1. Eisenhower v Stevenson (Eisenhower)
- catchy music, song, jingle
- cartoon
- happy
I think this ad was very effective. It wasn't to informative and boring. It had a catchy twist unlike many recent campaign ads.
2. Bush
- family/friends
- faced challenges
- prepared
- soothing/happy music
I think this was somewhat effective. It was easy to relate to using the family and friends aspect.
3. Kennedy
- music using name
- constant name, simple pictures
I don't think this was the most effective ad. Although it was catchy with using his name, it was not very informative.
4. Reagan
- against other party
- Iran would vote aginst weaker president (other party)
- flag
- soothing music
- everyday people
I think this was somewhat effective. It used the idea of Iran and current issues that people would understand and have strong feelings about.
5. Johnson
- short
- explosion (symbolism)
I don't think this was very effective. It was confusing and rather short with little information.
6. Perot
- specific words
- words shown
- children
- tone of voice
Although Perot used most words that should be included in a campaign ad, they were just stated and written in a long paragraph. I don't think this was very effective because it wasn't catchy and was rather boring.
Research Study
1. Overall advertising does little to inform, next to nothign to mobilize, and a great deal to persaude potential voters
2. If avertising only informaed voters, voters could better allign their decisions with their policy perferences rather than one candidate outspending and persauding another
3. More advertising alone will not produce a better democratic result
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Tay Payer Articles
After 9/11: A Decade of Watching War on Terror Spending
http://www.taxpayer.net/resources.php?action=issues&proj_id=4832&category=National Security&type=Project
1. The wartime defense budget has more than doubled, and the new Department of Homeland Security grown dramatically.
2. At least one-sixth of the $200 billion spent on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan—between $30 to $60 billion dollars--was lost to waste, fraud, and abuse.
3. The first appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was $29.4 billion, while the FY2011 bill gave the agency $41.7 billion—an increase of 40 percent.
4. Earmarks in were almost nonexistent in the early the homeland security spending bills, but 196 earmarks worth $296 million peppered the FY2010 bill.
5. There's plenty of money in a more than $700 billion budget for the military to buy what it really needs, as long as it sets priorities and spends its money efficiently.
Taxpayers Plowed Under
http://www.taxpayer.net/resources.php?action=issues&proj_id=3184&category=Agriculture&type=Project
1. An even more bloated version of agriculture disaster relief hopped onboard the Senate Finance Committee’s proposed draft jobs bill. T
2. Tucked amongst the various tax cuts and spending provisions was $1.5 billion for everything from farmers facing drought or flood loss, to fish farmers facing rising feed costs, to poultry producers who suffered from the bankruptcy of chicken producer Pilgrim's Pride Company.
3. More emergency funding bills to address natural disasters, or rising feed costs, or other unforeseen needs for agriculture are rising.
4. In the 2008 Farm Bill, Senate negotiators added a provision creating a permanent agricultural assistance disaster title. It estimatedto cost $3.8 billion.
5. Modest attempts by the President to shave direct agriculture subsidies—by decreasing eligibility to those with less than $500,000 adjusted gross income instead of $750,000—are likely to be blown away
http://www.taxpayer.net/resources.php?action=issues&proj_id=4832&category=National Security&type=Project
1. The wartime defense budget has more than doubled, and the new Department of Homeland Security grown dramatically.
2. At least one-sixth of the $200 billion spent on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan—between $30 to $60 billion dollars--was lost to waste, fraud, and abuse.
3. The first appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was $29.4 billion, while the FY2011 bill gave the agency $41.7 billion—an increase of 40 percent.
4. Earmarks in were almost nonexistent in the early the homeland security spending bills, but 196 earmarks worth $296 million peppered the FY2010 bill.
5. There's plenty of money in a more than $700 billion budget for the military to buy what it really needs, as long as it sets priorities and spends its money efficiently.
Taxpayers Plowed Under
http://www.taxpayer.net/resources.php?action=issues&proj_id=3184&category=Agriculture&type=Project
1. An even more bloated version of agriculture disaster relief hopped onboard the Senate Finance Committee’s proposed draft jobs bill. T
2. Tucked amongst the various tax cuts and spending provisions was $1.5 billion for everything from farmers facing drought or flood loss, to fish farmers facing rising feed costs, to poultry producers who suffered from the bankruptcy of chicken producer Pilgrim's Pride Company.
3. More emergency funding bills to address natural disasters, or rising feed costs, or other unforeseen needs for agriculture are rising.
4. In the 2008 Farm Bill, Senate negotiators added a provision creating a permanent agricultural assistance disaster title. It estimatedto cost $3.8 billion.
