Unit 1:
Question 1:
Why is the American Revolution different than other revolutions in history?
What does it mean to have a justified revolution?
Could a revolution like the one that took place in 1776 take place in 2015?
How successful was the revolution at achieving its goals and solving problems that they argued existed with
British Rule?
What principles of the American Revolution still apply today?
How did the British Violate limited government leading up to the Revolution?
How did the age of Enlightenment influence the Revolution?
What were the main arguments of the colonists when it came to breaking away?
Any unfair charges that were levied against the British colonizers?
What is social contract theory and how does it apply to the Revolution?
What about the perspective of the British, were they so wrong in their goals?
Question 2:
Define what higher law is and does it still apply today?
The US is often referred to as the ‘Empire of Reason’. Why? Where does that notion come from?
What is meant by the term “tyranny of the majority? Why is it a problem?
Did the constitution succeed in creating a ‘more perfect union’?
What events led to a more perfect union in our history?
What has led to the longevity of the US Constitution?
Why is the notion of contract and written government so significant to the founders?
Is majority rule really a bad thing?
Were the founders elitists who really hindered the average persons to achieve happiness?
How effective is the constitution at maintaining ‘higher law’?
Would you consider the US to still be a republic system of government? Why or why not?
How do we maintain the order of government and society?
Question 3:
Could we add new rights to the list of unalienable as outlined in the Declaration of Independence?
Why do people often equate the Magna Carta and Declaration of Independence?
What inspired the Declaration and Magna Carta?
What principals of the Declaration are still with us today?
Were the founders misguided in their thoughts about Natural Rights? Why or why not?
Under what conditions is it permissible to take someone’s natural rights?
What does the natural right of liberty mean?
Where can we find the notion of natural rights within the Constitution?
Colonists believed they had the right to revolution, yet when the South tried to break away it was not okay.
Why?
Is one natural right considered to be more important than others?
Why did Jefferson change property to the pursuit of happiness?
Unit 2:
Question 1:
What is the difference between the articles and constitution in principle?
What specifically from the articles ended up in the constitution?
Did the founders act too quickly when removing the articles?
Is a large national government really a threat to worry about anymore?
Would amending the articles to being able to collect taxes and having an executive be enough to salvage them?
Why is coercion important to national governments?
Advantages to a confederate system when compared to the federalist system?
Were all in changes in the constitution an improvement on the articles?
Did the framers exceed their authority when they discarded the articles of confederation?
Was a fear of a large national government a legiti concern? Or were the founders just being paranoid?
How has the fear of large government carried forward into our own issues today?
Question 2:
Is it time to end equal representation?
What other systems of representation does governments use internationally?
What are the advantages to a bi-cameral system of government? Compared to a unicameral?
Why did the convention ultimately choose the NJ plan or VA plan?
Has the US lost the ability to compromise? Why or why not?
Were there clear cut winners and losers at the Philadelphia Convention? Why or why not
What made the NJ plan objectionable to some founders?
If we could redo the great compromise, what would be changed?
How do we prevent political parties from controlling the progress of government?
Did the great compromise settle the issue of representation?
How did the differences in opinions between the founders reflect a difference in worldview and outlook of
sovereignty?
Question 3:
What issues were being discussed for ratification?
Would it be possible today to write a constitution considering the media coverage?
Did the issues of the constitutional debate ever really settle?
What issues did the founding fathers debate that still are under scrutiny today?
What specific arguments did the anti-federalists raise against the constitution?
In what way is the ratification debate still with us today?
How did the federalists control the media?
Does the media today have more or less of an influence than back then?
Did the bill of rights have an impact on the ratification debate? Why?
Were the founders better at civil discourse?
Unit 3:
Question 1:
Could you think of an issue that could lead to another ‘founding moment’ in the 21st century?
Ave the promises of the founders been met yet?
Why didh’t the founders include everyone in the beginning?
Any more amendments you can think of being necessary?
What barriers exist to voting today?
Do people not appreciate the rights that are given to them?
Is amending the constitution too difficult?
What amendment of those explained in the second founding is the most important?
Which of the three were the most effective? Least effective?
How does this second founding relate to classical republicanism and natural rights philosophy?
How did the 14th amendment change the nature of citizenship?
Why did the 14th amendment struggle to find its purpose until the later parts of the 20th century?
Is amending the constitution too difficult, preventing needed changes from occurring? Is this good or bad?
Question 2:
Why is due process necessary?
What issues pertain to due process?
Does the 14th amendment grant too much freedom? Where’s the limit?
Is there such a thing as too much freedom and liberty?
What are the current challenges to due process of the law?
What rights have to do with substantive due process and procedural due process?
What is the difference between the 5th and 14th amendment due process?
How would you define due process?
Is there ever a time when due process can be denied?
Where does the notion of due process trace its roots from?
Which of the two is more common?
Which is more necessary?
How might the rights of a criminal undermine the role of due process with the ideals of common good?
How has the 14th amendment been used to promote equality amongst citizens?
Question 3:
Who votes the most in the US? WHY?
Should children to be allowed to vote?
Do we need looser or tighter restrictions on voting?
Do we really want a higher voter turn out if people don’t actually understand what they are voting for?
Why don’t we use a direct democracy system?
Do people’s votes count?
Why didn’t the founders grant voting rights to everyone?
Should citizens vote for the common good or for their own interests?
What does freedom really mean?
What is the best for a representative to represent the people?
Do you think that because people can vote, they tend to neglect how important it is?
Does having a republic system effect peoples view of voting?
Would having a national constitutional amendment violate the reserved powers of state governments on voting
laws?
