Civic Information Scavenger Hunt and Essay on the Meaning of Liberty

by

Humanities

Part 1 – Civic Information Scavenger Hunt

The first part of this assignment is a fun scavenger hunt. Using a web search find and record the answer to following questions. (There is no need to cite sources for the questions asked in this scavenger hunt as this is commonly known information.)

Keep your submission organized, clear, and professional in look. Make sure that anyone who reads this list of information would be able to easily know what you are communicating. For example, don’t just list the name “Donald Trump” as our president.

One way to do this would be to include in your text the question asked: “Who is the current President,” followed by the answer: “Donald Trump.”

Another way you could do this is to write in complete sentence. For example: “The current President is Donald Trump.”

For Part 1, there is no need to provide any information beyond what is asked for in these questions.

Please answer the following questions:

  • Who is the President?
  • Who is the Vice President?
  • Who are the Justices of the Supreme Court?
  • Who are your two (2) United States Senators?
  • If you wanted to write them a letter where would you send it? -or- If you wanted to write them an email what address or website would you use to send it?
  • Who is your Representative to the United States House of Representatives?
  • If you wanted to write them a letter where would you send it? -or- If you wanted to write them an email what address or website would you use to send it?
  • What state do you live in?
  • Who is your governor?
  • Who are the Justices of your State Supreme Court?
  • Where does your State Legislature meet?
  • Does your State Legislature have two houses or one?
  • What is the name of the Upper House of your State Legislature?
  • What is the name of the Lower House of your State Legislature?
  • Who is/are your Senator(s) to the upper house of your State Legislature?
  • If you wanted to write them a letter where would you send it? -or- If you wanted to write them an email what address or website would you use to send it?
  • Who is/are your Representative(s) to the Lower House of your State Legislature?
  • If you wanted to write them a letter where would you send it? -or- If you wanted to write them an email what address or website would you use to send it?
  • What is the official website for your state where you can find information on registering to vote? (NOTE: in most cases this should be a .gov website)
  • Does this website contain information on finding where to vote on Election Day, information on getting an absentee ballot, sample ballots, and other voting information?
  • Is any information that would help you vote missing or hard to find on that official website?

Part 2 – Essay on the Meaning of Liberty

As we read in our lectures this week, philosopher John Locke asked: “If a man in the state of nature is free, if he is absolute lord of his own person and possessions, why will he give up his freedom? Why will he put himself under the control of any person or institution?”

John Locke’s answer was: “that the rights in the state of nature are constantly exposed to the attacks of others. Since every man is equal and since most men do not concern themselves with equity and justice, the enjoyment of rights in the state of nature is unsafe and insecure. Hence each man joins in society with others to preserve life, liberty, and property.”

In at least 500 words answer the following questions:

  • In your own words, what is freedom? (*Note: dictionary definitions of the word freedom will not be accepted)
  • In your own words, what is liberty? (*Note: dictionary definitions of the words liberty will not be accepted)
  • Does your definition of freedom agree with Locke’s definition of freedom? Why or why not?
  • Does your definition of liberty agree with Locke’s understanding of liberty? Why or why not?
  • John Locke argues that freedom and liberty are very different things. Do you agree or not? Why or why not?
  • Finally, how did these ideas of liberty and freedom connect to the creation of the Constitution?

Please note: APA formatting and citations rules apply to this and all essays in this course.

As with all weekly written assignments, submit your work as an attached file. Double-space your paper and use 12 point Times New Roman as your font.