American Experience

9th Feb 2023

Agenda:

1. American Political System - Key Features.

2. Case Study: Direct Democracy in California

Legislature: Congress (a term used for the U.S. government Legislature body)

The U.S. Congress is divided into two categories:

1. House of Representatives: (435 members) (members of HoR vary by the population of the
state.)
2. Senate/Senators: (100 senators) (2 from each state) (Washington DC is not eligible as it is the
capital, and the government doesn’t want much influence from the DC.)

Executive: Head of federal government

1. President: (directly elected) (can veto potential laws)

The states also have similar bodies, and the governor is the head of the state. The state has more power
than the federal government.

Politics and Government

Politics: The struggle over power or influence to make decisions. It is the process that occurs within the
government.

Government: ultimate authority (institution) in which politics happen. Government includes all
legislative, executive, and judiciary bodies.

Why do we need government? Function of Government

1. Makes the decision for society.

2. The tax system, traffic system, holidays

3. tax and resources are utilized for maximum benefit for the country.

4. Provides Basic public services (food and water), education, and job opportunities.

5. Order: maintaining security and welfare of the people.

Type of Government:
There is a spectrum from Democracy to Authoritarianism

Democracy: Govt. authority is based on the will of the people (Popular Sovereignty)

Authority: the right of power of the government to make and enforce the decision.

Legitimacy: popular acceptance of the government authority.

Authoritarianism (or autocracy): the enforcement or advocacy of strict obedience to authority at the
expense of personal freedom.

Not Perfect Note :

American Experience
Difference between constitutional monarchy (japan ) and constitutional
democracy(U.S.)

Republic and democrats.

Feb 9, 2023

Adjenda
1. American Political System - Key Features.
2. Case Study: Direct Democracy in California

Legislature:
Congress:
House of Representatives (435) (Varies by pop. of States)
Senate (100) (2 from each state.)
Executive :
Head of President

The state has more power than the federal government.

Politics and Government:

Politics: the struggle over power or influence to make decisions.
process
The process occurs within the government.
Government: ultimate authority (institution) in which politics happen.
Government includes all legislative, executive, and judiciary bodies.
Everything/everyone
1. people: elected officials ( reps, senators, president)
2. rules/ laws: followed by an official to make rules.
3. Building in which decisions are made.

Freedom,
War, instability.
Who has power will rule.

Why do we need government? Function of Government)

1. Makes the decision for society.
2. The tax system, traffic system, holidays
3. tax and resources are utilized for maximum benefit for the
country.
4. Provides Basic public services (food and water), education, and
job opportunities.
5. Order: maintaining security and welfare of the people.
6.

Types of Government
Spectrum: Democracy to Authoritarianism

Democracy: Govt. authority is based on the will of the people (popular

Sovergenety).
Authority : the right of power of he government to make and enforce
decision.
Legitimacy: popular acceptance of the government authority.

Authoritarianism :

Representative vs. Direct Democracy

Symbolic Monarchy
Republic: ( representative democracy) people elect their
representative to make decision.
: The head of state is the president or prime minister.

Direct Democracy: decision made by the people directly ( some U.S.

state)

Case Study: CA
1. Initiative: legislating by ballot measure.
2. Referendum: repeal of a law passed by the state legislature.
3. Recall: oust/remove elected officials before the end of their term.

constitutional democracy(U.S.)
Popular Sovereignty (will of the people)
Limited govt ( restriction on the power of government) on abusing
people.
Majority rule with protection of minority rights.

American Constitution: Key feature

1. Safeguard against govt abuse.
2. Safeguard of majority abuse of minorities.

Agenda: 14th feb 2023

Topic: Political Ideologies + the 2 party system
1. warm up review question
2. Political culture
3. political ideology
4. political parties
5. political ideology quiz/ survey

American Political culture (values important to Americans): ideas and

beliefs about social and political issues held by the country’s people.
American want small government,
1. Civil Liberties: referring to freedom.
1. Personal freedom protected for all individuals.
Ex. ferrdom of religion, speech, assembly,
privacy(cannot spy on you, ), bear arms(right to earn gun).
2. restrain the government from abusing individuals.
Liberty : its the greatest freedom of the individual; that is
consistent with the freedom and well-being of society.

