1. The war on terror, as described by P. Williams, is not like the wars of the past. Traditional wars typically involved two states facing off, with declared armies, battlefields, and clear fronts. In the essay, Williams observes that the war on terror is carried out in many places physically, but also in the realm of intelligence, surveillance, media, and civilian life. Because the war on terror operates under these new parameters, it raises unique concerns: erosion of civil liberties, permanent states of emergency, continual expansion of executive power, and a permanent “warlike” mindset. Williams warns of how such a war can change us, not just the enemy.
2. “Roving wiretaps” possibly violates The Forth Amendment which protects people against “unreasonable searches and seizures” and requires that warrants be specific in naming the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized. “Roving wiretaps” often don’t specify which devices or accounts will be monitored, violating the requirement for particularity and they allow surveillance on anyone a suspect contacts, even if that person has no involvement in a crime. whats even more worrying is that, the secrecy of these wiretaps means that we, the people, may never know that we were monitored.
3. “Sneak and Peak” warrants raise the same concerns as well. The Fourth Amendment requires that searches be reasonable, supported by probable cause, and it also assumes that citizens are informed when their property is searched, so they can challenge it if it’s unlawful. “Sneak and Peak” warrants however delays the notice requirement, meaning you might not even know your home was searched until long after it happened. It allows for secret government intrusion, removing your ability to challenge an unlawful search in real time and the delay can extend to a unreasonable amount of time, undermining the basic idea of transparency and accountability.

1. The Establishment Clause, one part of the First Amendment, establishes the principle of separation between the church, or any religious institution, and the state. In broader terms, it means that the government cannot create an official religion, nor adopt any. It means that the government cannot favor one religion over another or promote faith. The purpose of this clause is to protect religious freedom and governmental neutrality in all matters of religion. This is accomplished through the “Lemon Test” derived from the 1971 Supreme Court case Lemon v. Kurtzman. It consists of three criteria that determine if a government action violates the Establishment Clause and will be considered unconstitutional.
   1. The law or action must have a secular purpose
   2. The effect of the law or action must be neutral
   3. The law or action must not lead to excessive involvement in religious institutions by the government.
2. Burning the US flag is protected by the 2nd part of the first Amendment, the freedom of speech. In 1984, a man named Gregory Lee Johnson burned an American flag in protest, after being arrested, convicted, and sentenced. However, in 1989, after an appeal was submitted, the Supreme Court ruled that burning the flag constituted a form of symbolic speech, a means of expressing political ideas, and was therefore protected by the First Amendment’s freedom of speech.
3. The phrase “I’m taking the fifth” or “I plead the fifth” directly applies to the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which entitles the rights of those suspected of a criminal offence. In this case, it specifically protects people from being forced to incriminate themselves. It means that people have a right not to answer questions or give over any evidence that carries an admission of their guilt.

Ariel Durham

1. The key differences are people like us or just local members of society can vote for local,goverment,state all levels of electing people into positions for change. The unitary system is where all the power are controlled by the government in which most people really dont have a say as local.

2. Division of power between the states and the government is significant. The state provides funding and allocates funds for schools, roads, and its own MTA. But with the government, they provide the power of the purse. They allocate a budget for the year and also handle major programs like Medicare and Social Security. By having this system in place, the government cannot overstep and provides checks and balances for states and the federal government.

3.During Covid 19 FEMA helped set up bedside assistance at the Javits Center since hospitals were full to capacity to aid patients with ventilators,mask and other neccessities. They also helped provide chiller trucks because hospital morgues were over compacity as well. By the government sending in FEMA to help the state of NewYork out helped greatly since we were the epicenter of it all.When the CARES act was passed it helped support hospitals and small businesses.

1a.) Ideology is a set of ideas or beliefs that shape how people see the world. A lot of times it feels like common sense, but really it’s taught to us by schools, media, religion, and even our families. Most of the time, these beliefs benefit the people in power and make unfair systems seem normal.

1b.) An example is the idea that “if you work hard, you’ll succeed.” It sounds good, but it ignores how things like low wages, racism, or lack of opportunities. So when someone is poor, people blame them instead of looking at the bigger system.