5. Modest attempts by the President to shave direct agriculture subsidies—by decreasing eligibility to those with less than $500,000 adjusted gross income instead of $750,000—are likely to be blown away
Pending Bills
S. 174: Healthy Lifestyles and Prevention America Act
- A bill to improve the health of Americans and reduce health care costs by reorienting the Nation's health care system toward prevention, wellness, and health promotion.
status: Referred to Committee
H.R. 3130: Heartbeat Informed Consent Act
- To ensure that women seeking an abortion receive an ultrasound and an opportunity to review the ultrasound before giving informed consent to receive an abortion.
status: Referred to Committee
S. 1005: Parental Notification and Intervention Act of 2011
-A bill to provide for parental notification and intervention in the case of a minor seeking an abortion.
status: Referred to Committee
- A bill to improve the health of Americans and reduce health care costs by reorienting the Nation's health care system toward prevention, wellness, and health promotion.
status: Referred to Committee
H.R. 3130: Heartbeat Informed Consent Act
- To ensure that women seeking an abortion receive an ultrasound and an opportunity to review the ultrasound before giving informed consent to receive an abortion.
status: Referred to Committee
S. 1005: Parental Notification and Intervention Act of 2011
-A bill to provide for parental notification and intervention in the case of a minor seeking an abortion.
status: Referred to Committee
Politcal Cartoon 3
1. What does this imply about political ads?
2. Do you think many agree with this man?
3. What can we do to the system to avoid this irritation?
Pennsylvania's 2008 Presidential Election
Facts
1. Obama won decisively in Philadelphia and did well in its suburbs.
2. Obama's victory marked the fifth straight presidential election in which the Democrats carried Pennsylvania.
3. With 96% of precincts reporting, Obama had 2,988,473 votes, or 55%, and McCain had 2,399,080, or 44%.
4. McCain spent nearly three times as many days campaigning in Pennsylvania as Obama.
5. Democrats now outnumber Republicans by more than 1 million in a state that last chose a Republican for president when it supported George H. Bush in 1988.
1. Obama won decisively in Philadelphia and did well in its suburbs.
2. Obama's victory marked the fifth straight presidential election in which the Democrats carried Pennsylvania.
3. With 96% of precincts reporting, Obama had 2,988,473 votes, or 55%, and McCain had 2,399,080, or 44%.
4. McCain spent nearly three times as many days campaigning in Pennsylvania as Obama.
5. Democrats now outnumber Republicans by more than 1 million in a state that last chose a Republican for president when it supported George H. Bush in 1988.
PA's Congressional Districts
Facts/Details
1. After the 2000 Census, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was divided into 19 Congressional Districts, decreasing from 21 due to reapportionment.
2. After the 2010 Census, the number of districts decreased again to 18.
3. Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district incorporates parts of the Philadelphia suburbs, including most of Delaware County.
4. It is represented by Republican Pat Meehan in the 112th United States Congress.
5. 7th congressional district was created in 1791 from the at-large district
6. Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district also contains parts of Delaware County.
7. Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district is a relatively safe seat for the Republicans.
8. Pennsylvania's second district includes predominantly African American sections of the city of Philadelphia
9. 2nd congressional district is the fifth most Democratic Congressional District out of the 435 in the nation.
10. 13th congressional district had been heavily Republican in the past, but has grown more Democratic because of demographic changes and redistricting. The district has not voted Republican for President since 1988.
1. After the 2000 Census, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was divided into 19 Congressional Districts, decreasing from 21 due to reapportionment.
2. After the 2010 Census, the number of districts decreased again to 18.
3. Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district incorporates parts of the Philadelphia suburbs, including most of Delaware County.
4. It is represented by Republican Pat Meehan in the 112th United States Congress.
5. 7th congressional district was created in 1791 from the at-large district
6. Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district also contains parts of Delaware County.
7. Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district is a relatively safe seat for the Republicans.
8. Pennsylvania's second district includes predominantly African American sections of the city of Philadelphia
9. 2nd congressional district is the fifth most Democratic Congressional District out of the 435 in the nation.
10. 13th congressional district had been heavily Republican in the past, but has grown more Democratic because of demographic changes and redistricting. The district has not voted Republican for President since 1988.
Pennsylvania's Congressional Districts Map
Death Penalty Questions
1. Do other countries have death penalties?
According to Amnesty International, 139 countries have abolished the death penalty. In 2010, only one country, Gabon, abolished the death penalty for all crimes. During 2010, 23 countries executed 527 prisoners and at least 2,024 people were sentenced to death in 67 countries.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0777460.html#ixzz1fC7lYJZV
With this being said, other countries also have the death penalities, however some have gotten rid of it. I wonder how these countries have changed from this change
2. What are the methods of execution of a prisoner?
1103 Lethal Injection
157 Electrocution
11 Gas Chamber
3 Hanging
3 Firing Squad
35 states plus the US government use lethal injection as their primary method. Some
states utilizing lethal injection have other methods available as backups.
