CITIZENSHIP PROJECT

CITIZENSHIP PROJECT

Directions
PART ONE: MINI-RESEARCH PAPER (2-3 PGS): Discuss the process of becoming a US citizen and the conflicts concerning legal and illegal immigration in America today. (INCLUDE CITATIONS)

•   What does it mean to be a U.S citizen? What are your rights? Responsibilities?
  
•   How can you become a US citizen? What is the process? Benefits?
•   What are some issues with citizenship and immigration in America
  today? 
                                                                                                                                PART TWO: INTERVIEW: You must conduct an interview with a friend, family member, teacher, neighbor, etc. about citizenship. You must include at least 5-7 Questions and Answers.

•   How did they become a citizen?
  
•   What do they value about their citizenship?
•   How do they feel about how U.S citizens are being discussed in
  politics today?
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• PART THREE: OPINION AND CONCLUSION: Write 2 page opinion piece and reflection about citizenship
• 
  

•   How does Donald Trump’s proposal to ban Muslim challenge America’s values? (Required response**)
  
•   After completing this unit, how has your perspective on citizenship changed?
  
•   What are your final thoughts about citizenship?
•   How can you be a better citizen in your community, school, and
  country?
  Suggested Resources
• 
  
• PART THREE: WORKS CITED PAGE – MLA FORMAT

•   http://immigration.about.com/
  
•   http://www.uscis.gov/
  
•   http://www.hbo.com/documentaries/citizen-usa-a-50-state-road-trip/
  
•   http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/guest-column-trump-ban-
  muslims-wrong-article-1.2459376 
  

SUPREME COURT ESSAY PROJECT

SUPREME COURT PROJECT

Choose one of the following landmark Supreme Court Cases.

BROWN vs. BOARD OF ED

PLESSY vs. FERGUSON

ROE vs. WADE

KOREMATSU vs. UNITED STATES

GIDEON vs. WAINWRIGHT

MAPP vs. OHIO

TINKER vs. DES MOINE

REGENTS OF U. OF CALIFORNIA vs. BAKKE

TEXAS vs. JOHNSON

ENGEL vs. VITALE

LAWRENCE vs. TEXAS

Directions: PART ONE:  You must draft a LEGAL BRIEF about the Supreme Court case that you selected that follows the format you have been provided.

PART TWO: You must write an essay that discusses the Supreme Court and how the institution functions. You must also write about the case that you selected and how your case is related to a subsequent Supreme Court case. In addition,   you must write a connection that explains how the outcome of your Supreme Court case impacted the United States and also your life today.

1.     INTRODUCTION

·       What is the Supreme Court? How does the court function?

·       How does the Supreme Court select which cases that it will take?

·       What are opinions? How are majority, concurring, and dissenting opinions different?

·       How many members serve on the court? How many do we have in 2016?  How will President Elect Donald Trump impact the future makeup of the court?

·       What is YOUR Supreme Court case about? What is the issue at stake in this case?

2.     CASE: BRIEF

·       Complete and attach the Case Brief for your Supreme Court Case within your essay.

·      Write the information in YOUR OWN words.

      Case Brief Worksheet

3.     PRECEDENT/CONNECTION to another CASE

    Many landmark cases serve as the precedent (the case that comes BEFORE) to many subsequent (following) court cases. What was the ruling in your case? How does your case connect to ANOTHER Supreme Court Case? (ex: Plessy vs. Ferguson was overturned by the decision in the Brown vs. Board case) Provide examples with evidence to explain the connection.

4.    CONCLUSION

·       How does the decision in your Supreme Court case impact our lives in America today?

·       What would our society be like if the decision in your case never happened?

·       Is it possible that your court case could be overturned by another decision?

·       How might the Supreme Court change after the election of Donald Trump? What are some upcoming cases that will be influenced by the president elect’s victory in the 2016 Election?

