Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

Today during the Soliciter General Elena Kagen's Supreme Court confirmation hearings, Senator Hatch (R-UT) was drilling her about the landmark court case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.
Can one of you briefly summarize thise case?
What significant Constitutional issues did this case address?


http://cspan.org/Special/Supreme-Court-Kagan-Senate-Confirmation-Hearing-34793.aspx

POST LINKS HERE!!!!

6/29/2010

As you discover substantive and interesting current events, post the links, a brief summary, and discussion questions here for others to follow and respond to. It is my hope that these discussions will be student inspired and you will forget about the number of links and responses I've asked you to post and engage in discussion throughout the summer because it is interesting!

HAVE FUN!!!

gw

Bon Voyage Senator Byrd

June 29, 2010

As you may know the longest serving Senator in history, Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) passed away yesterday. Senator Byrd was a favorite of a few members of the WTP Class of 2010 - I believe for his many "Senior Soundbites." Go to www.youtube.com and type in "Robert Byrd barbaric" to watch John Iatesta's (WTP Class of 2010) favorite Byrd clip.

My question to you is, do you think there should be term limits on Members of Congress?

gw

A New Justice???

6/29/2010

PLEASE tune into the Senate confirmation hearing of Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagen. You will become very familiar with the court this year and hopefully see them in action in D.C. Below is an NPR link to the hearings - please feel free to share other links especially if this does not work.

http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=128172317&m=128172522

What are the requirements to becoming a Supreme Court justice? What do you think should be the prerequisites to becoming a Supreme Court Justice? Do you think that Elena Kagen has the experience necessary for the court?

gw

Supreme Court Decides On Gun Control!!!

6/28/2010

What an incredible newsday it has been! Please check out the following NPR link (if it does not work just go on to npr.org and find a linke or share another relevant site) on today's Supreme Court 5-4 decision on gun control and discuss WHY IS THIS DECISION SIGNIFICANT?

http://npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=128172317&m=128172522

gw

Unit One ferr rizzle

Hello future unit one people. Good luck with your future in this class. Remember, the expectations in this class are very high. All of us alumni expect to win and continue the grand tradition of excellence. We at unit one want to provide some helpful websites that might aid you on your quest to repeating as state champs and onto nationals. Good luck future unit one!


http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/magna_carta/

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/magnacarta.html

http://www.erraticimpact.com/names_index.htm

http://thinkexist.com/quotes/top/occupation/philosopher/

http://www.usconstitution.net/cite.html

http://www.npr.org/

http://www.nytimes.com/

Again, all the best of luck!

Unit 6 Discussion

You'll soon learn that Unit 6 deals alot with current events. In fact, it almost entirly current events and how you can apply old ideas and values to them. Expect to know exactly what happened 5 seconds ago for a run through. Your judges will and they will not hesitate to call you out on out dated information.

That being said, I figure with the recent buzz about internet privacy, this would be a nice thing to talk about. These links aren't cutting edge new, but they'll be nough to start your thinking on the subject.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-20006314-261.html

http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewarticle/articleid/4144408

http://mybroadband.co.za/news/broadband/12757-What-does-piracy-really-cost.html

http://www.northbynorthwestern.com/2010/05/80894/piracy-and-privacy/

Privacy on the internet is a huge deal right now. I've bet you've seen the "Facebook virtual suicides" over its privacy policy, and I'm sure you're atleast seen what the RIAA and Comcast are trying to do to Congress in terms of internet neutrality.

What do you think about this? Have you ever pirated anything? What is your stance on net neutrality?


Remember Unit 6, time lag no longer exists. You have no excuse for having yesterdays information. You don't even have an excuse to have this mornings information. Keep up with newspapers, NPR, and anything you can get your hands on. I'd recomend Freedom 570 AM. Although it is very polarizing and republican, atleast they talk about politics and not the value of ugly fruit like NPR does.

Unit 6 signing off, see you this Wensday.

Unit 5 Discussion

Please read the following link describing the events around the military funeral protests done by Westboro Baptist Church:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/09/us/09scotus.html?scp=5&sq=westboro%20baptist%20church&st=cse

This example is a perfect reason why Unit 5 is the best (although, as the 2009/2010 alumni, we may be a little biased) and most heart-wrenching unit out there. How do you balance our freedoms with what is "acceptable" in society? Comment on your reactions to this instance, but don't just talk about how horrible these signs are--think about instances where freedom of speech should be limited. Imagine if the funeral was for a mass murderer, and the people protesting had non-violent signs about world peace.

Signing off:

Unit 5

We the People Blogging

Welcome to Beyond 116 – our We the People’s blog! As you know, a critical part of this class is staying up to date with current events through listening to NPR (91.7, 88.5) and other content based news sources. The goal of this blog site is to encourage the habit of listening to serious news forums, share what you learn, keep up to date on current events, and to provide a forum for “non teacher directed” academic discussions. Initially I will provide links which I would like you to follow; we will discuss significant articles and events, you will have the opportunity to share substantive pieces which you have found and respond to what your colleagues have found. Pay particular attention to current events connected to the Supreme Court, Congress, executive powers, and court cases.

Starting today – June 9, I will submit a new post to our blog which I expect everyone to respond to before June 16 in order to ensure you are able to subscribe. I will start us off once school is out posting a variety of blogs; but I expect you to take it from there. I will continuously read your discussions and will add my comments from time to time. However, I expect it to be a student led forum for discussion. In order for you to receive full credit, I expect you to:

1. Post at least one substantive response to a post every two weeks (five over the summer – at least three by August 16); and

2. Provide a link to a relevant and substantive article from a credible news source such as NPR, New York Times, etc. ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASSIONS (at least two by August 16).

