Chapter 5

1.       The issue of race- does the government do too little or too much to reduce the instances of racial discrimination? Why or how so?  I believe the government does too much.  I feel like whites and blacks are held at a different level still today. Although, we can all sit wherever we want on a bus, we can attend whatever school we want, no matter what our skin color may be. BUT I feel like the roles have someone changed due to racism in the past. If a black murders a white, not much can be said because it will be “racist”. But if a white murders a black it’s a “hate crime”. For an example, Trayvon Martin.  Trayvon Martin was a young African American who was murdered by a mixed Hispanic man. This murder caught so much attention from the news. However, the murders of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom who were a white couple were brutally murdered by four African Americans. This didn’t get nearly the attention as Trayvon Martin’s murder.  

2.       The issue of gender-same question.  I think the government does too little with the issue of gender. Reasons I think this is when we first heard of Sarah Palin, and her running for vice president. Or when there was talk of Hilary Clinton running for president these ladies were talked about as if they couldn’t do the job the same as a man. I believe that a woman and can do whatever a man can and yet I feel like women can now have the opportunity but just not the support that is much needed.

 

3.       The issue of sexual orientation-same question.  I feel like the government is doing too much with sexual orientation. As, a Christian I don’t believe in same sex and now same sex couples can get married! This use to be illegal. It’s changing so fast.  I just find it wrong and I don’t agree with it. I feel like the government is willing to let anything happen, and that’s not good!

 

1.Rebeccca Zuchowski

2.Nathan Tollet

3.Megan Biggs

 

Chapter 4

1. Freedom of Speech:  How important is it?  Does the freedom go "too far"?  What areas of speech should not be protected? Freedom of speech is very important. It's the right to say what you want and how you feel. Do what you want. But this all should be done in an appropriate manner. For an example if you don't like someone you don't have the right to shoot them. However, if that someone is harming you then you have the right to protect yourself. I think it's all about the manner that it's done in.

2. Freedom of Religion:  Is separation of church and state necessary?  Why or why not?  Yes I think it should be separation between the two. Freedom of Religion in a church studies religion. Freedom of Religion in the state don't necessary study a certain religion.  In a church, they study a certain religion and in state they study all types of religion. So yes I think there should be a separation between the two. I feel like everyone should be able to practice their religion.

3. Criminal Procedure:  Are defendant's rights crucial to our system of government?  Why or why not?  Many argue that defendants have too many rights - do you agree?  Why or why not? I think these defendant's rights are crucial. Without these its hard for people to have any privacy. They protect the investigation and what is used in trail. I think that defendant's have too many rights. I think they should be a little more harder on them.

1. Rebecca Zuchowski
2. Megan Biggs
3. Cassandra Kunsman

Chapter 3

1. Is a strong national government necessary or should the state governments have an equal share of power?  Why? I understand that it is necessary for the government to be a strong nation. The government affects everyone. We need something that we can count on. However, I think that each state and their governments should have equal share of power. The United States is made of 50 states and not one state is more important that another no matter what the size is of the state or the popularity of the state. All the states should work together. Every election and rule is important form each state.

 

2. National power increased during the Great Depression but then power began to shift back to the states (somewhat) during the Reagan administration?  Why did that happen and is that shift appropriate? During the Great Depression the national power had increased due to the stock market. The stock market had crashed. This affected the economy. During the time of the Reagan administration times were getting better. The economy was slowly picking up. With this the times were getting better also for the state power as well.

 

3. Education stirs much discussion relating to the issue of federalism.  Should the national government regulate education or is it a matter best left to state and local governments?  Why? Education is such a hot topic in my opinion because so many people are in college. Jobs are getting harder and harder to get especially without a degree. I think the national government needs to regulate education because this affects so many people but since there is so much going on in education in all states I think its best that state and the local governments take action when it comes to education.


1. Rebecca Zuchowski
2. Nathan Tollett
3. Jared Griffith

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

1. Why is the United States Constitution stronger than the Articles of Confederation? How would the history of United States have been different if the country still operated under the Article? Although both the Constitution and the Articles have a lot in common such as established by the same people, they however were quite different also.  Such as voting, Articles were one vote per state and in the Constitution it was one vote per Representative or Senator. The Constitution was stronger because the Articles gave the states too much of the power.  The Constitution created Federalism and the Three Branches.  I think if the U.S was still under the Articles the nation would be in worse shape. More debt would than we already have, I don’t believe all the states would be working together instead be fighting.
2. The first three articles of the Constitution establish/define the three branches of government-read these articles. What did you learn that you didn’t already know about our government? The three branches are Judicial Branch, Executive Branch, and Legislative Branch. I really didn’t know much about the three branches. I learned that the Judicial Branch determines the legality of the actions for the Executive Branch and it also declares federal laws. The Executive Branch proposes and vetoes legislation and appoints judges and pardons the crime. The Legislative Branch is where the courts are established and impeaches and convicts are removed.
3. How important is the Supreme Court ruling in Marbury v. Madison and why? The court wasn’t in the favor for Marbury.  The question was if the two laws conflict the court must decide on the outcome.
4. Looking at the United States government today, is it more like what the federalists or the Anti-Federalist envisioned and why?  Federalist, because they wanted to live under the Constitution not under the Articles and that’s how things are in the government today.