CIVIL RIGHTS
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the great civil rights leaders in American history. Dr. King led civil rights protests and marches on behalf of African Americans who had been discriminated against and denied equal rights. In his own time, many people thought Dr. King was "moving too quickly" and "going too far." Today, we have a national holiday named after him because he inspired Americans to do a better job of living up to America's constitutional principles. Consider for a moment how the vision of Martin Luther King Jr. is relevant today and whether there are groups in American society today that are still discriminated against.
In this Assignment, you will draw upon the assigned speech of Dr. King to talk about the civil rights he worked to promote. You will also consider the relevance of the civil rights movement and the issues that face certain groups in the United States today.
Questions about this assignment? Post them in the Contact the Instructor area. That way, everyone in the class will see, and benefit from, the Instructor's response.
RESOURCES
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
WEEKLY RESOURCES
TO PREPARE FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT:
Review the Interactive Units from this week's Learning Resources.
Watch the video and/or read the transcript of the "I Have A Dream" speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., delivered August 28, 1963.
Consider Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement.
How does the American government ensure civil liberties or civil rights for minority or special interest groups?
How might an amendment ensure the validity and equality of a minority or special interest group?
Choose a civil rights issue in current American society.
Choose a group that still has unresolved civil rights issues.
To complete the Assignment:
Write a 1 - 2-page paper analyzing the civil rights movement and its effect on civil rights in the United States today. Be sure to include the following:
Briefly describe whose civil rights Martin Luther King Jr. was working to promote and protect.
Identify two of the tactics that Dr. King used to promote civil rights.
Identify one group or issue in American society where the need to promote civil rights is still relevant.
Give a brief explanation of the discrimination that you believe still exists with respect to this issue or group.
Include at least one reference from the course readings.
Week 3 discussion
PRESIDENTIAL AND CONGRESSIONAL POWER AND LIMITATIONS
The president of the United States is often seen as the single most powerful individual in the world, a person whose actions have an impact of the daily lives of Americans and people around the globe. Yet most presidents cannot achieve everything they promise while campaigning. They often find that they have to adjust the goals they had when they first took office, and many become frustrated by the limitations of their power in executing the laws passed by Congress. Similarly, Congress has specific constitutional authority to write the laws.
In this Discussion, you will examine what might happen if a limitation on the president were removed and whether or not this removal would be beneficial for the United States as well as the relationship and sometimes the conflict between the authority and role of the president and Congress.
RESOURCES
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
WEEKLY RESOURCES
TO PREPARE FOR THIS DISCUSSION:
Review the Interactive Units from this week's Learning Resources.
Review this week's Learning Resources.
Review information on at least three of the executive departments. Think about how the executive departments of the cabinet inform the president so that he can make educated decisions.
Reflect on these questions:
How does the cabinet influence presidential decisions?
Consider how the powers and limitations of the president affect decisions made by Congress.
How might presidential powers and limitations influence the political agenda of the president?
How might presidential powers and limitations influence the political agenda of Congressional members?
How can federal bureaucracy assist or hinder the president in exercising influence?
How can federal bureaucracy suspend presidential initiatives?
With these thoughts in mind:
BY DAY 3
Post: 1–2 paragraphs identifying one limitation currently applied to the presidency that, if removed, would increase or maximize presidential power. Be sure to:
Provide a brief description of the limitation you chose.
Explain how the president would be more powerful if this limitation were removed.
Explain whether you think the limitation should be removed or remain in place.
Identify and explore the constitutional role and authority of Congress as well and consider where presidential and congressional authority may or have conflicted.
Include at least one reference and citation from the course readings to support your rationale.
Be sure to support your ideas by connecting them to the week's Learning Resources, or something you have read, heard, seen, or experienced.
Read a selection of your colleagues' postings.
Week 4 discussion
LIFETIME APPOINTMENTS OF SUPREME COURT JUSTICES
Some people strongly favor term limits for governmental officials. The U.S. practice regarding this issue differs among the three branches of government. There are term limits on the presidency, for instance, but none for members of Congress. For the Supreme Court, there are no term limits on justices, and they are never required to win election or re-election. Once appointed by the president, justices may serve for life. Thurgood Marshall, the great Supreme Court justice, was 81 years old when a reporter asked him when he planned to retire. Marshall responded, "I have a lifetime appointment and I intend to serve it. I expect to die at 110 . . ."
In this Discussion, you will analyze strengths and weaknesses of lifetime appointments of Supreme Court justices and whether or not you believe lifetime appointments have a positive impact on American democracy.
RESOURCES
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
WEEKLY RESOURCES
TO PREPARE FOR THIS DISCUSSION:
Review the Interactive Units from this week's Learning Resources.
Review the article on term limits for judges in the Learning Resources.
Consider how Supreme Court justices are chosen, including the specific role of the president and Congress.
Reflect on why Supreme Court justices have lifetime appointments.
Consider how lifetime appointments aid or deter the decisions of Supreme Court justices and why.
What are the risks of not providing lifetime appointments?
How does the makeup of the Supreme Court affect its group decision making?
Include at least one reference and citation from the course readings to support your rationale.
With these thoughts in mind:
BY DAY 3
Post a 2- to 3-paragraph analysis of two strengths and two weaknesses of lifetime appointments for Supreme Court justices. Be sure to include a rationale for why the Supreme Court justices should or should not have lifetime appointments.
Be sure to support your ideas by connecting them to the week's Learning Resources, or something you have read, heard, seen, or experienced.
Read a selection of your colleagues' postings.
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