1c.) I think ideology works because we grow up learning it without even realizing it. It’s in everyday life, what we see on the news, what we’re taught in school, and even rules at work. For example, school doesn’t just teach subjects. It also teaches us to follow rules, be on time, and compete. Those lessons prepare us to fit into the system. For me, ideology is powerful because it makes people accept unfair things as normal.

2.) The biggest difference between conservatives and liberals is how they see the role of government. Conservatives want less government when it comes to money and business. They want fewer taxes and less regulation, but they usually want more government rules when it comes to social issues, like abortion or what’s taught in schools. They value tradition, religion and strong law enforcement. Liberals believe that the government should step in to make things fairer. They support programs like Social Security, health care, and raising the minimum wage. They also think the government should protect people’s personal freedoms, like the right to privacy or LGBTQ rights. A example is health care. Liberals usually support public health programs and government rules to make health care affordable. Conservatives argue that too much government in health care is bad and prefer private options.

3.) Althusser believed ideology as something built into the systems around us. He says there are two main kinds of systems: Repressive State Apparatuses and Ideological State Apparatuses. Repressive State Apparatuses are things like the police, courts and military that use force to keep order. Ideological State Apparatuses are things like schools, media, churches, and families that use ideas and beliefs to shape how people think. These systems train us to accept the roles society gives us. That way, people go along with the system without needing force all the time. For example, school is an Ideological State Apparatuses. Besides teaching subjects, it also teaches us to follow schedules, respect authority, and believe that success comes from good grades and hard work. Althusser is saying that ideology works best when we don’t notice it. We just grow up thinking things are natural, even when the system is unfair, people still accept it because that’s what they’ve been taught from the start.

1.) A Repressive State Apparatuses is a part of society that controls people by using force or punishment. Althusser calls it “repressive” because it keeps order like the police, the military, or prisions. For example, if people protest and the police show up to stop them or arrest them, that’s a Repressive Apparatus.

2.) An Ideological State Apparatuses works by shaping our thoughts instead of using force. These are like schools, churches, families, and the media. They make us believe certain things are just normal, like being on time, working hard, or respecting authority. For example, school teaches us how to follow rules and be good workers in the future.

3.) The difference is that Repressive State Apparatuses uses force, while Ideological State Apparatuses uses ideas. RSA keep people in line through things like police and prisons, while ISA convince people to go along with the system by teaching them beliefs.

4.) An example is the movie The Pursuit of Happiness. It shows that if you work hard enough, even if you’re really poor, you can still become successful. That’s ideology because it makes people believe in the “American Dream.” It’s an ISA because the movie doesn’t force anyone to believe this. It teaches the message through entertainment.

1. How I understand ideology

To me, ideology is the set of beliefs and values that shape how people view the world. It influences how we think about society, politics, religion, and even our personal lives. Ideology gives people a lens to understand what’s right, wrong, fair, or unfair.

For example, someone who strongly believes in individual freedom and limited government is guided by a certain ideology that affects their political choices and daily opinions. Another person might place more value on equality and community support, which would shape their views in a different direction.

When I think of ideology, I see it as both personal and collective. On one hand, it explains why I believe in certain things or make certain choices. On the other, it connects me to larger groups of people who share those same ideas. In short, ideology is like the unseen framework that guides our decisions, even when we don’t always notice it.

2. Conservative vs. liberal ideology in U.S. politics

In American politics, conservatives usually stress tradition, personal responsibility, and limited government. Liberals, on the other hand, emphasize equality, social programs, and government involvement in solving problems. The dividing line often comes down to how much role people think the government should play in society.

For example, debates about healthcare show this difference. Conservatives often believe healthcare should be left mostly to private businesses and individual choices. Liberals tend to support government-run or heavily regulated healthcare so everyone has access. These differences highlight how ideology isn’t just abstract—it directly affects policies and daily life.

3. Althusser’s definition of ideology

Althusser explained ideology as more than just personal beliefs—it’s a system that shapes people without them even realizing it. He argued that ideology works through social institutions like schools, churches, and the media. These institutions “teach” us what’s normal and acceptable, and over time, we adopt those ideas as if they are natural.

For example, schools don’t just teach math or reading; they also encourage discipline, respect for authority, and certain values about success. That’s ideology at work—it’s subtle, but it prepares people to fit into society in specific ways.