Unit 6 Test
What are some of the most significant challenges posed by increasing social and cultural diversity in the United States? What opportunities do these changes present?
One of the major challenges posed by an increasing social and cultural diversity in the US is sustaining the balance between the benefits of a diverse society and the unifying influence of a common civic culture and constitutional ideas. These changes present the opportunity for enriched economy, culture, and educational institutions, however some people worry about how much diversity the country can absorb if large groups of immigrants continue to not learn to speak english and adhere to cultural practices which conflict with fundamental American principles.
jus soli
A Latin phrase meaning "law of the soil" or "law of the land", meaning that any child born in the United States is a citizen of the United States.
Letter of Marque and Reprisal
A grant of authority from Congress to private citizens, not the president, to expressly authorize seizure and forfeiture of goods by such citizens in the context of undeclared hostilities with another country or countries. Without such authorization, citizens seizing such goods would be pirates in the eyes of international law.
Denaturalization
A legal process in which the government has the burden of proof and the citizen is entitled to due process of law, and results in loss of citizenship for naturalized citizens.
How does the Constitution define national and state citizenship?
The Constitution defines national and state citizenship as "All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States, and of the state wherein they reside". According to the Constitution, national citizens are also citizens of the state in which they live.
Treaty
An agreement under international law between states or international organizations.
Multinational Corporation
An enterprise that operates in at least two countries.
Voluntary Associations
Unpaired groups which are formed to solve community problems and take care of one another.
jus sanguinis
"Law of the blood," is a principle where citizenship is determined by parentage rather than place of birth, or jus soli.
Collective Security
A system formed to maintain peace among nations in which participant members agree that a military attack on one is an attack on all and will result in a united response by all members.
Identify ways in which technology might or might not be consistent with the fundamental principles of American constitutional democracy.
Advances in technology do not guarantee that citizens are better informed as fake news is prominent and media platforms generally target specialized audiences, meaning that when people receive news from a source, they generally are not receiving the full story. Voting age people use the internet to post their thoughts, which are generally one sided.
Resident Alien
Aliens granted residency in the United States.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
An advisory declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948, consisting of thirty articles outlining the views of the General Assembly on those rights conceived as guaranteed to all people.
United Nations
An international organization created in 1945 to maintain peace through the collective security of its members.
Which aspects of American constitutional democracy have been particularly influenced in other countries? Which have not been influenced? Why?
Aspects of American Constitutional Democracy which have been influenced in other countries include, Presidential government, Federalism, and Judicial power and human rights. Aspects that have not been influenced include an emphasis on positive rights in the Bill of Rights, not just negative rights because other countries rely on not just restricting the power of the government, but granting rights to citizens such as rights to health care, education, equal pay for equal work, and fair and just working conditions.
Human Rights
Basic rights and freedoms said to belong to all people everywhere.
Should all Americans be required to demonstrate their knowledge of American government and history as naturalized citizens must do inorder to become citizens?
Because US history and CIvics are classes required by many schools throughout the US, I would argue that it is not necessary to make US citizens demonstrate their knowledge of government and history, but if an immigrant is seeking citizenship in the US and they are above school age, demonstrating this knowledge in order to obtain citizenship would be valuable.
How was citizenship defined in the United States before and after the Fourteenth Amendment?
Before the Fourteenth Amendment, citizenship was defined as the rights and responsibilities of people who owe allegiance to a particular government and are entitled to that governments protection. However, the Fourteenth Amendment uses jus soli and defines citizenship as a right given to any person born in the United States or US provinces.
Dual National Citizenship
Being a citizen in two or more countries.
How is citizenship through naturalization different from citizenship from birth?
Citizenship through birth is a right granted to any person born in the United States and requires no additional efforts or requirements to obtain US citizenship. Naturalization, however, must meet a list of criteria in order to obtain citizenship, including: being at least 18 years old, been lawfully admitted into the US for permanent residence, has resided continuously in the US for at least five years, demonstration that they are of good moral character, demonstration of the ability to read, write, speak, and understand the words of ordinary use usage in the ehglish language, and take the Oath of Allegiance. Additionally, citizens from birth can not be stripped of their citizenship and naturalized citizens can be.
Explain what is meant by civil discourse. Why is it important? How might civil discourse be promoted in schools, the media, and political life?
Civil discourse refers to the respectful, thoughtful exchange of ideas in the search for workable solutions to problems. This is important because it allows citizens to exchange ideas and perspectives to increase the possibility of finding mutually acceptable solutions to problems. Civil discourse is promoted through clubs, organizations, and committees.
How is civil disobedience different from merely breaking the law?
Civil disobedience is a form of non violent, direct action which involves an open violation of unjust laws together in a group with a willingness to accept the consequences of violating these laws, merely breaking the law is generally not a protest against unjust laws, and is not always done in a non violent manner.
Identify the three most important constitutional powers that Congress and the president have in the area of international relations. How do checks and balances and the separation of powers affect the exercise of those powers?
Congress has the power to regulate commerce among forign nations and Indian tribes, declare war, issue letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules for capture on land and water, raise and support armies, provide and maintain a navy, and regulate land and naval forces, define and punish piracies and felonies on the high seas and offences against the law of nations, and ratify treaties. The president has the power to negotiate treaties, act as the commander and chief of the army and navy, appoint ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls, and receive ambassadors and other public ministers. Checks and balances and separation of powers act to prevent one portion of the government from having too much power, and requires a pass through each branch for large changes to take place.
What is the difference between de facto and de jure segregation?
De jure segregation refers to segregation that exists due to laws, for example segregation laws which existed before Brown v. Board of Education. De facto segregation refers to segregation which exists due to actions of private individuals, for example actions which occurred before the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
What is globalization? How does globalization affect American society in the U.S. economy?
