Attached Files (PDF/DOCX): Rubric 2.docx, Rubric 1.docx, Appendix F – Non-Research Evidence Appraisal Tool.docx, Appendix B – Question Development Tool.docx, Appendix E – Research Evidence Appraisal Tool.docx
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Reply to both discussion below
2 replies of 150-250 words by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of the assigned Module:
Week. For each thread, students must support their assertions with at least 2 scholarly citations
in APA format. Each reply must incorporate at least 2 scholarly citation(s) in APA format. Any
sources cited must have been published within the last 5 years. Acceptable sources include the
textbook, scholarly journals, online articles from academic institutions or organization and the
Bible).
This course utilizes the Post-First feature in all Discussions. This means you will only be able to
read and interact with your classmates threads after you have submitted your thread in response
to the provided prompt
Feb 7 3:10pm
Reply from Robert George
Property and Constitutional Government
The pillars posed by the discussion question play a significant part in restraining government power and protecting one’s rights, especially property rights. Self-government is the idea that power comes from the people, not the government. Through elections, one gets to choose one’s representatives, which means one has a say in how one is governed. This representation helps prevent potential government overreach, because voters can vote out those who fail to protect citizens’ rights.
Through a representative government, elected officials act on the voters’ behalf through delegated authority, making it difficult for any single branch of government to impose its will without considering the people’s interests. By representing the voters’ will, elected officials help ensure that our property and individual rights are upheld.
Under a limited government, the Constitution lays out the government’s powers. This limitation is essential for protecting against high-handed actions that could overstep one’s rights, including property rights. With the separation of powers, limited government helps preserve freedom and prevent the potential for corruption or abuse of power through the rule of law. The Constitution recognizes one’s right to own and control property through the Fifth Amendment, which is designed to protect someone from having property taken without fair compensation and due process.
Furthermore, Madison argued that one’s conscience is fundamental to freedom, and to live according to one’s own beliefs without government interference. In Federalist No. 51, Madison describes the need for checks and balances in government. He reasons that a separation of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches is critical and that this system guarantees that no one branch can overpower the others, which ultimately protects liberties.
However, even with these protections, we see examples of government overreach in practice, specifically in the areas of security and privacy. In this example, the author Nandy (2023) discusses how developing technologies in surveillance through artificial intelligence, facial, and biometric technologies has brought into question ethical and privacy considerations that potentially intrude on liberties. However, with judicial oversight in place, government entities can demonstrate transparency and responsibility when using such technologies.
In another example, Repucci & Slipowitz (2021) discuss how governments used Covid-19 to gain greater control over their citizenry through disinformation, surveillance, restrictions on movement and assembly, and government crackdowns. Other governments limited government action, held new elections, and questioned the legitimacy of illegitimate governments and their actions.
Romans 13:1-4 (New King James Version, 1982) reads, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.” This verse clarifies that authority comes from God and must be exercised in a way that pleases God; otherwise, there will be judgment for the evil actions. In this context, governments must act in their people’s best interests.
In conclusion, people hold the power. Although governments may act in ways that are not beneficial to their constituents, there are checks and balances that allow people to vote in new representatives at all levels of government. So, when the will of the people does not align with the representative, the populace can replace those individuals who align more with what the populace wants.
References
Nandy, D. (2023). Human rights in the era of surveillance: Balancing security and privacy concerns. Journal of Current Social and Political Issues, 1(1), 1317.
New King James Bible. (2026). Thomas Nelson. (Original work published 1982)
Repucci, S., & Slipowitz, A. (2021). Democracy in a year of crisis. Journal of Democracy, 32(2), 45-60.
Feb 5 11:31am
| Last reply Feb 8 5:30pm
Reply from Sarah Smith
Property and Constitutional Government
The pillars of Constitutional Liberty, as mentioned above, are self-government, private property, representative government and limited government. These components all work together to prohibit the government from having too much power and overextending their hand. Self-government allows for citizens to participate in politics and decision-making. They have direct or indirect influence. Representative government ensures that elected officials, those we vote in, have more power in actual decisions than the common-man does. These elected officials are ultimately held accountable by the people who voted them in. Limited government, expressed through our written Constitution, outlines what the government can and cannot do. Meaning, they have power, but can only do so much with it. Lastly, private property protects arbitrary seizure of their labor, possessions, and even their beliefs.
