Woo Hoo!!!! Its finally Christmas Break!!! I'm so excited!!! it is going to be great!!!!! as of today...there are 5 days till Christmas!!! 11 till New Years Eve!!! Its going to be great=]
~Amanda<3
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Saturday, December 8, 2007
December 8, 2007
December 8- Free topic within the subject of American Government on any topic that interests you.
We have so many famous Presidents that have done so very much for our country. We live fairly comfortably in today's world if we work hard. And we have all of our Presidents to thank. They run our country so that we can live in it. Whether they have done a good job or a widely criticized one, they still worked very hard so that we can remain a free country. In this blog, I will take a better look at the role of our first President, George Washington.
Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Virginia. He grew up the then colony of Virginia and his famous home, Mount Vernon, is located in his beloved state. He was a tall boy and seemed to be very bright. His father died when George was only eleven, and he had a very strained relationship with his mother.
In 1754, Washington joined the French and Indian War at 22 years old. "With his American Indian allies led by Tanacharison, Washington and his troops ambushed a French scouting party of some 30 men, led by Joseph Coulon de Jumonville. Washington and his troops were overwhelmed at Fort Necessity by a larger and better positioned French and Indian force. The terms of surrender included a statement that Washington had assassinated the scouts and their leader at the Battle of Jumonville Glen. Released by the French, Washington returned to Virginia, where he resigned rather than accept demotion....In fall 1755, Washington was given a difficult frontier command in the Virginia mountains. In 1758, he took part in the Forbes Expedition, which successfully drove the French from Fort Duquesne. Later that year, Washington resigned from active military service and spent the next sixteen years as a Virginia planter and politician." (Wikipedia)
He also served a major part in the American Revolution serving as Commander in Chief. Between the two wars, He married his wife Martha Dandridge Custis. Among his many awards was his being voted unanimously as President over the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787. Then in 1789, he was unanimously elected as the first President of the United States.
George Washington died on December 14, 1799 at the age of 67. He was a very important and influential person in American History. We owe a lot to this man and can in turn learn a lot from him. It is largely thanks to him that we live in the free country today.
We have so many famous Presidents that have done so very much for our country. We live fairly comfortably in today's world if we work hard. And we have all of our Presidents to thank. They run our country so that we can live in it. Whether they have done a good job or a widely criticized one, they still worked very hard so that we can remain a free country. In this blog, I will take a better look at the role of our first President, George Washington.
Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Virginia. He grew up the then colony of Virginia and his famous home, Mount Vernon, is located in his beloved state. He was a tall boy and seemed to be very bright. His father died when George was only eleven, and he had a very strained relationship with his mother.
In 1754, Washington joined the French and Indian War at 22 years old. "With his American Indian allies led by Tanacharison, Washington and his troops ambushed a French scouting party of some 30 men, led by Joseph Coulon de Jumonville. Washington and his troops were overwhelmed at Fort Necessity by a larger and better positioned French and Indian force. The terms of surrender included a statement that Washington had assassinated the scouts and their leader at the Battle of Jumonville Glen. Released by the French, Washington returned to Virginia, where he resigned rather than accept demotion....In fall 1755, Washington was given a difficult frontier command in the Virginia mountains. In 1758, he took part in the Forbes Expedition, which successfully drove the French from Fort Duquesne. Later that year, Washington resigned from active military service and spent the next sixteen years as a Virginia planter and politician." (Wikipedia)
He also served a major part in the American Revolution serving as Commander in Chief. Between the two wars, He married his wife Martha Dandridge Custis. Among his many awards was his being voted unanimously as President over the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787. Then in 1789, he was unanimously elected as the first President of the United States.
George Washington died on December 14, 1799 at the age of 67. He was a very important and influential person in American History. We owe a lot to this man and can in turn learn a lot from him. It is largely thanks to him that we live in the free country today.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
December 1, 2007
December 1- What areas do you think our government should play a bigger role? Which a smaller role? Why?
In our current Government, we have established a system of checks and balances where some people have many duties and some have very few. Whether or not you believe this system is working or not, it obviously is to some degree, because our country is not just surviving, it is thriving. However I believe that some people have so few duties, it would be good for them to take some of the load off of others who seem to be carrying the world on their shoulders. I am referring, in this case, to the President and the Vice President.
The President has many roles in our country. He serves as Chief of State, Chief Executive, Chief Administrator, Chief Diplomat, Commander in Chief, Chief Legislator, Chief of Party, and Chief Citizen. To explain a few, Chief of Party means that he is the acknowledged leader of the political party in control of the executive branch. As Chief Citizen, he is the representative of all the people in the United States. Of all his jobs as President, I believe that one of his most important roles is Chief Executive.
"The president is the chief executive of the United States, putting him at the head of the executive branch of the government, whose responsibility is to "take care that the laws be faithfully executed". To carry out this duty, he is given control of the four million employees of the vast executive branch, including one million active duty personnel in the military. Both the legislative and judicial branches maintain checks and balances on the powers of the president, and vice versa."(Wikipedia)
The Vice President holds two jobs. He is the head of the Senate and he is first in line to take over if the President is unable to fulfill his duties (25th Amendment). There have been many jokes made about how little the Vice President has to do. Theodore Roosevelt, who had come to the White House after the Vice Presidency, had an annoying chandelier in the Oval Office. It made such a loud tinkling noise that he had it taken to the Vice President's office, where it still is today, saying, "He doesn't have anything to do, it will keep him awake."(McClenaghan 373)
"The informal roles and functions of the Vice President depend on the specific relationship between the President and the Vice President, but often include drafter and spokesperson for the administration's policy, as an adviser to the president, as Chairman of the Board of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), as a Member of the board of the Smithsonian Institution, and as a symbol of American concern or support. Their influence in this role depends almost entirely on the characteristics of the particular administration. Cheney, for instance, is widely regarded as one of George W. Bush's closest confidantes. Al Gore was an important adviser to President Bill Clinton on matters of foreign policy and the environment." (Wikipedia) To this day, the role of Vice President has not changed. Considering how our County is thriving so far, it may not be necessary. It may be helpful, but it is also good that the Vice President has so few jobs, because then the President can receive help from him without the Vice President being swamped with work. The Vice President is there just waiting for a job, and that is how our country has been working since John Adams and George Washington.