2. Order ( security, welfare and well being )

1. cultural order: Favouring of traditional family structure, way of
life, gender norms
2. Equality : all people are equal worth
3. Capitalism : private ownership of resources. (socialism is the
opposite of capitalism) ( communism is a political ideology)
1. money land farm factories , business
2. to create wealth with the limited interference of the government.
4. small govt(hands off) and mistrust of govt.

How does a political culture develop in a given country:

1. through political socialization
1. primary means
1. family
2. educational system
2. other means:
1. social network
2. social media
3. news media
Conflicing values
1. Civil liberties and security
1. Case Study: Muslim Americans after 9/11 (violation of civil
liberties) (right to privacy vs. national security) __ govt were allowed to
spy on Muslim american.
2. Equality and cultural order
1. Case Study: Same-sex marriage vs. traditional family structure.

Political Ideology
1. is a set of beliefs about political and society. Issues and
government roles
2. , political ideology and political culture have same definition, but
culture is broader, and ideology is narrower: referring to the particular
people in the country.
3. Political ideology prioritizes particular aspects of culture.

Political ideology in the US:

1. conservatism: (the right)( republic party)(GOP)(Gadsden flag)
(trump)
1. limited role for government (hands off) (except national security
and defense)
2. Support for individual liberty and freedom
3. belief in opportunity and gain
4. support for free economic markets
5. against govt regulation in the economy
6. resist to the change

1. Liberalism: (the left)(Democratic party) (Progressives)

1. more government involvement to achieve equality(economic
equality, social equality)
2. Support for the public good.
3. Support for equality.
4. Redistribution of wealth through public services
5. support for non-traditional lifestyle ( LGBT)
6. tolerance for change

Adjenga: 2/16/2023
1. political parties in the USA
2. Polarization
3. polarization videos: response exercise
4. Political Party Positions: Partner exercise.
5.
California attorney general Kamala Harris won a U.S. Senate seat in
2016. Why is she in Democratic Party?
1. Democrats are the supporters of Immigrants and Race and
minority.

Political Polarization: Sharp ideological distance between political

parties.
1. Position on the issue is sharply different.
2. Achieving compromise in politics is very difficult.
3. It is at an all-time high and is getting worse.

Affective Polarization: emotional response associated with the

perception of the other party/ideology; strong dislike /hatred of the
other party.

All democracy are representative democracies.

1. Republic
Head of State is president /P.M. ,no march
1. Constutional Monarchies
Head of State is P.M. and the formal executive power invested in
a monarch.

Polarization Videos: Response Questions

1. What are the sources of polarization identified by the professors
in the videos? (videos 1 and 2)
• The rhetoric of political elites: vitriolic language enables people to
engage in extreme behavior against others and adapt the language
and extreme position promoted by political elites. Sanction/approval of
polarizing behavior.
• The new information environment( internet, cable tv, outrage
radio, social media) enables people to live in echo chambers where
they only receive their ideological viewpoint. They do not have
exposure to the other views and no dialogue between the two sides to
create mutual understanding.
• Close election: increased likelihood of personal attacks against
candidates of vitriol/harsh language against the other side. Campaigns
are more toxic.
• White V/S Black
• Politicans are more extremist.
2.
3.

Adjenda 2/21/2023
1. Political Parties Partner Excercise
2. Federalism
1. Causes
2. Benefits
3. Disadvantages

The U.S. is the first country to adopt a federal system of government

on 4th March 1789.

Authority is divided into national /central government and regional

government.

Respond to public health: federal and state

Police: State

Unitary System
In the centralized system, power belongs to the government.

Why US have fedral system?