I wonder why Lethal Injection is the number one way of execution in the US.
3. About how many people have been given the death penalty and then later found guilty?
Since 1973, over 130 people have been released from death row with evidence of their innocence. This statistic scares me. What if these people were executed and never committed the crime? Why should we have the death penalty if people can be found not guilty in the time being. In my opinion we should abolish the death penalty in all states due to this statistic and numbers.
Great Information:
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/documents/FactSheet.pdf
Sunday, November 27, 2011
How Washington Works
Questions
1. Why is the theme that Washington is disconnected from the country a misleading notion?
2. Does this short work week actually help create more time? Do Congressmen actually take advantage of this time?
3. Why is it surprising that Washington is open to newcomers?
4. Does discovering what tiny fragment of power Congressmen grasp surprise them?
5. Why is the nations destiny set in Washington?
6. How is the conceit of Washington like the conceit of Paris or Moscow?
7. What is the difference between constant dollars and current dollars?
8. Why is the Department of Transportation pronounced "D-O-T" and never 'dot'?
Facts/Details
1. Washington is different, but not isolated
2. Congress works a short week in Washington (Monday to Friday) to give members more time with constituents
3. Those who arrive to serve in Congress learn to live in two worlds (hometowns and states and in the special world of the capital)
4. To get more power, newcomers make alliances, join groups, get appointed to committees, make contacts with the press, and find friends in the administration
5. Potomac fever - the incurable addicting of wielding political power or feeling at the political center
6. Very few politicians go home to retire or make money. Most stays in Washington and become lawyers, lobbyists or consultants because they've grown accustomed to Washington's ways
7. Power is the aphrodisiac- the special brand of federal power that is Washington's monopoly.
8. Political Washington is a special community with a culture all its own
9. The city and suburbs of Washington are encircled by a sixty-four-mile freeway loop know as the beltway
10. Many people treat the work politician as a synonym for hypocrisy
1. Why is the theme that Washington is disconnected from the country a misleading notion?
2. Does this short work week actually help create more time? Do Congressmen actually take advantage of this time?
3. Why is it surprising that Washington is open to newcomers?
4. Does discovering what tiny fragment of power Congressmen grasp surprise them?
5. Why is the nations destiny set in Washington?
6. How is the conceit of Washington like the conceit of Paris or Moscow?
7. What is the difference between constant dollars and current dollars?
8. Why is the Department of Transportation pronounced "D-O-T" and never 'dot'?
Facts/Details
1. Washington is different, but not isolated
2. Congress works a short week in Washington (Monday to Friday) to give members more time with constituents
3. Those who arrive to serve in Congress learn to live in two worlds (hometowns and states and in the special world of the capital)
4. To get more power, newcomers make alliances, join groups, get appointed to committees, make contacts with the press, and find friends in the administration
5. Potomac fever - the incurable addicting of wielding political power or feeling at the political center
6. Very few politicians go home to retire or make money. Most stays in Washington and become lawyers, lobbyists or consultants because they've grown accustomed to Washington's ways
