Brown v. B.O.E.

This week we will be analyzing the Smithsonian site over the most important civil rights case of the 20th Century. There will be a handout given in class. This assignment will take two days.

Note: You must complete the flashcard assignment before you begin this!

Court Case Flashcard Project

Note: at the beginning of class students selected a case and partners. Abesent students were assigned a case. These cases and the students assigned will be listed in a later blog entry.

Directions:

You and your partner should each save a document under your own name. You will need to do a Google search for the case you have selected and possibly visit several of those websites to complete the assignment. Book materials are also available if you are having difficulties.

Answer the following questions related to the case you chose at the start of class.

What is the background of the case? In a brief description explain the circumstances of the case. Avoid the case names in your descriptions.

What is the constitutional issue? Briefly describe the issue to which the case relates. Again, avoid the case names in your descriptions.

What was the decision in the case? Summarize the court’s decision in this case. Make certain that you explain the courts ruling without naming the case.

What was the precedent used in this case or was this case used as a precedent in a later case or did the case overturn a prior precedent? For example, Brown v. Board of Ed overturned the precedent of separate but equal set in Plessy v. Ferguson.

What was the impact of the case on our lives? Again, do not name the case in your response.

What is the name of the case you are studying?

Sample Free Response - Congress 02-01-07

Prompt: Does Congress truly represent America? Take a stand! Support your opinion with a discussion of the typical background of members of Congress, founders’ intentions in creating the Congress, racial gerrymandering and nay other facts which would help you make your case.

Congress does represent America. If you look at today’s Congress, it may appear to be mostly white males. However, it is more diverse today than ever before. Barack Obama, an African American, and Hillary Clinton, a former First Lady, are two of the most popular Senators in the country. Nancy Pelosi is the first female Speaker of the House and Blacks and Hispanics have enough representation in Congress to form their own caucus groups. This diverse representation is built into the system through the qualifications for Congressional seats, the intentions of the founding fathers, and racial gerrymandering.

Of course, the typical member of Congress is better educated and wealthier than the average American because these traits are necessary to adequately represent the diverse groups of that live within states and House districts. Members need knowledge of these communities’ political and economic interests. Our rather expensive campaign system, insures that candidates have the resources to serve us. In theory, a lawyer will be a better law-maker than a grocery bagger.

Even so, the Founding Fathers designed the Constitution to ensure the people were truly represented. The founder’s even required that the House have more power by making the Speaker 3rd in line for the presidency and requiring all tax laws to start in the House Ways and Means Committee.Although both House and Senate members are elected directly by the people today, Senators were originally chosen by state legislators, an elected body closer to the people. Also, House districts are redrawn every 10 years by state legislatures to best meet the needs of a state’s varied communities.

Racial gerrymandering, the practice of drawing House districts based upon race, is based upon the theory of descriptive representation. This is the belief that constituents are best represented by people who are like them. Although the Supreme Court has ruled against this practice in cases like Shaw v. Reno, its more recent decisions allow race to be a consideration as long as the intent is not for one-party to control the district. Rep. Luis Gutierrez has a racially gerrymandered district that connects the Hispanic, mostly Puerto Rican, community on Chicago’s Northside to the Hispanic, mostly Mexican, community on Chicago’s Southside. If these communities were divided into separate districts, it is unlikely that Chicago’s Hispanic community would be adequately represented in the Congress. On the other hand, the system of gerrymandering is often abused, as it was by the Republican Party in Texas, to ensure that a majority of their party lives within the majority of the state’s House districts.


What is the student’s position on the prompt? Is it clear? (1 point)

Does the student make at least 2 clear references to the backgrounds of members of Congress? What are they? (2 points)

Does the student provide at least one real life example of members’ backgrounds? What is it? (1 point)

Does the student make at least two references to the Founder’s intentions for Congress? What were they? (2 points)

Does the student make use at least one real life example of the Founder’s intentions? What is it? (1 point )

Does the student define racial gerrymandering? What is the definition? (1 point)

Does the student provide a real example of racial gerrymandering? What was it? (1 point)

In your opinion, does the student adequately argue his point or does he contradict himself? Why? (1 point)

What overall grade would you give this student?

Influences on the presidency 02-01-07

Go to:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7065633


Read the transcript of the interview Juan Williams conducted with President Bush. As you read, identify 5 people or groups that influence the president’s decision-making process. Provide a specific example from the interview for each person or group you identify.