1. Mistrust of a strong central govt due to British colonial rule.
2. Early ameircan fought to ensure freedom from British tyranny- so
they did not want another strong national government.
3. So balanced it by giving states power.
4. Practicality : Geographically too large for just a central
government.

Benifits:
1. Practical - states can make more easily make, implement ,
administer laws
2. states represent political sub culture: allows state government to
make political decision that reflect the will of their state’s people.;
democratically run fedral government ; Allows Republician states to
make state laws that reflect Republician Values
3. : Alowws states to test out laws that can later become national
laws.: Unemployment benefits : air Pollution at Ca

Adjenda: 2/23
MIdterm1: discuss
Polarization: Video
Fedralism B) Benifit and Disadvantage

Wedge Issue: Policy issue that are traditionally divisive.

cultural /moral issue
abortion, same sex marriage, gun rights
The term "wedge issue" refers to an issue that divides voters or
candidates within an individual party.

Disadvantages :
Dominant group in state can restrict minority rights in the state. Texas
abortion law restricts women’s right to get abortions, and Texas voting
law makes it harder for minorities to vote.

Fedral government represents all different subculture since every state

sends representative to Congress.
So better able to secure minority rights.
Cordination problem during national emergencies.

Agenda: Mar 2
U.S. response to Covid 19 Pandemic : Case Study
the effect of federalism
the effect of politicization
US had a poor respond to pandemic

By no of death vs cases.

cases/ 1000000people
deaths/1000000people

Fedralism and politicization is the factor for poor response during covid
19 in US.
Politicization: It is the factor that become politicized where were not to
be politicized.

US Response to the pandemi was poor

measured by no of death

fadaralism is a major national disadvantage when it comes to national

emergency.
US strugled in response because of:

Who is responsible for pandemic_response:

Shared power: both States and fed. gov’t
primary responsiblity :
polic power : authority to protect the hea;th and safety of
the people.
However: states have inadequate resources so they
look to find the fed gov for help

srong responsirblity: Fedral Government

agencies (experts)
finincial resources to responses.

Responsiblities:
Coordinate with and support state
Provide vaccines, PPE, mdical suplies, research , ensure
suply chain to get supplies to states smoothly.
provieds guidelines for action.

prevent disesease across boders( states and foreign entry).

Downside of fedralism
During times of national health emergency : febralism inhibits
adequates response.
1. It requires cordination btwn gedral and state level. Difficult
because of multipple actors.
1. especially if fed gov and stae have different approaches.
2. legally cannot implemet top down, heavy handed, uniformed
approach like in unitary systems to get the job done.
3. time consuming when need an immediate response.
4. States compete for limited resources with each other.

Politicization: when a non-political issue becomes a matter of

ideological issue becomes a wedge issue.

Civil Liberties:
• Restraints of action of gov’t against individuals
• personal freedom
• found in the Constitution
• The first 10 amendments of the constitution (bill of rights) have
some of the most popular ones.
• Speech, assembly, courts and shoulders, freedom of religion,
press, Association

freedom of speech:
you can say, act and behave freely without the threat of the
government.

symbolic speech - expression through non-verbal conduct; clothing

movement, gestures

Freedom of religion:
• Consists of two principles:
• Separation of church and state
• Establishment Clause: government cannot start any church.
• guarantees the free exercise of free religion in all spheres
( private and public)
• free exercise clause

The high standard for religious freedom is unique to America.

2 variants
1. State as a neutral toward religion(US)
No state church
freedom of religion in private and public spheres.
personally and worship and display religious symbols in all spaces
Religiously motivated actors can participate in politics.

2. State as guarantor of the religion-free public sphere (EU)

no state church
no display of religion in the state-funded public sphere.
Private companies can discriminate on the basis of visible
religious ID

Ajenda: Mar 7
Civil liberties
a) Right to privacy
CASE Study: US Supreme Court Ruling on Abortion.