I look forward to the adventure ahead!

Health Care Overhaul

A few of you have touched upon it, but we all need to understand the complex health care debate. My hope and assumption is that all of you have been tuning in to NPR - where there is almost a daily piece on the issue. Please add links to articles or websites that you think will assist all of us understand this incredibly hot topic. Below are a few articles which can start us off ...

You may be wondering if the health care legislation has any relevance to you or your family. The piece below focuses on what the health care overhaul means to you and even has a nifty chart where you can click on your own category.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111499109

The stakes are high, the players are powerful, debate is heated, and "untruths" are rampant. The piece below claims it is a "truth-o-meter." What do you think?
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2009/aug/13/health-care-reform-simple-explanation/


If you receive the Seattle Times, on Friday August 14th on page A3 there is an interesting table that is easy to understand and focuses on the higlights of the legislatoin. Enlarge the "What's on the table" piece of this article:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2009659458_healthcare14.html

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/zoom/html/2009659459.html

ADD YOUR LINKS HERE!!!

As you know, part of the blogging assignment is to do the following:

• Provide a link to a relevant and substantive article of interest to you from a credible news source such as NPR, New York Times, etc. ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASSIONS.

Some of you have already posted some excellent links within other blog headings. From here on out, please post your links to great sites in this post - a few of you have excellent links that I hope you will "re-post." My hope is that these links will provoke great discussion as classmates follow these links and respond accordingly. Your responses to these links will count towards this part of your blogging assignment:

• Post at least four substantive responses to your classmates' posts or my posts

At the meeting on Monday, 8/17 I can answer any questions you may have.

Judicial Activism v. Judicial Restraint

The Senate Judiciary Committe vote on the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor's to the Supreme Court is scheduled for Tuesday 7/20 (this may change). One of the links belowhas audio highlights from the confirmation hearings ... or you can find your favorite site - YouTube has a good collection of highlights.

What is judicial activism versus judicial restraint? For those of you who have tuned in to the hearings ... did the nomination hearings give any indication of whether Judge Sotomayor will exhibit judicial activism or restraint in her rulings from the bench? Do you have specific examples?


http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106695138

http://www.npr.org/blogs/politicaljunkie/2009/07/sotomayor_cmte_vote_scheduled.html

Lincoln's Team of Rivals

President Obama once said that he would attempt to set up his Administration similar to Abraham Lincoln's who infamously and SUCCESSFULLY included his rivals in his Cabinet. I just started a book "A Team of Rivals" by Doris Goodwin which speaks to the political genious of Lincoln.

I loved the NPR story below regarding Lincoln's retreat at Soldiers Home (when we get to Nationals in D.C. :-) I will see if we can venture there!) - Our country could use his wisdom and humility ... any thoughts on Lincoln, Obama or your favorite Presidents?

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106304009

"...one small step for man ..."

Today is the 40th anniversary of the moon landing! I am married to a rocket scientist/ physicist who has trained astronauts and has worked on multiple shuttle missions - so this is a major holiday in in our home! One of the many reasons I love NPR is the breadth of topics covered. Below are a few of the many links out there regarding the moon landing.

Some argue that after the moon landing, NASA has lost its sense of purpose. Are there any scientists/ engineers/ future astronauts/ or big thinking academics out there who have an opinion on what NASA's mission should be?


http://wechoosethemoon.org/


http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106304009
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106742521

Justice Sotomayor???

Tomorrow the Senate Judiciary Committe will commence confirmation hearings for Judge Sonia Sotomayor... tune in! The link below will bring you to a New York Times (a GREAT source!!!) article where seven legal experts pose questions they would like the nominee to answer. Read through them ... any thoughts?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/13/opinion/13sotomayor.html?_r=1

Its All Politics

I would like you to listen to NPR "Its All Politics" (link below) and comment on one of the following topics:
1: What is the "myth of the 60 vote majority"?
2. Senator Leahy has set Sotomayor's confirmation hearings for July 13; why; why are the Republicans unhappy?
3. If neither of these topics entice you; post a link and question for the class related to "We the People."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88409322

6/22/2009: Originalism and Is the 1965 Voting Rights Act still needed?

6/22/2009

Please respond to one or both of the link(s) below:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105748678
Court Sidesteps Major Ruling Over Civil Rights Act - What are your thoughts on the Supreme Court's action?


http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105439966
Originalism! - What are your thoughts regarding Justice Scalia's 2008 comment:

"If you somehow adopt a philosophy that the Constitution itself is not static, but rather it morphs from age to age to say whatever it ought to say — which is probably whatever the people would want it to say — you eliminate the whole purpose of a Constitution. And that is essentially what the so-called living Constitution leaves you with."

Welcome!

Welcome We the People to Beyond 116! As you know, a critical part of this class is current events, listening to NPR (94.9, 88.9) and other content based news sources. Through this blog I will provide links which I would like you to follow, we will discuss significant articles and events, and you will have the opportunity to share substantive pieces which you have found. In addition, I invite you to share items of interest as you find them. Pay particular attention to current events connected to the Supreme Court, Congress, executive powers, and court cases.

Blogging is a new adventure for me so I invite you to be patient and flexible! Starting July 6, I will submit a new post to our blog on Mondays. During weeks when I expect to be out of town, I may post the blog early. In order for you to receive full credit, I expect you to post at least one substantive response to my post every two weeks (four over the summer) and provide a link to a relevant and substantive article from a credible new sources such as NPR, New York Times, etc. ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASSIONS.

I look forward to the adventure ahead! Did I already say LISTEN TO NPR??!!!