If you were just elected governor of your state, which of your qualities and skills do you think would lend themselves most to that position? Which qualities or skills do you think you would need to add to your repertoire, and why?

Select one of these three philosophers (Rousseau, Locke, Hobbes) and write a 1-2 page paper in which you analyze the significant ways in which their ideas differ from those at work in modern democracies. What could we gain from following their ideas more closely, and what might be dangerous if we did so?

Select a newspaper article (preferably one read while receiving the NY Times headlines) or an online article that was published this year. Your chosen article should raise an issue about freedom of speech and the First Amendment. Briefly summarize the issue at hand, and determine whether or not freedom of speech was protected for those involved.