Sources
Brinkley, Alan/ Dyer, Davis. The American Presidency. Boston/New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004
McClenaghan, William A. "American Government." Needham, Massachusetts: Prentice Hall, 1989.
In our current Government, we have established a system of checks and balances where some people have many duties and some have very few. Whether or not you believe this system is working or not, it obviously is to some degree, because our country is not just surviving, it is thriving. However I believe that some people have so few duties, it would be good for them to take some of the load off of others who seem to be carrying the world on their shoulders. I am referring, in this case, to the President and the Vice President.
"Among the salient characteristics of the American presidency is that it has usually played a role in American life that extends well beyond the formal responsibilities of the office. Almost all presidents-whatever they have or have not achieved-have occupied positions of enormous symbolic and cultural importance in American life. They have become the secular icons of the republic- emblems of nationhood and embodiments of the values that Americans have claimed to cherish." (Brinkley, Dyer)
The President has many roles in our country. He serves as Chief of State, Chief Executive, Chief Administrator, Chief Diplomat, Commander in Chief, Chief Legislator, Chief of Party, and Chief Citizen. To explain a few, Chief of Party means that he is the acknowledged leader of the political party in control of the executive branch. As Chief Citizen, he is the representative of all the people in the United States. Of all his jobs as President, I believe that one of his most important roles is Chief Executive.
"The president is the chief executive of the United States, putting him at the head of the executive branch of the government, whose responsibility is to "take care that the laws be faithfully executed". To carry out this duty, he is given control of the four million employees of the vast executive branch, including one million active duty personnel in the military. Both the legislative and judicial branches maintain checks and balances on the powers of the president, and vice versa."(Wikipedia)
The Vice President holds two jobs. He is the head of the Senate and he is first in line to take over if the President is unable to fulfill his duties (25th Amendment). There have been many jokes made about how little the Vice President has to do. Theodore Roosevelt, who had come to the White House after the Vice Presidency, had an annoying chandelier in the Oval Office. It made such a loud tinkling noise that he had it taken to the Vice President's office, where it still is today, saying, "He doesn't have anything to do, it will keep him awake."(McClenaghan 373)
"The informal roles and functions of the Vice President depend on the specific relationship between the President and the Vice President, but often include drafter and spokesperson for the administration's policy, as an adviser to the president, as Chairman of the Board of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), as a Member of the board of the Smithsonian Institution, and as a symbol of American concern or support. Their influence in this role depends almost entirely on the characteristics of the particular administration. Cheney, for instance, is widely regarded as one of George W. Bush's closest confidantes. Al Gore was an important adviser to President Bill Clinton on matters of foreign policy and the environment." (Wikipedia) To this day, the role of Vice President has not changed. Considering how our County is thriving so far, it may not be necessary. It may be helpful, but it is also good that the Vice President has so few jobs, because then the President can receive help from him without the Vice President being swamped with work. The Vice President is there just waiting for a job, and that is how our country has been working since John Adams and George Washington.
Sources
Brinkley, Alan/ Dyer, Davis. The American Presidency. Boston/New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004
McClenaghan, William A. "American Government." Needham, Massachusetts: Prentice Hall, 1989.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
November 17, 2007
November 17- Which issues do you think should be at the forefront of the debate leading up to the 2008 Presidential election? Why?
This is certainly going to be a very interesting and intense race for President. There are many people who are willing enough to run and all are certainly qualified, some more than others. With the state our country is in after so many disasters, there are many issues that should be at the front of the campaign. They include border patrol, the war in Iraq, and health care. All topics are very important to the well being of our country.
Border patrol definitely needs to be more enforced. As Californians, we see everyday how week it is, there are so many illegal immigrants in our country looking for a better way of life. Some of them eventually find it and then take the proper steps to become a full citizen. However some do not find it and end up living in poverty. In return, they have children in the States who are then legal citizens and the poverty in America goes up. That is something that certainly no one wants. Our candidates must find the “origins of the problem, Mexico’s population growth, the burden on US social services and public assistance, the effect on the labor market, border violence and drug traffic.” (James 2)
The war in Iraq is also a very important issue. Our troops have been over there for quite some time and for the average American, there doesn't seem to be much of an end in sight. However there is constantly work going on for this cause.
“U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice appeared on Egyptian television. The interviewer, Mervat Mohsen, summed up the changes in Iraq from a Sunni perspective. ‘Excessive meddling has brought the Shiites in Iraq to power. The neighboring Iranians are Shia. The Sunnis are compromised. America’s trusted Arab allies are Sunnis. There is a civil war brewing in Iraq. What have you done?’ Rice insisted Iraq’s political process was fully on track. ‘Well I don’t think there is a civil war brewing in Iraq…Now that the dictator is gone, you have the Iraqi people, who come from may different sects, from many different ethnic groups, trying to use a political process of compromise and politics, to replace repression’” (Galbraith 4).
In the debates, I would like to know what the candidates plan to do to bring our troops home. With my best friend in the Air Force Academy, I certainly want the war to be over before he has graduated and is ready to go over and serve. I don't want to lose any more of the men and women currently serving in Iraq, especially not my friend. I would like to know what they are doing to help that cause.