7. Power is the aphrodisiac- the special brand of federal power that is Washington's monopoly.
8. Political Washington is a special community with a culture all its own
9. The city and suburbs of Washington are encircled by a sixty-four-mile freeway loop know as the beltway
10. Many people treat the work politician as a synonym for hypocrisy
Terry Gross Interview
Facts/Details
1. First clinic of birth control was opened in 1916
2. It was opened by Margaret Sanger who was one of 11 children
3. Margaret Sanger came up with the name of birth control
4. Sanger helped deliver mothers baby and raised them after her mother died.
5. Mother died of tuberculosis at young age
6. Sanger became a socialist
7. Birthrates for working class are still very high
8. Sanger decided to try and make contraception legal
9. Condoms started in 1850 which were expensive and hard to get
10. Child birth was very dangerous.
Questions
1. Should abortion be legal for all people?
2. What part of the Constitution deals with abortion?
3. What is abortion such a big issue today?
4. Has abortion always been a big issue?
5. Why was birth control and abortions established?
6. How did the public react to the idea of birth control when it first originated?
1. First clinic of birth control was opened in 1916
2. It was opened by Margaret Sanger who was one of 11 children
3. Margaret Sanger came up with the name of birth control
4. Sanger helped deliver mothers baby and raised them after her mother died.
5. Mother died of tuberculosis at young age
6. Sanger became a socialist
7. Birthrates for working class are still very high
8. Sanger decided to try and make contraception legal
9. Condoms started in 1850 which were expensive and hard to get
10. Child birth was very dangerous.
Questions
1. Should abortion be legal for all people?
2. What part of the Constitution deals with abortion?
3. What is abortion such a big issue today?
4. Has abortion always been a big issue?
5. Why was birth control and abortions established?
6. How did the public react to the idea of birth control when it first originated?
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Committees - Bob Casey
Bob Casey’s Committees
3. Committee has primary jurisdiction over private retirement plans and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
3. Includes 5 Subcommittees
2. Bicameral Congressional Committee composed of ten members from each the Senate and the House of Representatives
3. Ten Democrats and ten Republicans on the Committee
4. Main purpose is to make a continuing study of matters relating to the US economy. The Committee holds hearings, performs research and advises Members of Congress.
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
1. Chairman – Tom Harkin
2. Committee is ensuring our country’s workforce is prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st Century3. Committee has primary jurisdiction over private retirement plans and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
1. Meetings- first and third Wednesdays of the month
2. Matters relate to issues such as: Home economics, Human nutrition, Inspection of livestock, meat, and agricultural products, Pests and pesticides, and School nutrition programs3. Includes 5 Subcommittees
Joint Economic Committee
1. Chairman - Bob Casey 2. Bicameral Congressional Committee composed of ten members from each the Senate and the House of Representatives
3. Ten Democrats and ten Republicans on the Committee
4. Main purpose is to make a continuing study of matters relating to the US economy. The Committee holds hearings, performs research and advises Members of Congress.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Immigration Questions
1. What happens if illegal immigrants have children that were born in the US? Are they (the children) also considered illegal immigrants?
2. What is life like for the child of an illegal immigrant?
3. Is it really fair to make a person a citizen if they have illegally immigrants for parents, even though they themselves were born on US soil?
This three questions I chose are all related by having to do with illegal immigrants and their children. If an illegal immigrant had their child in the US, the child is considered a citizen of the United States; however their parents are still considered illegal immigrants. About 340,000 of the 4.3 million babies born in the United States in 2008 (or 8 percent) had at least one parent who was an illegal immigrant.
"The study comes as lawmakers in Washington have been debating whether to consider changing the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to anyone born in the United States." Should they? (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/12/us/12babies.html)
In the Frontline program we watched in class, a family was interviewed who had parents of illegal immigrants. These young children don't quite know about this illegal thing until a parent is deported. In this case, their mom was deported. The father was lost without her and did not know what to do. Should he stay in the US safely with his kids or go find his wife and kids in harm? The kids was completely upset hoping to once reunite with their mother sometime. Each kid had a dream. One was a lawyer and police officer but after this incident they completely changed their minds. Seeing these kids and how they have to live without their mother really makes me and other think: is it right for parents of legal citizen kids be deported?
My opinion on this matter is that parents of legal kids should not be deported. I personally cannot imagine living without my mom or dad especially knowing they are forced to live somewhere else. They aren't doing any harm to the US citizens so why deport them for some small stupid crime such as no turn signal? It just makes no sense. How can we find away around this?
2. What is life like for the child of an illegal immigrant?
3. Is it really fair to make a person a citizen if they have illegally immigrants for parents, even though they themselves were born on US soil?
This three questions I chose are all related by having to do with illegal immigrants and their children. If an illegal immigrant had their child in the US, the child is considered a citizen of the United States; however their parents are still considered illegal immigrants. About 340,000 of the 4.3 million babies born in the United States in 2008 (or 8 percent) had at least one parent who was an illegal immigrant.
"The study comes as lawmakers in Washington have been debating whether to consider changing the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to anyone born in the United States." Should they? (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/12/us/12babies.html)
In the Frontline program we watched in class, a family was interviewed who had parents of illegal immigrants. These young children don't quite know about this illegal thing until a parent is deported. In this case, their mom was deported. The father was lost without her and did not know what to do. Should he stay in the US safely with his kids or go find his wife and kids in harm? The kids was completely upset hoping to once reunite with their mother sometime. Each kid had a dream. One was a lawyer and police officer but after this incident they completely changed their minds. Seeing these kids and how they have to live without their mother really makes me and other think: is it right for parents of legal citizen kids be deported?
My opinion on this matter is that parents of legal kids should not be deported. I personally cannot imagine living without my mom or dad especially knowing they are forced to live somewhere else. They aren't doing any harm to the US citizens so why deport them for some small stupid crime such as no turn signal? It just makes no sense. How can we find away around this?
