Tuesday, September 21, 2010
THE OBAMA TOWN HALL MEETING: CNBC--THE ECONOMY
Watch the video and respond to the issues facing our national government and our president's response from pre-screened questions from American citizens. Is government too big? Is it to small? Is it just right based on the economic data about our federal spending while creating or not creating jobs.
What do you think should be the presidents top 10 agenda issues and congresses top 10 agenda issues? Are they getting done? Why or why not?
What legislations should be repealed?
Sunday, September 12, 2010
THE CONSTITUION HANDOUT DUE THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2010
Use your textbook or an online version of the US Constitution. http://www.constitutionalcenter.org
NOTE:
COPY AND PASTE THESE QUESTIONS TO WORD DOCUMENT AND TURN IN A VERSION HARD COPY.
PART I: THE OVERALL STRUCTURE OF THE CONSTITUTION
1. Read each article of the Constitution. Summarize the general purpose or subject of each article in one sentence in the chart below.
Article I
Article II
Article III
Article IV
Article V
Article VI
Article VII
2. Compare Article I with Article II. Which article is longer and more detailed? _____________________________________________________________________
3. Identify two powers denied from Congress in the Constitution. _____________________________________________________________________
4. How does the House of Representatives determine the rules of proceedings (the ability to have debates, riders, etc) _____________________________________________________________________
5. Identify two powers the Constitution prohibits from the States. _____________________________________________________________________
6. What eligibility requirements does the Constitution establish for members of the House? _____________________________________________________________________
7. What eligibility requirements does the Constitution establish for members of the Senate? _____________________________________________________________________
8. What eligibility requirements does the Constitution establish for the President? _____________________________________________________________________
9. The powers of the Constitution that are specifically granted to the branches of government or to office holders are called express powers.
a. Identify two express powers of the president. ____________________________________________________________
b. What are the express powers of the vice president? ____________________________________________________________
c. Identify two express powers of Congress. ____________________________________________________________
10. According to the principle of checks and balances, each branch of the government must have control over the other branches. Look at the first three articles of the Constitution and identify one of each type of checks and balances. Indicate where each power is listed in the Constitution.
a. A power that the executive branch has over the legislative branch: __________
This can be found in what article/section of the Constitution ________________
b. A power that the executive branch holds over the judicial branch. __________ This can be found in what article/section of the Constitution ________________
c. A power that the legislative branch holds over the executive branch. ___________
This can be found in what article/section of the Constitution ________________
d. A power that the legislative branch holds over the judicial branch. __________
This can be found in what article/section of the Constitution ________________
e. A power that the judicial branch holds over the executive branch. _____________
This can be found in what article/section of the Constitution ________________
_____________________________________________________________________
f. A power that the judicial branch holds over the legislative branch. ________
This can be found in what article/section of the Constitution ________________
11. The court of original jurisdiction is the first court that hears a case. Appellate courts hear cases on appeal from lower courts. Although the Supreme Court functions primarily as an appellate court, it is the courts of original jurisdiction in certain kinds of cases. What are those?
_____________________________________________________________________________
12. According to Article I of the Constitution, who has the power to declare war?
______________________________________________________________________________
13. What power does the Constitution give the President in the area of war?
______________________________________________________________________________
PART II IMPORTANT CLAUSES
1. Where is the “Commerce Clause” and what does it say? _______________
2. Where is the “Necessary and Proper Clause” and what does it say? ____________
3. Where is the “Supremacy Clause” and what does it say? __________________
4. How might these clauses above have impacted the power of the federal government? ___
5. Where is the habeas corpus clause and what does it say? ___________________
6. What is habeas corpus?______________________________
7. Where are bills of attainders discussed and what does it say? ________
8. What is a bill of attainder? _______________
9. Where are ex post facto laws discussed and what does it say? ___________
10. What is an ex post facto law? ______________
11. Where is the full faith and credit clause and what does it say? ___________
12. There are two “due process” clauses. Where are they? What does “due process” of law imply? ______________________
13. Where is the “equal protection clause”? What does this imply? ___________
14. Find the “takings clause” of the 5th Amendment. What does this mean? ___________
PART III. MAJORITY AND SUPERMAJORITY
The Constitution requires a simple majority for some actions and a supermajority for others. A simple majority means more than half, while supermajority requirements can involve a 2/3 majority or a 3/4 majority. Most elections in the United States require a plurality, or the most votes, but not necessarily a majority.