Globalization refers to the global economy and effects of worldwide economic interdependence on cultures, social relations, and politics. Globalization affects American society in the US economy through trade and commerce, worker mitigation, capital and information.
The most common reason people offer for not voting is lack of time. What suggestions do you have for solving that problem?
I would suggest making voting more accessible by making secure ways to vote online from your own home, eliminating the need to leave and have to find either a ballot drop box or poll station.
Explain how jus soli, jus sanguinis, and residency differ as principles for defining citizenship.
Jus soli refers to citizenship which is obtained by being born on US soil and is a birthright which cannot be taken away. Jus sanguinis refers to citizenship which is obtained by parentage if one is born outside of the US. If a child is born to parents who are US citizens outside of the US, the child will receive citizenship as a natural right. Residency does not refer to citizenship, but to people who are lawfully admitted into the US and are allowed many of the same rights as citizens and are protected by the guarantees of equal protection, which apply to all persons, not just US citizens.
Voter Registration
Lists of qualified voters maintained by state and local election officials.
Voting is mandatory in more than sixty countries in the world, many of them democracies. Should it be made mandatory in the United States?
Making voting mandatory in the US would help to promote taking action for the common good, rather than falling into patterns of self interest, and as the civic participation levels in the US are decreasing, it is leading to increased self interest behaviors.
Nongovernmental Organization
Organizations which rely primarily on charitable donations and volunteer service to address particular issues of concern to their members.
Alien
People who are not citizens.
De facto Segregation
Racial separation caused by the actions of private individuals and groups.
How do the rights and responsibilities of citizens differ from those of resident aliens?
Resident aliens and possess many similarities such as paying taxes, attending schools, obtain drivers licenses, and work jobs. Merly the only difference, however, is that citizens have the right to vote, and resident aliens do no.
International Law
Rules, usually the result of treaties but also from custom, that regulate how countries are to behave toward one another. International law differs from municipal, or domestic law, in that, in many cases, there is no enforcement mechanism and no universal authoritative interpretation. The rulings of international tribunals are binding on states that have agreed to adhere to tribunal findings, but such rulings are not binding on others.
Explain the difference between self-interest, enlightened self-interest, and the common good. Provide examples of each as related to civic engagement.
Self interest in engagement in civic activities with the intention to benefit themselves or their businesses, enlightened self interest is when people sacrifice their own time, money, or effort to strengthen their community because they realize the good of the whole benefits them as an individual, and the common good is taking action with the intention to benefit the whole above the individual.
De jure Segregation
Separation required by laws.
What issues in addition to those discussed in this lesson might lead to proposals for constitutional change?
Some issues include life and death such as life support systems and abortion, terms and limits which apply to presidents, members of congress, and federal judges, propety rights and eminent domain, campaign financing in political campaings, immigration, and gun rights.
How might technology improve opportunities for civic engagement in the United States?
Technology allows citizens quicker access to news, the ability to broadcast congressional hearings and debates, and the ability to share their views with the world through social media platforms. Having increased access to political news makes civic engagement much more accessible to everyone.
Why has the Civil Rights Act of 1964 been called the most far-reaching civil rights legislation in American history?
The Civil Rights has been called the most far reaching civil rights legislation in American history because it outlawed both de jure and de facto segregation and many other forms of discrimination, gave national government additional authority to end school desegration, prohibited job descrimination by buisnesses and labor unions, and authorized the US Justice Department to file law suits against states that descriminate against women and minorities.
Explain why the United States is involved in the international arena?
The US is involved in the international arena because maintaining allies with other countries allows for benefits including peace, commerce, and protection during times of war.
What are some important differences between the Bill of Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets the universal standards of human rights considered to be essential to the dignity of every person. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights contains provisions known as "aspirational goals" which include the rights to work, join trade unions, receive equal pay for equal work, have an adequate standard of living for health and well being, have an education, and seek, receive, and impart information through any media. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights serves as a "Second Bill of Rights" and grants all humans, not just citizens, the positive rights not addressed in the Bill of Rights.
Isolationism
The foreign policy of a nation that wishes to be inward-looking rather than involved with other countries. Historically, some cases of isolationism have combined a noninterventionist military policy with a protectionist economic policy.
Eminent Domain
The inherent power of the state to seize a citizen's private property or to expropriate property or rights in property without the owner's consent. The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides for "just compensation" for private property taken for public use, known as the "takings clause".
Naturalization
The legal process by which a forign citizen becomes a citizen of the United States.
Immigration
The movement of people into one place from another.
E pluribus unum
The nations motto which means: out of many, one.
Civil Disobedience
The nonviolent refusal to obey laws that citizens regard as unjust or in protest of specific public policy.
Globalization
The process of increasing interconnectedness and closer integration of the world's markets and businesses as a result of advances in transportation, communications, and information technologies. Such advances promote the flow of goods and services, ideas, capital, and people across borders.
Enlightened Self-Interest
The realization that one can fulfill private ambitions only if one also contributes to the common good.
Citizen
The rights and responsibilities of people who owe allegiance to a particular government and are entitled to that governments protection.
Civil Rights
The rights belonging to an individual by virtue of citizenship.
Describe opportunities for participation in civic life afforded by the following:
Voluntary Associations Opportunities for participation in voluntary associations include participation in religious organizations such as churches and social organisations such as sponsoring athletic events for the youth or collecting books for public libraries. Nongovernmental Organization Opportunities for participation in nongovernmental organizations include volunteering for nonprofit organizations such as the League of Women Voters. Service and Business Organizations Opportunities for participation in service and business organizations including volunteering for business organizations such as Kiwanis and Lions to address interests from business networking to community service. Voting Opportunities for participating in voting include voting in local government elections and state government elections as well as national elections to broaden knowledge of issues facing their community and country.
