1. COVID 19 illustrates the tension between liberty and collective action – a tension that continues to play out and an issue which is likely to be prominent in the Republican Presidential primaries this cycle. (In fact, this is already happening.) Describe the nature and evolution of this tension in the case of COVID 19.
2. Compare and contrast any TWO of the following civil liberty issues using the 5 Principles pf Politics as the basis of your analysis: freedom of religion, freedom of speech and the press, the right to bear arms, rights of criminally accused, right to counsel, and the right to privacy. In concluding this answer, summarize what these two issue areas tell us about the tension between liberty and collective action.
3. In the Conclusion to Ch. 4, the authors note: “…under the doctrine of selective incorporation, the Supreme Court gradually applied most of the provisions of the Bill of Rights to the states.” Assuming this statement is correct, what does this tell us about the nature of Federalism? Discuss.
4. in your view what explains the increase in the public’s agreement that racial injustice is an important policy issue. What does it reveal about the public’s reaction to the Floyd killing? How does news coverage help to shape public opinion? Identify and discuss another public policy issue that you think might follow a similar pattern.
5. Brown v Board of Education is generally viewed as a paradigm shifting event in sparking the civil rights movement in the mid-20th century – a movement that continues. Review Warren’s majority opinion in Brown, paying special attention to his “all deliberate speed” argument (https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/349/294/case.html). Why did Warren not provide a concrete timeline for the desegregation of schools? By itself, Brown was not successful. Per se, in desegregating schools. What else had (or has) to happen for this policy to be realized and what lesson is there relative to achieving other civil rights goals?
6. Is there any reason TODAY to be concerned that the power of collective action or the “tyranny of the majority” restricts or denies civil rights (or has the imminent potential of doing so ) in such areas as voting rights, women and gender discrimination, transgender rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, or other rights? Discuss.