1. a. What bodies have the power to override a presidential veto? ________________________
b. What margin is required to override a presidential veto? ___________________________
c. Where in the Constitution is the veto power described? ____________________________
2. a. What body has the power to ratify treaties? ______________________________________
b. What margin is required to ratify treaties? ______________________________________
c. Where in the Constitution is the ratification power described? ______________________
3. To impeach means “to bring charges against” or “to indict”.
a. What body has the power to impeach the president? ______________________________
b. What vote is required to impeach? ____________________
c. What is the standard for impeachment? _____
4. a. What body has the power to convict the president of charges brought against him in the impeachment process and thereby remove him from the presidency? _________________
b. What vote is required to convict and remove a president? ________________________
c. Where in the Constitution is the impeachment power described? _____________________
5. a. What body has the power to accept or reject a president’s nominations to the Supreme Court? ______________________________________________________________
b. What margins is required to elevate a president’s nominee to a seat on the Court? ______
c. Where in the Constitution are judicial nominations described? _____________________
d. What language is used to describe the roll of the Senate in Supreme Court nominations? ______________________________________________________________________
6. a. If no candidate for the presidency wins a simple majority of the total number of electoral votes, what body has the power to choose the president? __________________________
b. What margin is required to choose the president? _______________________________
c. Where in the Constitution is the Electoral College described? (Hint: there are two parts)
7. The Constitution specifies a three-fourths majority for just one process. What? _________________________________________________________________________
8. The Constitution has comparatively little to say about the structure and composition of the Supreme Court. Identify two aspects of the Court’s structure and composition that the Constitution does not specify. (The Constitution does specify these two basic aspects of structure and composition for the other two branches). _______________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
9. List all parts of the Constitution that require a supermajority. For each, explain why you believe there is a supermajority requirement. _________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10. What are two ways that amendments to the Constitution can be proposed? _______________
11. What are two ways that amendments to the Constitution can be ratified? ________________
Part IV. THE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
Some parts of the Constitution require a simple majority, others a supermajority, while still others protect citizens from the will of the majority. The first ten amendments to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights protect citizens from the will of the majority. In other words, no majority could vote to take these rights away. Read each amendment to the Constitution and answer the questions below.
1. Outline the general purpose of all 27 Amendments.
Amendment 1
Amendment 2
Amendment 3
Amendment 4
Amendment 5
Amendment 6
Amendment 7
Amendment 8
Amendment 9
Amendment 10
Amendment 11
Amendment 12
Amendment 13
Amendment 14
Amendment 15
Amendment 16
Amendment 17
Amendment 18
Amendment 19
Amendment 20
Amendment 21
Amendment 22
Amendment 23
Amendment 24
Amendment 25
Amendment 26
Amendment 27
2. Which amendment(s) of the Constitution protect the rights of women? ____________
3. Summarize what this amendment(s) of the Constitution says_________________________
4. Which amendment (s) of the Constitution protect the rights of African Americans? _______
5. How were US Senators chosen before the Seventeenth Amendment? __________________
6.. The Twenty-Fifth Amendment describes the sequence of events that would install the vice president as acting president against the will of the president. Outline that sequence of events.
7. How many times is the word privacy mentioned in the Constitution (articles and amendments) _______________________________________________________________?
NOTE:
COPY AND PASTE THESE QUESTIONS TO WORD DOCUMENT AND TURN IN A VERSION HARD COPY.
PART I: THE OVERALL STRUCTURE OF THE CONSTITUTION
1. Read each article of the Constitution. Summarize the general purpose or subject of each article in one sentence in the chart below.
Article I
Article II
Article III
Article IV
Article V
Article VI
Article VII
2. Compare Article I with Article II. Which article is longer and more detailed? _____________________________________________________________________
3. Identify two powers denied from Congress in the Constitution. _____________________________________________________________________
4. How does the House of Representatives determine the rules of proceedings (the ability to have debates, riders, etc) _____________________________________________________________________
5. Identify two powers the Constitution prohibits from the States. _____________________________________________________________________
6. What eligibility requirements does the Constitution establish for members of the House? _____________________________________________________________________
7. What eligibility requirements does the Constitution establish for members of the Senate? _____________________________________________________________________
8. What eligibility requirements does the Constitution establish for the President? _____________________________________________________________________
9. The powers of the Constitution that are specifically granted to the branches of government or to office holders are called express powers.
a. Identify two express powers of the president. ____________________________________________________________
b. What are the express powers of the vice president? ____________________________________________________________
c. Identify two express powers of Congress. ____________________________________________________________
10. According to the principle of checks and balances, each branch of the government must have control over the other branches. Look at the first three articles of the Constitution and identify one of each type of checks and balances. Indicate where each power is listed in the Constitution.
