1- What did the Supreme Court decision in the Wal-Mart case? And more importantly, how did it justify its decision? (HINT: the keyword here is “commonality” (and how it related to “class-action lawsuit”). Try to understand what these legal terms mean, as it is key to the court’s decision).

In this case, the Supreme Court was to examine whether a small group of women who initiated the suit represent a gigantic class of women.  The Supreme Court unanimously opposed the trial court’s decision by reversing the opinion made by the lower court. For instance, Justice Scalia justified by saying that; the commonality proof in the matter overlapped the respondents’ contention merits that Wal-Mart engaged in patterned discrimination. Further, it was established that the women’s demand for back pay would have amounted to billions of dollars in withheld wages all over the country and that the claim could only belong to the provisions outlined in claim b(3) of rule 23. The latter was argued by a justice Ginsburg.

1-In what ways is the court system better suited to protect the individual, than are the elected branches of government (such as Congress and the President; or the Mayor of NYC and the NYC City Assembly)? Give an example to illustrate your argument.

The courts being independent cannot be influenced by an opinion from the public like the ones elected like the president and others. They are significantly affected by public policy in terms of cost and benefits. Instead, courts are based on specific issues and thus deploy narrow question techniques that strictly focus on the exact individuals affected by a particular verdict than for elected ones. An illustration of this context was well evident in Brown v. Board of Education, where the courts were controversially destined for protecting people and not otherwise.

2- Think about how federal judges get to become judges – unlike Presidents, Mayors, and members of Congress (and other legislatures), they are not elected, but rather appointed. Many Americans have thus called the federal court’s system, and especially the Supreme Court, anti-democratic PLACES IN OUR GOVERNMENT. Do you agree that the Supreme Court, for example, is an anti-democratic part of our government? What could be the reason for this way of choosing judges in federal courts? (HINT: think about our discussion of “Federalist #10”, and which social class plays a leading role in our government system.)

I agree with the Americans’ ideology that appointing judges to fill the federal courts is an anti-democratic move.  For instance, citizens feel their right to appoint whom they think should judge them. Further, the citizens believe that the judges are likely to mirror their own politically based ideologies than working for the people hence the view that citizens should be involved in electing judges. Unlike presidents and other political representatives, the federal judges are usually appointed to federal courts because they are believed to be independent and neutral, thus impartial while making decisions free from political influence. The latter is based on the fact that the judges hardly participate in re-election campaigns, given that they have a fixed tenure term.

1-Describe how you understand the “Establishment Clause” and the related “Lemon Test”.

The establishment clause is a clause in a constitution that forbids Congress from inaugurating a state religion. The law blocks any from being passed against granting preferences to a particular religion. The lemon test remains a test used to determine the state actions that prohibit the Establishment clause of the Constitution First amendment. Besides, is it also a technique for ruling whether the state attempts t violate the liberty of expression of religion?

2-Is burning the US flag protected by the First Amendment? Explain by referring to the relevant court case discussed in the reading.

The burning of the flag is protected by the First Amendment and comprises a symbolic speech. An American flag in 1984 was burned where the “Republican National Convention” was occurring by Gregory Lee Johnson. Johnson was protesting the policies of Ronal Reagan, the president. After Johnson was arrested and charged, he appealed the case demonstrating that his action was a symbolic speech.  Justice William stated that flag burning was a kind of symbolic speech and protected by the First Amendment.

3-What does it mean when someone says “I’m taking the Fifth”?

Am taking a fifth means that a person has refused to testify against oneself according to rights definite by the Fifth Amendment.

1-P. Williams writes in her essay, that the war on terror is a new type of war. What’s new about it, how is it different from traditional wars?

The criticisms of the war on terror address the ethics, morals, efficiency, and economic pertaining to the war on terror. The war on terror subjects murdering people so that the impact affects other persons.

2-In what ways does the “Roving Wiretaps” of the Patriot Act seem to violate the Bill of Rights? Which amendment(s) does it seem to violate and why?

The Patriotic Act infringes the Fourth Amendment. The violation remains that the state cannot conduct a search without obtaining a warrant and lacks illustrating that the person was probably obliged a crime or will obligate.

3- What about “Sneek and Peek” Warrants?

Sneak and peek warrant remains a search warrant enabling the government to execute a physical entry into private premises without the owner’s consent or permission.

1- Describe the primary differences in the role of citizens in government, among the federal, confederation, and unitary systems.

