Problem
I. The United States is a democratic regime. Define democracy and identify the four different types of democracy. Describe each of the four types. Explain why the United States exemplifies two of these types. You should reference different aspects of the US Constitution to answer the last part of the question. Finally, distinguish between a governmental and economic system and explain why they are easily confused.
II. Even in a democracy, political scientists question who governs, wondering if the people truly rule in a democratic regime. Discuss the three different answers to this question. Focusing on the tradeoffs perspective, explain why it rejects both elite theory and pluralism as answers to this question. How do the compromises in the Constitution exemplify the tradeoffs perspective?
III. The Declaration of Independence is an important document as it represents the American Creed, the ideals upon which the American nation is founded. Explain the ideals that the Declaration of Independence embraces. As a revolutionary document, it also lists colonists' grievances with the British government. Summarize those grievances. Last, discuss at least one way that the new American nation fell short of its founding ideals.
IV. The Constitution has been changed many times in two hundred plus years of political history. Explain the process by which the Constitution can be amended. Focusing on the Bill of Rights, discuss the changes to the original Constitution in the first 10 amendments. Why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution? Make sure to address the role of the Anti federalists in your answer.
V. The textbook describes federalism as creating autonomous levels of government. Explain what this statement means. In your explanation, provide examples of the autonomy that the different levels of government can exercise. Relate the autonomy of the different levels of government to the division of powers in the American Constitution.