Finally, there is the issue of health care. This needs to be addressed because every American wants to know what kind of medical care will be provided for them when they need it most. In some countries, the policy for health care is that it is completely free. There are of course good and bad qualities to this. It could have a negative affect because if you are getting payed a certain amount as a doctor, your pay is not set according to how many people you get and therefore how good you are as a doctor. If this is the case, it will be hard to be motivated to do a good job when the mean, lazy doctor next door is getting payed as much as you are when you try your hardest to be perfect and kind. It would also have a positive effect, tho. Many people in America die because they cannot afford health care. For me, when i go to college next year, my parent's insurance will not be able to cover my health care. Luckily, I have a job at Starbucks where, if i work enough hours to be considered a part-time employee, I can get insurance through them. However that means that i will not have enough time to do the two extra-curricular activities(and therefore scholarships) that i hold most dear, choir and cheer leading. Having free health care would be great because then i would not have to work part time.
There are many important issues in this election. Many of them might be more important in the long run or simply to a select group of people. However to me, the three most important issues are border patrol, the war in Iraq, and health care. In the 2008 election, I hope a person is selected that will certainly help our country out in all these areas of need.
Sources
Galbraith, Peter W. “The End of Iraq: How American Incompetence Created a War Without End.” New York: Simon & Schuster Inc., 2006
James, Daniel. Illegal Immigration: An Unfolding Crisis. Lanham, Maryland: University Press of America, 2006.
This is certainly going to be a very interesting and intense race for President. There are many people who are willing enough to run and all are certainly qualified, some more than others. With the state our country is in after so many disasters, there are many issues that should be at the front of the campaign. They include border patrol, the war in Iraq, and health care. All topics are very important to the well being of our country.
Border patrol definitely needs to be more enforced. As Californians, we see everyday how week it is, there are so many illegal immigrants in our country looking for a better way of life. Some of them eventually find it and then take the proper steps to become a full citizen. However some do not find it and end up living in poverty. In return, they have children in the States who are then legal citizens and the poverty in America goes up. That is something that certainly no one wants. Our candidates must find the “origins of the problem, Mexico’s population growth, the burden on US social services and public assistance, the effect on the labor market, border violence and drug traffic.” (James 2)
The war in Iraq is also a very important issue. Our troops have been over there for quite some time and for the average American, there doesn't seem to be much of an end in sight. However there is constantly work going on for this cause.
“U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice appeared on Egyptian television. The interviewer, Mervat Mohsen, summed up the changes in Iraq from a Sunni perspective. ‘Excessive meddling has brought the Shiites in Iraq to power. The neighboring Iranians are Shia. The Sunnis are compromised. America’s trusted Arab allies are Sunnis. There is a civil war brewing in Iraq. What have you done?’ Rice insisted Iraq’s political process was fully on track. ‘Well I don’t think there is a civil war brewing in Iraq…Now that the dictator is gone, you have the Iraqi people, who come from may different sects, from many different ethnic groups, trying to use a political process of compromise and politics, to replace repression’” (Galbraith 4).
Finally, there is the issue of health care. This needs to be addressed because every American wants to know what kind of medical care will be provided for them when they need it most. In some countries, the policy for health care is that it is completely free. There are of course good and bad qualities to this. It could have a negative affect because if you are getting payed a certain amount as a doctor, your pay is not set according to how many people you get and therefore how good you are as a doctor. If this is the case, it will be hard to be motivated to do a good job when the mean, lazy doctor next door is getting payed as much as you are when you try your hardest to be perfect and kind. It would also have a positive effect, tho. Many people in America die because they cannot afford health care. For me, when i go to college next year, my parent's insurance will not be able to cover my health care. Luckily, I have a job at Starbucks where, if i work enough hours to be considered a part-time employee, I can get insurance through them. However that means that i will not have enough time to do the two extra-curricular activities(and therefore scholarships) that i hold most dear, choir and cheer leading. Having free health care would be great because then i would not have to work part time.
There are many important issues in this election. Many of them might be more important in the long run or simply to a select group of people. However to me, the three most important issues are border patrol, the war in Iraq, and health care. In the 2008 election, I hope a person is selected that will certainly help our country out in all these areas of need.
Sources
Galbraith, Peter W. “The End of Iraq: How American Incompetence Created a War Without End.” New York: Simon & Schuster Inc., 2006
James, Daniel. Illegal Immigration: An Unfolding Crisis. Lanham, Maryland: University Press of America, 2006.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
November 10- gone for Mexico Mission Trip
November 10- Answer this question “How important is the office of President of the United States? “ Why?
I believe that the office of President of the United States is very important. In fact, it is
vital to the lifestyle that we Americans have grown to expect. The job of President of the U.S. is certainly an important job and I'm sure that it is very rewarding. however it is not all the glamor it is often portrayed as.
I used to view the role of President to be a high paying luxury job. I saw him as being payed to be a famous celebrity. I believe many Americans do. He is just the person who gives out the various jobs while he supervises and his cabinet really does all the work. Others may view him, or possibly her one day soon, as being the spokesperson. They are simply there for everyone else to blame. Although sometimes the President is to blame for some things, no one is perfect. What few seem to realize is that it takes a special person to do this job.
The President has many roles in our country. He serves as Chief of State, Chief Executive, Chief Administrator, Chief Diplomat, Commander in Chief, Chief Legislator, Chief of Party, and Chief Citizen. To explain a few, Chief of Party means that he is the acknowledged leader of the political party in control of the executive branch. As Chief Citizen, he is the representative of all the people in the United States. Of all his jobs as President, I believe that one of his most important roles is Chief Executive.
"The president is the chief executive of the United States, putting him at the head of the executive branch of the government, whose responsibility is to "take care that the laws be faithfully executed". To carry out this duty, he is given control of the four million employees of the vast executive branch, including one million active duty personnel in the military. Both the legislative and judicial branches maintain checks and balances on the powers of the president, and vice versa."(Wikipedia)
As i hope you can now see, the role of President of the United States is an extremely vital role. We need this special person to help us organize our country, we would be a mess without him or her. As our country grows, so do the President's jobs. “The last two centuries have seen the president’s role in government grow tremendously. Indeed, over the past 50 years, the office has frequently been accused of overstepping the boundaries set forth in the Constitution. That’s why many presidents think of the Constitution as, in the words of John Adams during 1798’s signing of the Alien and Sedition Acts, ‘a decent jumping off point” (Stewart 41) Finally, as our first Vice President John Adams said, "I am Vice President. In this I am nothing, but I may be everything."(McClenaghan) In our growing country, the President is everything.