In a federal system, the citizens vote for interested government officials. At the same time, the officials represent the ideas and the concerns of the netizens in the government.  The citizens also serve as community members, write, receive and send info, and attend conferences. Moreover, the citizens participate in creating important decisions like budget development and regulation. Besides, in the confederal system, the citizens agree to follow the powerful central government. The role of the citizen is to follow all the laws and regulations as stipulated by the government in power. Moreover, in a unitary system, the central government envoys the authorization to subnational units and directs guiding principles to citizens for enactment. Thus, the role of citizens is to implements policy decisions. 

2- Briefly explain how you understand the system of division of power.

The system of division of power paid an important role in keeping the three branches equal to one another which are legislative, executive, and judicial that neither branch becomes too powerful. The legislative has the power to declare war and can confirm or reject any presidential appointment and investigative power. The Judicial Branch provides for citizens’ equality and fair laws. The executive branch is responsible to put laws into operation, negotiate taxes, wage war, appoint judges, diplomates, etc. So each branch has its own powers and weaknesses and they must work together to govern this country.

3-How does the federal government shape the actions of state and local governments? Write your answer based on doing a bit of research on how the federal government has influenced the actions of NY state and local governments, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus pandemic has incited an inclusive government response from the federal, state, and local governments. The federal government has endorsed statutes to stimulate the economy and support a robust public health response. The federal government has also implemented principles through agencies’ control and rules to utilize the finance offered by Congress. The local government emphasizes its emergency powers on policies to protect their netizens and promote municipal economies stimulated by the federal government. The state government responds to the approach of the federal government by targeting the people with public health policy and economic responses.

1- Based on the arguments presented in Readings 6.1 and 6.2, which social class wrote the Constitution, and which class was excluded and not allowed to participate in this process? In your comment, make sure you clearly specify the difference between the two classes by giving examples from the readings

Based on the reading 6.1 and 6.2 Constitution was written for the rich people. Middle class, the slaves, the indented servants, women were not allowed to participate in the process. The Working-class didn’t make any impression on the statement at that time. For instance, according to reading 6.2 “Hamilton in his report on manufacturers, dismisses the subject with scant notice”. He mentions that women and children are needed, and they can work in manufactories, etc.

2- Would say that the social class structure of early United States society, was the same as ours today, or different? Explain.

Nowadays, social classes are still in our society, because of some institutions, neighborhoods, whether it’s health, education, etc. However, different from before people have the chances to work hard to pass from the middle class to the rich class, even though you have to work very hard to achieve. Also, women aren’t like before that didn’t have any rights. Now females have equality with males and they have the same rights to work, to go to school, etc. The system of social class in America is similar to other countries in their problems now, although the main difference is that poverty in America can be invisible because is known as one of the richest countries in the world.

3-Why were the people who wrote the Constitution so afraid of democracy? Hint: think about how to answer this question by discussing it in terms of social classes.

People who wrote the Constitution were so afraid because most of the people consisted of the middle class. The middle class didn’t have the right to vote and the democracy would require everyone to vote on every issue.

1-What is the distinction that Reading 4.3 makes between owners and employees? Give an example of each.

The distinction between owners and employees is that owners have other people working hard for them and they get the wealth larger, while employees have to work harder and get paid a small amount of money that arent enough. Those owners become reach by hiring other people in need, working hard for them, that according to the reading 4.3 based on the salary an employer works two hours for him/her self and the rest of 6 or more goes for the boss. Also, workers retire and still don’t have enough money to spend on the rest of their lives. For instance, many of us had to look for a second job or work overtime because we were not paid enough to afford our daily expenses, such as rent, and others bills, in a poor neighborhood while bosses live in wealthy neighborhoods with their big houses and fancy cars. However, we should choose the right path to send us to the right way of success. I like a saying that said, “If you don’t build your dreams, someone will hire you to help build theirs”.

2-How do you understand the quote by Adam Smith on pg. 28? What is it saying about labor?

He is saying that the way you do the job is worth more than any other thing called valuable, like money. It seems that he had a dream view of what he wanted the world to be which unfortunately was an unrealistic view.

3-What are your thoughts on the main argument of Reading 4.4 that class is NOT an identity?

As reading “Class Rules Everything Around Me” I understand that class is another part of identity. In life, you identify objects and categorize them just like people, that are categorized as well by gender, social class, religion, culture, etc.

