英美社会与文化期末复习题

一、In what way did Puritanism influence American culture?

(1) The puritans hoped to build “a city upon hill’- an ideal community. Since that time, Americans have viewed their country as a great experiment, a worthy model for other nation. This sense of mission has been very strong in the minds of many Americans.

(2) New England also established another American tradition- a strain of often intolerant moralism. The puritans believed that governments should enforce god’s morality. They strictly punished drunks, adulterers, violation of Sabbath and other religions believers different from themselves.

(3) The puritans also have left rich cultural heritage to future Americans. The American values such as individualism, hard work, and respect of education owe very much to the puritan belief.

(4) Thanksgiving has become one of the National holidays, which comes from white-Indian cooperation in New England.

二、What are some of the major powers of each of the three branches of the US government? How are the three branches supposed to check and balance each other?

If Congress proposes a law that the president thinks is unwise, the president can veto it. That means the proposal does not become law. Congress can enact the law despite the president's views only if two-thirds of the members of both houses vote in favor of it.

If Congress passes a law which is then challenged in the courts as unconstitutional, the Supreme Court has the power to declare the law unconstitutional and therefore no longer in effect.

The president has the power to make treaties with other nations and to make all appointments to federal positions, including the position of Supreme Court justice. The Senate, however, must approve all treaties and confirm all appointments before they become official. In this way the Congress can prevent the president from making unwise appointments

三、What is the Bill of Rights? Do you think that it was necessary to write the Bill of Rights explicitly into the US Constitution?

The Bill of Rights: the first 10 amendments, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, were added within two years of the adoption of the U.S. Constitution. These amendments remain intact today, as they were written two centuries ago. The first guarantees freedom of worship, speech and press, the right of peaceful assembly, and the right to petition the government to correct wrongs. The Bill of Rights and subsequent constitutional amendments guarantee the American people the fullest possible opportunity to enjoy fundamental human rights.

四、What is the current economic situation in America? How did the Great Recession begin? What does it show?

五、What is the relationship between government and religion in America?

(1) In the first place, according to the First Amendment to the Constitution, the USA would have no state-supported religion. What’s more, the government has no right to meddle in religious affairs or require any religious beliefs of its citizens. And government does not pay ministers’ salaries or require any belief as a condition of holding public office.

(2) On the other hand, in some ways, the government supports all religions. Religious groups do not pay taxes in the United States. The armed forces pay chaplains of all faiths. Presidents and other political leaders often call on god to bless the American nation and people. Those whose religion forbids them to fight can perform other services instead of becoming soldiers.

(3) When disputes about the relationship between government and religion arise, American courts must settle them.

(4) In the early years, some people believe that Protestant religion and republican forms of government were connected, because God supports their experiment in republican government.

All in all, for some purposes government ignores religion and for other purposes it treats al religion alike, as long as it is practical.

六、How did American education system begin to develop?

七、What are the legacies of the social movements of the 1960s? What are their effects, positive and negative, upon contemporary US society?

八、“British history has been a history of invasion.” Please illustrate this point with the examples from the text. How did each of the invasions influence English culture? 九、Why does the author say that parliament is supreme in the British state? What functions does parliament have? What role does the Queen (king) and the Prime Minister play in British government?

十、What are the three big parties in the UK? What are some of the similarities and dissimilarities between the three parties?

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