Should states have to submit voter laws to congress?
Is automatic voter registration a viable solution to voter issues?
What are the benefits to higher voter turn out? Negatives
Unit 4:
Question 1:
Can’t we trust the president with the troops? Is this really a problem at all?
What other means are there to limit the presidential authority?
Examples of abuse of this privilege?
How would you define war? Are we at war with ISIS?
Why was the war powers resolution necessary?
Do we need to declare war anymore?
Is it time to re-evaluate the checks and balance system?
Why use a checks and balance system?
In war, which branch is the most necessary?
Does the president match what the founders foresaw the position becoming?
Is the use of drone strikes constitutional?
Question 2:
Why even have a senate?
Is the senate a broken institution?
Do the problems that exist in the senate exist in the House?
Is majority rule bad? Is minority rule bad?
How could removing equal representation have an effect on this issue?
Is it an issue with the filibuster or are political parties are problem?
Differences between the house and senate?
Why is the approval of Congress/senate so low? Does this issue contribute to that?
What other factors have led to divided government?
What is the nuclear option and why does it matter?
What is the history of the filibuster?
How does the senate operate? How is that different than the house?
Is it time to change the rules to adopt to a more modern need?
Why didn’t the founders write the rules of the senate in the Constitution to begin with?
Question 3:
What are the problems with congressional systems?
Problems with parliamentary systems?
Why did the US choose a presidential system?
Does parliament have checks and balances?
Would the us benefit from more political parties?
What documents make up british constitutional law?
What does each of them specifically do?
Does Britain represent their people better than Congress?
How has the british system effected the American system of government?
Are there any checks and balances on the Prime Minister?
What is the difference between written and unwritten constitutions? Why did the founders write theirs?
What are the demographics of parliament compared to the Congress? Are they different? If so, why?
Unit 5
Question 1:
Why does the death penalty exist?
Is capital punishment entangling justice with vengeance?
Should NEB ban the death penalty?
Does it matter that the legislature has passed the death penalty?
What problems exist with direct democracy? What are the positives?
Are there alternative methods to the death penalty?
Is cruel and unusual punishment the same as the death penalty?
How do other countries deal with capital punishment?
Is capital punishment a state or national issues? Why?
Is capital punishment used enough to be justified? Why don’t we use it more often?
Is due process enough when it comes to death?
Question 2:
Are there ever times when a jury is not necessary?
Are grand juries fair?
How does the jury system work?
Why did the founders include rights for criminals? Should juries be public?
Can juries be trusted to actually prevent mob rule when they themselves may be part of the mob mentality?
IS the jury for the benefit of the people or the defendant?
Does the jury system accomplish its goals effectively?
What are the differences between the 5th, 6th, and 7th amendments?
Which of these is the most important?
Does federalism actually create less opportunity for fair trials?
Does using a professional jury have any merits?
Who is the jury meant to protect in a court of law?
Should lawyers be allowed unlimited strikes as a means to create a more fair jury?
What are the benefits to NOT using a jury system? (Sitting en bunc)
Question 3:
What are the limits on search and seizure?
How effective is the 4th amendment?
Why not include a privacy amendment at the foundation of the constitution?
Is there anything wrong with the NSA?
Are we just uncomfortable with mass surveillance because of paranoia?
Is the government trustworthy?
How can we define limited government and why is it important?
What is our reasonable expectation of privacy?
Could you define a fundamental right?
Where can we find privacy in the constitution?
Why are Europeans more accepting of a lack of privacy? Or are they?
If I gave consent to a company, do I still have the right to privacy?
Evaluable Obama’s claim that over 50 terrorist attacks have been prevented thanks to surveillance programs.
Where is the line between freedom and protection?
Unit 6:
Do political parties inhibit or enhance political participation?
Can we blame people for not wanting to participate?
Why is political ignorance actually rational?
Did the founders really intend to let everyone participate?
Why do some countries have such high citizen participation?
What types of civic participation matters the most?
What are the ways people can participate in government? Would direct democracy create higher voter
participation?
Is this voter turnout problem just a USA issue? Why or why not?
How can citizen action bring about changes?
Is civil disobedience a form of political participation or illegal?
What are some ways to increase citizen participation?
Why don’t people vote?
Are we too self interested as a society? Why or why not?
Would increased voter participation lead to a greater change of majority rule?
Where does the constitution address civic participation?
Are people’s votes insignificant?
The most important opinion is the least popular one. Agree or disagree?
Question 2:
How has the magna carta and declaration of human rights effected the constitution?
Why are voting rights important internationally?
What is the ultimate goal for the declaration of human rights? Why does it exist?
What are the commonalities between the amendments and the declaration of human rights?
What role does the UN play in peace keeping internationally?
Which right from either the magna carta or declaration of human rights is most important? Explain
Define natural rights
Define classical republicanism
How does the declaration of human rights apply today?
What is the history of each document?
Why is the magna carta being compared to the declaration of human rights at all?
Is one more effective? Why?
Is one more necessary to address problems in society?
If you had to choose, what you found a government off of when it comes to these documents?
Question 3:
What do you mean when you say that voting preserves other rights?
What is the best for a representative to represent the people?
Do you think that because people can vote, they tend to neglect how important it is?
Does having a republic system effect peoples view of voting?
Would having a national constitutional amendment violate the reserved powers of state governments on voting
laws?
Should states have to submit voter laws to congress?
Is automatic voter registration a viable solution to voter issues?
What are the benefits to higher voter turn out? Negatives?
Why didn’t the founders grant voting rights to everyone?
Should citizens vote for the common good or for their own interests?
What does freedom really mean?