PS 21A: American Government Midterm Review!

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Why Do We Need Government

The Constitution: Design and Ratification Ch. 2 Federalist No. 10 by James Madison Factions will destroy the union: a faction was a number of citizens, whether a majority or minority, who were united and activated "by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community. 2 ways to remove causes of factions: both impossible Best way: to control its effects a large society under a representative form of government than in a small society under a popular form of government. The proposed constitution would check the power of factions by balancing one against the other.

Federalism and Separation of Powers Ch. 3 Federalist #51: how the structure of the proposed government makes liberty possible Each branch should be independent – no one can elect members of other branches Such powers can’t be equal Citizens elect president, legislators and judges. Judges should be free of political pressures A society would thrive under competition of small groups

Civil Liberties Ch. 4 Hellhole: US holds tens of thousands of inmates in long-term solitary confinement Harlow’s monkey experiment Anderson’s experience John McCain: POW in Vietnam War

long-term isolation in prisons is that it provides discipline and prevents violence In the past thirty years, the United States has quadrupled its incarceration rate but not its prison space. Work and education programs have been canceled, out of a belief that the pursuit of rehabilitation is pointless. British example: They reduced isolation and offered them opportunities for work, education, and special programming to increase social ties and skills.

Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Ch. 5 Letter from a Birmingham Jail The letter defends the strategy of nonviolent resistance to racism, arguing that people have a moral responsibility to break unjust laws. Supreme Error: North Carolina voter suppression laws Don’t Worry about the VRA Shelby v holder. Minority vote will be fine.

Congress: The Logic of Representation Ch. 11

Congress: Organization and Decision-Making Pork Barrel Politics The Shutdown prophet