By the end of this module, you will:
– become familiar with the basic concepts of collective actions and political organizing in American politics.
– have a basic working knowledge the concept of “racial capitalism.
– Identify key ideas across several readings and assigned materials
– have practiced text annotation of the assigned reading
– critically analyze assigned text and video material


Lesson 9.1 – Overview of civil liberties

In this lesson we will learn about the concept of civil liberties and how it is incorporated in the Bill of Rights.


WATCH – Lesson 9.1 Intro Video


READ – Reading 9.1 – “Civil Liberties and Basic Freedoms, Bill of Rights (First through Fourth Amendment)”

Read the following textbook excerpt for a basic overview of civil liberties and what constitutes “basic freedoms” in US politics:

https://openstax.org/books/american-government-2e/pages/4-2-securing-basic-freedoms


COMPLETE – Self-assessment Exercise 9.1

In preparation for our discussion board, answer the following multiple-choice questions by clicking on the link below: Questions 11-16

https://openstax.org/books/american-government-2e/pages/4-review-questions

You can check your answers here:

https://openstax.org/books/american-government-2e/pages/chapter-4#fs-id1163758389607-solution


READ – Reading 9.2 – Bill of Rights: The rights of suspects

In this reading, we will learn about the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Amendments, related to the rights of suspects accused of crimes by the criminal justice system:

https://openstax.org/books/american-government-2e/pages/4-3-the-rights-of-suspects


COMPLETE – Self-Assessment Exercise 9.2

In preparation for our discussion board, answer the following multiple-choice questions by clicking on the link below: Questions 11-16

https://openstax.org/books/american-government-2e/pages/4-review-questions

You can check your answers here:

https://openstax.org/books/american-government-2e/pages/chapter-4#fs-id1163758389607-solution


WRITE – Discussion Board 9.1

Head over to Discussion Board 9.1


LESSON 9.2 – Case Study – The Bill of Rights during Wartime: The Patriot Act

In this lesson, we will study what happens to civil rights during wartime. We will focus on the Patriot Act, which is a controversial set of federal laws, widely expanding the powers of law enforcement, in cases related to terrorism. Does the Patriot Act violate the Bill of Rights, or does it stay within its limits?


WATCH – Lesson 9.2 Intro Video


READ – Reading 9.3 – P. Williams: “This Dangerous Patriot’s Game”

This article by Patricia Williams describes the “War on Terror” that the US government declared after the 9/11/01 attacks, as a “new type of war”:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/dec/02/humanrights.usa


READ – Reading 9.4 – “The Patriot Act”: key controversies

This article gives an overview of the most important parts of the Patriot Act, designed to fight international terrorism in the US. As you study it, think about which amendments from the Bill of Rights is the Patriot Act seemingly violating, and why:

https://legacy.npr.org/news/specials/patriotact/patriotactdeal.html


WRITE – Discussion Board 9.2

Head over to Discussion Board 9.2