Sources
I believe that the office of President of the United States is very important. In fact, it is
vital to the lifestyle that we Americans have grown to expect. The job of President of the U.S. is certainly an important job and I'm sure that it is very rewarding. however it is not all the glamor it is often portrayed as.
I used to view the role of President to be a high paying luxury job. I saw him as being payed to be a famous celebrity. I believe many Americans do. He is just the person who gives out the various jobs while he supervises and his cabinet really does all the work. Others may view him, or possibly her one day soon, as being the spokesperson. They are simply there for everyone else to blame. Although sometimes the President is to blame for some things, no one is perfect. What few seem to realize is that it takes a special person to do this job.
The President has many roles in our country. He serves as Chief of State, Chief Executive, Chief Administrator, Chief Diplomat, Commander in Chief, Chief Legislator, Chief of Party, and Chief Citizen. To explain a few, Chief of Party means that he is the acknowledged leader of the political party in control of the executive branch. As Chief Citizen, he is the representative of all the people in the United States. Of all his jobs as President, I believe that one of his most important roles is Chief Executive.
"The president is the chief executive of the United States, putting him at the head of the executive branch of the government, whose responsibility is to "take care that the laws be faithfully executed". To carry out this duty, he is given control of the four million employees of the vast executive branch, including one million active duty personnel in the military. Both the legislative and judicial branches maintain checks and balances on the powers of the president, and vice versa."(Wikipedia)
As i hope you can now see, the role of President of the United States is an extremely vital role. We need this special person to help us organize our country, we would be a mess without him or her. As our country grows, so do the President's jobs. “The last two centuries have seen the president’s role in government grow tremendously. Indeed, over the past 50 years, the office has frequently been accused of overstepping the boundaries set forth in the Constitution. That’s why many presidents think of the Constitution as, in the words of John Adams during 1798’s signing of the Alien and Sedition Acts, ‘a decent jumping off point” (Stewart 41) Finally, as our first Vice President John Adams said, "I am Vice President. In this I am nothing, but I may be everything."(McClenaghan) In our growing country, the President is everything.
Sources
Stewart, Jon. “America (The Book): A Citizens Guide to Democracy Inaction.” New York: Warner Books Inc., 2004
McClenaghan, William A. "American Government." Needham, Massachusetts:Prentice Hall, 1989.Tuesday, October 30, 2007
7th Amendment Work Cited Page
7th Amendment Work Cited Page
FindLaw
McClenaghan, William A. American Government. Needham, Massachusetts: Prentice Hall, 1989.
Measuring Worth
National Constitution Center
Wikipedia
FindLaw
McClenaghan, William A. American Government. Needham, Massachusetts: Prentice Hall, 1989.
Measuring Worth
National Constitution Center
Wikipedia
The 7th Amendment
Amanda Berger
October 30, 2007
Government/ Economics
The 7th Amendment
“In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.”
On March 4, 1789, the government under the Constitution began operations. However it soon became clear that changes would need to be made over time and that they needed to include a few more basic rights. The first ten amendments were called the Bill of Rights and promised the citizens those liberties which the Constitution originally left out. These amendments to the constitution are very valuable to our every day lives, specifically the first ten.
The seventh amendment was proposed on September 25, 1789. It was proposed along with eleven other amendments. Out of those twelve, only ten were actually ratified. The first two proposed were left out of the document because they did not receive enough of a majority two become an amendment at the time. The first dealt with the number and apportionment of members of the House of Representatives. The second limited the ability of Congress to increase the salary of its members. This amendment did not receive enough votes at the time but it stayed in play as an idea until it received enough votes in 1992 and became the twenty-seventh amendment. The final ten that were ratified at the time were called the Bill of Rights. (McClenaghan)
“The United States Bill of Rights consists of the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. These amendments limit the powers of the federal government, protecting the rights of all citizens, residents and visitors on United States territory. Among the enumerated rights these amendments guarantee are: the freedoms of speech, press, and religion; the people's right to keep and bear arms; the freedom of assembly; the freedom to petition; and the rights to be free of unreasonable search and seizure; cruel and unusual punishment; and compelled self-incrimination. The Bill of Rights also restricts Congress' power by prohibiting it from making any law respecting establishment of religion and by prohibiting the federal government from depriving any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. In criminal cases, it requires indictment by grand jury for any capital or "infamous crime," guarantees a speedy public trial with an impartial and local jury, and prohibits double jeopardy. In addition, the Bill of Rights states that "the enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people," and reserves all powers not granted to the Federal government to the citizenry or States.” (Wikipedia)
The seventh amendment itself deals with Civil Trials and the right to a jury. A civil trial is a case that does not involve criminal matters. “It is a dispute between private parties or between the Government and a private party,” (McClenaghan 747). In these civil trials, a jury need not be appointed if the amount in question exceeds fifteen-hundred dollars. When the amendment was originally written, the amount was put as twenty dollars. Obviously, this was more money in 1787 than it is today. In fact, what was then twenty dollars would now be roughly $472.13. (Measuring Worth)
A jury is to be appointed if the amount is more than fifteen-hundred dollars. However it is not absolutely necessary to have one. Both parties may agree to have a bench trial. This means that the parties are judged by the judge without the aid of a jury. Many celebrities committed of crimes attempt to use this method since it obviously gets less attention from the press.
