USA Prelim Revision

The rights of US citizens

• In groups write down one side your paper as many as you can think of.

Rights (bill of rights from the constitution)• To stand for election in a Presidential or local election. • To join a political party such as the Democrats or the

Republicans. • To vote for the candidate of their choice in elections such as

those for city mayor, police chief. • To own a gun. • To protest against a law passed by the Federal Government or

state governments.• To have free speech. • To practise a religion of their choice, e.g. Amish, Mormon,

Jewish, Muslim, etc• To have a fair trial, in district, county, state or supreme courts

General 2007 cont’People in the USA have many rights. They also have responsibilities.

Describe, in detail, the rights and responsibilities people have in the USA. In your answer you must use American examples. 4/8KU

The responsibilities of US citizens

• Beside each right what responsibility would go with that right – write it down beside that right

Responsibilities • To use their vote in a considered way. • To accept the result of the election, e.g. Bush just

won 2000 election • Not to conceal their weapon or use it in an act of

aggression, e.g. like recent school/university shooting in Virginia, joining NRA.

• To accept the views of others, as USA has a mixture of people/races.

• Not to slander or libel someone. • To tell the truth whilst under oath.

General 2007 cont’People in the USA have many rights. They also have responsibilities.

Describe, in detail, the rights and responsibilities people have in the USA. In your answer you must use American examples. 8KU

Inequality in the USA• What is inequality? – As a group

come up with a definition – write it down in the middle of your page

• What are the SOCIAL and ECONOMIC factors of inequality in the USA? On one side of your definition list the economic factors and on the other side list the social factors, give examples for each. (American ones)

Credit 2005

• Social Inequality: Health • Some Americans can afford medical insurance and get excellent

care. Others who cannot afford rely on Medicare or Medicaid which are not nearly as good and so their health may suffer. Who examples?

Education • Some children attend excellent schools in the suburbs or go to

private fee-paying schools and get good qualifications. Others may drop out early, or attend a poor quality inner city school and have few qualifications. Who examples?

Housing • Wealthy people tend to live in the suburbs where they can afford

houses that are of better quality. Others may live in the more run-down inner city areas (ghetto areas) where housing can be very poor. Who examples?

There continues to be social and economic inequality in the USA.

Explain, in detail, why there is social and economic inequality in the USA. In your answer you must use American examples. 8KU

Credit 2005 cont’

• Economic Inequality Wealth/Poverty/Income • Most Americans have a very wealthy lifestyle due to good job

and pay (American Dream????). However some have a very low income due to unemployment/low-paid job. Government welfare payments are low. Who examples?

Employment/Unemployment • Most Americans are in work, but some cannot find a job due to

poorer qualifications and perhaps discrimination. Who examples?

Prejudice and Discrimination (applicable to both) • Unfair treatment in all of the above can be the result of

discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion and nationality. Ethnic minorities tend to do less well in all of the above. Who examples?

There continues to be social and economic inequality in the USA.

Explain, in detail, why there is social and economic inequality in the USA. In your answer you must use American examples. 8KU

Play the American dream game

• 2/3 People per family• The tallest person in the group reads

the instructions to the rest of the family • Start the game

• Who won? Why? Discuss the reasons why?????