Civil liberties

Right to privacy (from unreasonable search and seizure)

brought from the fourth amendment
government can not without a warrant: subject Americans to
surveillance:
monitor, wiretap, and collect electronic data.

Right to privacy (perrsdonal)

derived from 14th amendment.
zone of privacy (think home/bedroom)
Allows for people to be secure and free from government intrusion in
the private realm (homes)
abortion , contraception
same sex marriage
consensual sex
interracial marriage

Enumerated Right: Explicitly stated in the constitution. free speech,

freedom
Unnumerated rights: Derived from the constitutionstemming from the
due Process Clause in the 14th Amendment covers only rights that
were deeply rooted in america at the time of 14 th amendment
ratification in 1986. Abortion was not a deeply rooted tradation in
1869. therefore it is not a implied right. Therefore authority to regulate
abortion belong to the state.

Reason provided by the Conservative Justices for why abortion is not a

constitutional Right
1. Not explitely mentioned in the constution

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Adjenda mar 9:
Personal Presentation prompt
right wing Populism
Supreme Court ruling in the context of american politics today.

Right Wing Populism

extreme conservative values+ and anti-establishment anti-elitist (even
though many leaders are elitist/etc.)
aka Wing nationalism, Christian nationalism, trumpism, MAGA (Make
American Great Again) republicans.
Predominant strand of Conservatism and the republican party today.
at its core: Reaction to a Changing America.

Left Right( populist nationalism)

Inclusivity Exclusivity
acceptance of diversity Rejection of Diversity
(multiculturalism)
open immigration- to all limited immigration- favors
Europe immigrants
LGBTQ- full acceptance and rejection as normal:oposition to
normalization of community same sex marriage
Abortion: allows for choice Abortion: murder
Family model: aceptance of tradational one man one
varying models woman married, nuclear family
coasts/ cities rural
spectrum - agnostic/atheist- Evabgelical christain
religious communities (right wing
christanity)

Causes:
Originated circa early 2000s
culminated in trump win 2016
rhetroic/ policies further emboldened the ideology

Reaction:
1. the obama win in 2008
1. signaled shift in dominant minority group relations.
2. changing racial and ethnic demography
3. changing social values: same-sex marriage, usage of non binary
pronoun
4. increasing activism by younger America
1. woke culture: awareness of discrimination and injustices and
action to counter it. Black rights matter, Blue right matters,all life
matters.
5. increasing secularization of Americans- less religious
overall( 12th least religious country )

Abortion Ruling? Why Now?

understand landmark, unprecedented ruling in contex of america today
intentioal decision made by a conservative majority Supereme Court
Advancement of right wing ideology in an environment of cultural
wars.
Backlash/reaction to changing america-atemp to hold onto tradational
values.

Ajenda 3/28
FinishUp: Politics of abortion
Check-Ins: Mental Health and goals

Politics of abortion
Why will we most likely not see the abortion right granted in our
lifetime?
⁃ Judicary 6/3
⁃ Majority of Parliament need voting to revoke if which is unlikely to
happen.

Longstanding”Wedge Issue” b/w L and R : Divisive

Pro life(anti-abortion) and Pro-choice(allows for abortion)
Pro_life Movement began immediately after Roe v Wade
Foundation of the pro-life movement is christain thought-life that
begins at conception (sperm fertilizes the egg)
soul enters the embryo

Pro-life vPro choice

Prolife pro choice

Right to abortion is not an women have the
enumerated right in Constitution autonomy/control over the
reproductive systems
Therefore clearly a matter for
the state to decide Therefore governmet should
not prevent abortion -at least
not before point of viability
govt has obligation to
protect/preserve all human life
regardless of viability , quality of
life concern fo baby ,
rape/incest, mother,s health.

Abortion in the US is at the heart of many themes covered in the class.

Federalism - State rights issue? The constitution decided: Yes

Civil Liberties_ right to Privacy
Polarization: Culture Wars; Right-wing Populism: 2 Americans
was win for the conservatives

The right to bear arms is also sometimes debated, but its a federal
issue because it is a constitutional right.