Linda Monk gives this very insightful quote in her book The Words We Live By: “The Seventh Amendment also limits a judge’s power to overturn factual decisions by a jury, which could otherwise render a jury’s power meaningless. Some Americans believe that, in an age of increasingly complex litigation, a civil jury is an incompetent artifact that actually endangers due process of law. Others argue that trial by jury, in both civil and criminal cases, ensures that the American people participate directly in self-government.” This means that the Jury has a more powerful vote than a judge in cases where a jury is utilized. Also, not everyone likes the idea of a jury. Some agree that it ensures a state of self-government when others say that it “endangers the due process of law.” (National Constitution Center)
This amendment does not apply directly to all courts of law. “The Amendment governs only courts which sit under the authority of the United States, including courts in the territories and the District of Columbia, and does not apply generally to state courts. But when a state court is enforcing a federally created right, of which the right to trial by jury is a substantial part, the States may not eliminate trial by jury as to one or more elements. Ordinarily, a federal court enforcing a state-created right will follow its own rules with regard to the allocation of functions between judge and jury, a rule the Court based on the ''interests'' of the federal court system, eschewing reliance on the Seventh Amendment but noting its influence.” (FindLaw)
This amendment may not seem necessary, however it is extremely useful. If you ever are required to go to court for an amount over fifteen-hundred dollars, this amendment makes sure that you can have a jury and a fair trial. Also, it encourages self-government which is one of the key ideas our government was founded upon. This is certainly an important idea and helps our government to grow and thrive in our modern society.
Work Cited on Next Post!
October 30, 2007
Government/ Economics
The 7th Amendment
“In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.”
On March 4, 1789, the government under the Constitution began operations. However it soon became clear that changes would need to be made over time and that they needed to include a few more basic rights. The first ten amendments were called the Bill of Rights and promised the citizens those liberties which the Constitution originally left out. These amendments to the constitution are very valuable to our every day lives, specifically the first ten.
The seventh amendment was proposed on September 25, 1789. It was proposed along with eleven other amendments. Out of those twelve, only ten were actually ratified. The first two proposed were left out of the document because they did not receive enough of a majority two become an amendment at the time. The first dealt with the number and apportionment of members of the House of Representatives. The second limited the ability of Congress to increase the salary of its members. This amendment did not receive enough votes at the time but it stayed in play as an idea until it received enough votes in 1992 and became the twenty-seventh amendment. The final ten that were ratified at the time were called the Bill of Rights. (McClenaghan)
“The United States Bill of Rights consists of the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. These amendments limit the powers of the federal government, protecting the rights of all citizens, residents and visitors on United States territory. Among the enumerated rights these amendments guarantee are: the freedoms of speech, press, and religion; the people's right to keep and bear arms; the freedom of assembly; the freedom to petition; and the rights to be free of unreasonable search and seizure; cruel and unusual punishment; and compelled self-incrimination. The Bill of Rights also restricts Congress' power by prohibiting it from making any law respecting establishment of religion and by prohibiting the federal government from depriving any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. In criminal cases, it requires indictment by grand jury for any capital or "infamous crime," guarantees a speedy public trial with an impartial and local jury, and prohibits double jeopardy. In addition, the Bill of Rights states that "the enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people," and reserves all powers not granted to the Federal government to the citizenry or States.” (Wikipedia)
The seventh amendment itself deals with Civil Trials and the right to a jury. A civil trial is a case that does not involve criminal matters. “It is a dispute between private parties or between the Government and a private party,” (McClenaghan 747). In these civil trials, a jury need not be appointed if the amount in question exceeds fifteen-hundred dollars. When the amendment was originally written, the amount was put as twenty dollars. Obviously, this was more money in 1787 than it is today. In fact, what was then twenty dollars would now be roughly $472.13. (Measuring Worth)
A jury is to be appointed if the amount is more than fifteen-hundred dollars. However it is not absolutely necessary to have one. Both parties may agree to have a bench trial. This means that the parties are judged by the judge without the aid of a jury. Many celebrities committed of crimes attempt to use this method since it obviously gets less attention from the press.
Linda Monk gives this very insightful quote in her book The Words We Live By: “The Seventh Amendment also limits a judge’s power to overturn factual decisions by a jury, which could otherwise render a jury’s power meaningless. Some Americans believe that, in an age of increasingly complex litigation, a civil jury is an incompetent artifact that actually endangers due process of law. Others argue that trial by jury, in both civil and criminal cases, ensures that the American people participate directly in self-government.” This means that the Jury has a more powerful vote than a judge in cases where a jury is utilized. Also, not everyone likes the idea of a jury. Some agree that it ensures a state of self-government when others say that it “endangers the due process of law.” (National Constitution Center)
This amendment does not apply directly to all courts of law. “The Amendment governs only courts which sit under the authority of the United States, including courts in the territories and the District of Columbia, and does not apply generally to state courts. But when a state court is enforcing a federally created right, of which the right to trial by jury is a substantial part, the States may not eliminate trial by jury as to one or more elements. Ordinarily, a federal court enforcing a state-created right will follow its own rules with regard to the allocation of functions between judge and jury, a rule the Court based on the ''interests'' of the federal court system, eschewing reliance on the Seventh Amendment but noting its influence.” (FindLaw)
This amendment may not seem necessary, however it is extremely useful. If you ever are required to go to court for an amount over fifteen-hundred dollars, this amendment makes sure that you can have a jury and a fair trial. Also, it encourages self-government which is one of the key ideas our government was founded upon. This is certainly an important idea and helps our government to grow and thrive in our modern society.
Work Cited on Next Post!
Friday, October 26, 2007
October 27
October 27- Analyze the Republican field for the 2008 Presidential primary. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the top 4 major candidates, and project the winner. Defend and support your choice. Be careful not to tell me who you would or would not vote for, but concentrate merely on their qualities and who will win the RNC nomination.
Rudy Guliani is definitely an experienced candidate. He was elected as Mayor of New York in 1993 and has made significant progress in fixing problems New Yorkers endure. "As Mayor, Rudy Giuliani has returned accountability to City government and improved the quality of life for all New Yorkers. Under his leadership, overall crime is down 57%, murder has been reduced 65%, and New York City - once infamous around the world for its dangerous streets - has been recognized by the F.B.I. as the safest large city in America for the past five years...Under Rudy Giuliani's leadership, New York City has become the best-known example of the resurgence of urban America. From his success at cleaning up Times Square and other public spaces around the City to closing the Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island, Mayor Giuliani has worked tirelessly to pass New York to the next generation better and more beautiful than it was before he entered office."(source)
Also in the race is Fred Thompson. He is a fairly new candidate in this race yet he still has very strong beliefs on what he would like done in our government. He has been very outspoken on the issue of illegal immigrants. He has this to say on the topic, "The United States is a nation of immigrants. Throughout our history, legal immigrants have brought energy, ideas, strength, and diversity to our country, our economy, and our culture. This must continue. But in the post-9/11 world, immigration is more of a national security issue. A government that cannot secure its borders and determine who may enter and who may not, abrogates a fundamental responsibility."
John McCain is another leading candidate for the republican party. He also has a fairly impressive political background. He served in Congress as Arizona's Senator from 1982-1987. In the 2000 election, he was in the election against George W. Bush to be the Republican nominee however lost. I believe his greatest problem in this campaign will be his . They lead me to believe that he doesn't take important issues very seriously. However he will possibly receive some sympathy because of his being a tortured Prisoner of War for 5 1/2 years.
Finally, we get to The Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. He is very strong in his beliefs and appears to be a hard worker and a very dedicated politician. He has had to make some budget cuts while governor that has hurt his reputation, but helped our economy. "Every legislator and politician knows this spending can’t be justified, so why do they do it? Because it gets politicians praised — and re-elected. There’s no courage involved in spending more money. Drawing a line on spending is hard and fraught with criticism. When I vetoed $458 million of excessive spending in the budget this spring, I knew that community newspapers across the Commonwealth would decry my elimination of local pet projects. And, I knew that the Legislature would over ride most of my vetoes. In fact, they over rode all of them, to a chorus of community acclaim. But someone has to say no." [source]
Of all the republican nominees, i believe that Guliani has the most favor from the public. There is definitely alot of positive outcome from his past and much less negative than his competition. He has plenty of experience and apears to be a very qualified candidate. Certainly any of these nominees would be an excellent choice.
Rudy Guliani is definitely an experienced candidate. He was elected as Mayor of New York in 1993 and has made significant progress in fixing problems New Yorkers endure. "As Mayor, Rudy Giuliani has returned accountability to City government and improved the quality of life for all New Yorkers. Under his leadership, overall crime is down 57%, murder has been reduced 65%, and New York City - once infamous around the world for its dangerous streets - has been recognized by the F.B.I. as the safest large city in America for the past five years...Under Rudy Giuliani's leadership, New York City has become the best-known example of the resurgence of urban America. From his success at cleaning up Times Square and other public spaces around the City to closing the Fresh Kills landfill on Staten Island, Mayor Giuliani has worked tirelessly to pass New York to the next generation better and more beautiful than it was before he entered office."(source)
Also in the race is Fred Thompson. He is a fairly new candidate in this race yet he still has very strong beliefs on what he would like done in our government. He has been very outspoken on the issue of illegal immigrants. He has this to say on the topic, "The United States is a nation of immigrants. Throughout our history, legal immigrants have brought energy, ideas, strength, and diversity to our country, our economy, and our culture. This must continue. But in the post-9/11 world, immigration is more of a national security issue. A government that cannot secure its borders and determine who may enter and who may not, abrogates a fundamental responsibility."
John McCain is another leading candidate for the republican party. He also has a fairly impressive political background. He served in Congress as Arizona's Senator from 1982-1987. In the 2000 election, he was in the election against George W. Bush to be the Republican nominee however lost. I believe his greatest problem in this campaign will be his . They lead me to believe that he doesn't take important issues very seriously. However he will possibly receive some sympathy because of his being a tortured Prisoner of War for 5 1/2 years.
Finally, we get to The Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. He is very strong in his beliefs and appears to be a hard worker and a very dedicated politician. He has had to make some budget cuts while governor that has hurt his reputation, but helped our economy. "Every legislator and politician knows this spending can’t be justified, so why do they do it? Because it gets politicians praised — and re-elected. There’s no courage involved in spending more money. Drawing a line on spending is hard and fraught with criticism. When I vetoed $458 million of excessive spending in the budget this spring, I knew that community newspapers across the Commonwealth would decry my elimination of local pet projects. And, I knew that the Legislature would over ride most of my vetoes. In fact, they over rode all of them, to a chorus of community acclaim. But someone has to say no." [source]
Of all the republican nominees, i believe that Guliani has the most favor from the public. There is definitely alot of positive outcome from his past and much less negative than his competition. He has plenty of experience and apears to be a very qualified candidate. Certainly any of these nominees would be an excellent choice.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
October 6, 2007 (1-5)
Analyze the Democratic field for the 2008 Presidential primary. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the top 4 major candidates, and project the winner. Defend and support your choice. Be careful not to tell me who you would or would not vote for, but concentrate merely on their qualities and who will win the DNC nomination. (you will be doing the same with the Republican field in your first blog of the second quarter)
The 2008 elections will certainly be an interesting sight to see. There are many very capable men running for this very important position in our modern government. Also, for the first time it seems very likely that we will be having not only those highly intelligent and qualified men running, as I mentioned earlier, but a woman as well. Hillary Clinton will be running on the democratic side this year, and she is one of the four top candidates for the democrats that I will be discussing.
