This allows us to begin to transition from the principles and institutions established in the original constitution and begin to look at how the document has changed since it was ratified. Civil rights and elections have been impacted by the addition of significant constitutional amendments, all of which have expanded the ability of the national government to place limits on how the states can treat their citizens. This transition began soon after the end of the Civil War. Suddenly, equality - as a principle - makes an appearance in the Constitution. Some observers suggest that this change marks a revolution in the nature of the Constitution.
Hopefully we'll come to terms with this shift and its continued ramifications.
For past blog stories relevant to civil rights, click on this label: civil rights.
Here are the study guide questions from the wiki page on civil rights:
- What is a civil right?The section on elections allows us to look at a variety of issues associated with elections in the US, as well as its history. We've already looked at elections in previous sections when we discussed democracy, republicanism and the separated powers. So we should have some familiarity with the issue. Here we can go a bit more deeply into the nature of elections in the US and how they condition the political and governing process in the nation.
- What groups were initially successful in becoming equal members of the political community?
- Describe the Dred Scott decision and how the Fourteenth Amendment reacted to it.
- Fully explain the impact of the Equal Protection Clause.
- Plessy v. Ferguson has been argued to have negated the intent of the Fourteenth Amendment. How?
- Describe the steps between Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board of Education. What is the current status of Brown?
- What was the impact of the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts?
- What is the difference between Strict Scrutiny, Intermediate Scrutiny and the Rational Basis test?
- What controversies exist surrounding the use of race, gender, age, physical disabilities, and sexual orientation as ways to distinguish between individuals?
- What lingering disputes exist concerning affirmative action?
There are many labels that link to past stories about elections, but the simplest way to access them is to simply click on "elections." Other labels take you to stories on more specific topics, so surf around if you feel inclined.
And here are study guide questions from the wiki page on elections.
- What is an election and what do they do? What types of decisions are made through elections in the US?
- Do all governing systems have elections? If so, why?
- What are the significant aspects of democratic elections?
- What is the difference between a direct and indirect election? Be able to define them and distinguish one from the other.
- What did Madison say about the problems of direct elections?
- What electoral schemes does the US Constitution establish? Why? Why not elect people to office the same way?
- Be familar with the unique aspects of House, Senate and Presidential elections in the US.
- Be familiar with the electoral college.
- What impact did the 17th Amendment and the Voting Rights Act have on elections in the US?
- Also be familar with the purpose underlying the appointment process for the federal courts? Why is it designed the way it is? What does this tell us about what impact the general population is meant to have on the operations of the government.
- What is a winner take all election and what impact do they have on the electoral process?
- What makes governing systems with proportional representation different from the American systems?
- What is an initiative, referendum and recall election?
- What does the US Constitution say about suffrage? What roles are states allowed to play in the electoral process?
- What does the US Constitution say about districts and how they should be drawn? Why was Baker v Carr argued to be a significant Supreme Court case?
- What does the US Constitution state about who can and cannot vote?
- Be familar with the differences between general and primary elections. Be able to explain how candidates for the presidency have been selected over time and the factors that have led to ocasional changes.
- What do we know about voter turnout in the US? Who votes and why?
- What is gerrymandering? What impact is it ellaged to have on the governing process?
- What role does the Texas Government play in the electoral process?
