQ 1 Policy and Your Life
Policy and Your Life
Prepare: Prior to beginning work on this discussion question, read C
hapters 3 and 4 in American Government. In addition, watch the vide
os provided on federalism: Quick Study of Federalism Part 1, Quick S
tudy of Federalism Part 2, and Quick Study of Federalism Part 3, and
the U.S. Constitution: Episode I - A More Perfect Union.
Reflect: The U.S. government's expansive role in public policy is caug
ht in a swirl of conflicting crosscurrents. On the one hand, popular ex
pectations about government's responsibility to solve problems often
exceed the capacity of state and local authorities to respond effectivel
y. On the other hand, policies developed at the national level may not
sufficiently reflect the great diversity of interests across the U.S. to be
effective at the local level. Moreover, the search for effective policy is
further complicated by theoretical debates about the constitutional fr
amework of federalism, that is, what limits on national power can be
derived from the Tenth Amendment?

Write: Select a policy or piece of legislation that involves the progra
m you are seeking a degree in (i.e., your major). In your initial post, d
iscuss the federalism challenges that this policy is creating or facing.
For example:
• If you are an education major, how are local, state, and f
ederal government policies affected by the No Child Left Behind legis
lation or some other piece of education-related legislation?
• If you are a criminal justice major, how does recent lega
lization of marijuana in some states affect local, state, and federal co
ntrol over this issue?
• If you are a business major, how does the insurance man
date in the Affordable Care Actaffect local, state, and national busine
sses and their employees?
• If you are a political science major how has the recent C
itizen’s United ruling affected the amount of money available for cam
paigns at the local, state, or federal levels? Fully respond to all parts
of the prompt and write your response in your own words. Your initia
l must be 200 to 250 words. Support your position with APA citations
from two or more of the assigned resources required for this discussi
on. Please be sure that you demonstrate understanding of these resou
rces, integrate them into your argument, and cite them properly.
es' initial posts. Your peer responses each should be 75 to 100 words.
As your reply to your classmates, attempt to take the conversation furt
her by examining their claims or arguments in more depth or respond
ing to the posts that they reply to you with. Keep the discussion on tar
get and try to analyze things in as much detail as you can. For instan

ce, you might consider reflecting on why the legislation selected by on
e of your classmate’s is impacted differently than the one you selected
.
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POL 201 Week 2 DQ 2 Week Two Reflection
Prepare: Prior to beginning your reflection this week, complete all co
urse readings and assigned videos, and the
Discussion, “Policy and Your Life.”
Reflect: Once you have completed these assignments, think about how
federalism and the U.S. Congress have or will affect your life. The fed
eral structure ensures that there is a clear line between local, state, a
nd federal government regulations, policies, and oversight—
sometimes! Think about how federal statues affect your work or will a
ffect your work in the future. Does Congress have oversight of any of
the processes or products in your workplace? Do the government reg
ulations, policies, and oversight sometimes conflict with local or state
regulations, policies, and oversight?

Write: In your initial post of, based on your current or desired job, co
mplete the following:
• Describe how a federal policy affects your current or des
ired workplace.
· Explain what role Congress has in establishing workpla
ce conditions in your current or desired job.
Fully respond to all parts of the prompt and write your response in yo
ur own words. Your initial post should be 200 to 250 words. Support
your position with APA citations from two or more of the assigned res
ources required for this discussion. Please be sure that you demonstr
ate understanding of these resources, integrate them into your argum
ent, and cite them properly. Respond to Peers: By Day 7, respond to a
t least two of your classmates' initial posts. Your peer responses shoul
d be 75 to 100 words each. As your reply to your classmates, extend t
he conversation by examining their claims or arguments in more dept
h or by responding to the posts that they reply to you with. Keep the d
iscussion on target and try to analyze things in as much detail as you
can. For instance, you might consider comparing how federal policie
s affect your workplace to how they affect a different workplace of on
e of your classmates.
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POL 201 Week 2 Learning Activity Federalism