Public Opinion Political Socialization, Voter Turnout

Public OPenion: the aggregate (sum) of individual attitudes on a policy/

political issue
abortion
gun control
taxes
masking
vaccine mandate
economy

divided for Consensus

Divided : Polarized b/w two position(approx: cut off: give or take,
eachside under 70%)
Consensus: general agreement (approx. cutoff: give or take , one side
over 75%)

Discovered through polls survey

Agenda 3/30
lecture: public opinion
poll : Socialization/voter turnout

Public opinion :
An outward expression of your views and belief about politics.

Political ideology and public opinion:

⁃ Acquired through political socialization
and public opinion is an expression of thought, to the outside world.
Public opinion is formed through political socialization.
family and education

friens andd social network : news/talk social media place of worship

Demographics:
Characteristics that describe a population.
The reason we care about demographics is that they predict public
opinion and public preferences.
pilotical ideology, party preference ,

Factor that of demographics.

race/ethnicity
age
gender
income
education
socioeconomic status
occupation
maritial status
religion
race/ethnicity

Predictor of political ideology/Party Preference

race and ethnicity
gender
education
SES
religiosity
occupation
geography

Adjenda apr 6

Predictors of voter turnout

Voter turn out means: Percentage of eligible voters who vote in an
election.
More higher Socio economic status, more voting.
Older age votes more than younger
Race/ethnocity:
White turnouts are more than black
, but black turnout is more than Hispanics/Latinos because black
has a long history in the U.S., and black feel that by voting, they can
influence politics. Also, black has a native language of english whereas
Latinos has different language harder to vote

women tends to vote more than male

Stronger party attachements

Ajenda 4/11/23
finish: Voter turnout
The economy:a. The state of the economy today
b. Inflation
High gas prices
High food costs

Current Status of Economy

1. High Inflation (now at U.S. is 6.04 %) ;
2. low employment
3. rising wages but not keeping up with inflation.( inflation
definition: It is the rate of increase in price over a given period. It
indicates spending power. Its banks for the bang for your back.)

(Deflation, opposite of inflation)

low infaltion high infaltion

Higher Spending power lower Spending power

Healthy Inflation is (2%). it indicates a healthy economy at full

capacity, with goods/ services being made and jobs being purchased to
accommodate the economic activity.

Unemployment in the U.S. is 3.5%. bellow 5% of the unemployment

rate is considered good.

CPI :Consumer price index, a measure for inflation. it is a basket of

consumer goods(food, utilities,housing, clothing). one time vs another
time. Deff: measure of the avg change overtime in the prices paid by
consumers for a market basket of consumer goods/services.

Causes of inflation:(Demand Poll inflation, Cost-push inflation)

1. Cost-push inflation: is an idea that as business expenses
increase, these costs are passed onto consumers. as the price of input
increases (labor wedges, transportation and shipping cost, raw goods
used to make products), they are passed into consumers.

After the pandemic, gas price went up because of high demand. People
started commuting and traveling again.
During and after the pandemic, Labor shortages were seen, and
companies had to increase wedges.
2. Demand poll inflation: demad fof goods/ services outpaces
supply. (tend to see demand _pull inflatin when economyis strong abd
functioning at full capacity.
- people have more disposable income: demand for goods/ services
goes up
_ companies are unable to increase production to keep up with the
demand
_ Scarcity of goods which leads to higher price.
During pandemic we had stimulus payments under trump and biden;
more money to spend which increased demand for goods.
($1200,$600,$1400/person)
panic buying which increased demand
exceptionally low interest rates: almost 0% during pandemic. (Interest:
amount a lender charges a brrower to borrow $$.
The Fed has the responsility of ensuring a stable/healthy/growing
economy/ in which goods /services are being a bought procuded but
also ensuring that inflation is not too high. SO fed want to ensure that
people were buying goods services + business were producing
goood/services during the pandemic.
Increase. in housing sales,car sales.

low increased rates = increased borrowing + Purchasing/buying

Agenda
The economy.
A. Demand-pull Inflation
B. High Gas Price
C. High food cost

High gas prices are a cause of inflation. paying higher prices for gas
cause of inflation: primary inflation in the supply chain.(cost-Push)
increased demand(demand-Pull)

High demand is coming out of the pandemic.(demand - poll)

Russia and Ukraine war. Major oil/ gas produces; (demand-poll)
Countries globally have sanctioned Russian oil/gas for their shortage of
oil/market (demand-poll).

