Checks and Balances

A Day and a Man to Remember

Let us all take time to remember Dr. Martin Luther King and the great service and sacrifices he made for this country. He articulated a grand vision for our country, much like the original founders. Ask yourself what you have done or could do to support King’s dream of a country that treats all of its people with respect and dignity.

Current Events and the Constitution

The Constitution and its system of checks and balances were featured in our review of current events this week. Our worksheet asked how the Legislature could balance or restrain the Chief Executive in exercising the duties of “Commander in Chief” of the armed forces. Many of you responded by citing Article I, section 8, which gives Congress the right to appropriate or not appropriate funds for the armed services. One student even suggested that Congress could stop the President through the impeachment process, an extreme measure but one recently advocated in advertisements in major newspapers. On Wednesday, President Bush spoke to the nation about the war in Iraq and his plan to send an additional 21,500 troops there in an effort to stop the violence. Many in Congress have expressed opposition to this plan, so we will be witnessing what some reporters have described as a Constitutional confrontation. Understanding how the Constitution is structured with its series of checks and balances and separation of powers will give us a better understanding of this confrontation as it unfolds.

Back in 1787 not all supported the new Constitution. The Anti-Federalists feared a strong central government and the lack of a Bill of Rights. The ratification process took several months as Federalists defended the new government with a series of essays now called The Federalist Papers authored by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay. Your ratification worksheet will walk you through the major issues and debates of the time that ultimately led to all thirteen states approving the new government. Rhode Island was the last state to approve the document.

Midterm Exam

Our exam period is fast approaching so here are a few recommendations to help you prepare:

*Use the study guide and the standard sheets to focus your study time.

*Terms, events and key people need to be understood in context and not as isolated vocabulary words.

*Use your portfolio assignments to support your understanding of key concepts and skills.

*When using your text, use the special summary guide, the end of chapter reviews and the graphics and images…a picture is worth a thousand words!

*Use the blog: start with September and read the weekly entries; by reading the entries you will have a review of our entire semester, and the live links will give you the opportunity to review events, ideas, or skills about which you may still have questions.

231 Years Ago

“Common Sense” is celebrating its 231st birthday on January 15. Thomas Paine’s pamphlet clearly outlined the common sense arguments for the colonies to break away from England. In addition, he argued that people could establish their own governments and did not need kings or queens. As we discussed when we read portions of this 47-page document, it is considered the most influential pamphlet every written. It would not be surprising if you were asked about “Common Sense” on your mid-term exam!