Posted on by Arto Artinian

Second exam and end of semester matters

Hi class,

We’ve reached the end of our summer semester! I have posted the Second Exam: https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/pol-100-a050-american-government-summer-2025/module-15-second-exam/

The exam is due this coming Wednesday, July 9th, by midnight.

Also, any outstanding assignments must also be submitted by midnight, Wednesday. Final course grades will be entered within two days of Wednesday – as per college guidelines.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to write!

Posted on by Arto Artinian

Our last module has been posted

Hi class,

This coming week, we’ll be working on our last module:

As a reminder, all outstanding discussion boards, response papers and rewritten exams should be submitted by next Sunday.

Next Sunday, I will post our Second Exam, more on this next weekend…

Posted on by Arto Artinian

Discussion Board 13.1

  1. According to MLK, how can we tell the difference between just and unjust laws? Understanding this questions is the most important part of this module, and I will ask it again during our second exam.
  2. In your view, is this an important distinction (between just and unjust laws), do you think it makes a difference in the way someone (as an individual, or our society as a whole) lives their lives? Can it affect our politics?
  3. Based on our discussion of Question 1, give an example each, of an unjust and just law, in the US today. Explain what makes it unjust or just (using MLK’s definition of those two types of laws).
Posted on by Arto Artinian

First Exam related information

Hi class,

I have finished grading your first exams. Couple of things to keep in mind.

  1. If you wrote your email address on your exam paper, you should have received a link to your graded exam, whereby you can view your grade and my comments.
  2. If you DID NOT receive such an email with a link to your graded exam, that means you forgot to write you email address on your exam paper, and thus I was unable to email you. If you want to see your graded exam, email me and let me know.
  3. If you DO NOT see an exam grade on your Brightspace page for this class, that most likely means you submitted your exam in a format other than Microsoft Word (.DOCX). For example, if you submitted your exam as a PDF of any other document type, I cannot read it, which means you didn’t get credit for your first exam. In this case, take a look at your exam paper and if you send it to me in a format other than .DOC/.DOCX, resubmit the exam in the correct format, and send me an email that you have done so. Then, I’ll be able to grade your exam.
  4. IMPORTANT: The First Exam can be rewritten for a higher grade. If you would like to rewrite your exam, please go ahead and do so. Upload it, and send me an email letting me know that you’ve rewritten your exam.
  5. NOTE: Exam responses that contained 1-3 sentences lost credit. You are expected to write more than that on your exam. Each question should be in paragraph(s) form. Please ensure that you don’t submit any rewritten responses that contain 1-3 sentences…
  6. If you have any questions about your exam, or if you don’t see a grade for your exam on your Brightspace class page, please let me know.
Posted on by Arto Artinian

New modules have been posted

Hi class,

This week, while I’m reading your exams, you’ll be working on our next two modules:

Please note, if you have outstanding assignments from previous modules, go ahead and submit them – there is no late penalty for submitting assignments.

Posted on by Arto Artinian

Discussion Board 12.1

These questions are based on the “Sex Class Action” article:

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

Posted on by Arto Artinian

Discussion Board 11.1

  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.

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 courts 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.)

Posted on by Arto Artinian

The First Exam has been posted

Hi class!

This coming week we have our First Exam, as well as an additional module (Module 9).

Please don’t rush through the exam, you have the entire week to write it. It is due, as usual, next Sunday, by midnight. The exam is a big part of the final course grade, so please don’t rush and give it your best.

Here’s the exam: https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/pol-100-a050-american-government-summer-2025/module-10-first-exam/

We also have an additional module due next week, Module 9: https://openlab.bmcc.cuny.edu/pol-100-a050-american-government-summer-2025/module-9-civil-liberties-and-the-bill-of-rights-10-19-10-25-20/

Posted on by Arto Artinian

Discussion Board 9.2

  1. P. Williams writes in her essay, that the war on terror is a new type of a war. What’s new about it, how is it different from traditional wars?
  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?
  3. What about “Sneek and Peek” Warrants?
Posted on by Arto Artinian

Discussion Board 9.1

  1. Describe how you understand the “Establishment Clause” and the related “Lemon Test”.
  2. Is burning the US flag protected by the First Amendment? Explain by referring to the relevant court case discussed in the reading.
  3. What does it mean when someone says “I’m taking the Fifth”?