Federalism This week, we continue completing the worksheets in pre
paration for the Final Paper. One of the most important structures in
the national government is federalism. Understanding the relationshi
p between local, state, and national level governments is critical in be
ing able to understand all of the key features of our national governm
ent. Describe an advantage and a disadvantage to a national policy t
hat an agency in the federal bureaucracy must implement. In addition
, recommend an option to maintain the advantage and one to improve
the disadvantage.
To complete the assignment, save the Week Two Learning Activity Wo
rksheet (available in the online classroom) to your computer, fill it ou
t, and submit it.
Develop a detailed outline of your second main point using the Week
Two Learning Activity Worksheet. 1. Federal Policies:
• Provide a topic sentence that briefly describes one advantage and
one disadvantage to a national policy that must be implemented by on
e agency of the federal bureaucracy.
• Provide a topic sentence that recommends one option to maintain t
he advantage and one to improve the disadvantage.
2. Scholarly Support: (Please access the Ashford Writing Center’s Sa
• Provide two credible sources in APA format to support your main
points.
• Briefly discuss how these sources support your main point.
• Briefly evaluate your sources for bias, validity, and reliability.
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POL 201 Week 2 Quiz
Question 1. The national government can attempt to gain the coopera
tion of state governments by using what type of coercive measures?
Question 2. The Tenth Amendment balances out national authority by
Question 3. A presidential veto of a bill can be overridden by what pe
rcentage vote of all members of Congress?
Question 4. Which legislative act is a good example of intergovernme
ntal relations that are the hallmark of Cooperative Federalism?
Question 5. The principal powers of Congress include all except
Question 6. If the President requests a Congressional authorization fo
r the use of force, Congress
Question 7. In federalism, the national government

Question 8. John C. Calhoun proposed the following to assert states’
right:
Question 9. When Congress prepares a budget
Question 10. A unitary system of government has some advantages co
mpared to a federal system. Which of these choices is NOT an advant
age of a unitary system of government?
Question 11. A congressional whip is a floor leader that gauges supp
ort for bills and tries to enforce party discipline in accordance with a
political agenda.
Question 12. True or False: Gerrymandering occurs when a district i
s intentionally configured to equalize the influence of all component g
roups and to guarantee that certain representatives keep their seats.
Question 13. Under a Home Rule Charter, local authority is
Question 14. Congressional staff have an important role in Congress
because
Question 15. On average, running for a seat in the House of Represen
tatives costs around $100,000.

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POL 201 Week 3 DQ 1 The Electoral College
Prepare:
Prior to beginning work on this discussion question, read Chapters
5 and 6 in American Government. In addition, read the following ar
ticles:
“What Are the Arguments Made in Favor – and Against – the Elector
al College?,”
“GOP Leaders United in Defense of the Electoral College,” and the
ProQuest article
“Why the Electoral College is Bad for America.” Also, please watch t
his week’s videos, Episode I - A More Perfect Unionand Episode II - I
t’s a Free Country regarding the U.S. Constitution.
Reflect: As the textbook author asserts, the Framers intentionally desi
gned a process for selecting presidents that would minimize the presi
dent’s political power – the Electoral College. They hoped this institu
tion would insulate the chief executive from the public because they fe

ared the power of presidents who might be elected by the people. Ho
wever, the Electoral College has also spawned a long ongoing debate
about whether the Electoral
College should be abandoned in favor of new methods, which would e
nsure that the candidate elected has the most popular votes. The contr
oversy over the Electoral College must be understood in order to bett
er understand how and why U.S. presidents are elected.
Write: In your initial post, summarize how the Electoral College wor
ks. Explain some of the main pros and cons in the debate about wheth
er to keep or abolish the current Electoral College process. In additio
n, evaluate one proposal to change how the system works without for
mally abolishing it. Would this proposal effectively address some of t
he cons that you identified earlier in your post? Please explain your r
esponse.
Fully respond to all parts of the question and write your response in y
our own words. Your initial post must be 200 to 250 words. Support y
our position with APA citations from two or more of the assigned res
ent, and cite them properly.
es' initial posts. Your peer responses should be 75to 100 words each.
As your reply to your classmates, attempt to take the conversation furt
her by examining their claims or arguments in more depth or respond
ing to the posts that they make to you. Keep the discussion on target a
nd try to analyze things in as much detail as you can. For instance, yo

