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    • What Is the History of the Development of Our Democratic Institutions and Norms?

      The relationship among the institutions of our national government has changed significantly from the time of the founding to the present day. During the founding period, it was believed that the legislative branch would be incontestably the strongest branch of government. Today, both the executive and judicial branches are much stronger than the Founders had in mind, and Congress is much weaker. Although Congress has the authority to change this balance, it has failed to do so and has continued to cede power to the other branches of the national government. Some claim this poses a threat not only to representative democracy, but to democracy itself. There has also been an evolution of political and democratic norms essential to the healthy functioning of a democratic system. This video explains the importance of maintaining a balance of power between the three branches of government and how adherence to democratic norms is essential to the healthy functioning of a society.
      • Introduction
      • Video (2:47) Page
      • Section 1: Governmental Institutions: Decline in Strength of Congress
      • Video (10:21) Page
      • Review Questions (V2,S1) Quiz
      •     Discussion and research questions

      • Question 1 Forum
      • Question 2 Forum
      • Question 3 Forum
      • Section 2: Governmental Institutions: Rationale for Separation of Powers
      • Video (09:04) Page
      • Review Questions (V2,S2) Quiz
      •     Discussion and research questions

      • Question 1 Forum
      • Question 2 Forum
      • Question 3 Forum
      • Section 3: Governmental Institutions: Congress and the Rationale for a Bicameral System
      • Video (07:08) Page
      • Review Questions (V2,S3) Quiz
      •     Discussion and research questions

      • Question 1 Forum
      • Question 2 Forum
      • Question 3 Forum
      • Section 4: Governmental Institutions: Congress and the Relationship between the House and Senate
      • Video (05:20) Page
      • Review Questions (V1,S4) Quiz
      •     Discussion and research questions

      • Question 1 Forum
      • Question 2 Forum
      • Question 3 Forum
      • Question 4 Forum
      • Question 5 Forum
      • Section 5: Governmental Institutions: Congress and Equal v Proportional Representation
      • Video (04:41) Page
      • Review Questions (V2,S5) Quiz
      •     Discussion and research questions

      • Question 1 Forum
      • Question 2 Forum
      • Question 3 Forum
      • Section 6: Governmental Institutions: Majority or Minority Rule?
      • Video (07:11) Page
      • Review Questions A (V2,S6a) Quiz
      • Review Questions B (V2,S6b) Quiz
      •     Discussion and research questions

      • Question 1 Forum
      • Question 2 Forum
      • Question 3 Forum
      • Question 4 Forum
      • Question 5 Forum
      • Section 7: Governmental Institutions: Relationship between National and State Governments
      • Video (07:33) Page
      • Review Questions (V2,S7) Quiz
      •     Discussion and research questions

      • Question 1 Forum
      • Question 2 Forum
      • Question 3 Forum
      • Question 4 Forum
      • Section 8: Evolution of Democratic Norms: “Norms” Explained
      • Video (07:28) Page
      • Review Questions A (V2,S8a) Quiz
      • Review Questions B (V2,S8b) Quiz
      •     Discussion and research questions

      • Question 1 Forum
      • Question 2 Forum
      • Question 3 Forum
      • Section 9: Political Norms in Democratic and Authoritarian Systems
      • Video (04:14) Page
      • Review Questions (V2,S9) Quiz
      •     Discussion and research questions

      • Question 1 Forum
      • Question 2 Forum
      • Question 3 Forum
      • Question 4 Forum
      • Section 10: Political Norms, Political Culture, and American Society
      • Video (06:12) Page
      • Review Questions (V2,S10) Quiz
      •     Discussion and research questions

      • Question 1 Forum
      • Question 2 Forum
      • Question 3 Forum
      • Question 4 Forum
      • Question 5 Forum
      • Section 11: Democratic Norms and the Principle of Freedom of the Press
      • Video (06:46) Page
      • Review Questions A (V2,S11a) Quiz
      • Review Questions B (V2,S11b) Quiz
      •     Discussion and research questions

      • Question 1 Forum
      • Question 2 Forum
      • Question 3 Forum
      • Question 4 Forum
      • Section 12: Democratic Norms and the Principle of Freedom of Belief or Religion
      • Video (08:39) Page
      • Review Questions (V2,S12) Quiz
      •     Discussion and research questions

      • Question 1 Forum
      • Question 2 Forum
      • Section 13: Democratic Norms and the Right to Self-Determination
      • Video (09:00) Page
      • Review Questions A (V2,S13a) Quiz
      • Review Questions B (V2,S13b) Quiz
      •     Discussion and research questions

      • Question 1 Forum
      • Question 2 Forum
      • Question 3 Forum
      • Question 4 Forum
      • Section 14: Democratic Norms and the Right to Political Equality
      • Video (07:09) Page
      • Review Questions (V2,S14) Quiz
      •     Discussion and research questions

      • Question 1 Forum
      • Question 2 Forum
      • Question 3 Forum
      • Section 15: Democratic Norms and the Right to a Representative Democracy
      • Video (06:49) Page
      • Review Questions (V2,S15) Quiz
      •     Discussion and research questions

      • Question 1 Forum
      • Question 2 Forum
      • Section 16: Democratic Norms, Individual Rights, and the Common Good
      • Video (12:30) Page
      • Review Questions A (V2,S16a) Quiz
      • Review Questions B (V2,S16b) Quiz
      •     Discussion and research questions

      • Question 1 Forum
      • Question 2 Forum
      • Question 3 Forum
      • Section 17: Democratic Norms, Constitutional Government, and the Rule of Law
      • Video (5:41) Page
      • Review Questions (V2,S17) Quiz
      •     Discussion and research questions

      • Question 1 Forum
      • Question 2 Forum
      • Question 3 Forum
      • Section 18: Democratic Norms, Mixed Economy, and Democracy
      • Video (4:17) Page
      • Review Questions (V2,S18) Quiz
      •     Discussion and research questions

      • Question 1 Forum
      • Question 2 Forum
      • Question 3 Forum
      • Section 19: Support for Democratic Norms
      • Video (8:10) Page
      • Review Questions (V2,S19) Quiz
      •     Discussion and research questions

      • Question 1 Forum
      • Question 2 Forum
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