8.3 Government: U.S. Supreme Court Interpretations. (Due 4/16)

 

What are some of the key effects of the following Supreme Court interpretations of the Constitution?

Students will need to discuss the key effects of each of these cases as well as being able to address what each side tried to argue during their case. Min 150. Words per court case.  

Marbury vs. Madison- 

McCulloch v. Maryland

United States v. Nixon

8.2 Government: Constitution (Due 4/9)

The United States Constitution

Students Should be able to answer the following questions after looking through The United States Constitution. 

What are the steps that are needed to get the Constitution amended?

Do you think this process is too easy, or too hard? Why do you think this?

Article II of the Constitution deals with the executive branch. are the requirements to hold office as President something you think needs to be amended or something that our founding fathers knew they were writing was a good approach to picking our future leaders? 

Why do you think Federal Judges are allowed to be appointed for life? 

Does it matter how long a Federal Judge sits on the bench? Why or Why Not?

How does checks and balances work in the Constitution? 

7.4 Government: Who represents me? (Due 26)

Article I of the U.S. Constitution states that "All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives." 

So the question is who is your Senate and House of Representatives and what do they represent? When you go into a voting booth, you are asked to pick an individual to represent you in Congress. Well, who are they? Do their views match up to mine? Do I want this individual to speak for me? These are just some questions to ask when you are choosing a pers
on to vote for. 

Students need to answer the following questions and research their U.S. Senators and U.S. House of Representatives. Researching their website will help answer questions about their representative. 

-Who are the Senators that represent you in the U.S. Senate?

-What are the key issues they want to address? 

-Do their goals align with what you would want them to accomplish? 

-What are some issues you would hope they address in the Senate?

-Who is your current House of Representative?

-What are the key issues they want to address? 

-Do their goals align with what you would want them to accomplish? 

-What are some issues you would hope they address in the House of Representatives? 

7.3 Government: Influencing the Government. (Due 3/19)

Directions: Explain in a short response how civil society makes it possible for people, individually or in association with others, to bring their influence to bear on the government in ways other than voting and elections. Come up with two examples to use in your response. Min. Word Count 150. 

7.2 Government: Democracy vs. Totalitarian Governments (Due 3/12)

Students will compare and contrast the relationship of government and civil society in constitutional democracies to the relationship of government and civil society in authoritarian and totalitarian regimes.

Directions: Students will need to research and find two countries that are constitutional democracies and two countries that are authoritarian/totalitarian. Students will research what each country does to keep control of how they run. After the student will write a short essay response that compares and contrasts both government forms.   

7.1 Individual's Legal Obligations (Due 3/5)

One day, students will find themselves in a world where they are expected to follow the government's laws, but they will have an obligation to participate in a governmental function. For most, this would be following laws, sitting on a jury, or paying taxes. Why should people take these obligations seriously? Some people like jury duty, while others despise it. No one wants to pay taxes, but there are reasons for paying taxes; before you have to do your own legal obligations to the government, apart from following the law and being apart of a larger government system, a student should understand these obligations. Students should also have the ability to express theirs believes in the system too. What are your opinions on the following questions? 

• Why is it important for individuals to follow the law? (Give an example)
• Why would you want to have a jury of your peers judging your court case?
• Do you think a person has a legal obligation to pay their taxes? Why or Why Not?
  

6.4 Bill of Rights (Due 2/26)

The Bill of Rights

Directions: Discuss the meaning and importance of the rights guaranteed under the Bill of Rights and how each is secured? In your response, pick three of the ten amendments and use them to support your answer. Explain how the Amendments that you chose relate to the rights guaranteed under them and how they may have similarities or differences compared to the other Amendments. 

First Amendment

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. 

Second Amendment

A well-regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed. 

Third Amendment

No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war but in a manner to be prescribed by law. 

Fourth Amendment

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized. 

Fifth Amendment

No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous crime unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation. 

Sixth Amendment

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor; and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense. 

Seventh Amendment

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trail by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States than according to the rules of the common law. 

Eighth Amendment

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Ninth Amendment

The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. 

Tenth Amendment

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.