The question of why understanding the American government is important to me as an individual made me pause and really think about the answer. I believe that by understanding the government and how it works it allows me to better understand my place in society and how I can make an impact, whether it be in my career or otherwise. Before I took this class, I use to believe when people would say that one vote does not matter. Now, I know for a fact that one vote does not matter, but when you can get a group of votes together those votes matter. This is why the ability to gerrymander districts has become prevalent and important to the way politics is contested. This shows how important Black and minority votes truly are. For example, during election …show more content…
This shows that as a Black person are vote means something, and with an understanding of government I could create a platform in order to further educate my people and other minority groups about the power of votes and how we can use that to force the change that we want done in society. Knowledge of our government and how it works gives me this feeling that if you can mobilize and educate others and spread that knowledge that you can change things. Martin Luther King Jr., for example, used the political influence that he had acquired as one of the most respected leader of the Civil Rights Movement to bring about change, and in turn he met with Lyndon Johnson to work in the interest of Black people at the time. While I do not compare myself to the likes of Martin Luther King, I do believe that I can use the knowledge I have gained from this course and use to it educate others and then as a group we can exercise our political power, so that politicians are forced to actually value our opinions and not just value our vote once every four years. To go even further, understanding is important because of what it has inspired me to do with my
On the national civics assessment, “two-thirds of 12th graders scored below ‘proficient’…and only 9 percent could list two ways a democracy benefits from citizen participation” (O’Connor and Romer 4). The information provided clarifies just how little students know about democracy. Without education on the subject, they are unaware as to how their government contribution is beneficial and why it is needed in the first place. The students, because of their lack of understanding, therefore choose to not take part in their government and fail to carry out their duties as a citizen. The authors provide more research that shows “the better people understand our history and system of government, the more likely they are to vote and participate in the civic life” (O’Connor and Romer 8).
With wonderful learning opportunities, a team of sharp and intelligent classmates and teachers, and specialized equipment, the Governor’s School at Innovation Park is the ultimate dream of all determined math/science devotees. With my natural curiosity for mathematics and science and eagerness to take on challenging ideas, I can collaborate with the team at Governor’s School to develop our wide spectrum of ideas and abilities into a highly sophisticated product.
Within the Constitution, there are many features that are absolutely vital to the success of not only the longevity but success of the government it established. Certain features prevent one aspect of government becoming tyrannical in its power, and some establish the role of constituent states in policy making. While each of these is different, each with a similar role, each must be examined for the reasoning behind their addition to the Constitution. These specific additions are checks and balances, the separation of power, and Federalism.
Conceptual model of good governance in the world’s view Based on the literature reviewed, this study perceived the following model of good governance (GG) in view of the world as depicted in Equation 1: GG ≈ PSL ↔ ES ↔ BS (Equation 1) Where GG = good governance; PSL = political system and leadership; ES = economic system; BS = bureaucratic system. Equation 1 clarifies that good governance is approximately equal to its three main components that are political system and leadership, economic system and bureaucratic system. However, this perception or view of good governance is yet not confirmed or final. Therefore, literature acknowledges that yet good governance is indeterminate. Conceptual model of good governance in the Holy Quran
contemporary world of today Americans are said to be living in the most equal nation, one where its citizens are entitled to a variety of inalienable rights, one in particular being the right to vote. However this was not always the case. From the times of the late Malcolm X, we have not made much progress in our voting affairs. We have the choice and ability to vote, but are we as a people (the black community) utilizing these rights to the utmost? Have we been using our votes to our advantage, or making use of our votes at all? Statistics and I say no. We did not always have choice or say in how things were governed and now that we do, I would hope to see all Black Americans jumping at the chance to be a part of the decision making. Think back to not even a half century ago when this privilege was not ours, and there were many a people ready to give up all they had, their lives and more for it. Malcolm X the revolutionary in his struggle for freedom stressed the importance of Voting. He emphasized the power of the vote and the importance of being granted the right of voting, and even now not as many as need be are making use of their vote.