a. A power that the executive branch has over the legislative branch: __________
This can be found in what article/section of the Constitution ________________
b. A power that the executive branch holds over the judicial branch. __________ This can be found in what article/section of the Constitution ________________
c. A power that the legislative branch holds over the executive branch. ___________
This can be found in what article/section of the Constitution ________________
d. A power that the legislative branch holds over the judicial branch. __________
This can be found in what article/section of the Constitution ________________
e. A power that the judicial branch holds over the executive branch. _____________
This can be found in what article/section of the Constitution ________________
_____________________________________________________________________
f. A power that the judicial branch holds over the legislative branch. ________
This can be found in what article/section of the Constitution ________________
11. The court of original jurisdiction is the first court that hears a case. Appellate courts hear cases on appeal from lower courts. Although the Supreme Court functions primarily as an appellate court, it is the courts of original jurisdiction in certain kinds of cases. What are those?
_____________________________________________________________________________
12. According to Article I of the Constitution, who has the power to declare war?
______________________________________________________________________________
13. What power does the Constitution give the President in the area of war?
______________________________________________________________________________
PART II IMPORTANT CLAUSES
1. Where is the “Commerce Clause” and what does it say? _______________
2. Where is the “Necessary and Proper Clause” and what does it say? ____________
3. Where is the “Supremacy Clause” and what does it say? __________________
4. How might these clauses above have impacted the power of the federal government? ___
5. Where is the habeas corpus clause and what does it say? ___________________
6. What is habeas corpus?______________________________
7. Where are bills of attainders discussed and what does it say? ________
8. What is a bill of attainder? _______________
9. Where are ex post facto laws discussed and what does it say? ___________
10. What is an ex post facto law? ______________
11. Where is the full faith and credit clause and what does it say? ___________
12. There are two “due process” clauses. Where are they? What does “due process” of law imply? ______________________
13. Where is the “equal protection clause”? What does this imply? ___________
14. Find the “takings clause” of the 5th Amendment. What does this mean? ___________
PART III. MAJORITY AND SUPERMAJORITY
The Constitution requires a simple majority for some actions and a supermajority for others. A simple majority means more than half, while supermajority requirements can involve a 2/3 majority or a 3/4 majority. Most elections in the United States require a plurality, or the most votes, but not necessarily a majority.
1. a. What bodies have the power to override a presidential veto? ________________________
b. What margin is required to override a presidential veto? ___________________________
c. Where in the Constitution is the veto power described? ____________________________
2. a. What body has the power to ratify treaties? ______________________________________
b. What margin is required to ratify treaties? ______________________________________
c. Where in the Constitution is the ratification power described? ______________________
3. To impeach means “to bring charges against” or “to indict”.
a. What body has the power to impeach the president? ______________________________
b. What vote is required to impeach? ____________________
c. What is the standard for impeachment? _____
4. a. What body has the power to convict the president of charges brought against him in the impeachment process and thereby remove him from the presidency? _________________
b. What vote is required to convict and remove a president? ________________________
c. Where in the Constitution is the impeachment power described? _____________________
5. a. What body has the power to accept or reject a president’s nominations to the Supreme Court? ______________________________________________________________
b. What margins is required to elevate a president’s nominee to a seat on the Court? ______
c. Where in the Constitution are judicial nominations described? _____________________
d. What language is used to describe the roll of the Senate in Supreme Court nominations? ______________________________________________________________________
6. a. If no candidate for the presidency wins a simple majority of the total number of electoral votes, what body has the power to choose the president? __________________________
b. What margin is required to choose the president? _______________________________
c. Where in the Constitution is the Electoral College described? (Hint: there are two parts)
7. The Constitution specifies a three-fourths majority for just one process. What? _________________________________________________________________________
8. The Constitution has comparatively little to say about the structure and composition of the Supreme Court. Identify two aspects of the Court’s structure and composition that the Constitution does not specify. (The Constitution does specify these two basic aspects of structure and composition for the other two branches). _______________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
9. List all parts of the Constitution that require a supermajority. For each, explain why you believe there is a supermajority requirement. _________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10. What are two ways that amendments to the Constitution can be proposed? _______________
11. What are two ways that amendments to the Constitution can be ratified? ________________
Part IV. THE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
Some parts of the Constitution require a simple majority, others a supermajority, while still others protect citizens from the will of the majority. The first ten amendments to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights protect citizens from the will of the majority. In other words, no majority could vote to take these rights away. Read each amendment to the Constitution and answer the questions below.
