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Friday, January 29, 2016

Advice on Constitutional Issues

Dilemma 1 Your client wants to become president of the United States in 2016. He is
now 34, and his birthday is on January 16. Can he serve?

Dilemma 2 The Senate and the House of Representatives have passed a bill requiring
all teenagers, including females, to shave their heads. Who can stop this law from taking
effect?

Dilemma 3 A certain congressman is tired of living in Washington, D.C. He wants to
move back to his home state and run his ranch full-time. He proposes that Congress not
meet at all this year. Is his proposal constitutional?

Dilemma 4 You have a neighbor who was born and raised in Austria. She moved to the
United States five years ago. She loves politics and wants to hold any office—president,
senator, member of the House of Representatives—she doesn’t care which. Can she?

Dilemma 5 The Senate’s 100 members cannot agree on a law that forces all fast-food
restaurants to sell veggie burgers only. They are split right down the middle: 50 are in
favor, and 50 are against. Who can break the tie?

Dilemma 6 A blizzard strikes the nation’s capital. Only 200 of the 435 members of the
House of Representatives show up for that day’s session. Can they pass bills?

Dilemma 7 A member of Congress is asked by the president to become secretary of
defense. Her comment is “Cool. Now I can be both a congresswoman and cabinet member.
I’ll have so much power and make a ton of money.” Can she hold both positions
simultaneously?

Dilemma 8 The president gets mad at Illinois and decides to declare war on the state.
Who can stop him from completing such a strange and unconstitutional act?

Dilemma 9 It has been revealed that the president has been stealing money from the
treasury. He now owns Madagascar. That’s right. He purchased Madagascar with stolen
money. Under the Constitution, what actions should be taken against him?

Dilemma 10 Your client is having trouble with his mail service. Who is the best person
to call: his congresswoman, the president, or the chief justice of the Supreme Court?

Dilemma 11 In a Senate vote, 52 senators vote in favor of a treaty with Belarus, while
48 vote against. Is the treaty approved?

Bar Exam

Bar Exam

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Chapter 9 Vocab


    1. Popular Sovereignty: The authority of the government comes from the people; the government gets its power from the people.
    2. Legislative Branch: The part of government that makes the laws; Congress
    3. Bill: A law that hasn’t been passed yet; once the president signs a bill, it becomes a law.
    4. Bicameral: 2 houses—refers to Congress being made up of 2 groups
    5. Veto: What the president can say to bill when he doesn’t like it; its his way of saying “NO”
    6. Executive Branch: The president’s part of the government that is supposed to carry out (enforce or execute) the laws.
    7. Impeach: To formally accuse or to put on trial; usually talking about the president
    8. Judicial Branch: The part of government made up of judges and courts that interpret (or make sense of) the laws.
    9. Checks and Balances: A system in government that prevents or makes sure that no one branch of government becomes too strong
    10. Interstate commerce: Trade between the different states
    11. Federalism: The system of sharing power between the state governments and the national government
    12. Party: An organized political group that tries to get people elected
    13. Interest group: An organized group that is concerned with usually just one thing and tries to get laws passed in their favor (I.E., NRA)
    14. Majority Rule: When there’s a vote, the majority wins. 
    15. Amendment: A change to the Constitution
    16. Simple Majority: more than half
    17. Super Majority: 2/3 or more
    18. Office: A government job (I.E., Office of the President)

Chapter 9 Notes

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Update for 1-13-16 through 1-15-16

Wednesday 1-13-16: Finish sources for WR #6; Chapter 8 Study Guide

Thursday 1-14-16: Study Guide Review; Jeopardy Review

Friday 1-15-16: Chapter 8 Test; Everything due except Written Response #6

**Written Response #6 will be due on Tuesday 1-19-16