• Explain what obligations the U.S. government has towards its citizens and how these obligations impact individual and group rights.
• Explain the position of the two major parties and a third party, regarding the example you presented.

 

1- The US government is obligated to acknowledge, preserve and protect the rights of its citizen as detailed in the Bill of rights. It is also has an obligation to maintain and protect the union so that those right might be preserved. In order for the government to do so, it must protect it's citizens against corruption, maintain defenses, protect trade, both exports and imports, and maintain international treaties. Protection against corruption assist in maintaining separation of powers between the three branches of the federal government as well as the division of powers between the federal and state government. In addition, protecting trade of the nation encompasses establishing and protecting the buying powers of the citizenry such as printing money and maintaining its value.

According to the constitution, the congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.This means the government is obligated to protect its citizens from exercising their religious practice as well as has the obligation to listen, consider and respond to what its citizens say. Other obligations that the US government has toward its citizens include;

• ensuring domestic tranquility.
• handle the post and mail services.
• protecting unalienable individual rights of Americans.

2- Republican and democrats largely agree on the roles of the government towards its citizens. For example, large majority agree the federal government is doing a good job in protecting the environment, ensuring access to health care, maintaining infrastructure and ensuring access to high quality education. However the government has been criticized for its performance especially in managing the nation's immigration system and assisting people get out of poverty. Currently, 69% of republicans and 45% of democrats argue that the government is wasteful and inefficient. Partisan perception on the government obligation have also shifted somewhat in response to the party of the administration. For example, During Bush administration, Republicans held a less negative view of the government efficiency, while democrats on the other hand were more critical than during democratic administration.

Furthemore, democrats argue that government regulation on trade is important to protect the public interest, however, their support for regulations of business is more higher than the past years. 31% of republicans say government regulation of business is required. Their views have changed little over time apart from Bush administration time where thy expressed greater support for government regulation of business.