Pot and Prohibition, a bit too similar?

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130755883 *note, i recommend listening to the story AND reading it.

1.) In the last paragraph, we have a mother advocating the legalization, saying that it is better to be in the hands of respectable citizens rather than the common 'criminal'. Do you agree with that statement?

2.) In the long run, and i'm talking, 10 years down the line, should this be legalized would it work out? Meaning, do you think that this will integrate well with society or will there be just too much opposition from less liberal states? Or the federal government for that matter, how do you think the DEA will react?

3.) Do you think that there will still be unregulated growers, providing those 'epic' strains that this bill might wipe out?

Tax Complexity and the Cost of Compliance

http://www.becker-posner-blog.com/2006/04/tax-complexity-and-the-cost-of-compliance-becker.html

1.) Do you think that the Government Economics system will ever work in a generalized form, and if so would you think its a good idea?

2.) Lets say, you were that lobbyer, but you had to, for masochisms sake, do all of your supporters taxes after your deduction is implemented. With all that workload, would you still lobby for that issue?

3.) Do you agree with Prof Becker and his views? Explain.

Attention All Students

In case you did not notice this there is a hyperlink down underneath the last post on this page that says older posts. If you click this you will see many more amendment article options to read and respond to. Remember you should answer all discussion questions, at least two different posts should be answered and they should be on different amendments. Any questions just email me.

Lawmakers aim to repeal 22nd Amendment

http://www.infowars.com/articles/us/lawmakers_aim_repeal_22nd_amendment.htm 

Discussion Questions.

1.       Some people agree with this amendment because AT THE time they like the president who’s serving and want them in office longer but later on when they disagree with the president who’s serving do you think these lawmakers will still agree with this repeal?

2.       Do you think the 22^nd amendment should or should not be repealed? Explain.

3.       In the article, it says that James Sensenbrenner, the conservative Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee agrees with this amendment, do you think there is a reason he agrees?

Crosses OK, but Rosary Still Under Cover in D-11

http://www.gazette.com/articles/school-106632-attorneys-cross.html 

1.       Was this truly a violation of the Gostnell’s First Amendment rights?

2.       Was this a violation of the rights of the school district to create an appropriate dress code?

3.       What would you have done if you were in the same situation as this boy?  What about if you were the school?

Fall election is shaping up as historic test

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2008-05-25/news/0805230315_1_frederick-douglass-black-and-white-black-candidate

1.      Do you think African Americans voted for Obama as a symbol that they are just as equal as whites?

2.      Do you think African Americans were a heavy influence in the 2008 presidential elections?

3.      Do you think the current voting system is good for allowing all races to vote?

Federal Income Tax, 16th Amendment

http://articles.cnn.com/2007-04-12/politics/extra.income.tax_1_income-tax-federal-income-tax-returns?_s=PM:EDUCATION

Discussion questions:

 Do you think we should cut taxes more so there is one amount you have to pay for everybody across the nation?

Do you think we should stop taking taxes out of people’s income?

Should we know what are money is going to support?  Do you think our money is really going to support these programs and services that the government is sponsoring?

Child Support Recovery Act violates Tenth Amendment

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3898/is_200106/ai_n8957874/ 

Why was this under interstate commerce?

Why did this man claim it wasn’t?

Do you think it violates the 10th Amendment? Explain.

Mississippi finally bans slavery

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_n21_v87/ai_16820758/

Why didn’t the state ratify it earlier?

Why didn’t it come up till now?

Why didn’t the state ratify the amendment if they were already following it?

“Equality isn't just laws” Aug 25, 2010

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-08-25/news/bs-ed-womens-day-20100825_1_legal-equality-equal-rights-amendment-women-s-equality-day 

What is the difference between legally equality and social equality?

In what ways can we, as a society, achieve social gender equality?

What are some examples of inequality that some women still face today?

5th Circuit upholds 'under God' in Texas Pledge of Allegiance

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/101410dnmetpledge.18a442c4c.html 

Discussion Questions:

What do you think “under God” implies? A specific religion or just a higher power?

If you do not believe in God and you had kids, would you have a problem with them being around other children who do say the pledge?

If anything, do you think that the pledge needs to be changed? Any word changes in particular?

Gun god: The House pays homage by blessing a lethal bill

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10284/1094189-192.stm 

Discussion Questions:

What would you describe as the optimal place and situation to exercise gun rights?

Would you think that this bill be passed and if so, will it be brought up in other states as well?

How does this bill stop criminals from “acting out in self-defense”? Does the Brady Bill correlate to this?