Friday, November 11, 2011
Electoral College
Facts/Details
1. Under the current system, the winner of the statewide popular vote receives all of the electoral votes from that state.
2. New system proposed: if a candidate wins a congressional district, he or she would receive one electoral college vote.
3. Part of the new system: whoever does best in the statewide race would receive two electoral votes.4. Proposal before the Republican-controlled state legislature that would change the apportionment of Pennsylvania’s 20 electoral votes for President from winner-take-all statewide to winner-take-all by congressional district
5. A group of people has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund an effort to change the rules of the 2012 presidential election to make it very difficult for President Barack Obama to win reelection
6. Democrats have won Pennsylvania in the last five presidential elections
7. Pileggi proposed this idea in Pennsylvania
8. They believe this is a bad idea because they think the overall voting rate will go down
9. Pennsylvania’s electoral vote in 2008 under the district plan would have gone 11 for Obama 10 for McCain.
10. Seven Democratic U.S. House members in safely Democratic districts and eight of the 12 Republican Pennsylvania House members from are districts considered marginal
Questions
1. Why would they make this change?
2. Would it make counting the votes harder?
3. Would campaigning increase? Why or why not?
4. "If the Republican plan becomes law in either Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, those states would change how electoral votes are awarded." Why just these specific states? Why not all of them?
5. Who supports this change and who does not?
6. Is this really simply to try and make Obama lose?
7. Why is Pennsylvania 'so competitive'?
8. Should Congress eliminate the electoral college all together? Why or why not?
Thursday, November 10, 2011
West Wing Episode #2
Facts/Details
1. 1 Person can hold up a debate/bill
2. Filibuster causes a hold up causing drama
3. Filibuster comes from a Dutch word
4. 60 votes are needed to end a debate
5. Longest filibuster according to the show was 24 hours
6. A cloture vote ends a filibuster
7. During a filibuster you cannot eat drink, use the bathroom, sit down, or lean on anything
8. Senators are allowed to hold the floor as long as possible during a filibuster as long as they can follow the rules listed above.
9. Filibuster is a loop hole in the Senate
Questions
1. Can you open a closed bill? How?
2. What does a President do during a filibuster?
3. How long do these typically last?
4. Are there multiple reasons for a filibuster to occur?
5. Can we avoid the chaos of a filibuster? How?
1. 1 Person can hold up a debate/bill
2. Filibuster causes a hold up causing drama
3. Filibuster comes from a Dutch word
4. 60 votes are needed to end a debate
5. Longest filibuster according to the show was 24 hours
6. A cloture vote ends a filibuster
7. During a filibuster you cannot eat drink, use the bathroom, sit down, or lean on anything
8. Senators are allowed to hold the floor as long as possible during a filibuster as long as they can follow the rules listed above.
9. Filibuster is a loop hole in the Senate
Questions
1. Can you open a closed bill? How?
2. What does a President do during a filibuster?
3. How long do these typically last?
4. Are there multiple reasons for a filibuster to occur?
5. Can we avoid the chaos of a filibuster? How?
Immigration- Frontline Program
Facts/Details
1. Illegal immigrants are high under Obama than Bush
2. Curran says 20% in jail are without immigrant documents
3. Goal is to report and remove criminal aliens
4. Many immigrants do not want to leave Mexico but are forced due to fear and circumstances
5. Less than 20% illegal immigrants carry out serious crimes
6. 400,000 deports is the target number
7. 36% of undocumented have families in US and lived in the US for over 11 years
8. 3 million were detains and brought to detention centers in the last decade
9. Texas has the largest detention center, holding 300,000
10. Some say restricting immigrants is doing more damage than help
Questions
1. Do they deport any immigrant noncriminals?
2. Is it fair to deport parents of young children?
3. Are simple crimes such as no turn sign necessary to deport?
4. If immigrants leaver there own country due to fear and come to the US with more fear of being deported, why do they move?
5. Does any other country have this problem? If so, how do they deal with it?
1. Illegal immigrants are high under Obama than Bush
2. Curran says 20% in jail are without immigrant documents
3. Goal is to report and remove criminal aliens
4. Many immigrants do not want to leave Mexico but are forced due to fear and circumstances
5. Less than 20% illegal immigrants carry out serious crimes
6. 400,000 deports is the target number
7. 36% of undocumented have families in US and lived in the US for over 11 years
8. 3 million were detains and brought to detention centers in the last decade
9. Texas has the largest detention center, holding 300,000
10. Some say restricting immigrants is doing more damage than help
Questions
1. Do they deport any immigrant noncriminals?
2. Is it fair to deport parents of young children?
3. Are simple crimes such as no turn sign necessary to deport?
4. If immigrants leaver there own country due to fear and come to the US with more fear of being deported, why do they move?
