Ch 15 - Judicial Branch - Class 1 & 2

Dear students,

I am on a WASC visit to another school Monday-Wednesday. Please welcome and support the proctor by staying on-task. In preparation for next week's look at the federal court system... Enjoy watching this excellent example of how a case reaches the Supreme Court... 

Thank you, 

Dr. Christensen

1. What is the organizational structure of federal courts and state courts?
1. 2. How has the U.S. Supreme Court used selective incorporation to expand its power?

1. Quiz: Ch 15 - Judicial Branch
2. Film: Brown v. Board of Education
• What can we learn from Simple Justice?
• Trace the path of the case as it reaches the Supreme Court
• Listen carefully to the legal debate over whether the Supreme Court should impose social change 
3. What is your homework for Thursday?
1. Paragraph: Summarize the path of how the case reached the Supreme Court... What lower courts did Thurgood Marshall and his colleagues have to go through first?
2. Paragraph: Summarize the legal debate about how social change should occur... What arguments does Marshall make?  What arguments do the opposing lawyers make?
3. Your post should meet the expectations for social media (Picture or video, hyperlinks for all quality sources of information, quality writing...)

Ch 13 - Executive Branch - Class 3

3. How has the president recently clashed with Congress on the issue of war-powers?

4. How has the president recently clashed with Congress on the issue of fiscal policy?

1. Case Study: War Powers 
• What does the constitution say about Congress and war?
• Article I, Section 8 & Declarations of War
• Article I, Section 7 & War Powers Act
• What does the constitution say about Presidency and war?
• Article II, Section 2
• What does the constitution say about the U.S. action in Libya? 
• Obama Refutes War Powers Challenge over Libya (NewsHour)
• What does the constitution say about possible U.S. action in Syria?
• Background on Syria (Washington Post)
• Initial reports with video/images of alleged chemical weapons use in Syria (NY Times)
• Debate within White House (Washington Post)
• Obama in the Situation Room (White House)
• Obama calls Boehner (White House)
• White House press conference announcing the decision (Politico)
• Resolution proposed by the administration to be voted on by Congress (White House)
• Bush administration officials react to Obama's decision (Politico)
• John Kerry Gives Syria a Week to Hand Over Chemical Weapons (Guardian)
• Syria Welcomed Russian Proposal to Destroy its Chemical Weapons (ABC)
• What does the constitution say about the use of drones?
• America's New Airforce (60 Minutes)
• Secret 'Kill List' Tests Obama's Principles (NY Times)
• Drones: Tough Talk, Little Scrutiny (Politico)
• Rand Paul 13-Hour Filibuster (Politico)
2. Case Study: Fiscal Policy
• Who creates the budget?
• Office of Management and Budget
• Who passes the budget?
• Article I, Section 7 (House/Senate Budget Committees)
• Who appropriates the spending?
• Article I, Section 9 (House/Senate Appropriations Committees)

Ch 13 - Executive Branch - Class 2

2. How have the formal and informal powers of the president evolved since the founding of the country?

Related: DREAM Executive Order
Related: Obama Interrupted

1. 3-2-1 Blog: Obama's Way
• What did we discover, connect, or question after reading/listening to Michael Lewis?
2. Analyze: Formal and Informal Powers of the President (EQ #2)
• What are the formal and informal powers of the president, and what are the formal and informal checks on the president? 
• Complete this handout