...Common Essay To understand if the government of the United States is a good government, we must comprehend what defines a “good government”. A good government is one that has fair and equal principles, and that uses those principles to solve its social problems. I believe that the government of the United States is a good government because it enforces its public policies in a just way, it is a democratic system, and it was influenced by history. The government of the United States is a democratic government. This means that “the people” runs the government. One of the five values of democracy is worth of the individual. This means that the government values each and every one of the individuals live in this country. The second of the five basic principles of democracy is the equality of all persons, which means that all people in this country will receive a fair an equal judicial process. The third of these principles is majority rule/minority rights. This basic principle is evident in our legislature and in voting. The forth principal is necessity to compromise, which is evident in the compromises in the constitution. The last, and most important of the principles is individual freedom. The United States is known for its freedom and this principle is proof of it. A good government should be representative because if it is ruled “by the people”, it is the people that should elect their officials. The United States is divided into three branches: Legislative, judicial...
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...Converting Afghanistan into a democracy should be a major priority of the United States for many reason, one being, it would open up trade with the country. Democratic states tend to be more open to trade, trade to a greater extent, and have less trade barriers. This is because democratically elected leaders open up trade as it benefits the people they govern, which boosts their popularity1. Afghanistan is one of the wealthiest countries when natural resources are considered. Recently, large veins of valuable minerals such as copper, iron, and gold have been discovered across the country. It is estimated that Afghanistan also sits on nearly 5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves2. Afghanistan also supplies the world with nearly 90 percent of all opium supplies which is used to create painkillers and heroin for medical purposes3. The wealth of Afghanistan is important to the United States as 12 percent of US natural gas reserves are imported and consumption of natural gas in the US is expected to increase by 11 percent by the year 20304. The United States imports 100 percent of 18 select minerals such as aluminum and magnesium, and imports 50 percent of 41 other minerals such as cobalt and copper5. If the United States managed to convert Afghanistan into a democracy, it would allow them to reap the benefits of their abundance of resources6. The attacks on US soil on 9/11 were conducted by a terror group known as al Qaeda. Al Qaeda is one of the more dominant terrorist...
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...Introduction to Module 1 Introduction to Module 1 Hello Class and welcome to Module 1. Chapter 1 in your text is on The Citizen and Government. As you read this chapter you may wish to consider what kinds of citizen involvement fuel democracies? What ideals fuel American democracy and finally what are some of the changes and challenges facing America today? The Discussion Topic will deal with you Introducing Yourself and your views toward politics. Chapter 1 Learning Objectives Module 1Learning Objectives Having read chapter 1, students should be able to do the following: Module 1 Learning Objectives Having read chapter 1 students should be able to do the following: 1. Identify ways government affects our lives every day. 2. List the ways that the Identity of Americans has changed over time. 3. List and define the three main values on how America was built on. 4. Compare the different forms of government shown in this chapter. Chapter 1 Outline EBOOK Note: The eBook will open in a new window. Close the window to return to the course. OUTLINE Government Affects Our Lives Every Day 1. Americans have been reluctant to grant government too much power, and they have often been suspicious of politicians. But Americans have also turned to government for assistance in times of need, and they have strongly supported the government in periods of war. 2. One important reason for citizens to pay attention to their government in good times is...
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...but less than 200 years later, become the backbone of a new established America where the walls of discrimination and segregation would finally begin to deteriorate. The Declaration of Independence is a powerful document that has led to the development of equal rights and social justice within societies on a world context. More specifically, principles in this document were instrumental when argued by African American Civil Rights leaders in achieving equality and abolishing racial segregation and discrimination against African- Americans in the United States, during the African American Civil Rights Movement (1954-1968). Before the American Civil Rights Movement, laws known as Jim Crow laws had forced racial segregation of facilities and the prohibition of intermarriage. These laws were similar to the apartheid legislation and it became the law mainly in the south of America. Where there is inequality and injustice within a government, the people of the nation demand change. Since the Jim Crow laws were enacted, the laws that mandated racial segregation in public areas and the prohibition of intermarriage in the Southern United States were socially and morally unjust and this fuelled the American civil rights movement as the African-American’s were seeking to achieve equality and be entitled to equal opportunities. This is an explicit pattern in the timeline of events in history where a disempowered group in society acts upon the injustice that they’ve had to endure over a...
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...American diplomacy has had many influences over the years. One of the most significant in history was that of Woodrow Wilson, the twenty-eighth President of the United States, who began spreading the principles of American diplomacy in the twentieth century. Until the early part of the twentieth century American foreign policy consisted mainly of isolationist tendencies. However, two factors quickly pushed America into foreign affairs. America was rapidly expanding its power and the international system centered on Europe began to crash. Until Wilson became president American foreign policy was aimed at fulfilling manifest destiny and to staying free of problems abroad. American diplomacy reflected Wilson’s Basic view of world power by helping spread democratic structure to other nations. It wasn’t perfect though and thus rejected his views of some post WWI thoughts such as the League of Nations. Woodrow Wilson, born Dec 28, 1856, served as President of Princeton University and then became Governor of New Jersey in 1910. He was elected president in 1912 as a democrat when Taft and Roosevelt divided up the republican vote. In the first few years as president Wilson concentrated on anti-trust measures and reorganizing the federal banking system. After being narrowly re-elected Wilson concentrated on World War I. He tried to sustain US neutrality but failed and later asked Congress to declare war. Wilson also played a major role in the post-war period attempting to...