5. Does any other country have this problem? If so, how do they deal with it?
John Boehner
Facts/Details
Questions
1. Represents Ohio's 8th Congressional District.
2. Republican
3. “Biggest regret” of his speakership: he failed to cut a multitrillion-dollar deficit-reduction deal with President Barack Obama
4. Former House Speaker said: John kind of watches and sees where it goes and kind of herds the flock that way
5. Boehner’s Republicans have used the leverage of controlling a single chamber of Congress to slash $1 trillion or so from the budget over the next decade.
6. One of the most striking aspects of the first year since Boehner won control of the House is how little the new role seems to have changed him.
7. It is said that he always votes no
8. Most dramatic change of this year: Spending less money, passing free-trade agreements
9. Believes House should "work its will."
2. Republican
3. “Biggest regret” of his speakership: he failed to cut a multitrillion-dollar deficit-reduction deal with President Barack Obama
4. Former House Speaker said: John kind of watches and sees where it goes and kind of herds the flock that way
5. Boehner’s Republicans have used the leverage of controlling a single chamber of Congress to slash $1 trillion or so from the budget over the next decade.
6. One of the most striking aspects of the first year since Boehner won control of the House is how little the new role seems to have changed him.
7. It is said that he always votes no
8. Most dramatic change of this year: Spending less money, passing free-trade agreements
9. Believes House should "work its will."
Questions1. How can the House "work its will?" What does that include?
2. How is he the Speaker of the House?
3. Do people actually like him in the House?
4. Has he done anything to significantly help or harm Congress?
5. How can he work while being so against the Senate and President? Why is he?
Is the US House too small?
Facts
1. The US House of Representatives has been at 435 members since 1911
2. The average congressional district now contains roughts 640,000 citizens, as opposed to about 200,000 in 1911
3. The US population is 12.8 percent black and 14.4 percent Latino, but 9.4 percent and 5.1 persent in the US House.
4. Arend Lijphart has argued for 650 seats
5. House is 435 instead of 669 that would now be expected given the US population of 300 million
Questions
1. How often do constituents contact with their member of congress?
2. Why all of a sudden has this question arose?
3. Why can't we change this?
4. Who opposes this and who favors this?
5. Is this logical? If everything has been working why change, which may/will cause chaos?
My Opinion
I believe that the House is fine as it is. If changes are made then chaos may break out. We have too many other issues to worry about and figure out at this point that changing this number is unnessecary right now. Alos, having too many bodies making decisions could cause delay. Too many opinions and people would be chaotic and confusing. I think the way the House is now, is how it should be since there are many other things to worry about.
1. The US House of Representatives has been at 435 members since 1911
2. The average congressional district now contains roughts 640,000 citizens, as opposed to about 200,000 in 1911
3. The US population is 12.8 percent black and 14.4 percent Latino, but 9.4 percent and 5.1 persent in the US House.
4. Arend Lijphart has argued for 650 seats
5. House is 435 instead of 669 that would now be expected given the US population of 300 million
Questions
1. How often do constituents contact with their member of congress?
2. Why all of a sudden has this question arose?
3. Why can't we change this?
4. Who opposes this and who favors this?
5. Is this logical? If everything has been working why change, which may/will cause chaos?
My Opinion
I believe that the House is fine as it is. If changes are made then chaos may break out. We have too many other issues to worry about and figure out at this point that changing this number is unnessecary right now. Alos, having too many bodies making decisions could cause delay. Too many opinions and people would be chaotic and confusing. I think the way the House is now, is how it should be since there are many other things to worry about.
Representatives' Personal Finances
Bob Casey
Net Worth: From $160,020 to $578,000
Rank: 84th in Senate
Assets: 14 totaling $160,020 to $578,000
Transactions: 3 totaling $45,003 to $150,000
Mike McIntyre
Net Worth: From $68,006 to $196,000
Rank: 349th in House
Assets: 4 totaling $68,006 to $196,000
Knowing members of Congress' personal finances is beneficial because then we can get an understanding of where their veiws and opinions are coming from. It is very difficult for us to believe that a very wealthy Congressman can represent the common American people and make decisions for the average American. I did not realize so many Congressmen were so wealthy, which makes me wonder how they can make decisions for us. How can these people make decisions that reflect our needs if they don't know what our needs are?