u might consider comparing your classmates’ proposals for changing
the Electoral College against your own proposal.
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POL 201 Week 3 DQ 2 Week Three Reflection
Week Three Reflection
American Government. Review the videos, Episode I - A More Perfe
ct Union and Episode II - It’s a Free Country regarding the U.S. Con
stitution.
Reflect: The executive and judicial branches of the U.S. national gove
rnment often seem to operate independently and with little conflict. M
any laws are signed by the President and then implemented without a
word from the judicial branch. However, there are times when executi
ve decisions are challenged by the judicial branch in a process called
judicial review. In addition, there are times when a judicial review ha
s direct impact on your life. For example, when the Supreme Court de
clared the Affordable Care Act constitutional, many people without h
ealth care insurance were finally able to purchase health care insura
nce. Additionally, when the Supreme Court
declared sections of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional, so
me of the constraints that prevented many gay and lesbian couples fro

m marrying were eliminated. Executive Order 13658 on February 20,
2014 also had a direct impact on many business people that contract
with the federal government by increasing the minimum wage to $10.
10 per hour. Clearly, the actions of the executive and judicial branch
es often directly affect our lives.
Write: In your initial post, explain how and why the actions of the exe
cutive and/or judicial branches have personally affected your life. Ful
ly respond to all parts of the question. Write in your own words. Supp
ort your position with APA citations to two or more of the assigned re
sources required for this discussion. Fully respond to all parts of the
prompt and write your response in your own words. Your initial post
must be 200 to 250 words. Please be sure that you demonstrate under
standing of these resources, integrate them into your argument, and c
ite them properly.
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POL 201 Week 3 Learning Activity Branches
of Government
Branches of Government. The three branches of our government ea
ch play crucial roles in the U.S. national government. Each branch h
as specific power, duties, and responsibilities that are the most appar
ent features of our system of separate powers. Nevertheless, each bra
nch has been critiqued for having definite strengths and weaknesses t

hat become obvious in certain situations. Analyzing these strengths a
nd weaknesses will enable you to evaluate and recommend ways to en
hance and correct these fundamental assets and deficiencies of the br
anches of our national government.
To complete the assignment, save the Week Three Learning Activity
Worksheet (available in the online classroom) to your computer, fill it
out, and submit it.
Develop a detailed outline of your third main point using the Week Th
ree Learning Activity Worksheet.
• Branches of Government:
• Provide a topic sentence that briefly describes one stren
gth and one weakness of one branch of our government: executive, le
gislative, or judiciary.
maintain the strength and one to correct the weakness.
• Scholarly Support: (Please access the Ashford Writing Center’s Sa
your main points.
int.

ability.
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POL 201 Week 3 Quiz
1. Question :
In the realm of foreign affairs, presidents are usually weak and must s
olicit congressional approval before entering into agreements with ot
her countries.
Question 2. Question :
Prior judicial experience is required to be appointed as a judge on th
e federal level.
The president and Congress are unable to control the bureaucracy or
hold it accountable because:
The idea that citizens should be suspicious of a strong central govern
ment would best be described as:

The scope of presidential power has expanded over time due to presid
ents carving out their own powers as they have needed.
The Supreme Court concept of “stare decisis” is the concept of ruling
by decisions that were:
The position of Secretary of Defense was created with the passage wh
ich Act of Congress?
Which of these organizations has layers of both political appointees a
nd civil servants?
The Federal Register is the official journal of the federal government.
Which statement(s) below best describes the Federal Register?
Which president did NOT declare martial law on U.S. soil to place mi
litary authorities in charge of state actions, instead of civilians?