1. Outline the general purpose of all 27 Amendments.
Amendment 1
Amendment 2
Amendment 3
Amendment 4
Amendment 5
Amendment 6
Amendment 7
Amendment 8
Amendment 9
Amendment 10
Amendment 11
Amendment 12
Amendment 13
Amendment 14
Amendment 15
Amendment 16
Amendment 17
Amendment 18
Amendment 19
Amendment 20
Amendment 21
Amendment 22
Amendment 23
Amendment 24
Amendment 25
Amendment 26
Amendment 27
2. Which amendment(s) of the Constitution protect the rights of women? ____________
3. Summarize what this amendment(s) of the Constitution says_________________________
4. Which amendment (s) of the Constitution protect the rights of African Americans? _______
5. How were US Senators chosen before the Seventeenth Amendment? __________________
6.. The Twenty-Fifth Amendment describes the sequence of events that would install the vice president as acting president against the will of the president. Outline that sequence of events.
7. How many times is the word privacy mentioned in the Constitution (articles and amendments) _______________________________________________________________?
WEEK FOUR Chaptes 3 & 4 Janda: Federalism
The Role of Federalism in the United States Government. Basically, the end results of resolving the issue of the Federalist Papers # 10 etc. Review the Powerpoint Federalism Chapter 3 & 4 Janda @ bottom of myteacherpages.com. Please follow all assignments for week FOUR: Syllabus week 3.
NOTE: #'s 1 and 2 a thru c DUE WED Beginning of Class.
1. View Videos on Federalism
2. Review PPTS ON Federalism Chapters 3 & 4.
a. Take Quick 20 Notes. Due Thursday
b. Answer Questions From PPTS. Due Thursday
c. Read Selected Pgs from Janda Ch 4 discussing Federalism-- Be ready to discuss see specific
ppt slide.
d. PART D DUE FRIDAY BEGINNING OF CLASS-
Read Article on NCLB: nytimes, Federalism & Anti-Federalist & our Constitution link see
header of blog, Read article on Department of Homeland Security and Federalism, Read
Article on Hurricane Katrina & Federalism, Read Article on Health Care Mandate 2010 &
Federalism. Write 1/2 to 3/4 Pg Pros & Cons to each government response to issue and
effects on American People. DUE FRIDAY
NOTE: #'s 1 and 2 a thru c DUE WED Beginning of Class.
1. View Videos on Federalism
2. Review PPTS ON Federalism Chapters 3 & 4.
a. Take Quick 20 Notes. Due Thursday
b. Answer Questions From PPTS. Due Thursday
c. Read Selected Pgs from Janda Ch 4 discussing Federalism-- Be ready to discuss see specific
ppt slide.
d. PART D DUE FRIDAY BEGINNING OF CLASS-
Read Article on NCLB: nytimes, Federalism & Anti-Federalist & our Constitution link see
header of blog, Read article on Department of Homeland Security and Federalism, Read
Article on Hurricane Katrina & Federalism, Read Article on Health Care Mandate 2010 &
Federalism. Write 1/2 to 3/4 Pg Pros & Cons to each government response to issue and
effects on American People. DUE FRIDAY
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
The Constitution Continued
Review the clip on the foundings of the constituion. In a response please describe how the constitution directly and indirectly affects American society. State 1 issue directly & indirectly from the 1700s, 1800s, 1900s, & 2000's. Summarize the event and provide primary source documents, legislation, laws, acts, or court cases that directly impacted the goverened society.
Ex: 1700's Commerce: Issues + Effects= 1) Interstate vs Intrastate trade 2)
3) 4)
The outcome results= laws etcs
Impact on governed= +/ or - & why.
Week 3: The constitution
Review the parts of the constitution and the film..Post a response to how the constitution impacts society directly and indirectly during the 1700s, 1800s, 1900s, & 2000s. Provide primary source evidences, newspapers, supreme court cases, laws, & mandates.
Week 3: Review of Federalist Papers 10 & 51 Factions & Checks & Balances, The Constitution, and Federalism
Hi guys, last week I requested that you read Federalist Papers 10 & 51 and come with classroom discussions and questions. Please see website for audio version to read along with. I ask you to review the video clips and discuss your evidence of factions, checks & balances, in Government in the 1700s, 1800s, 1900s, & 2000s. Provide supreme court cases, laws, mandates, or new articles to where you can identify factions, and our system of checks and balances. In addition, please give your comments about each video. Enjoy...we are beginning our blogs...
Review the clip on the foundings of the constituion. In a response please describe how the constitution directly and indirectly affects American society. State 1 issue directly & indirectly from the 1700s, 1800s, 1900s, & 2000's. Summarize the event and provide primary source documents, legislation, laws, acts, or court cases that directly impacted the goverened society.
Ex: 1700's Commerce: Issues + Effects= 1) Interstate vs Intrastate trade 2)
3) 4)
The outcome results= laws etcs
Impact on governed= +/ or - & why.
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