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SUGGESTED LINKS

SUPREME COURT BACKGROUND

http://www.shmoop.com/judicial-branch/the-supreme-court.html

SUPREME COURT CASES

http://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/supreme-court-landmarks

http://landmarkcases.org/en/landmark/home

CASE BRIEFS

https://www.casebriefs.com/

https://www.oyez.org/

CHECKS & BALANCES PROJECT 2016

Directions: A responsible citizen of the United States understands how the constitutional principle of checks and balances protects the three branches of government. You write an essay about the effectiveness of the system of checks and balances related during a particular administration, You must:

1.    State a position that evaluates whether the system of checks and balances worked during a particular Administration by evaluating whether it prevented one branch from exercising too much power.

2.    Provide background on your position by describing the Administration.

3.    Provide background on your position by explaining how one branch checked or could have checked another during this time with two or more examples.

Provide reason(s) for your position that include:

·      An evaluation of whether one branch increased its power during this Administration relative to another with two or more examples to support your position.

Make explicit references within the paper or presentation to three or more credible sources that provide relevant information AND cite sources within the essay.

General Library Resources

http://humanitiescampuslibrary.weebly.com/checks-and-balances.html

President Barack Obama Resources 

https://www.thenation.com/article/presidents-plan-military-action-requires-congressional-checks-and-balances/

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/february_2015/should_obama_ignore_the_federal_courts

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/02/17/federal-judge-in-texas-blocks-obama-immigration-orders/

http://theusconstitution.org/text-history/485

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/17/obama-defends-checks-nsa-surveillance

President George W. Bush Resources 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/presidents/georgewbush

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/magazine/09power-t.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&

https://www.aclu.org/blog/checks-balances-and-national-security-agency

http://www.li.suu.edu/library/circulation/Stathis/OrnsteinWhenCongressChecksOutSp12.pdf

http://portalsso.vansd.org/portal/page/portal/Media_Pages/Media_CBA/CBA_Pathfinders_Checks_Balances

1.     INTRODUCTION

a) Explain Checks and Balances- why is it important?

b) Background information of your selected Administration

c) State your position (Thesis Statement) – Did checks and balances work during this Administration? (one to two sentences)

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2.     EXAMPLE #1 (SUPPORTING YOUR POSITION)

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3.     EXAMPLE #2 (SUPPORTING YOUR POSITION)

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4.    CONCLUSION

ESSAY SAMPLE

Was Checks and Balances Effective During the Obama Administration?

The system of Checks and Balances is a unique feature of Constitution to help ensure that no one branch became too powerful. Each branch has powers that it can use to check and balance the operations and power of the other two branches. The Legislative branch is responsible for creating and passing laws that all American citizens must follow. They also have the ability to check the Executive Branch by approving Presidential appointments. The Executive Branch is responsible for executing laws that were established by the Legislative Branch. The Executive Branch has the ability to check the Legislative branch by vetoing legislation passed by Congress. The Judicial Branch is responsible interpreting the laws and determining if actions are constitutional. The Judicial branch has the ability to check Congress by declaring whether legislation is constitutional or not.

Barack Obama was elected as the 44^th president of the United Stated in 2008 and took office after his inauguration in 2009. Obama’s election was historic and unprecedented, as he became the first African-American president of the United States. Obama campaigned and preached the message of having “hope and change” for all American citizens and wished for both the Democratic and Republican politicians to work together. Obama was elected as the United States faced a multitude of problems. America was still in two grueling wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with no end in sight. The federal government maintained a trillion dollar deficit and could not afford to pay its own bills. Also, the U.S economy was in a recession and the unemployment rate increased rapidly. During Obama’s tenure through 2008- present he has accomplished many of his signature goals. Obama ended the costly war in Iraq, authorized the assassination of Osama bin Laden, and passed the Stimulus Package to save the American economy. Although it was a difficult process, Congress passed Obama’s most important initiative called The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). This ensured that all Americans have access to health insurance. However, he was unable to collaborate with Congress on many initiatives. “Throughout President Obama’s first two years in office, Senate Republicans waged war on his judiciary nominees — allowing only a handful of them to be confirmed. (Senate Confirmed A Smaller Percentage Of Obama’s Judges Than Any Other President In History)This lack of collaboration has the Obama to take action on his own and pursue action without Congress.

With that said, the principle of Checks and Balances has been ineffective during the Obama Administration. Obama’s airstrikes against Syria without the approval Congress and executive orders to fix the immigration system demonstrate how Checks and Balances do not work.