As I mentioned, Hillary Rodham Clinton is doing extremely well in this election. She is best known as the wife of former president Bill Clinton (1992-2000). Regardless of whether she wins or not, this couple has surely been very influential on the U.S. Hillary is currently serves as senator to New York as of November 7, 2000. She was very involved in rebuilding her state after the September 11th attacks in 2001. She graduated from both Wellesley College and Yale Law School and is very well educated. She has also written many best selling books, including an autobiography and children’s books.
Another leading candidate is Barack Obama. At 46 years old, he and his wife have two small daughters. He definitely prides himself on being a family man, and I believe that this fact will get him very far in next year’s elections. He is a very strong leader in the fight for better schools and an improved education system. He is currently the Senator of Illinois, elected in January of 2005. “Obama graduated from Columbia University with a degree in political science and a specialty in international relations. He went on to Harvard Law School, where he graduated magna cum laude and served as the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review.”(source)
Also running for the Democratic spot is 64 year old Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Delaware Senator. “Joseph R. Biden, Jr. was first elected to the United States Senate in 1972 at the age of twenty-nine and is recognized as one of the nation’s most powerful and influential voices on foreign relations, terrorism, drug policy, and crime prevention.”(source) I believe that this Senator’s biggest challenge with the voters will be his age, he is definitely not 29 years old any longer. “Prior to his election to the Senate, Biden practiced law in Wilmington, Delaware and served on the New Castle County Council from 1970 to 1972. Since 1991, Biden has been an adjunct professor at the Widener University School of Law, where he teaches a seminar on constitutional law.”(see previous source). He is also very well educated, having attended Archmere Academy, University of Deleware, and Syracuse University College of Law.
Our final candidate in the top four for the Democratic Party is Christopher J. Dodd. “Dodd served as a U.S. Representative from Connecticut from 1975 until 1981, when he became a U.S. Senator. He is now the state's senior Senator. He currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee.”(source) This candidate will also have the issue of his older age working against him. After attending Providence College, he joined the Peace Corps for 2 years and then the U.S. Army Reserve.
Out of all these very qualified candidates, I believe the two that have the best chance are Obama and Hillary. They seem to not only have the personalities and dedication that the president should have, but the education to back it up. However of both of them, I would be most likely to vote for Obama.
The 2008 elections will certainly be an interesting sight to see. There are many very capable men running for this very important position in our modern government. Also, for the first time it seems very likely that we will be having not only those highly intelligent and qualified men running, as I mentioned earlier, but a woman as well. Hillary Clinton will be running on the democratic side this year, and she is one of the four top candidates for the democrats that I will be discussing.
As I mentioned, Hillary Rodham Clinton is doing extremely well in this election. She is best known as the wife of former president Bill Clinton (1992-2000). Regardless of whether she wins or not, this couple has surely been very influential on the U.S. Hillary is currently serves as senator to New York as of November 7, 2000. She was very involved in rebuilding her state after the September 11th attacks in 2001. She graduated from both Wellesley College and Yale Law School and is very well educated. She has also written many best selling books, including an autobiography and children’s books.
Another leading candidate is Barack Obama. At 46 years old, he and his wife have two small daughters. He definitely prides himself on being a family man, and I believe that this fact will get him very far in next year’s elections. He is a very strong leader in the fight for better schools and an improved education system. He is currently the Senator of Illinois, elected in January of 2005. “Obama graduated from Columbia University with a degree in political science and a specialty in international relations. He went on to Harvard Law School, where he graduated magna cum laude and served as the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review.”(source)
Also running for the Democratic spot is 64 year old Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Delaware Senator. “Joseph R. Biden, Jr. was first elected to the United States Senate in 1972 at the age of twenty-nine and is recognized as one of the nation’s most powerful and influential voices on foreign relations, terrorism, drug policy, and crime prevention.”(source) I believe that this Senator’s biggest challenge with the voters will be his age, he is definitely not 29 years old any longer. “Prior to his election to the Senate, Biden practiced law in Wilmington, Delaware and served on the New Castle County Council from 1970 to 1972. Since 1991, Biden has been an adjunct professor at the Widener University School of Law, where he teaches a seminar on constitutional law.”(see previous source). He is also very well educated, having attended Archmere Academy, University of Deleware, and Syracuse University College of Law.
Our final candidate in the top four for the Democratic Party is Christopher J. Dodd. “Dodd served as a U.S. Representative from Connecticut from 1975 until 1981, when he became a U.S. Senator. He is now the state's senior Senator. He currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee.”(source) This candidate will also have the issue of his older age working against him. After attending Providence College, he joined the Peace Corps for 2 years and then the U.S. Army Reserve.
Out of all these very qualified candidates, I believe the two that have the best chance are Obama and Hillary. They seem to not only have the personalities and dedication that the president should have, but the education to back it up. However of both of them, I would be most likely to vote for Obama.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
September 22, 2007 (1-3)
September 22, 2007 (1-3)
Compare and contrast the form of democracy practiced in
There are so many different kinds of Government in the world; past, present, and most likely future. However we have found that what works for one country does not always work for another. every kind of government has flaws, we just have to work them all out to become a better country. During the Cold War, America and Russia tried out two different forms of government, Democracy and
Communism.
During the communism, Russia operated under Communism. "Communism is an ideology that seeks to establish a classless, stateless social organization based on common ownership of the means of production. It is usually considered a branch of the broader socialist movement that draws on the various political and intellectual movements that trace their origins back to the work of Karl Marx."(Wikipedia)
There are many different forms of Democracy. A Representative Democracy is mostly utilized in America, past and present. ""The American idea of democracy, which is expressed in the Declaration of Independence and embodied in various provisions of the Constitution, is that government is instituted to secure the rights of all." (Berns 117)
“Democracy in America is based on six essential ideals: (1) People must accept the principle of majority rule, (2) The political rights of minorities must be protected, (3) Citizens must agree to a system of rule by law, (4) The free exchange of opinions and ideas must not be restricted, (5) All citizens must be equal before the law, and (6) Government exists to serve the people, because it derives its power from the people. These ideals form the basis of the democratic system in the United States, which seeks to create a union of diverse peoples, places, and interests.” (Dunn 164)
Personally, i like the representative form of government best, it makes the most sense to me. The idea of a classless society could almost never work, in my opinion. that would require everyone to stop judging others, forget about jealousy, give to people that have less, stop being prideful, treat everyone as you want to be treated, and learn to only take what you need. Honestly, that will probably happen in heaven, but couldn't operate in a society full of sinful people like ourselves.There are many forms of government and everyone is entitled to their opinion of which is best. I like the idea of a representative democracy, but others could like communism as well. In fact, I'm sure that dictators are rather liked having a dictatorship. however people and leaders are different in every country and the government, therefore, should be different too.
