Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Social sciences

Objectives of Federalism in India

Safeguarding and promoting national unity while accommodating regional diversity are the primary objectives of federalism in India. Two crucial aspects underpin the practice of federalism:

1. Governments at different levels should agree to power-sharing rules.
2. Mutual trust is essential, with each level adhering to the agreed-upon arrangements.

An ideal federal system embodies both mutual trust and a shared commitment to coexistence.

Types of Federations

Coming Together Federations

Independent states voluntarily unite to form a larger entity, pooling sovereignty while retaining their identities to enhance security. Examples include the USA, Switzerland, and Australia. In such federations, constituent states typically... Continue reading "Understanding Federalism in India" »

Key Concepts in US and State Government

Legislative Procedures and Committees

Resolving Bill Differences

Where are differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill resolved?

Conference Committee

Executive Branch Roles and Powers

Duties of the Lieutenant Governor

What are the duties of the Lieutenant Governor?

The Lieutenant Governor's duties include the power to:

• Vote in the event of a tie (when presiding over the Senate).

Governor's Directive Power

What is directive power?

The power of the Governor to issue binding orders to state agencies.

Political Parties and Elections

Formal Structure of Political Parties

The formal structure of the party itself is referred to as:

The party as organization.

Winning the General Election

To win the general election,... Continue reading "Essential Concepts in US and State Political Systems" »

What Was the Reign of Terror?

It was a bloody period of the French Revolution during which the government executed thousands of its opponents and others at the guillotine.

Who Was Napoleon Bonaparte?

Use your own words.

What Was the Industrial Revolution?

It was the period of rapid growth in machine-made goods.

What Were Great Britain's Resources During the Industrial Revolution?

These resources included labor, raw materials, and money to invest.

What Was Capitalism?

In this system, individuals own most businesses and resources. People invest money in businesses in the hope of making a profit.

Types of War

War of Total Mobilization

This type of war uses all human, economic, and military resources to fight and seek complete victory over the enemy.

War of

Problem solving group:

Four to seven people who work together to complete a specific task or solve a particular problem

Responsibility of group members:

Be committed to the group goal, keep discussions on track, complete individual assignments on time, encourage input from all members, manage conflict among members

Conflict:

Disagreement or clash among ideas, principles, or people

Groupthink:

When group members accept information and ideas without subjecting them to critical analysis

Five common conflict management styles

Withdrawing: A conflict management style that involves physically or psychologically removing yourself from the conflict

Accommodating: A conflict management style that involves accepting others' ideas while neglecting your own

Forcing:

Thomas Jefferson's Presidency (1800-1808)

Judiciary Act of 1801

This act created new judgeships, 16 federal courts, and significantly increased the number of attorneys, clerks, and marshals.

The Marshall Court Era

John Marshall was named Chief Justice by the Judiciary Act of 1801. During his 34-year term, he appointed Federalists to all new judicial positions, including 42 new justices for Washington D.C.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

This was the first landmark Supreme Court case heard by Chief Justice Marshall. The ruling established the principle of judicial review, though Madison ultimately prevailed in the specific case.

The Louisiana Purchase (1803)

In 1803, Napoleon Bonaparte, unable to maintain control over his North American territories, sold... Continue reading "Key Events in Early American Republic: Jefferson to Van Buren" »

General Research Questions

What is the relation between protocol and culture, political system, religion? Does it depend above all on culture, the political system or on religion?

How is the education in protocol organized in different cultures?

How does protocol affect social and political changes? How does protocol affect the gender relations?

Does protocol the protocol in the studied context still exist?

Definition culture

The way human beings give form to their environment and give meaning to their existence

Discussion culture

Elite culture / popular culture. Though the distinction is already discussed in the early modern period, nowadays this distinction disappears and is much more fluid.

Other oppositions, more or less apparent: countryside /... Continue reading "Italy in the 20th Century: Culture, Protocol, and Totalitarianism" »

Applied Linguistics

The need for applied linguistics.

We should set out to investigate and understand the facts of language use, to organize and formalize what we know, and to subject our knowledge to rational consideration and critical analysis. This is the aim of applied linguistics, the academic discipline concerned with the relation of knowledge about language to decision making in the real world.

Examples and procedures.

Applied linguistics sets out to investigate problems in the world in which language is implicated. It is these processes of study, reflection, investigation, and action which constitute applied linguistics as an academic discipline.

The scope of applied linguistics.

There is clearly a large and disparate activities to which... Continue reading "Understanding the Scope of Applied Linguistics in Language Education and Communication" »

Chapter 10: Postcolonial and Race Studies

• Postcolonialism emerged as a driving force in literary studies, helping to reshape scholarship and teaching across the humanities and social sciences.
• Postcolonial Studies considers writing from colonizing peoples, colonized peoples, and, increasingly, formerly colonized peoples.
• Scholars described colonizing nations as “metropolitan” and sometimes divided the colonies into two different kinds: settler and occupation colonies.

Occupation Colonies

• Occupation Colonies: In colonies such as India, a small proportion of the population leaves their homes to exploit the colony and then returns home. Other colonizers then replace them.

Settler Colonies

• Settler Colonies: In colonies such as Australia, colonizers

Linguistics and Applied Linguistics: A Complex Relationship

One approach to practical and professional language issues involves connecting them to linguistic principles. Linguistics seeks general patterns in language.

Generative Linguistics and Idealization

Generative linguistics, introduced by Noam Chomsky, emphasizes the representation of language in the mind (competence) over actual language use in everyday life (performance).

Sociolinguistics, Functional Linguistics, and Corpus Linguistics

Sociolinguistics focuses on the relationship between language and society. Functional linguistics examines language as a communication tool. Corpus linguistics has become increasingly important in investigating language use.

Prescribing vs. Describing Language: