Homework 2.13 (Assigned 12/22)

A.  CANCELLED!  An early holiday gift from Mr. Pedone.
B.  Come in tomorrow with some ideas for your Board Game Project.

Homework 2.12 (Assigned 12/19)

A.  Read the following article:  http://nationaljournal.com/nationalsecurity/the-death-of-dr-evil-20111219

1.  According to the author, why has North Korea's totalitarianism been resistant to economic woes?
2.  What economic and political shifts can be predicted in the wake of Kim Jong Il's death?
3.  In your opinion, is the death of Kim Jong Il good for American interests abroad?  Why or why not?

B.   Practice FRQ:

1.  Presidents are generally thought to have advantages over Congress in conducting foreign policy because of the formal and informal powers of the presidency.

(a)  Identify two formal constitutional powers of the President in making foreign policy.
(b)  Identify two formal constitutional powers of Congress in making foreign policy.
(c)  Identify two informal powers of the President that contribute to the President's advantage over Congress in conducting foreign policy.
(d)  Explain how each of the informal powers in (c) contributes to the President's advantage over Congress in conducting foreign policy.

C.  Brainstorm project ideas

Homework 2.11 (Assigned 12/15)

A.  Read Woll #35 (pg. 191)

B.  Watch/Read Transcript of Iowa GOP Debate (link below)

C.. Practice FRQ:  RESEARCH IT!

1.  Conflicts between Congress and the President over war powers have their origin in the United States Constitution. In 1973 Congress passed the War Powers Resolution in an attempt to clarify the balance of powers between the two branches of government.

(a) Describe the primary constitutional conflict between Congress and the President over the decision to go to war.

(b) Describe two provisions of the War Powers Resolution that were designed to limit the President’s power over war making.

(c) The War Powers Resolution has received mixed reviews, but Congress has other powers over war making. Other than the constitutional power that you described in (a), identify and explain two other formal powers Congress has over war making.

Homework 2.10 (Assigned 12/13)

A.  Read the following article:  http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20020607.html

1.    Check the date on the article.  Why is the date of this article relevant to the topic being discussed?
2.    What historical examples can be cited to back up the author's claim that national crises can increase
       presidential oversight and limit personal liberties? (At least 2)
3.    How does the author's predictions for Bush's presidency measure up against the reality of Bush's
       presidency?  Did oversight increase?   Were liberties limited?


B.  Practice FRQ:

4. The Constitution of the United States creates a government of separate institutions that share power rather than a government that delegates power exclusively to a single branch. Frequently, this means that presidents and Congress struggle with each other.

(a). For each of the presidential powers below, explain one way that congressional decision making is affected by that power.

• Veto power 

• Power to issue executive orders 

• Power as commander in chief

(b). For each of the congressional powers below, explain one way that presidential decision making is affected by that power.

• Legislative oversight power (research it) 

• Senate advice and consent power (research it) 

• Budgetary power (research it)

Homework 2.9 (Assigned 12/12)

A.  Read Wilson pg. 362-373

B.  Practice Essay:  What is policy gridlock?  Give two historical examples of policy gridlock and argue whether or gridlock is good for the American system of government.

Homework 2.8 (Assigned 12/9)

A.  Read the following article:  http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/09/poll-voters-want-to-throw-em-out/?hpt=hp_t1

Answer the following:

1. What shifts in public opinion are evidenced in the article?  Give statistical proof to back your claims.

2. Given the nature of the shifts in opinion, why is it unlikely that the House of Representatives will
experience the widespread turnover desired by the public?  Give statistical proof to back your claims.

3.    Isn't this article neat?  I think so.


B.     Candidate Check In:  Find an article concerning the candidate that you researched in the GOP
debate that was published in the last month.  Print or link to the article and write a 1/2 to full page abstract of the article

C.   Flash Cards

logrolling
pork barrel
filibuster
cloture
joint committee
conference committee
special committee
standing committee
rider
line item veto

Review Chat Wrap (12/7)

me: OK WE ARE AT 8:00PM. TYPE "HERE" IF YOU CAN SEE THIS.

 jennylamx93: HERE

 cheunglisa11: HEREE

 abell2012: here!

 chowhuiyanangel: here

 michaeldavidson2012: Here

 apkenner@gmail.com has left

8:01 PM samaralcancel: Here

 me: K HOLD ON. HAVE TO FIX SOMETHING.

 jennylamx93: sure tbhing

  thing*

8:02 PM harristianas@gmail.com has joined

  tran.seph@gmail.com has joined

 me: OK. WELCOME TO THE CHAT.

8:03 PM TOMORROW'S EXAM IS ON THE CONGRESS CHAPTER OF THE TEXT.

  THERE WILL BE 15 MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS AND AN FRQ.

  I WILL START BY TAKING REQUESTS FOR MATERIAL TO REVIEW

 harristianas: Any definitions to study?

8:04 PM me: CERTAINLY. YOU NEED TO KNOW: ALL FIVE KINDS OF COMMITTEES, LOGROLLING, PORKBARREL, FILLIBUSTER, CLOTURE

8:05 PM VETO, LINE ITEM VETO AND POCKET VETO.

  DOES ANYONE NEED CLARIFICATION ON THESE TERMS?

8:06 PM abell2012: im not to sure what cloture means

 tran.seph: line veto is the thing what the president want right?

 me: ASHLEY: A VOTE FOR CLOTURE ENDS A FILIBUSTER. SENATORS NEED 60% TO VOTE FOR CLOTURE.

8:07 PM abell2012: gotcha

 me: JOE: PRESIDENTS WANT LINE ITEM VETOES, YES.

  THEY DO NOT HAVE THEM.

  LINE ITEM VETO = JUST SIGNING THE PARTS OF THE BILL YOU LIKE.

  ARE WE CLEAR ON THE FIVE COMMITTEES?

8:08 PM tran.seph: theres 5 committees?

 jennylamx93: may we breifly go over them

 tran.seph: i thought there were plenty

 me: 5 TYPES

8:09 PM STANDING, SELECT, JOINT, AND CONFERENCE

  4 TYPES. SORRY.

8:10 PM (SINGS AMAZING GRACE)

 michaeldavidson2012: Water Bottle Labibya

 me: STANDING: COMMITTEE THAT IS ALWAYS THERE. EXAMPLE: WAYS AND MEANS

8:11 PM tran.seph: do we need to know specific examples of committees?

 me: SELECT: COMMITTEE THERE FOR A SHORT TIME FOR A SPECIFIC PROBLEM

  JOE: NOT REALLY

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8:12 PM me: JOINT: A COMMITTEE MADE UP OF BOTH SENATORS AND REPS.

8:13 PM CONFERENCE: A JOINT COMMITTEE THAT COMES TOGETHER TO COMPARE SIMILAR BILLS PASSED BY BOTH HOUSES AND COME TO AN AGREEMENT.

  QUESTIONS ON THE FOUR TYPES OF COMMITTEES?

 chowhuiyanangel: any hints for the FRQ?

 me: ANGEL: NOPE.

 tran.seph: so conference committees only exist when 2 diff bills are passed?

8:14 PM michaeldavidson2012: JERK

  Just Kidding :)

 brianarroberts: what were them

 tran.seph: 2 diff versions of the same bill*

 me: CONF. COMMITTEES EXIST WHEN THE 2 HOUSES PASS DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE SAME BILL.

8:15 PM harristianas: what is it called when they add things to a bill, like the xmas tree thing

 me: GOOD QUESTION: AMENDMENTS AND RIDERS.

 cheunglisa11: rider

 brianarroberts: rider??

 abell2012: christmas tree bill, right?

 me: YES.

  XMAS TREE BILLS HAVE MANY RIDERS

8:16 PM RIDERS CAN BE INCLUDED TO MORE VOTERS CONSIDER THE BILL.

 brianarroberts: whats xmas tree bill??

 me: AN XMAS TREE BILL IS A SLANG TERM FOR A BILL THAT HAS A LOT OF RIDERS AND AMENDMENTS TO IT

8:17 PM harristianas: porkbarrelling?

 michaeldavidson2012: Mr.Pedone, if a person proposes a bill can he withdraw it if he doesnt like the changes made to it?

 cheunglisa11: OH, can you give us feedback on the FRQ that we did for homework?

8:18 PM me: PORK BARREL LEGISLATION: BILLS OR AMENDMENTS PROPOSED TO BRING MONEY AND RESOURCES TO A REP'S HOME DISTRICT OR STATE?

  IGNORE THAT ?

 tran.seph: houdr

  house*

8:20 PM me: MIKE: UNLIKELY. IT IS MORE LIKELY FOR SOMEONE TO WITHDRAW AN AMENDMENT TO A BILL. FOR EXAMPLE: http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=e6062ff9-de6c-4297-8134-8d96828502c8

  FOR LISA: FRQ FEEDBACK.

8:22 PM cheunglisa11: Besides the number, what other advantages does the House have?

 me: ADVANTAGES THE MAJORITY PARTY HAS OUTSIDE OF SHEER VOTING #:

 cheunglisa11: majority*

 me: AGENDA SETTING.

  THE SPEAKER SETS THE AGENDA.

8:23 PM REFERRAL OF BILLS. APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

8:24 PM BASICALLY, ALL OF THE POWERS THAT COME WITH THE OFFICE OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE (WHICH IS ALWAYS FILLED BY A MAJORITY PARTY MEMBER)

  MAKES SENSE?

 abell2012: yup

 brianarroberts: does the senate have any advantages??

 cheunglisa11: yeup!

8:25 PM me: CERTAINLY. THE "SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE" IN THE SENATE IS CALLED THE "PRO TEMPORE".

 chowhuiyanangel: oh

 me: HE OR SHE HAS THE SAME POWERS AS THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE (THOUGH THEY SHARE IT WITH THE MAJORITY LEADER).

8:26 PM abell2012: ohhhhhhh

  ok i get it

 brianarroberts: will this be on the test??

 me: BRIANA: YUP

 michaeldavidson2012@gmail.com has left

 tran.seph: so the "pro tempore" isnt the majority leader?

8:28 PM me: PRO TEMP IS CUSTOMARILY THE LONGEST SERVING MAJORITY MEMBER. RIGHT NOW IT IS INOUYE FROM HAWAII. HARRY REID IS THE MAJORITY LEADER.

  PRO TEMP IS POWERFUL, BUT MOSTLY CEREMONIAL.

8:29 PM MAJORITY LEADER IS VERY POWERFUL

  MAKES SENSE?

 brianarroberts: yes

8:30 PM tran.seph: yes sir

 brianarroberts: are you going to give us practice questions??

 me: COOL. BACK TO LISA...

  FOR THE FRQ, PART B...

 cheunglisa11: Describe two differences between House and Senate rules that may make it likely that legislation may pass in one chamber but not in the other.

8:31 PM me: THE BEST AND EASIEST WAY TO ANSWER THIS IS: FILIBUSTERS AND TERM LIMITS.

  *LENGTH OF TERM.

8:32 PM jennylamx93@gmail.com has left

 me: WE ALREADY COVERED HOW FILIBUSTERS CAN CAUSE DIFFICULTIES IN THE SENATE.

 cheunglisa11: right

 me: THE HOUSE TERM IS ONLY TWO YEARS AND EVERYONE IS UP FOR ELECTION AT THE SAME TIME.

8:33 PM THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR LONG STANDING COOPERATIVE COALITIONS TO LAST.

  MAKES SENSE?

 cheunglisa11: yes

8:34 PM me: AND THEN (C) IS JUST EXPLAINING.....

 cheunglisa11: yeah, i got that

  thanks!

8:35 PM me: WHAT'S NEXT?

 jennylamx93@gmail.com has joined

 tran.seph: why would it be difficult for the coalition to last when it's supposedly easier for them to be elected back? (ie. the guy that we read about)

8:36 PM me: THOUGH THAT IS TRUE, SENATORS HAVE SIX YEAR TERMS, WHICH ALLOW FOR MORE ADVANCED PLANNING AND EXTENDED DEBATE.

8:37 PM PLUS, IF I'M A SENATOR WHO WILL NOT FACE ELECTION FOR 5 YEARS, I CAN SAFELY VOTE AGAINST A POPULAR BILL WITHOUT A LASHBACK FROM THE CONSTITUENTS.

 brianarroberts: will the process of getting elected be on the test??

 me: HOUSE REPS FACE ELECTION EVERY 2 YEARS. KEEPS THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

  ELECTED TO WHAT, BRI?

8:38 PM michaeldavidson2012@gmail.com has joined

 brianarroberts: into the house and senate

 michaeldavidson2012: Sorry, the weather has my Internet going loopy.

8:39 PM me: NO, NOT REALLY. JUST KNOW: SENATE 6 YR TERM, HOUSE, 2 YR TERM.

 brianarroberts: ok

 me: CAN WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW?

 samaralcancel@gmail.com has left

 brianarroberts: yes

 cheunglisa11: yes

 michaeldavidson2012: He sits on the capital steps.

8:40 PM and a little boy comes up to him

 me: OK.

 michaeldavidson2012: and then he sings a song!

 tran.seph: Do we need to know specific names of anybody such as nancy polosy, the dude thats the SoH or gringridge who was so long ago? or who OUR congressesmen and house rep are?

 me: THAT WAS A SPELLING APOCALYPSE.

 michaeldavidson2012: Muahaha.

 cheunglisa11: hhahaha

 tran.seph: ahahaha i'm asian i do math not spelling

 me: *PELOSI. *GINGRICH.

 brianarroberts: lol

 michaeldavidson2012: Racism

8:41 PM harristianas: not racism: generalization

 michaeldavidson2012: Technically still racist.

 me: ORDER! ORDER! (SLAPPING STUFFED ANIMAL FISH AGAINST DESK)

 abell2012: please lets not debate this

 michaeldavidson2012: GAVEL? DONT HARM HIM

 tran.seph: aww come on everyone loves a good debate...

8:42 PM me: NO TIME.

 abell2012: not now!

 jennylamx93: review questions !

 tran.seph: theres never any time :( okay so do we need to know specifics?

 harristianas: no not really, he didn't say anything defaming Asian people..... but to Joe's question

 me: JOE: YOU DO NOT NEED TO KNOW SPECIFIC ELECTED OFFICIALS, THOUGH YOU REALLY SHOULD.

 samaralcancel@gmail.com has joined

 me: HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW:

8:43 PM 1. DRAFTED

  2. INTRODUCED TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

  3. REFERRED TO A COMMITTEE BY THE SPEAKER

8:44 PM 4. DEBATED IN COMMITTEE AND SUBCOMMITTEE

  5. REPORTED TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (FAVORABLY/UNFAVORABLY)

  6. IF FAVORABLE, STRUCTURED DEBATE

  7. VOTE

8:45 PM 8. SENT TO OTHER HOUSE, REPEAT STEPS 2 - 7

  QUESTIONS?

 jennylamx93: nope

 brianarroberts: what would this question look like

 tran.seph: thats a lot of steps.

8:46 PM jennylamx93: practice questions please

  =[

 abell2012: would it be a question where we would have to figure out the correct order?

 me: I WILL DO A PRACTICE QUESTION....HOLD PLEASE....

  ASH: NOPE.

 jennylamx93: okay

8:48 PM me: After a bill is introduced in the House of Representatives, what is the next step in the legislative process?

(a) The bill is introduced in the Senate because both houses of Congress must consider all proposed legislation.
(b) The bill is referred to a committee.
(c) The majority-party caucus votes whether or not to support the bill.
(d) The Speaker of the House decides whether to ignore the bill or take action.
(e) The bill dies unless a committee chair decides to “mark up” the bill.

 tran.seph: b

 harristianas: d or b

 michaeldavidson2012: B

 jennylamx93: b

 chowhuiyanangel: b

 brianarroberts: b

 abell2012: b

8:49 PM me: I CAN SEE WHY YOU SAY D OR B, TIANA. BUT THE ANSWER IS B.

8:50 PM michaeldavidson2012: I thought SOH only participates in event of tie?

 harristianas: more question?

 me: THE SPEAKER CANNOT OUT AND OUT REFUSE A BILL, BUT HE CAN EITHER ASSIGN IT TO A COMMITTEE LIKELY TO KILL IT OR SCHEDULE DEBATE OF THAT BILL SO LATE THAT THE HOUSE ADJOURNS BEFORE IT GETS TO IT.

8:51 PM MIKE: TRUE/

 abell2012: ohh thats just sneaky

 me: BUT

  HIS/HER REAL POWER COMES IN THE FORM OF REFERRING BILLS AND SCHEDULING DEBATES.

  ASH: AGREED

8:52 PM I TOLD YOU GUYS...THE SPEAKER IS SNEAKY POWERFUL.

  HE OR SHE ALSO REPRESENTS A DISTRICT IN THE U.S. IMAGINE HAVING YOUR LOCAL CONGRESSMAN BE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE!

 tran.seph: is there a way to impeach/eject/remove the SoH?

8:53 PM samaralcancel@gmail.com has left

8:54 PM me: NEWT WAS REMOVED AS SPEAKER, BUT RETAINED HIS SEAT.

 abell2012: why?

 me: SPEAKER IS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE MAJORITY PARTY

  ASH: COMPLICATED. LOOK IT UP.

 harristianas: Gingrich because of his reputation

 me: INTERESTING, THOUGH.

 harristianas: he was a cheater

8:55 PM me: I SEE SOMEONE PULLED GINGRICH FOR THE GOP PROJECT....

  WE'RE DOWN TO FIVE MINUTES HERE....

  WHAT ELSE CAN WE COVER?

 harristianas: more practice question

 cheunglisa11: caucuses

8:56 PM me: OK CAUCUSES.

 tran.seph: 5 minutes? so quick. feels like 4th period.

 cheunglisa11: in thise case, it only means counting the congressmen's votes?

 jennylamx93@gmail.com has left

 me: A CAUCUS IS A GROUP OF LIKE MINDED CONGRESSMEN/SENATORS WHO FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT AN ISSUE.

8:57 PM OR THEY ARE PART OF THE SAME RELEVANT DEMOGRAPHIC.

 cheunglisa11: ohh

8:58 PM me: FOR EXAMPLE, THERE MAY BE A CAUCUS OF REPS CONCERNED WITH URBAN POVERTY. THEY MIGHT BE IN EITHER PARTY OR HOUSE, BUT MAY MEET TOGETHER TO SHAPE LEGISLATION TO FURTHER THEIR CAUSE.

8:59 PM MOST POWERFUL CAUCUS CURRENTLY IS THE BLACK CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS, WHICH IS MADE UP OF AFRICAN AMERICAN REPS AND SENATORS.

9:00 PM OK EVERYBODY, NICE WORK TONIGHT!

 tran.seph: this was so quick. it felt like i was on here for 5 minutes.

9:01 PM michaeldavidson2012: Mr.Pedone, on behalf of the stuffed animal's rights committee, I'm going to have to ask you to stop abusing the fish.

 abell2012: good luck on the test everyone! Good night!

 me: I'M GOING TO BE SIGNING OFF HERE. THANKS FOR ATTENDING. FEEL FREE TO STAY ON AND KEEP DISCUSSING IF YOU LIKE.

 

Homework 2.7 (Assigned 12/5)

A.  Student Created Bill:    Using the format used by the House of Representatives (and the format Mr. Pedone used in class),  write a bill applicable to the Senior Class.

The top five bills will be debated in committee, marked up, amended and reported for classroom voting.  In order to be eligible to have you bill debated, you must email your HW to Mr. Pedone no later than 10pm on Monday 12/5.

Sample Bill:

112^th Congress- 1^st Session

               H.R. 25045

Mr. Pedone introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Senior Dues:

­­­­­­­

                                                            A  BILL

To incentivize academic achievement and competition through revision of the laws pertaining to payment of Senior Dues.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled.

SECTION 1.  SHORT TITLE.

            This Act may be cited as the “Making Grades Pay Act of 2011”.

SECTION 2:  PURPOSE.

The purpose of this Act is to redistribute the burden of Senior Dues so that students with higher class rankings pay less in Senior Dues.

SECTION 3.  MAKING GRADES PAY

            (a)   Senior Class Dues will be reduced from $200.00 to $150.00.

            (b)   A variable surcharge will be added to Senior Dues based on class rank:

1.   Students will pay a surcharge equal to their class rank at a rate of one dollar per place.  For example, a senior who ranks seventh in their class will pay a seven dollar surcharge.

2.   For purposes of calculation, the class rankings from the conclusion of Junior year will be used.

             

(c)   Students who have  transferred into Academy @ Palumbo after the conclusion of PSSA’s their junior year are exempt from the Making Grades Pay Act and will pay a flat rate of $200.00.

(d)  IMPLEMENTATION:   Making Grades Pay is to go into effect immediately.  Students ranking in the top fifty who have already paid Senior Dues will be issued refunds in advisory no later than April 15^th, 2012.  Students ranking below fifty will be billed their surcharge in writing no later than February 1^st, 2012.   Students owing a surcharge must satisfy their debt at or before the school wide deadline for Senior Dues.    

COMMITTEE  ACTIONS:

            ______      REPORT UNFAVORABLY  

            ______       REPORT FAVORABLY

                                   

MARKUPS:

AMENDMENTS:

Homework 2.6 (Assigned 12/2)

A. REREAD chapter 13 (Congress)

B.  Follow This Link

• Choose any Congressional Committee
• Locate TWO bills that your committee is working on currently
• Summarize the contents of the bill.  (2 Paragraphs each)
• Would you report favorably or unfavorably on these bills?  Why?

C.  Practice FRQ:  RESEARCH!!!

3. In the United States Congress, the majority party exerts a substantial influence over lawmaking. However, even when one party has a numerical majority in each chamber of the United States Congress, there is no guarantee that legislation supported by that majority party will be passed by both chambers. Rules of each chamber independently influence the likelihood that legislation will pass in that chamber; legislation passed by one chamber is not always passed by the other.

(a) Describe two advantages the majority party in the United States House of Representatives has in lawmaking, above and beyond the numerical advantage that that majority party enjoys in floor voting.

(b) Describe two differences between House and Senate rules that may make it likely that legislation may pass in one chamber but not in the other.

(c) Explain how the differences identified in (b) can lead to the passage of a bill in one chamber but not in the other.