Which of the following best defines an “imperial presidency”?
Which of these presidents exercised “presidential prerogative” to exp
and his authority in ways not stated in the Constitution?
What role does a court play when it takes the view that its decisions s
hould be based on what the Framers or the authors of particular stat
utes or amendments intended?
Which of these authorities is NOT delegated to the president by the C
onstitution?
Question 15. Question : The term “Red Tape” is the idea that:
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POL 201 Week 4 DQ 1 Individual Rights and
the Obligations of Government

Individual Rights and the Obligations of Government.
Prepare: Prior to beginning work on this discussion, read chapters 8,
9, and 10 in American Government and watch the video, Episode II -
It’s a Free Country.
Reflect: Our political system is characterized by certain fundamental
features to include a system of laws, rights, and liberties. The laws, cr
eated and supported by the Constitutional framework, are designed to
protect and secure the rights and liberties of individuals and groups t
hroughout the U.S. However, the government also has an obligation t
o provide for the security of its citizens from serious internal and exte
rnal threats that could cause grave or severe damage to our country.
The need for homeland and national security can create a dilemma w
here conflicts emerge between these security needs and the demands f
or civil rights and liberties.
Write: In your initial post, explain what obligations the U.S. governm
ent has towards its citizens and how can these obligations impact indi
vidual and group rights? Provide real-world examples to support you
r explanation. Fully respond to all parts of the prompt and write your
response in your own words. Your initial response must be 200 to 250
words. Support your position with APA citations to two or more of the
assigned resources required for this discussion. Please be sure that y
ou demonstrate understanding of these resources, integrate them into
your argument, and cite them properly.
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POL 201 Week 4 DQ 2 Week Four Reflection
Week Four Reflection.
Prepare: Prior to beginning work on this discussion, read chapters 8,
9, and 10 in American Government, watch
the video, Episode II - It’s a Free Country, and review your results fr
om the Political Typology Quiz.
Reflect: Political parties mobilize voters to win elections and impleme
nt policy goals. Parties use their stated policy goals (i.e., their platfor
ms) as a way to mobilize voter support. Generally, in order to be succ
essful in a two-party system, parties must have policy goals across a
broad range of issue areas to appeal to a broad range of voters.
Write: Identify one issue area that you want investigate. Use the assig
ned resources required for this discussion to gather information abou
t the goals and proposals, in that issue area, of three U.S. political pa
rties – the Democratic and Republican parties and a third party. Sum
marize each of the three parties’ policy goals in your issue area. Eval
uate each party's goals from two perspectives:

• According on your own political philosophy, values, or i
deology based on the Political Typology Quiz results, which party’s p
osition on this issue is closest to your own and which is furthest and w
hy?
• Does each party currently have national popular support
on this issue? If so, why, and if not, why not?
For example, if you are a ‘Steadfast Conservative,’ what do the Demo
cratic Party, the Republican Party, and a third party have to say abou
t your position on taxation? If you are a ‘Solid Liberal,’ what do Dem
ocrats, Republicans, and a third party say about your views on enviro
nmental issues? Who is the closest? Furthest away? Why?
Your initial response must be 200 to 250 words. Justify your conclusi
ons with facts and persuasive reasoning. Fully respond to all parts of
the question and write your response in your own words. Support you
r position with APA citations to two or more of the assigned resource
s required for this discussion. Please be sure that you demonstrate un
derstanding of these resources, integrate them into your argument, an
d cite them properly.
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POL 201 Week 4 Learning Activity Political
Parties, Interest Groups, and Elections

Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Elections. The various politica
l actors involved in the processes, activities, and policies of the U.S. g
overnment each have evolving goals and objectives. In addition, these
actors have produced differential effects, both positive and negative,
on the processes, activities, and policies of the federal government. In
this last weekly worksheet, you will assess the positive and negative i
mpacts of political parties, interest groups, or federal elections on the
national government. In addition, you will recommend one option to e
nhance the positive impact and one to diminish the negative impact. T
his final effort will conclude the process of critically analyzing key fe
atures of our national government and prepare you for completion of
your Final Paper in Week Five.
To complete the assignment, save the Week Four Learning Activity W
orksheet (available in the online classroom) to your computer, fill it o
ut, and submit it.
Develop a detailed outline of your fourth main point using the Week F
our Learning Activity Worksheet.
• Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Elections:
• Provide a topic sentence that briefly describes the one p
ositive impact and one negative impact of one of the following: politic
al parties, interest groups, or federal elections.
accentuate the positive impact and one to lessen the negative impact.
• Scholarly Support: (Please access the Ashford Writing Center’s Sa
your main points.

int.
ability.
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POL 201 Week 4 Quiz
Question 1.What constitutional amendment guaranteed women the rig
ht to vote?
Question 2. How are interest groups are different from political parti
es?
Question 3. Which Supreme Court decision stated that affirmative act
ion intended to promote greater equality was acceptable public policy
, but the use of quotas was not.
Question 4. True or False: The peaceful transfer of power from one g
overnment to the next has a long historical legacy and predates the fo
rmation of the United States.

Question 5. The 1964 Civil Rights Act:
Question 6. Two-party electoral systems, such as we have today in the
United States, tend to be examples of what type of political party mod
el?
Question 7. What is the basic function, or purpose, of elections?
Question 8. Personal freedoms that all Americans enjoy thanks to the
Bill of Rights are called:
Question 9. At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th
centuries in the U.S., political “machine bosses:”
Question 10. In the United States, before U.S. citizens are allowed to
vote in an election, they must:
Question 11. True or False: Freedom of speech can be:
Question 12. A multi-candidate Political Action Committee (PAC) ma
y contribute up to how much money to individual campaigns per elect
ion?
Question 13. Voters in a closed primary can:

Question 14. Which of these have NOT been recognized as a political
party in American history?
Question 15. A private organization cannot deny service to any type o
f minority group if:
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POL 201 Week 5 DQ 1 Voting and Voter
Turnout
Voting and Voter Turnout.
Prepare: Prior to completing this discussion question, review Chapte
rs 9 and 10 in American Government and the following articles: “Ho
w Voter ID Laws Are Being Used to Disenfranchise Minorities and th
e Poor,” “Fraught with Fraud,” and “Proof at the Polls.”
Reflect: The U.S. has one of the lowest voter turnout rates among mo
dern democratic political systems. One study ranks the U.S. 120th on
a list of 169 nations compared on voter turnout (Pintor, Gratschew,
& Sullivan, 2002). During the last decade, many initiatives have been
undertaken to increase voter participation, yet concerns about the pos

sibility of election fraud have also increased. Additionally, some polit
ical interests feel threatened by the increase in turnout among some tr
aditionally low-turnout ethnic minorities. Several states have recently
passed legislation imposing new registration and identification
requirements. This has sparked debate about whether these are tactic
s intended to suppress turnout or to prevent fraud.
Write: In your initial post, summarize recent developments in several
states enacting voter ID laws. Analyze and describe the pros and cons
on both sides of the debate about these laws. Is voter fraud a major pr
oblem for our democracy or are some groups trying to make it harder
for some segments of society to vote? Draw your own conclusion abo
ut the debate over voter ID laws. Justify your conclusions with facts a
nd persuasive reasoning.
Fully respond to all parts of the question and write your response in y
our own words. Your initial post must be 200 to 250 words. Support y
our position with APA citations from two or more of the assigned res
ent, and cite them properly.
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POL 201 Week 5 DQ 2 Week Five Reflection

