Political Science 1100, Introduction to American Politics, February 9, 2015
Coming Attractions
The Exam, Wednesday at 9:30 sharp
Civil Liberties: What Problems Should Not Be Public?
1. The Constitution at its Most Ambiguous: Civil Liberties
- An Example: Freedom of Religion
2. Two Positions on Civil Liberties
a) The Absolutist Position (Hugo Black)
b) The Balancing Position (Most Judges)
3. Free Speech
Against National Security Threats
The Smith Act (1940) - makes it a crime to join an organization advocating the violent overthrow of the government
The Case of Dennis v. U.S. (1951)
- The Supreme Court Majority Opinion upholds the Smith Act
- Hugo Black's Minority Opinion
4. The Right to
Privacy
The case of Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) - Griswold arrested for making contraceptives available
- The Supreme Court Majority Opinion rules there is a right to privacy
- Hugo Black's Minority Opinion
5. Tolerance - a necessary protection for civil liberties.
Political tolerance
refers to our willingness to apply constitutional rights
to all members of society, no matter who they are
How tolerant are students in PS 1100?
Public Opinion:
How Americans View Government and Politics
1. How Do You
Find Out About Americans' Political Opinions?
a. Why the Personal Approach Doesn't Work
b. Random
Sampling: Scientific Polling
- The most careful way to select people to ask for opinions.
Do scientific polls work? the results speak for themselves
2. A
Consumer’s Guide to Well Conducted Polls
Pay attention to
a). The Margin of Error
b). Whether or not the Sample is Random
c). The Wording of the Questions
3. What do you
find out when you ask Americans for their political opinions?
a. Americans have limited knowledge of public affairs
b. Americans' opinions can change, sometimes quickly
c. Americans' opinions are not always logically consistent
General Principles vs. Real Choices (Jillson, p. 102)
(Remember the tolerance survey)
What to look for in the Jillson book