Due Monday December 20th

With only a 13% approval rate the congress has hit a new all time low. With only 16% of Democrats approving of the U.S Congress.

I think it's crazy that 83% of the people of the United States don't approve of what is going on in Washington in this lame duck time period when congress is trying to pass as much as it can while the Democrats are still in power before the Republicans take over in January.

Due Monday December 20th

Please review the following articles and then post a paragraph of reflection on each in your blog.
1. I hope that taking these tax cuts which take money away from the government will help more than hurt America.  I feel like we keep spending money but we aren't gaining any money.  I was surprised how the Democrats and Republicans came together to finalize the Bush tax cuts for 2 more years.

Due Monday December 20th

Take ten minutes to look over the links and then in your blog, describe what your views are on the materials that we covered.  Provide a paragraph of reflection on what areas you had prior knowledge of and those that you did not.
I did know that if the Governor or President vetoed the bill, the bill can still pass with a 2/3's vote.  The bill to a law process is so long! I didn't realize how long it actually took.

11/23/10

1.  Provide a paragraph on an important issue of your choice from Section 1:The Framers of the Constitution purposely left the power to set suffrage qualifications to each state.  Suffrage means the right to vote.  Franchise is another term with the same meaning.
2.  Provide a paragraph on an important issue of your choice from Section 2:Aliens-foreign-born residents who have not become citizens- are generally denied the right to vote in the US.  Still, nothing in the COnstituation says that aliens cannot vote, and any State could allow them to do so if it chose.  At one time about a fourth of the States permitted those aliens who had applied for naturalization to vote.  Typically, the western States did so to help attract settlers.
3.  Provide a paragraph on an important issue of your choice from Section 3:The first law passed by Congress to implement the 15th Amendment was the Civil Rights Act of 1957, which set up the United States Civil Rights Commission.  One of the Commission's major duties is to inquire into claims fo voter discrimination.  The Commission reports its findings to Congress and the President and, through the media, to the public.  The Act also gave the attorney general the power to seek federal court orders to precent interference with any person's right to vote in any federal election.
4.  Provide a paragraph on an important issue of your choice from Section 4:Clearly, the time that it takes to vote should not be significant part of the answer.  For most people, it takes more time to go to a video store and pick out a movie than it does to go to their neighborhood polling place and cast a ballot.  So we must look elsewhere for answers.

5. Explain voter apathy and what can be done to help it:

In politics, voter fatigue is the apathy that the electorate can experience when they are required to vote too often.

You can't force someone to vote or when they vote to often they may become apathetic to voting.

6. Explain the qualifications for registering to vote:

Be a citizen of the US

Reside in South Dakota

be 18 years old by the next election

Not be under a sentence of imprisonment for a felony conviction

 

Not have been adjudged mentally incompetent by a court

Due: November 17th

Using the Internet, research for a minimum of 15mins- the history of the two major political parties in our government.

Report your findings for both the Republicans and the Democrats.

Then share which party you see yourself supporting in the past, present and future and why you feel you support that party or parties.
Republicans- Against aborting, for the right to bear arms, support the death penalty, open more land to hunting.

Democrats- For abortion, for the dealth penalty, for gun control.

I have always, am, and will always be a Republican unless something dramatic happens.  I am a Republican, because of my values not because someone told be to be.  I am for the death penalty and strongly against abortion.  I don't feel strongly about any issues of gun control I believe the hunters and people who own them should decide.  I am against abortion because if you don't value life what do you value?

I believe the government is taking a lot of our rights away, but some people are just to young to make decisions that could affect the rest of your life.  Like the drinking age and smoking but maybe if they were legal at a younger age there wouldn't be that want to drink or smoke because they would be legal for everyone to buy.

Election Results 2010

Take 15mins and look at the following sites and find election results.

http://foxnews.com/
http://cnn.com/
http://sdpb.org/
http://keloland.com/
Republicans swept the elections as predicted.  Dennis Daugaard will be our next Govenor owning Scott Heidepriem. Representing District 7 House will be Spence Hawley and Scott Munsterman.  Kristi Noem will head to Washington to be our only voice in the House. I am happy with the results on Tuesday! I feel like we need to repeal 'Obamacare'.  Obama does not seem quite as happy quoting, "Republicans can take the back seat on the bus."
I was really shocked in how many govenor races went Republican in places like Florida and Maryland.  I was happy with the smoking ban being passed, even though I had mixed feelings and maybe that this initiative right would take away the owner's rights to do what they wanted in their building. The people in Washington are the ones who are either going to make the youth of todays future better or worse.  
Then give your view on the national results and the local results.  Both the candidates and the initiative measures.