• Myth: The Second Amendment guarantees the individual right to own a gun.

http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/L-secondamendment.htm 

Questions:

- Do you think the Second Amendment only extends to the state militias or to the citizen? Why?

- What should be done to give citizens the right to have guns?

- Should states have the power to regulate guns or even ban them? Why or why not?

- Should citizens have to have a background check before getting a gun? Why or why not?

Banning of public baptisms a First Amendment violation

http://www.thebatt.com/2.8482/banning-of-public-baptisms-a-first-amendment-violation-1.1204955

Questions:

- Do you think the park rangers should have told them to leave? Why or why not?

- How would you feel if you were kicked out of a park for celebrating your religion? Why would you feel like that?

- What would you do if you were told to leave because you were kicked out of any place for your religion? Why?

Redistricting, Race, and the Voting Rights Act

http://www.aei.org/article/101881

1. Has the 15^th amendment had a significant effect on the voting process?

2. Why does the protection of voting rights matter so much in our democratic system?

3. Does the new technology and process make tamper-proofing and accurately counting the votes more difficult?

Alabama Vote Opens Old Racial Wounds: School Segregation Remains a State Law as Amendment Is Defeated

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16443-2004Nov27.html

1. What were some of the reasons given for the Amendment to be shot down?

2. Are the constituents of Alabama justified in their wariness of federal powers?

3. Does it matter if they remove the wording in their constitution if the practice of school segregation is non-existent in their state?

Steroid Tests Ignore the 4th Amendment

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/02/sports/baseball/02chass.html

Do you think this violates the players 4^th amendment rights?

What could be a way to get rid of steroids without possibly violating these rights?

Is going to court, swearing to the judge, and going through the whole process too much just to test someone for the drug, or do you think that is necessary?

Nation: Enforcing the 15th

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,841744,00.html

Questions

1.      What can be a problem with the 15^th amendment?

2.      What power does the 15^th amendment gives the congress?

3.      According to the article, what did Nick Katzenbach mean when he said, "you've got to bring suits to throw these out too. You've got to go all the way to the Supreme Court, and when you get that done, there's nothing to prevent them from coming up with something else." ?

Racial discrimination should not trump voting rights

http://www.race-talk.org/?p=5580 

Do you think it’s fair for how the states are treating to the African American?

Should this be within the states hands to making the voting law and to say who can vote and vote can’t?

What amendment(s) does this article discuss being violated? Explain.

Justices to Decide if State Gun Laws Violate Rights

   http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/30/AR2009093001723.html

o   Questions:

-Who do you think should have the power to determine gun control rights? Explain your answer.

-Do you feel the state has infringed upon the citizens rights given in the second amendment, why or why not?

-If you were a juror in this court case what arguments would convince you to change your mind about the previous two questions?  

Congressional Agency Questions Legality of Wiretaps

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/18/AR2006011802158.html

Discussion Questions:

Is wiretapping Constitutionally protected?

-Do you think it is fair the government can tap in on conversations without cause and why or why not?

-What would be a possible solution to the problem of unwarranted domestic surveillance?

-How would you feel if the government was tapping into your phone conversations without your knowledge or a known reason? Why would you feel this way?

Justices Limit Life Sentences for Juveniles

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/18/us/politics/18court.html?ref=constitutional_amendments 

1.Do you think the Supreme Court interpreted the Constitution correctly?

2. Other countries allow the imprisonment of juveniles for life without parole do you think we should do the same?

3. If you do agree with limiting life sentences what punishment do you think is better?

Ex-Offenders and the Vote

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/opinion/22mon3.html?_r=1&ref=voting_rights_act_1965 

1.      Should ex-offenders have the right to vote?

2.      Should we pass the bill so that ex-prisoners can vote?

3.      Should the choice of letting voters vote be with the state of the national government?

4.      Is there a good reason in letting them vote?

Official: Obama to Fight to Repeal Parts of No Child Left Behind

http://www.rrstar.com/carousel/x102604682/Official-Obama-to-fight-to-repeal-parts-of-No-Child-Left-Behind 

Discussion Questions:

1.      Do you agree with this act?  If so why?

2.      If this act was still taking place when your kids are in school, would you want them to follow it?

3.      Do you think this act could be improved in any way? 

4. Does no Child Left behind violate the Constitution? How? 

Georgia’s New Poll Tax

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/12/opinion/12mon1.html

Discussion Questions:

Do you agree or disagree with this law? Do you think this law violates the 24th amendment? How would you change the law to stop voting fraud and to not inadvertenly create a poll tax?