Net Worth: From $160,020 to $578,000
Rank: 84th in Senate
Assets: 14 totaling $160,020 to $578,000
Transactions: 3 totaling $45,003 to $150,000
Mike McIntyre
Net Worth: From $68,006 to $196,000
Rank: 349th in House
Assets: 4 totaling $68,006 to $196,000
Knowing members of Congress' personal finances is beneficial because then we can get an understanding of where their veiws and opinions are coming from. It is very difficult for us to believe that a very wealthy Congressman can represent the common American people and make decisions for the average American. I did not realize so many Congressmen were so wealthy, which makes me wonder how they can make decisions for us. How can these people make decisions that reflect our needs if they don't know what our needs are?
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Due Process
Facts
1. Kevin Rojas was convicted and charged in 1991
2. Kevin Rojas was sentenced to 15-life in 1992
3. Lesley Risinger and her mother decided to work on proving Kevin is innocent
4. Only 5% of criminal cases actually have DNA.
5. A death sentence takes 25 years for action to be carried out
6. Texas has more death sentences than any other state.
7. A case can be worked on for 10-15 years
8. 11 of the 44 people convicted have been accused due to false eye witness identification.
9. Jim McCloskey, a member of Centurion Ministries, has freed 44 innocent people in the last 30 years. His group looks for cases that do not include DNA as evidence.
10. It costs about $187 million more to keep someone on death row than in the general population
Questions
1. Was his jacket really enough evidence to prosecute him?
2. What is the longest amount of time a case has been worked on?
3. Why does it take so long for action in a death sentence?
4. Why was Lesley and her mother so interested in proving him innocent?
5. Does false eye witness identification happen often?
1. Kevin Rojas was convicted and charged in 1991
2. Kevin Rojas was sentenced to 15-life in 1992
3. Lesley Risinger and her mother decided to work on proving Kevin is innocent
4. Only 5% of criminal cases actually have DNA.
5. A death sentence takes 25 years for action to be carried out
6. Texas has more death sentences than any other state.
7. A case can be worked on for 10-15 years
8. 11 of the 44 people convicted have been accused due to false eye witness identification.
9. Jim McCloskey, a member of Centurion Ministries, has freed 44 innocent people in the last 30 years. His group looks for cases that do not include DNA as evidence.
10. It costs about $187 million more to keep someone on death row than in the general population
Questions
1. Was his jacket really enough evidence to prosecute him?
2. What is the longest amount of time a case has been worked on?
3. Why does it take so long for action in a death sentence?
4. Why was Lesley and her mother so interested in proving him innocent?
5. Does false eye witness identification happen often?
Justice Stevens Court Case
Wallace v Jaffree
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=472&invol=38
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1980-1989/1984/1984_83_812
Facts
1. Took place in Alabama
2. Argued December 4, 1984
3. Decided June 4, 1985
4. Jaffree challenged the constitutionality of a 1-minute period of silence in all public schools "for meditation or voluntary prayer."
5. The District Court said that the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment does not prohibit a State from establishing a religion which allows the schools for provide this time
6. However, the supreme court voted: 6 votes for Jaffree, 3 votes against (saying that the moment of silence does not show neutrality of religion)
Question
1. Why did Jaffree challenge this?
2. Was the case related to the Constitution the only reason it made it to the federal court?
3. Why would the District Court say the amendment didn't relate to the States?
4. What were the reasons 3 justices voted against Jaffree?
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=472&invol=38
http://www.oyez.org/cases/1980-1989/1984/1984_83_812
Facts
1. Took place in Alabama
2. Argued December 4, 1984
3. Decided June 4, 1985
4. Jaffree challenged the constitutionality of a 1-minute period of silence in all public schools "for meditation or voluntary prayer."
5. The District Court said that the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment does not prohibit a State from establishing a religion which allows the schools for provide this time
6. However, the supreme court voted: 6 votes for Jaffree, 3 votes against (saying that the moment of silence does not show neutrality of religion)
Question
1. Why did Jaffree challenge this?
2. Was the case related to the Constitution the only reason it made it to the federal court?
3. Why would the District Court say the amendment didn't relate to the States?
4. What were the reasons 3 justices voted against Jaffree?
Justices
1. John G. Roberts was nominated by President George W. Bush.
2. What does Associate Justice mean?
3. Antonin Scalia took his seat September 26, 1986.
4. Anthony M. Kennedy received his B.A. from Stanford University and the London School of Economics, and his LL.B. from Harvard Law School.
5. What are the requirements of being nominated as a Chief Justice?
6. How many women have ever served as a chief justice? Is it more common?
7. How long does the process of selecting and taking the seat take?
8. Is it common for the justices to be professors before being nominated? (Many seemed to be)
9. Clarence Thomas served as Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, and as Chairman of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
10. John Paul Stevens retired from the Supreme Court on June 29, 2010. Who replaced him?
2. What does Associate Justice mean?
3. Antonin Scalia took his seat September 26, 1986.
4. Anthony M. Kennedy received his B.A. from Stanford University and the London School of Economics, and his LL.B. from Harvard Law School.
5. What are the requirements of being nominated as a Chief Justice?
6. How many women have ever served as a chief justice? Is it more common?
7. How long does the process of selecting and taking the seat take?
8. Is it common for the justices to be professors before being nominated? (Many seemed to be)
9. Clarence Thomas served as Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, and as Chairman of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
10. John Paul Stevens retired from the Supreme Court on June 29, 2010. Who replaced him?
Friday, November 4, 2011
Court Cases
1. Cavazos v. Smith (2011)- Doctors found that a baby died of shaken baby syndrome (SBS). The baby's grandmother said that when the baby did not respond to her touch she picked him up and gave him a little jostle. Smith was arrested and charged with assault on a child resulting in death. She was found guilty. I chose this case beacuse the I wanted to see how they found the evidence and what the outcome was.
2. FCC v. Fox Television Station (2011)- FCC tried to say that TV stations could be fined for foul language during live broadcasted programs. That happened on Fox in 2002 and 2003 when Cher and Nicole Richie cursed during award shows and were not bleeped. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit said that the regulations were "unconstitutionally vague." I chose this case because we discussed a case like this in class and it caused great debate. I believe that we should be able to regulate this because what if children are watching.
3. AT&T Mobility LLC v Concepcion (2010)- In California AT&T was accused of fraudulent since they offered free phones for new costumers who signed up but charged the costumer sales tax on the retail value of the free phone. When reaching the courts, AT&T was favored because "the Federal Arbitration Act ("FAA") did not expressly or impliedly preempt California law governing unconcionability." (Not exactly sure what that means) I chose this case because technology interests me and this specific case interested me as well.
2. FCC v. Fox Television Station (2011)- FCC tried to say that TV stations could be fined for foul language during live broadcasted programs. That happened on Fox in 2002 and 2003 when Cher and Nicole Richie cursed during award shows and were not bleeped. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit said that the regulations were "unconstitutionally vague." I chose this case because we discussed a case like this in class and it caused great debate. I believe that we should be able to regulate this because what if children are watching.
3. AT&T Mobility LLC v Concepcion (2010)- In California AT&T was accused of fraudulent since they offered free phones for new costumers who signed up but charged the costumer sales tax on the retail value of the free phone. When reaching the courts, AT&T was favored because "the Federal Arbitration Act ("FAA") did not expressly or impliedly preempt California law governing unconcionability." (Not exactly sure what that means) I chose this case because technology interests me and this specific case interested me as well.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Roe v Wade Handout
Facts/Details
1. Texas urges that life begins at conception and is present throughout pregnancy but it is still a very controversial question
2. The woman's privacy must be measured accordingly.
3. State does have an important and legitimate interest in preserving and protecting the health of a pregnant woman.
4. Also has interest in protecting the potentiality of human life
5. A state may regulate the abortion procedure to the extent that the regulation reasonably relates to the preservation and protection of maternal health.
6. The "compelling" point is approximately the end of the first trimester
7. The constitution does not explicitly mention any right of privacy.
8. The privacy right is present but not absolute and is subject to some limitations
9. It has been argued that laws were the product of a Victorian social concern to discourage illicit sexual conduct.
10. A concern is medical procedures and how abortion is hazardous for women.
Questions
1. Who decides what the "compelling" point is?
2. Can the states decide laws regarding abortion? Should they?
3. Is there anything else in the Constitution that could be used to defend either view point?
4. Were any other cases of abortion found in the Supreme Court?
5. What do the majority of the people and states view on abortion?
1. Texas urges that life begins at conception and is present throughout pregnancy but it is still a very controversial question
2. The woman's privacy must be measured accordingly.
3. State does have an important and legitimate interest in preserving and protecting the health of a pregnant woman.
4. Also has interest in protecting the potentiality of human life
5. A state may regulate the abortion procedure to the extent that the regulation reasonably relates to the preservation and protection of maternal health.
6. The "compelling" point is approximately the end of the first trimester
7. The constitution does not explicitly mention any right of privacy.
8. The privacy right is present but not absolute and is subject to some limitations
9. It has been argued that laws were the product of a Victorian social concern to discourage illicit sexual conduct.
10. A concern is medical procedures and how abortion is hazardous for women.
Questions
1. Who decides what the "compelling" point is?
2. Can the states decide laws regarding abortion? Should they?
3. Is there anything else in the Constitution that could be used to defend either view point?
4. Were any other cases of abortion found in the Supreme Court?
5. What do the majority of the people and states view on abortion?
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