Assignment
Short Answer
Answer the questions below using complete sentences.
1. Explain the connections between democracy and the free enterprise system.
2. Many people think that political parties make the will of the people known to government. They also argue that political parties hold the government accountable to the people. Think about what political parties do. Briefly describe how political parties keep government responsible to the people.
3. Political parties are a principal means by which the people's will is made known to the government and government is held accountable to the people. Briefly describe party functions that achieve these goals.
"The need for collecting large campaign funds would vanish [go away] if Congress provided an appropriation [federal money] for the proper . . . expenses of each of the great national parties, an appropriation ample [large] enough to meet the necessity [the needs of the political parties]. . . . Then [the parties should agree that] no party receiving campaign funds from the [federal] Treasury should accept more than a fixed amount from any individual . . . and [detailed information about the money taken in and spent] could without difficulty be provided."
-President Theodore Roosevelt, Annual Message to Congress, December 3, 1907
4. Would you support President Roosevelt's proposal? Explain.
"Sure, you can grow to be president....
but for real power consider becoming a lobbyist."
5. How does this cartoon criticize interest groups? Do you agree or disagree with what the cartoonist is saying? Why?
"There cannot be a great vice president. A great man may occupy the office, but there is no way for him to become a great vice president because the office in itself is almost wholly unimportant."
-former Vice President John Nance Garner, Collier's Magazine, March 20, 1948
6. Explain what Garner meant by this remark. Use information from your reading to explain how his point of view compares with the job description of the Vice President described in the chapter.
7. What is the difference between staff agencies and line agencies?
"[A] flat tax is simple, fair, and good for growth. Instead of the 893 forms required by the current system, a flat tax would use only two postcard-sized forms. . . . Unlike the current system, which discriminates [treats some people differently] based on the source, use, and level of income, a flat tax treats all taxpayers equally, fulfilling the ‘equal justice under law' principle. . . . And unlike the current system, which punishes people for contributing to the nation's wealth, a flat tax would lower . . . tax rates and eliminate [get rid of] the tax bias [discouragement] against saving and investment, thus ensuring better economic performance in a competitive global economy."
-from "A Brief Guide to the Flat Tax," The Heritage Foundation, July 7, 2005
8. (a) What is the author of this excerpt proposing? (b) According to the excerpt, how is the current progressive tax system unfair? (c) How would going to a flat tax system from a progressive tax system change the way income taxes are collected?
9. The Department of Homeland Security protects the United States against terrorism. (a) List three of the five main services that it provides. (b) Why do you think the work of this department is so complex?
10. Would a Greek-style democratic system work in modern-day America? Explain your answer.