The Constitution restrains government through both separation of powers and federalism. This authority is then divided between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. All branches are equal; none can overtake another. Federalism divides power between the government and the states. James Madison argued that the most sacred property was the conscience. We have a right to hold and act upon our moral and religious beliefs without coercion. This is our freedom; to act on our beliefs as we please. This is what makes America so unique from other countries. The government cannot interfere on this ideal due to the First Amendment. Only our heavenly Father knows how long this Constitutional protection will work in the future, but for now, we have religious freedom.
Despite Constitutional safeguards, the government can most definitely overstep when it comes to property rights. An example of this is eminent domain abuse. This term comes from the Latin term, “Eminenes Dominium” (2026). Governments often expand the definition of “public use” to justify transferring your private property to their private entities. This is ultimately used for economic development.
Another example is the expansion of executive power during emergencies. Temporary measures become permanent and bypass legislative oversight of the matter. The LegalClarity Team state, “This phenomenon results from a complex interplay of the executive branchs structure, legislative actions, judicial interpretations, and societal expectations” (2025).
To restrain government oversteps, we must enforce Constitutional mechanisms. Courts must play critical roles in reviewing government actions and ultimately deciding these actions are unconstitutional and unlawful. As citizens, we must also stay informed and engaged. This is essential. We stay engaged through elections, civic participation, and public accountability. Constitutional liberty does not depend on the government or its written limits, it is dependent on citizens keeping the government accountable and respecting these laws.
References
(2026). History of Eminent Domain and its Abuse. Institute for Justice.
.
(2025). Why Do Presidential Powers Tend to Grow During National Emergencies? LegalClarity.
.
Attached Files (PDF/DOCX): Reflection Paper Rooted Leadership Assignment Instructions.docx
Note: Content extraction from these files is restricted, please review them manually.
The key to this assignment is being able to apply the different theoretical perspectives.
First, interview someone about their “national’ identity. This could be a relative, staff member, or a fellow student you want to get to know better. Ask them what they consider their national identity. What does it mean to have this identity? What are some key things that people with this identity share (common values, cultural items, things they “hate”)? Are there ways they don’t think they fit into this identity? How do they learn/come to understand what this identity was and how they fit into it (you might ask specifically about messages from school and family if they don’t bring it up)? Did they ever consider themselves as part of a different identity? If you really don’t want to interview someone, you can write about yourself.
Write a roughly 4-page essay on whether you think Primordialism, Constructivism, Instrumentalism, or Psychological Approaches as elaborated by the authors has the most persuasive explanation for how your interviewee thinks about their identity. As an observer, which author do you think has the best argument for why we have nations and nationalism? In the essay, you must refer to Anderson’s definition of a nation and discuss two of the following: Geertz, Hobsbawm, Volkan, and Laitin; and by discuss I mean quote and thoughtfully reflect on.
Attached Files (PDF/DOCX): Laitin.pdf, Volkan-1.pdf, Geertz-2.docx, HobsbawmBetter.pdf, Anderson.pdf
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This assignment requires you to write a detailed five-paragraph essay exploring the system of checks and balances within the United States government when Congress passes legislation that violates the Constitution. Your paper should thoroughly analyze the constitutional mechanisms available to both government branches and individual citizens in responding to unconstitutional laws.
Your five-paragraph essay must address the following key components:
Paragraph 1 (Introduction): Begin with a compelling introduction that presents the scenario of both congressional chambers passing an unconstitutional law. Include a clear thesis statement that previews the actions available to the Executive and Judicial branches, as well as citizen responses.
Paragraphs 2-3 (Body – Government Branch Responses): Examine the constitutional powers and responsibilities of the Executive and Judicial branches. Discuss the President’s authority to veto legislation, issue signing statements, or refuse enforcement. Analyze the judiciary’s power of judicial review, established in Marbury v. Madison (1803), which allows courts to declare laws unconstitutional. Explain how cases reach the Supreme Court and the process of constitutional interpretation.
Paragraph 4 (Body – Citizen Action): Explore the various mechanisms available to you as a student and citizen, including filing lawsuits, participating in peaceful protests, contacting elected representatives, voting, supporting advocacy organizations, and raising public awareness through civic engagement.
Paragraph 5 (Conclusion): Synthesize your arguments and reflect on the importance of checks and balances in protecting constitutional rights.
Your paper must adhere strictly to MLA format guidelines (9th edition), including:
Write a five-paragraph paper, responding to the following scenario: Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have passed a law that is considered unconstitutional. What actions can the Executive and Judicial branches do in response to this law? What actions can you as a student take in response to this unconstitutional law?
Use MLA format and be sure to give credit to all sources you used in both the References/Works Cited page and using intext/parenthetical citations.
