For my 16 week 2301 and 2302 classes, here's the next set of written assignments:
2301: "The consent of the governed" has always seemed to me to be a tricky standard to use to justify governmental activity. As we will see in this section, however, it is the only standard that can be used in a system where people are considered equal - otherwise no one has any authority over anyone else.
But there is nothing said regarding how people offer consent, or withhold it. So how do we? I want you to chew over this question? What does "consent of the governed" mean in our contemporary political landscape? How might people offer it, how might people withhold it? Give examples of each. Insightful commentary is encouraged.
2302: For this first assignment on the legislature I want you to get comfortable with the number of people who represent you in legislative institutions on the local, state and national level and what they do to represent your interests. For information about your local representatives (city council etc), do searches in your city's website. If you are an incorporated area - search the county's website.
State and national information can be found by looking at a site provided by the state of Texas - Who Represents Me?
Find out who these people are and what they do as your representatives. Comment on whether they represent your interests.
They are all loaded up on blackboard and are due next Monday at 8am.