4-How do you understand the argument Reading 4.4 makes when stating that “class structures are built around a close form of dependency”? What is this close form of dependency, and can you think of an example?

Dependency is classified as a state of needing something or someone. For instance, the consumer has a need or dependency on the vendor, for whatever they are purchasing. The consumer relies on the vendor, and in order to keep the business profitable, the vendor needs money. The seller’s need for money creates a dependency on the consumer.

What Determines How Americans Perceive Their Social Class?

1-Do you notice any similarities in the way the social class is discussed in readings 4.1 and 4.2? Do you notice any differences in the way these two readings DIFFERENTIATE between social classes?

I see some similarities in these two readings, that how social classes are often presented as the number of incomes to the number of the level population. Unfortunately, those who are living in poor neighborhoods receive low-income and have a lot of living problems. The difference between the two readings is that the reading “What Determines How Americans Perceive Their Social Class?” clearly illustrates the amount of income of the people who are divided into lower, worker, middle, upper-middle, upper. You can clearly understand that lower is the people whose incomes increase while the working and middle classes. Working-class and middle class dominates in the united state. Also, shows the level of education that impacts age, race, and area. The “INEQUALITY AND NEW YORK’S SUBWAY” shows the chart of the stations compared to the neighborhood incomes.

2-Pick the station closest to where you live. Using the concepts from Reading 4.1, what social class tends to live in your neighborhood? Are you surprised (or not) by the answer? Do you feel it is an accurate representation of the people living in your neighborhood?

As I saw the chart on reading 4.2 after I read the explanation of it at the reading 4.1 I was surprised. I live in the Bronx, and I found that people living a few blocks from my neighborhood were living in much low-income housing. I can say that most of the people living in the Bronx are immigrants and can’t afford to live in expensive places. When I came to New York I saw a lot of homeless people living in the streets, or when I take the train from the Bronx to Manhattan I have seen a lot of people begging for money or food. With all of this I can say that this is the system of capitalistic that tends to shift wealth to the upper and middle class, but neglecting the majority of people living in the lower classes.

3-Based on Reading 4.2, do you notice a general pattern about social classes in NYC?

Based on Reading 4.2 I notice that in New York City are still social classes in which everyone gets paid differently depends on where you live. High rent forces low-income residents to relocate from the neighborhood and go to lower and probably more dangerous areas. Higher education is a great equalizer for the social mobility of people if the state would give opportunity and help those students who don’t have economic possibilities.

1-Two key concepts in this video are the means of production and labor. In your comment, explain how you understand the means of production and labor. Give an example of each.

The production I understand as: items needed in order to produce goods and services, such as machinery, tools, land, building as well as the labor or employees. Labor consists of the people that are responsible for the production. For instance, the operational processes that are required for a bank to offer service 24/7, machine, customer service, technical support, and security monitoring. A labor example is restaurants which have different position laborer such as waiters, bussers, chef, cleaning workers, etc.

2- Another important concept in understanding social class is value. Based on the ideas presented in Video 5.1, what is value? What gives “value” to value, what makes something valuable?

According to Video 5.1 value is the measure of the work you do. The more work you do the more you will fulfill your needs. In my opinion, something valuable is something that makes us complete at the moment. What I value highly today I might not value at all tomorrow but you might have something valuable today that could not compare with other values you thought you had. Everyone value things in different ways. Your assessment of the value of things depends on your needs.

3- How are labor and value related? What’s the relationship/connection between the two?

In my opinion, labor creates values. Having a job you like provides a measure of personal need and satisfaction. As we work we create things that we value. Work value is viewed as a measure of employee performance. So work and value are related in all sorts of ways.

4- How do you understand the difference between labor and labor power? Hint: this is a key difference, give it your best shot based on what the video says about it, and your own ideas. We’ll clarify and develop it in our discussions, and in my video comments.

The difference between labor and labor power is that in the labor you have to work for a full shift and get paid less, the rest of the payment goes to the owner. Labor power is the ability to work through mental potentiality and get paid more than laborers.

5- Surplus Value: what is it? Why is it important to know about, in our study of social classes? Think about an example of surplus-value?

According to the video Marx, Part 1 Surplus Value is the value created by the unpaid wage against the employer. This is important to know because always in society has been those who work for benefit of others. An example of surplus-value would-be immigrants who comes from a poor country to work in a great country. Probably, many of us have started with a very small salary here in USA and didn’t say anything just because of other circumstances such as not speaking the language, not having the experience, etc.