Exceptionally high gas prices in C.A.

1. Due to strict environment laws, we have special gas blends that
the rest of America does not use.
2. Summer blend
3. winter Blennd. ; both are expensive to make, but summer is more
expensive.

Blends are only made in California. Because the blend are only made in
CA, there is less supply, less supply is always link to higher
cost/prices.
Prices are passed onto the customer.

Higher Taxes.( used for climate regulation and road repairs)

foood prices:
Inputs have been Costly: Higher wages + gas (cost push)
Climate Change- increased drought heat affecting the agicultural
industry: (demand poll)
low yeild of Crop
low suply

Poultry/eggs: A case of bird flu.(demand poll)

Ajenda 4/18/23
key finding on Gen Z
student discussion: thoughts on finding

Tolerant, open-minded, and inclusive of other races/ethnicities,

cultures, religions, and lifestyles.
Justice-seeking “activist” generation.
Prioritize climate change action.
Destigmatized mental health: no loner taboo to discuss it.
Poiltically simillar position as Millenialls.
agnaist govt: solves problem
pro-LGBTQ: equality ;supportive of non tradational life styles.

Ajenda 4/20

Social Media Survey

Social Media addiction
⁃ monitization model
⁃ positive intermittent reinforcement

Social media(Def) : web sites/ appps/platforms that allow users to

interact communicate + share content (FB, Insta, SnapChat,Tiktok,
Tiktok, twitter Linked in , what’s app, text message, email)

Monetization: High social media usage is due to the underlying

monetization model used by social media companies.

Costumer for social media companies is Companies /businesses that

advertise on their platform.
Product of Social Media are us. We are not costumer rather we are
product.
To maximize user to adds social media companies get their users
hooked to social media through something.

Social media manipulate our phycology and how they do is positive

intermittent reinforement.

positive intermittent reinforement (def) : Is a behaviour that brings

about a delivery of a reward at irregular intervals, which makes you
keep doing that behaviour.

Behavior(def) : being active in social media

Reward: Realease of Dopamine

Social Media features tahte produce this reward:

likes a post
comment on post
comments on posts
tagged in photos/memes
new follower
retweet on twitter text from
text from someone you love
match with soomebody
red notification
elipses
watching a reel /tiktok that s funny or that apeals to you
Any time you get a notification for any of these or you come across
something you enjoy you will be engaged and active on the social
media platform. therefore, increasing exposure to add. And you will
kep doing the things that gets you these dopamine hits

Dopamine hit is at irregular intervals making you to use Social media

more. if you were rewarded all the time you wouldn’t be as addicted. If
you get the same reward everytime by dan the same thing the
excitement is gone.

Dopamine hit from the discussed social media features occours in the
firstplace because w have an innate phycholgical nedd for social
interaction, acceptance and approval , popularity.

So we post photos,stories, tiktoks, reels, to get those likes commentss

so we feel good.
Algorithms: A set of instructions and math equations that decides what
content will show up on a user’s news feed so that both content and
adds that the user will like will show up.

Ajenda
The effects on american society
a)menatal health
b)Produvtivity

1. Menatal Health
_ anxiety, depressed,self Harm sucide numbers have gone up sine the
smart phone became easily availablle (2011-2012) compared to prior
years.

Social media make us compare ourselves with others. No pain.

Bullying.

Mechanism Linking social media to adverse mental health.

a. Social comprasion : comparing ovrselves to our counerparts. - It
leads to anxity , body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) , eating disorders,
depression.)

