- Social Studies Nicholas Spina
1. Complete the summary of the four main characteristics of totalitarianism as discussed in class.
2. Briefly summarize the major differences between authoritarian and totalitarian systems as discussed in class.
3. What was the most interesting or surprising issue you learned about non-democratic systems?
Part 2: Free Speech
Part 1: Comparing Totalitarian and Authoritarian Systems
1. Where do free speech protections come from in the United States Constitution? And what do these protections mean in practice?
2. Can government censorship or suppression of certain content of speech (e.g., “hate speech” or “misinformation”) be justified in the interest of protecting certain groups or maintaining social cohesion within a democracy? Explain.
3. Assume for a moment that “hate speech” was not protected by the First Amendment. Who or what, in your opinion, should determine what constitutes “hate speech”? What are the pros and cons of your answer?