Write a five-paragraph paper, responding to the following scenario: Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have passed a law that is considered unconstitutional. What actions can the Executive and Judicial branches do in response to this law? What actions can you as a student take in response to this unconstitutional law?
Use MLA format and be sure to give credit to all sources you used in both the References/Works Cited page and using intext/parenthetical citations.
This assignment requires you to write a detailed five-paragraph essay exploring the system of checks and balances within the United States government when Congress passes legislation that violates the Constitution. Your paper should thoroughly analyze the constitutional mechanisms available to both government branches and individual citizens in responding to unconstitutional laws.
Your five-paragraph essay must address the following key components:
Paragraph 1 (Introduction): Begin with a compelling introduction that presents the scenario of both congressional chambers passing an unconstitutional law. Include a clear thesis statement that previews the actions available to the Executive and Judicial branches, as well as citizen responses.
Paragraphs 2-3 (Body – Government Branch Responses): Examine the constitutional powers and responsibilities of the Executive and Judicial branches. Discuss the President’s authority to veto legislation, issue signing statements, or refuse enforcement. Analyze the judiciary’s power of judicial review, established in Marbury v. Madison (1803), which allows courts to declare laws unconstitutional. Explain how cases reach the Supreme Court and the process of constitutional interpretation.
Paragraph 4 (Body – Citizen Action): Explore the various mechanisms available to you as a student and citizen, including filing lawsuits, participating in peaceful protests, contacting elected representatives, voting, supporting advocacy organizations, and raising public awareness through civic engagement.
Paragraph 5 (Conclusion): Synthesize your arguments and reflect on the importance of checks and balances in protecting constitutional rights.
Your paper must adhere strictly to MLA format guidelines (9th edition), including:
This assignment requires you to write a detailed five-paragraph essay exploring the system of checks and balances within the United States government when Congress passes legislation that violates the Constitution. Your paper should thoroughly analyze the constitutional mechanisms available to both government branches and individual citizens in responding to unconstitutional laws.
Your five-paragraph essay must address the following key components:
Paragraph 1 (Introduction): Begin with a compelling introduction that presents the scenario of both congressional chambers passing an unconstitutional law. Include a clear thesis statement that previews the actions available to the Executive and Judicial branches, as well as citizen responses.
Paragraphs 2-3 (Body – Government Branch Responses): Examine the constitutional powers and responsibilities of the Executive and Judicial branches. Discuss the President’s authority to veto legislation, issue signing statements, or refuse enforcement. Analyze the judiciary’s power of judicial review, established in Marbury v. Madison (1803), which allows courts to declare laws unconstitutional. Explain how cases reach the Supreme Court and the process of constitutional interpretation.
Paragraph 4 (Body – Citizen Action): Explore the various mechanisms available to you as a student and citizen, including filing lawsuits, participating in peaceful protests, contacting elected representatives, voting, supporting advocacy organizations, and raising public awareness through civic engagement.
Paragraph 5 (Conclusion): Synthesize your arguments and reflect on the importance of checks and balances in protecting constitutional rights.
Your paper must adhere strictly to MLA format guidelines (9th edition), including:
This assignment requires you to write a detailed five-paragraph essay exploring the system of checks and balances within the United States government when Congress passes legislation that violates the Constitution. Your paper should thoroughly analyze the constitutional mechanisms available to both government branches and individual citizens in responding to unconstitutional laws.
Your five-paragraph essay must address the following key components:
Paragraph 1 (Introduction): Begin with a compelling introduction that presents the scenario of both congressional chambers passing an unconstitutional law. Include a clear thesis statement that previews the actions available to the Executive and Judicial branches, as well as citizen responses.
Paragraphs 2-3 (Body – Government Branch Responses): Examine the constitutional powers and responsibilities of the Executive and Judicial branches. Discuss the President’s authority to veto legislation, issue signing statements, or refuse enforcement. Analyze the judiciary’s power of judicial review, established in Marbury v. Madison (1803), which allows courts to declare laws unconstitutional. Explain how cases reach the Supreme Court and the process of constitutional interpretation.
Paragraph 4 (Body – Citizen Action): Explore the various mechanisms available to you as a student and citizen, including filing lawsuits, participating in peaceful protests, contacting elected representatives, voting, supporting advocacy organizations, and raising public awareness through civic engagement.
Paragraph 5 (Conclusion): Synthesize your arguments and reflect on the importance of checks and balances in protecting constitutional rights.
Your paper must adhere strictly to MLA format guidelines (9th edition), including: