Reference no: EM132443377

As we have learned over the last eight weeks, American politics has reached historically high levels of polarization. A great deal of this is seen in the large and growing gap between the Republican and Democratic parties. During your weekly readings and research, you have likely seen similar degrees of difference in the positions Americans take on many contemporary political issues facing our country. The Week Eight Assignment gives you an opportunity to engage in introspective reflection into what you have learned and how this has impacted your perspective on contemporary American politics.

Please compose a minimum one paragraph (at least 5-7 sentences per question-response) to each of the following questions. Be sure to cite any sources you use to come to your conclusions.

Question 1. Who is more responsible for high levels of polarization in contemporary American politics: elites or the mass public? Is it bad that polarization causes gridlock, or is it good because it forces people to compromise in order to get anything done?

Question 2. The fact that the judicial branch is an "anti-majoritarian institution in a democracy" can seem like a troubling contradiction to some. However, some argue this allows federal judges to settle disputes in a way that is less influenced by politics. Based on what we have learned over the last eight weeks, do you agree or disagree - and why or why not?

Question 3. Drawing upon your newly gained knowledge of the current state of citizens' privacy, civil liberties, and civil rights in the Information Age, where do you see the state of these issues five years from now?