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[cvxfreak]

One analysis of the American government system states that there are three fundamental values that overlap within the system. Those values are freedom, order and equality. By applying these values to the structure of the Constitution, write an essay that examines how they illustrate, compete with, or complement the six principles found in our core document. (popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, judicial review, federalism). Use specific examples from the Constitution to support your arguement.

Uh, any tips here? I think I kind of got it down, but if anyone has any extra insight, it'd be appreciated. This is an Honors-level essay, too.

 

[Matt]

principles found in our core document...judicial review...

Umm...what history teacher would write that?

 

[Phoenix]

Here is your chance to find all of the contradictory pieces of the constitution and government - what do you need?

 

[cvxfreak]

Umm...what history teacher would write that?

It was actually in the text book.

 

[MetatronM]

That question seems kind of dumb to me. Why are judicial review, checks and balances, and separation of powers divided into three different "principles?" For one, judicial review is just PART of the checks and balances system, and the separation of powers is sort of the mechanism for the checks and balances. I don't get why they would be divided into different issues in the question. Seems like a poorly designed question to me.

 

[Matt]

It was actually in the text book.

...But it makes no sense. Judicial Review is in no way mentioned in the text of the constitution, it was essentially created by John Marshall.

 

[cvxfreak]

Those are good points. The chapter in the gov't text book states six principles, and apparently, the writers of the text book decided that the checks and balances, judicial review and separation of powers were different enough to warrant their own principle, but the text book CLEARLY acknowledges them to be closely related.

Perhaps in a traditional non-Honors textbook, they'd be clumped in, but for this one, they went for clear specifics.

 

[Matt]

Those are good points. The chapter in the gov't text book states six principles, and apparently, the writers of the text book decided that the checks and balances, judicial review and separation of powers were different enough to warrant their own principle, but the text book CLEARLY acknowledges them to be closely related.

Perhaps in a traditional non-Honors textbook, they'd be clumped in, but for this one, they went for clear specifics.

No, it just sounds like your book has created a poorly phrased questions out of flawed (and historically inaccurate) principals. It has nothing to do with it being “Honors” or not, my AP American History book in High School certainly didn’t do it that way.

 

[Dilbert]

I'd start by trying to figure out the difference between a "value" and a "principle." That prompt is VERY poorly worded.

 

[cvxfreak]

Well Matt, it could be a bad textbook or a good one, but that won't stop the assignment from being due in a few days.

From how I'm reading this book, it doesn't state the six principles to be specifically stated in the Constitution, but we all pretty much know that the document really means what these authors say it does. So, basically, I'm asking how each principle achieves the values that one particular analyst says the American system is all about.