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...of running governmental affairs based on a ruling principle that shapes the identity of a nation. Politics in essence involves the art of forming, directing and administrating political units by a chosen set of ardent leaders who represent the interests of the majority of the people of the nation. The origin of politics dates back to early 2100 B.C with the monarchical rule practiced in the lands of Sumeria shaping the concept of legislation. But since the conception of the ideology of governance, the fairer sex has not had an equitable representation at the helm of decision making. In spite of being the largest democracy in the world, women’s representation is only 9.1 percent in the Indian parliament. In this male-dominated power game of politics, there are women leaders who have revolutionized the space of policymaking with their adroit and finesse. Listed below are the stories of five powerful female Indian politicians of all time who showed the world that women can be brilliant administrators. • Vijay Lakshmi Pandit, an Indian diplomat and politician, heralded as one of the world’s leading women in public life in the 20th century, was the daughter of noted aristocratic nationalist leader Motilal Nehru. She was an active worker in the Indian nationalist movement and was imprisoned by the British three times on accounts of her struggle to free India. In 1937, she was elected to the provincial legislature of the United Provinces and was designated as the minister of local...
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...Lenin “The policy, practice, or advocacy of seeking, or acquiescing in, the extension of the control, dominion, or empire of a nation, as by the acquirement of new, esp. distant, territory or dependencies, or by the closer union of parts more or less independent of each other for operations of war, copyright, internal commerce, etc.” – Oxford dictionary The word imperialism derives from “empire.” As such, it is useful to spend a bit of time to define the word. In working towards a minimal definition, Stanford Professor of Archaeology J. Manning in his first lecture on Ancient Empires starts with: “An empire is a territorially extensive hierarchically political organization.” Unfortunately this definition is too vague. All states encountered in human history are by definition hierarchical, and many nations today are vast compared to the empires of the ancient world. Thus, Manning rephrases his definition of empire to be: “A territorially extensive hierarchical political organization involving the rule of one or more groups over other groups of foreigners.” But what causes empire? There are two models worth explaining. One is originated by the Greek historian Thucydides, famous for the quote “The strong do what they can and the...
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...Confederation. The American Revolution was not a radical transformation like the French or Russian revolutions, but it produced political innovations and some social change in the direction of greater equality and democracy. The American Revolution did not overturn the social order, but it did produce substantial changes in social customs, political institutions, and ideas about society and government. Among the changes were the separation of church and state in some places, the abolition of slavery in the North, written political constitutions, and a shift in political power from the eastern seaboard toward the frontier. The first weak government, the Articles of Confederation, was unable to exercise real authority, although it did successfully deal with the western lands issue. The Confederation’s weakness in handling foreign policy, commerce and the Shays Rebellion spurred the movement to alter the Articles. Instead of revising the Articles, the well-off delegates to the Constitutional Convention created a charter for a whole new government. In a series of compromises, the convention produced a plan that provided for a vigorous central government, a strong executive, the protection for property, while still upholding republican principles and states’ rights. The Federalists met strong opposition from Anti-Federalists, especially in Virginia and New York, but through effective organization and argument, they succeeded in getting the Constitution ratified. By...
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... Government has numerous roles but four of the major areas are paramount. Manage the national economy. It is the responsibility of the government to place checks and balances within the system to make sure the economy remains viable. The government also has the responsibility to enforce laws and contracts. This could be as simple as managing disputes between private citizens (civil or criminal) or as major as the Supreme Court hearing arguments between the states. Another major area where government is involved are issues of public safety and infrastructure. The upkeep of roads and bridges, regulation of utilities and public services, and public health standard guidelines are roles of the government. One of the most obvious and expensive roles of the government is national defense. The Constitution speaks to the issue of raising an army and navy (doesn’t say exactly how) and it is the expectation of the people that the government will provide for them an adequate defense. 2. There are effectively five types of power, each varying in methodology and relative strength. Authority by far is the weakest type of power, though it tends to be the one people recognize first and it is normally legitimate by rule of law(s). Coercive power, or the ability to punish those who don’t conform, has been used by all governments for all time. Quick and...
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...all the advantages and disadvantages regarding both cultural values, and thus learn those good ones while overcome the shortcomings. This thesis falls into five chapters. In the first chapter, the necessity and significance of the study are introduced. In Chapter Two, some definitions of key terms included in or related to this thesis are presented, including Value, Cultural Value and The Declaration of Independence. Chapter Three mainly concerns the analysis of the text of The Declaration of Independence. By analyzing the text, the main cultural values related are demonstrated as liberty, equality and democracy. Then each cultural value is explained respectively and thoroughly with proper examples. Chapter Four mainly discusses the contradictions and conflicts inherent in those American cultural values, showing that American cultural values is a double-edged sword. The last chapter is the conclusion part which summarizes the whole thesis. Key Words: American, The Declaration of Independence, cultural values Contents Chapter 1 Introduction 1 Chapter 2 Definitions of Related Concepts 2 2.1 Value 2 2.2 Cultural Value 2 2.3 The Declaration of Independence 3 Chapter 3 American Cultural Values reflected in The Declaration of Independence 5 3.1 Liberty 5 3.2 Equality 7 3.3 Democracy 10 Chapter 4 Contradictions and Conflicts 13 Chapter...
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...US Constitution are “We the People”. How well does the American Government of today reflect the will of the American people In the spring and summer of 1776, Americans, angry and frustrated with an existing government, wrote these words. "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." Our government is only as good or evil as "We the People" allow it to be. It is a good concept and I do believe that was why the states elected politicians...to take the views that the people of that state, wanted to relay to the federal government..so each state could choose laws and run their states according to the will of the people...I was raised with the idea that the federal government was in place to take care of the road system and our army to protect us...the people of the USA against other countries...and everyone who became a Legal American citizen, agreed to follow the Constitution of the USA....I guess I have it all wrong...now if you say something "wrong" by other's view...you can go to jail for longer time than some people get hurting and killing someone......It is okay to kill an unborn child for no other reason...
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...Assembly [without reference to a Main Committee (A/55/L.2)] 55/2. United Nations Millennium Declaration The General Assembly Adopts the following Declaration: United Nations Millennium Declaration I. Values and principles 1. We, heads of State and Government, have gathered at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 6 to 8 September 2000, at the dawn of a new millennium, to reaffirm our faith in the Organization and its Charter as indispensable foundations of a more peaceful, prosperous and just world. 2. We recognize that, in addition to our separate responsibilities to our individual societies, we have a collective responsibility to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity at the global level. As leaders we have a duty therefore to all the world’s people, especially the most vulnerable and, in particular, the children of the world, to whom the future belongs. 3. We reaffirm our commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, which have proved timeless and universal. Indeed, their relevance and capacity to inspire have increased, as nations and peoples have become increasingly interconnected and interdependent. 4. We are determined to establish a just and lasting peace all over the world in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter. We rededicate ourselves to support all efforts to uphold the sovereign equality of all States, respect for their territorial integrity and political independence...
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...Importance of Media and Democracy: Media democracy is a set of ideas advocating reforming the mass media, strengthening public service broadcasting, and developing and participating in alternative media and citizen journalism. The stated purpose for doing so is to create a mass media system that informs and empowers all members of society, and enhances democratic values. It is a liberal-democratic approach to media studies that advocates the reformation of the mass media with an emphasis on public service broadcasting and audience participation, through the use of citizen journalism and alternative media channels. A media democracy focuses on using information technologies to both empower individual citizens and promote democratic ideals through the spread of information. Additionally, the media system itself should be democratic in its own construction shying away from private ownership or intense regulation. Media democracy entails that media should be used to promote democracy as well as the conviction that media should be democratic itself; media ownership concentration is not democratic and cannot serve to promote democracy and therefore must be examined critically. The concept, and a social movement promoting it, have grown as a response to the increased corporate domination of mass media and the perceived shrinking of the marketplace of ideas. The term also refers to a modern social movement evident in countries all over the world which attempts to make mainstream...
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...Political science is governed by five myths: that it studies politics; that it is scientific; that it is possible to study politics separated off from economics, sociology, and history; that the state in our democratic capitalist society is politically neutral, that is available as a set of institutions and mechanisms to whatever group wins the election; and that political science, as a discipline, advances the cause of democracy.1 Politics, in the broadest sense, is the activity through which people make, preserve and amend the general rules under which they live. Politics is the process of who gets what, when, and how. Lastly, politics is a process of allocating scarce values.2 Various theorists and concepts define what the role of politics is in order to help us get a better understanding of how the study of politics is useful. Politics help us to understand the relationship between the government and the state’s minority citizens. Plato, the student of Socrates, defined politics in his own way. The ideal government proposed by Plato was the adherence of each individual to “universally valid principles” aimed at improving the lives of all the citizens instead of increasing power, prestige, or material wealth of a select few. Plato believed that this ideal government would be ran by individuals ho were full of wisdom and virtue instead of charisma and cunning. This is because in Athenian democracy, leaders were irrationally chosen based on irrelevant details such as family...
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...the twenty eighth president of the United States. Wilson’s term as president was from 1913 through 1921. Throughout his presidency, Wilson encountered complicated hurdles, such as World War I, also known as the Great War. World War I was period in time that many countries faced challenges of both economic and political as well as social and cultural issues. These problems jeopardized the continuation of a democratic system and most importantly freedom. President Wilson swayed congress to go into World War I for an improved democracy and self-determination for all countries. Congress later agreed, and the United States entered into World War I. When the war was over, an operational and dependable solution was needed to bring...
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