... The "unprecedented access to higher education and employment" (African American np) that African Americans have been party to since the Civil Rights Movement speaks strongly to the opportunities for change that this country affords its citizens. However, the value of the struggle cannot be lost on us. We must recognize that such fundamental change does not manifest itself overnight: it is achievable only where a lasting commitment to it is available. Change is not beyond us. Action, however, is its necessary predecessor.
When discussing about a nation-state it is imperative to distinguish it from other nations. A nation state is made from its political legitimacy which enables it to be a sovereign organ or a country within a component of sovereign territory (Hutchinson, 2012). The state is a geopolitical as well as a political organ and the nation is a cultural body, therefore, nation state draws its existence in both geopolitical and ethnic cultural backgrounds.
As African Americans, we have surpassed insurmountable barriers from being murdered senselessly to being denied the right to vote. If observed, it would almost seem as if we have arrived, we made it. However the truth is we haven’t, if anything, we’ve become an even bigger detriment to ourselves and our oppressors. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 makes this statement evident!
Assuredly, the purpose of this speech was to enlighten the minds of many Black Americans and engaged them in the fight for the civil rights. They now understand the situation at hand based on the vivid details expressed by X in his speech. As a result of X speaking up for the nation of blacks, he instilled the idea that African Americans should vote and become more politically active, by this motivation, he has established a new philosophy in the minds of the Black Americans, that being to seek equality.
Democracy has been the root of a limited government, the system of which government powers are distributed so that one group of leaders do not have too much influence. The limited government has been structured to keep peace amongst all parties that are involved in the government. And under the U.S. Constitution, citizens are given ultimate power by their right to choose their representatives through the democratic process of voting. Each levels of the government are limited as they have their own responsibilities. The city government has the most local level of government as the residents elect a city council and mayor to represent their interest at the city level. All city governments establish housing and health regulations, and are responsible
Until recently I did not know how important civic engagement was. I was not aware of how necessary it is that I am civically engaged in the African American community. African Americans are not typically seen as individuals, but as a collective group, which is why without civic engagement the prosperity of our race will diminish. In Dr King’s Letter from Birimington Jail, he stated, “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” This quote is meant to express the idea that as a people we are connected, and whatever we do and experience, does not just affect us individually but on a communal level. This statement is a staple for the idea of civic engagement within the African American community. Also inspires me to be engage in public concerns. Civic engagement is more than voting, or reading the newspaper, it is about knowing what is going on in the community and working to fix it.
After 10 years of helping people and participating in the communities I have found myself in, I have grown to fully understand the importance of and role that civic engagement plays in the lives of the participants and the society at large. I believe that civic engagement is very important because it encourages the members of the society to be proactive about addressing problems in the community. I also think that making civic engagement a required course for all students is a way of ensuring that all Drexel students understand their civic responsibilities and are more sensitive to societal issues in any community they find themselves in. I hope that at the end of this course, I will have a full understanding of civic engagement and my civic responsibilities as an international student in
It is important to assess different governments and political views by their strengths and weaknesses. It’s irrefutable that there can be no particular governmental system will be considered ideal in the eyes of every individual, but what should transpire is that a vast majority of the general public living by the rules of a government should feel that it is well suited and ideal. This being said if I were to construct a theoretical government and political platform for a theoretical country, it would be one that is comprised of the strengths of many of the pre existing governments. My country, named “Summum” which means supreme in latin, would be a monarchal system or autocracy that embodies many of the strengths that platforms such as democracy,
The rise of Urban America began in the mid 1800’s with the dawn of the industrial revolution. With it came a rapid increase in the population of cities. This movement towards cities did not last forever, and after WWII, much of the population of cities moved to the suburbs. With the growth and decline of urban environments, and the growth of suburban environments, there has become a mixture of different types of local governments, some of which overlap the same geographical areas. Some view this hodgepodge as a problem, and have offered various solutions. To understand the different types of local governments and how they overlap, one must first understand the development of urban areas, and the movement from urban to suburban areas.
Before I shall begin arguing my position concerning Democracy I have to find out the meaning of this term,to give some definitions which can easily lead us to the main features of this phenomenon. This incipit is like a background, has the same function as a building foundation.