Includes bibliographical references.

Unit 1. Democracy and the American political process. Should Americans believe in a unique American "mission"? -- Is democracy the answer to global terrorism? -- Should America adopt public financing of political campaigns? Unit 2. The institutions of government. Does the president have unilateral war powers? -- Should the courts seek the "original meaning" of the Constitution? -- Is Congress a "broken branch"? -- Should the Senate filibuster be abolished? -- Should the president be allowed "executive privilege"? Unit 3. Social change and public policy. Does affirmative action advance racial equality? -- Should abortion be restricted? -- Do we need national health care insurance? -- Is America becoming more unequal? -- Are Americans overtaxed? -- Is bigger government better government? -- Stopping illegal immigration: should border security come first? -- Should there be a "wall of separation" between church and state? Unit 4. American and the world. Is indefinite detention of suspected terrorists justified? -- Is Middle Eastern profiling ever justified? -- Is the use of torture against terrorist suspects ever justified? -- Is warrantless wiretapping in some cases justified to protect national security? -- Should the United States pull out of Afghanistan?