Berns, Walter. Securing Democracy. Delaware: ISI Books, 2001.
Dunn, John. Democracy: A History. Great Britain: Atlantic Books, 2005.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
September 15, 2007 (1-2)
Which person do you think is most responsible for the form of government that
Throughout our nations great history, there have been many people who have influenced our government. We are fortunate enough to have a history full of some of the most amazing and brilliant people this world has ever seen. And we are a fairly new country, compared to most! Not only were there individuals who had huge effects on us, but groups of people and written documents and events also have this huge effect. Although some influence in such a way most people consider good, some have influenced us in a bad way. However there are more astounding minds to sort through what affects our great nation positively and what affects it negatively.
So many people have influenced our history in a positive way, and are therefore largely responsible for our current form of government. There was John Hancock, who was the president of the Second Continental Congress. He was in charge of our first government and therefore made some of the first decisions for our country. That which affects our past will definitely affect our future. There was also John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington. However, looking more deeply at it, i realized that i believed the best choice to be Thomas Jefferson.
"Thomas Jefferson was born on 13 April 1743 into a family closely related to some of the most prominent individuals in Virginia, the third of eight children."(Wikipedia) He was very rich growing up. When he was only 14, his father died leaving him 5,000 acres and dozens of slaves. He built his house on this land and it became known as Monticello. In fact, Monticello is depicted on the back of the U.S. nickel and the old two-dollar bill. Jefferson was largely a part of the Second Continental Congress. In fact, in June of 1776, "The Committee of Five" was chosen to write a very important document. This document became known as the The Declaration of Independence. Th "DOI" was written almost entirely by Jefferson. This was not, as i I regrettably first thought, because the other four got lazy and let him do all the work. Nor was it because the rest of them weren't as smart, they were in fact all brilliant men. However, it was mostly his work because he was chosen as the best writer in the group and readers might think the works of others to be biased. Jefferson wrote the first draft of the declaration but it needed many changes. He fixed these changes and the second and final draft was presented to congress. It was finally adopted and signed on July 4, 1776.
Later, in 1801, Jefferson was made to be the 3rd President of the United States. While he was president, many famous events happened. The most famous of which are the Louisiana Purchase and the Louis and Clark expedition. He served for 8 years, until 1809. He was also our first Secretary of State and our Second Vice President.
As you can see, this man was very important to our history. I strongly believe that without him, we would not enjoy the government we do today. He was a great leader and an amazing president. We should all be able to learn from his wonderful example.
Beilenson,Nick. Thomas Jefferson:His Words and Vision. Peter Pauper,Inc: 1998
Holmes,Jerry. Thomas Jefferson:A Chronology of HIs Thoughts. Rowman and Littlefield: United States, 2002
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Why Did America End Up with a Representative Democracy Rather than a Pure Democracy?
Well, I believe that the reason that America has a Representative Democracy rather than a Pure Democracy is actually quite simple. However, first we must look at these terms and find out what they mean. Once this is cleared up, we will not only see that there are multiple reasons, but that they are quite obvious. First, democracy.
Democracy is a form of government where the people are sovereign, and majority rules with respect to minority rights. The first evidence we have of anything like a democracy came from Athens. It was very similar, but not as advanced as of course it is today. (Dunn) "The fundamental features of democracies include government based on majority rule and the consent of the governed, the existence of free and fair elections, the protection of political minorities, respect for basic human rights, equality before the law, due process, and political pluralism. With origins in ancient Greece, Rome, south Asia, and North and South America democracy has generally grown and expanded throughout history. The principles of democracy emphasize the importance of the individual in the context of government and, today, are a major influence around the world. Though the term democracy is typically used in the context of a political state, the principles are also applicable to other groups and organizations." (Wikipedia)
A pure democracy is more commonly known as a direct democracy. In this, every single person who chooses to participate in taking part in the process of making decisions has a say. You only need to be a citizen. I believe that this way can almost solely lead to chaos and confusion. Perhaps for a while it will be very successful and will work out very nicely. however, in the long run, you cannot have each person vote for every decision. That is why we did not choose a Direct, or pure, democracy.
"With so large of a body of people who have the right as we have in the United States today, direct government (Pure Democracy) is out of the question."(Hughes,425)
Instead we ended up with what is known as a representative democracy. The name basically speaks for itself, the people choose a leader based on popular vote and they make the majority of the decisions, definitely all the smaller ones, but also many big ones. The people are still sovereign however and the ultimate decisions lie with them, however we also chose the person, and in most cases people, that we think will make the right decision and the one we would choose ourselves.
I believe that this form of government was the best choice for America. I definitely think that it we made the right decision. The people are sovereign yet we don't have chaos by voting for every little detail. It is also good that we make the decision of who we want making decisions for us. that is the one detail everyone in America votes for, if they are old enough and want to. Soon i will be eighteen and i am delighted to say I will do my best that the person who represents America for the next four years will be someone who not only represents America, but represents me.
Dunn, John. Democracy: A History. Great Britain: Atlantic Books, 2005.
Hughes,O. Ray. Problems of America Democracy. Allyn and Bacon: United States, 1922
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