1) On p. 20, our textbook features a short segment with the heading: American Political Culture is Built on Liberty, Equality, and Justice.
- Is one of the three concepts describing American Political Culture more important than the others? If so, define that concept in your own words and explain why you think it’s more essential than the others.
2) According to the textbook, one of the main functions of the Constitution was to establish a fairly rigid, enduring basic legal framework that would underlie the structure of government into perpetuity. Such unchanging ideals as the idea that “all men are created equal” are among the deeper values that the constitution was designed to maintain over time. On the other hand, the Constitution was also designed to be flexible and allow for specific changes that arise from issues that arise over time. Sometimes important issues are addressed through the amendment process (like the abolition of slavery and the prohibition of alcohol). Other times, important issues end up being addressed by Supreme Court cases in which new constitutional legal precedents are set (like the legalization of abortion in Roe v. Wade or same-sex marriage in Obergfell v. Hodges). In many instances, the cases brought before the Supreme Court reflect not just legal positions, but different policy priorities and different value systems. In your initial post, address the following question from p. 56 of the textbook:
“Advocates arguing for a particular policy position often invoke cherished values such as liberty, equality, and democracy to support their positions.
What kinds of arguments could both supporters and opponents of same-sex marriage make using these three values?”
Reference for both questions: Textbook is Benjamin Ginsberg, Theodore J. Lowi, Margaret Weir, Caroline J. Tolbert, Andrea L. Campbell, and Robert J. Spitzer, We the People: An Introduction to American Politics (14th Essentials Edition) (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2023)