Two paragraphs minimum.

Federalism Round Up Due Tuesday Oct 26th

Expressed Powers
This power is delegated to the National Government. In 18 clauses, the constitution expressly gives 27 powers to congress.  These powers include to act as commander in chief of the armed forces, to grant reprieves and pardons, to make treaties, and to appoint major federal officials.

The Supreme Court and Federalism
This court was first called to settle a clash between a national and a State law in 1819. The case, McCullock vs. Maryland, involved the controversial Second Bank of the United States.  James McCulloch, the branch cashier, refused to pay the tax, and the Maryland courts convicted him for that refusal.

The Nation's Obligations to the States
The Constitution requires the National Government to "guarantee to every State this Union a Republican Form of Government."  The Constitution doesn't define "Republican Form of Government," and the supreme court has regularly refused to do so.  The Supreme Court has held that the question of whether a State has a republican form of government is a political question.  That is, it is one to be decided by the political branches of the government- the President and Congress- and not by the courts.

Admitting New States
Only Congress has the power to admit new states to the union.  Congress has admitted 37 states since the original 13 formed the union, as the map on the next page shows.  Before finally admitting a new State, Congress has often set certain conditions.  For example, in 1896, Utah was admitted on condition that its constitution outlaw polygamy, the practice of having more than one spouse at a time.

Interstate Compacts
No State can enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation.  By 1920, the states had made only 26 compacts.  More than 200 compacts are not in force, and many involve several States.  Other agreements cover a widening rang of subjects.  They include, compacts designed to coordinate the development and conservation of wildlife.

Privileges and Immunities
This clause, known as the Privileges and Immunities Clause, means that no State can draw unreasonable distinctions between its own residents.  Each state must recognize the right of any American to travel in or become a resident of that State.  At the same time, a State cannot do such things as try to relieve its unemployment problems by requiring employers to give a hiring preference to in-State residents.

Due: October 17th

Answer the following questions and post on your blog.  You may use any resources that you need.
Due: October 17th

1.  What does Federalism mean by definition and what does Federalism mean to you?
the principle or a system of federal union

2.  List and describe the three powers of the National Government.
the legislative, the executive, and the judiciary branch
The legislative branch—the Congress—makes the laws. The executive branch—the president—implements the laws. The judiciary—the court system—interprets the laws and decides legal controversies.

3.  Explain the division of powers and why it is important?
The powers of government shall be divided into three distinct departments: legislative, executive and judicial. No person or persons belonging to or constituting one of these departments shall exercise any of the powers properly belonging to either of the others except in the instances expressly provided in this constitution.

4.  What is the Supremacy Clause and what is its function?
The Supremacy Clause is a clause in the United States Constitution, Article VI, Section 1, Clause 2. This clause asserts and establishes the Constitution, the federal laws made in pursuance of the Constitution, and treaties made by the United States with foreign nations as "the Supreme Law of the Land". The text of Article VI, Clause 2, establishes these as the highest form of law in the American legal system, both in the Federal Courts and in all of the State courts, mandating that all state judges shall uphold them, even if there are state laws or state constitutions that conflict with the powers of the Federal government.

5.  Find a site on the Internet that deals with Federalism.  Take 10 minutes and review that site.  Provide the link and provide some of the useful information that you found to help you better understand what Federalism is and how it works.
http://www.recoveringfederalist.com/
This site is trying to restore the federalism in America.  There is three books out: Bedrock, Prosperity, and Enough.

Due: October 15th.

In your blog, post the following questions:

What are your views on the latest political ads on TV?  What candidate(s) do you like or dislike and why?
    I believe Kristi Noem will do great in Washington!  Stephanie thinks she has a lead on Kristi because of all of the driving things that came out a couple of months ago.  Kristi raised 1.1 million dollars in the third quarter and doubled what Stephanie has made.  Kristi is also Republican and she does not claim herself to be a tea party follower, but the people who claim to be tea party agree with what Kristi Noem is saying.
What role do you feel that you will play in politics and government in the future?  What ways are you participating currently?
I think i will play a big part in polotics someday, won't everybody?  Vote how you feel and what you want done for your state and country and let other people vote how they would like to see it ran.  I live in a house where my parents openly talk about politicians and what they believe and I think we get our view points on how we are raised.