Points of comparison:
 a. Teens and twenties
Popularity, Wealth, Beauty & Apperance(face, body style,
Height), ECA achivements).
Value of a patner, their apperance, health , wealth.
Quality of life.

b. 30s and 40s:

above point - (EC activites)
sucess of carrer
Wealth Status
Own a home
Married or not and Children or not
Sucess of Children ; academic achivements , sports
achivements

b. incivility : lack of manners + etiquette in virtual social interactions

This leads to anxiety, BDD, eating disorder, depression.
Cyber bullying
offensive, hurtful, comments.
Ghosing

2. Productivity:
Declining productivity in school/work
Mechanisms linking social media to declined productivity.
a. shorter Attention spans: (8 sec)
Need for instant gratification and constant stimulation. Makes
concentration on boring or tedious tasks harder
b. Distraction: Constantly using a phone which disrupt your
productivity

Diversity in America:
Minority(def): a minority is a subordinate group status in terms of
Unequal. Distribution of resources and power.
Minority Group : It is not necessarily a numerical minority.
eg: Women
blacks in south Africa

Define:( Usually but noy always necessary)

1. experience disadvantage and inequality in access to
resources/power
2. visible traits that distinguish
3. Minority groups are usually aware of the shared status.
4. membership at birth(ascription)
5. Intimate relationship with in the group

Minority group status

1. Effects mobility up the socio Economic status ladder.

Dominant-Minority Relations
Prejudice: It is the tendency to think and feel about some group
negatively (thinking/ feeling)
Discrimination = unequal treatment os a person because of their
group(doing/how to behave).

Prejudice is individual; ideological racism is when prejudice toward a

minor group is pervasive.

Institutional Discrimination: Pattern of unequal treatment toward a

minority group in society.

AJENDA 5/2

Diversity in America
A. Causes of Prejudice
B. Cycle of Discrimination
Critical Race theory

Causes of prejudice:

It comes because of competition between groups. ( the competition is

between the resources(job, benefit), Cultural Norms), language, laws,
and policies.
The vicious cycle of prejudice, sustained over time, slow to change.
efforts to change receive pushback( from dominant group)

The dominant group reacts and responds to the completion by forming

a hostile, negative attitude toward the minority.

Socialized into prejudice

Family Schooling,
Culture /Society.

Social Distance :
The degree of intimacy a person is willing to accept in their relations
with another group.

Hierarchy of Social Distance :

Marriage
Friends
Neighbor
co-workers
do not want any relations.

Critical race theory.

broad theoretical approach ( taught in law school and grad school)
Approach to understanding enduring racial inequality in laws and
policies in America
Way of thinking that examines persisting racial inequality in laws and
policies.

Debate at the school level :

teaching content on racial injustice in America’s past and
today(slavery, experience of indigenous people, widespread racism)
Proponents: need to provide a complete picture of America’s history
and problems today.
Opponent: creating a racial divide, resentments against Whites, feel it
is creating reverse racism against Whites.

Example of institutionalized racial inequality :

Harsher penalties for crack cocaine than powder cocaine.
Standardized tests: favor Whites over Black/Hispanics
Voting laws (no translation )
School suspension rates.

Housing Access ( Black are 20% fewer homes than Whites)

Systemic Inequality within laws /policies inhibits minorities’ ability to

climb the SES ladder.

In other words: Education, good jobs, home ownership, political power

The systemic cycle of ongoing inequality is because laws and policies
don’t change.