Prepare: Prior to beginning your reflection, review all course readin
gs and videos as required.
Reflect: The U.S. national government is based on the framework det
ailed in the U.S. Constitution. The process that the Founding Fathers
used to map out our national government is fascinating and illuminati
ng. The Constitution creates a system of checks and balances and sep
aration of powers that have been focal points for class discussions. In
addition, the Constitution identifies three main branches for the natio
nal government: the legislative, executive, and judicial, which are tas
ked, respectively, with the creation of the legislation to guide the coun
try, the implementation and execution of that legislation, and the revi
ew of that legislation for constitutionality and legality. Interacting wit
h the federal government includes a variety of different actors and pol
itical processes such as the states, political parties, interest groups, a
nd federal elections. All these features create a vibrant and healthy de
mocracy.
Write: In your initial post of at least 200 to 250 words, explain how a
nd why one feature of the U.S. government is the most important for A
merica’s democracy. Choose one feature below to discuss in detail:
· • Written, detailed, flexible Constitution.
· • Robust checks and balances.
· • Explicit separation of powers.
· • Expansive interaction by different political actors and p
rocesses with the federal government.
·

· Use real-world examples and details to support your arguments. Su
pport your position with APA citations from two or more of the assign
ed resources required for this discussion. Please be sure that you dem
onstrate understanding of these resources, integrate them into your ar
gument, and cite them properly.
*******************************************************
POL 201 Week 5 Final Paper America’s
Democracy: Your Report Card (2 Papers)
This Tutorial contains 2 Different Papers
America’s Democracy: Your Report Card. The primary goal of your l
ast assignment is to critically analyze the primary features of the Ame
rican national government. The results of your analysis will indicate
what you have learned over the last five weeks. In order to accomplis
h this task, it is important to critically evaluate the key facets of our A
merican democracy.
You have been preparing for this final assignment each week by const
ructing a detailed outline of the Final Paper’s main points through th
e weekly Learning Activities. In addition, you have read the course te
xt and course readings, reviewed videos, and researched additional m
aterial for each week’s assignments and for this paper. This week, yo

u will put all of those outlines, readings, reviews, and research togeth
er into a one summative paper.
As we wrap up our course, reflect back on what you have learned abo
ut the key structures, systems, roles, and processes that embody our n
ational government. Focus on the strengths and weaknesses, advanta
ges and disadvantages, and positive and negative impacts of these as
pects of our democracy. Use what you have learned so far to evaluate
our national government and recommend ways to enhance what work
s and repair what is not working well.
Construct a six-page paper based on the detailed outlines that you cr
eated over the last four weeks. Scaffold your paper around the followi
ng outline:
· • Title page
· • Introduction (half page):
o • Describe the paper’s overall thesis.
o • Provide an overview of main points.
· • The Constitution (1-1.5 pages) (Week 1):
o • Describe one strength and one weakness of the U.S. C
onstitution.
o • Recommend one option to maintain the strength and o
ne to correct the weakness.
· • Federalism (1-1.5 pages) (Week 2):
a. Describe one advantage and one disadvantage of a national policy
that must be implemented by one agency of the federal bureaucracy.
b. Recommend one option to maintain the advantage and one to impr
ove the disadvantage. Branches of Government (1-1.5 pages) (Week 3
):

· • Describe one strength and one weakness of one branch of our gov
ernment: Executive, Legislative, or Judiciary.
· • Recommend one option to maintain the strength and one to corre
ct the weakness.
Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Elections (1-1.5 pages) (Week
4):
a.Describe one positive impact and one negative impact of one of the
following: political parties, interest groups, or federal elections.
b.Recommend one option to accentuate the positive impact and one to
lessen the negative impact.
7. Conclusion:
a.Review your main points.
b.Review your overall thesis.
8. References page
Writing the Final Paper
The Final Paper:
1.Must be at least six double-spaced pages in length (excluding title a
nd reference pages), and formatted according to APA style as outline
d in the Ashford Writing Center.
2.Must include a title page with the following:
1. a. Title of paper
2. b. Student’s name
3. c. Course name and number
4. d. Instructor’s name

5. e. Date submitted
3.Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesi
s statement.
4.Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
5.Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.
6.Must use at least eight scholarly resources, including a minimum of
two from the Ashford University Library.
7.Must document all sources in APA style, as outlined in the Ashford
Writing Center.
8. Must include a separate reference page, formatted according to AP
A style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
*******************************************************

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