Ajenda 5/4 Thrus:

CRT Video
CRT- the cycle of discrimination
Census
Asian-American Case Study

Why do people feel prejudice

Dominanat Group Completition form minorities.
Jobs, [Link],, cultular music,language = Latino
Jobs, cultural norms, multigene household, language = Asian American
Cultural norms, way of dressing
lifestyle: security and well being

Example of pushback by dominant group

perceived THREAT from minority group
Push Back Behaviour

Blue Life Matters( response to black lives matter)

Black Life Matters: movement t address racial injustice against
blacks( returning police brutality )

Voters repression laws (response to get out the vote campaign (get
minorities and young people to vote))

Anti-CRT movement( response to CRT)

don’t say Gay Law in FL; no discussion of gender identity/LGBTQ in K-

3rd grade (response to LGBTQ normalization)

Asian Americans:
Census: Survey of Entire American Population
Taken once every decade
Demographics
Used to allocate Congressional seats, to get about 700000 American
representative
2020 Census Results - Race/ethnicity
Decreasing growth rate for Whites. (still a numerical majority)
Projected to be a numerical minority by 2045 compared to non-whites,
but still will be the largest race group

The increasing growth rate of Hispanic and Asian Americans

immigration
birth rate

####
Asian Americans
Stereotypes: widely held and simplified beliefs about a group.
“model minority” stereotype

Assume all Asian are:

Naturally Intelligent
Hard Working
Wealthy
Obedient
Self Reliant
women are docile (ready to accept any instruction)/ submissive

Problem with positive stereotypes :

All stereotypes are inherently problematic b/c generalize an entire
people.
It does not account for widespread variation within the group.
Neglets racism/ discrimination agnaist that group.
Intense Pressure on members to live up to the stereotype.
Justify Discrimination
implies a negative stereotype

Economic threat
poverty line
Ajenda 5/11 Thurs
Finish up course wrap up
Evaluations
Final Exam Review
(SPSS)

Schmidt et al. march 28_30

Abernathy 11-13
Healey and Stepnick ( May 2-4)

What are the two components that define right-wing populism?

- extreme conservative values and establishment anti-elitist views.

right-wing populism is dominant in which ideology political party.

-Republican

why did the abortion ruling happen today after all, there have been
conservative majority ruling past too.
-The rulling was a reaction or a backlash by the dominant grouup
(conversation reigt wing ideology ) to a Changing America. An attempt
to hold onto traditional values.
Today there are cultue war happening and this was a move by
conservative right wing ( also the dominant group ) to advance its
ideology and its vision of reaction

Identify one pro-life argument and one pro-choice argument

Pro-life: The right to abortion is not an enumerated right in the
Constitution; therefore, the state decides whether or not to permit it.
(govt has an obligation to protect/preserve all human life
regardless of viability)
Pro-choice: women have autonomy/control over the reproductive
systems. Therefore the government cannot prevent them from gaining
an abortion.

Explain Cost Push Inflation and Demand Pull Inflation

Cost Push Inflation: Increase in the price of goods because of an
increase in the price of raw materials, labor wages and transportation
costs.
Price of inputs increases( transportation, labor, raw goods) increases
those cost are pushed into consumers therefore increasing the price of
goods/services

Demand Pull Inflation : Increase in the price because of the shortage

of the good and more demand for it, which leads to higher prices.

What is the major move that the fed has been making in the past year
to try to lower the inflation?
-Increase the interest rate to discourage consumer from borrowing
money to buy goods and services.

What are the two causes of high gas prices in the nation today?
Russia- Ukraine war
High demand after the pandemic.

Identify and explain two mechanisms that link social media to decline
productivity.
Procrastination.
Shorer Attentation sapn : So completing paper, and tedious task is
harder because we need constant stimulation and instant gratification
Distraction.

Three predectors of Republic and democratic preferences respectively.

Republican:
Wealth and Socio Economic Status
Men
Whites

Democratic:
Women
Immigrants
Higher Education

Joe is a white man who just got new neighbours who are asian
american. Joe is very unhappy that his neighbour are asian american
and he is constantly thinking negative about them what is this a form
of :
Prejudice Discrimination

Identify the effort at reform,and then the pushback behavior.

Black life matter is a reform and Blue life matters is push back
behaviour

CRT theory inclusive education: Anti CRT theory

Get out the Vote/ Vote Represion laws