Judicial Branch

    George gave a great presentation on the First Amendment which led into a discussion about Elder Cook's talk on "How to Defend Religious Freedom". 

1st Amendment- PRASP

Petition

Religion

Assemble

Speech

Press

In our Candy Election Butterfinger candy bar won the electoral college, but what if the Electoral College is tied?

"In questions of power, then let no more be said of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution."  Thomas Jefferson

The Judicial Branch

Homework:  

1. Continue to read The Great Little Madison
2. Opinion Paper: Have the Supreme Court rulings helped or hindered our nation? Explain 

Presentation:  Lilly 2nd Amendment

Executive Branch

"..and will to the best of my judgment and power, preserve, protect, and defend, the Constitution of the United States."

What are the Executive powers of the President of the United States according to the Constitution?

Execute or carry out the laws made by Congress
Commander in Chief of the military
Pardoning power
Diplomatic power-handling foreign relations
Chief Executive Officer of the whole executive branch of the government

No more...no less! 
Is it the Presidents responsibility to make sure Americans have employment? Assign billions of dollars to educating youth? Provide federal relief for victims of natural disasters?

Electoral College

The Founders felt it was unwise for the people to vote directly for president. "The job requirements of the President spelled out in the Constitution are duties such as Commander-in-Chief of the military and chief executive; not something the common man is typically familiar with. It would be the same as if a truck driver tried to interview a doctor for a job at a hospital."1 

If the system were working today as originally intended, the people would vote for the electors and the electors would vote for the president. Today electors are chosen by their political party leadership and perform more of a token duty of voting for the candidate with the popular vote in their state.



Homework:

1. Power to declare war.  According to the Constitution, Congress has the power to declare war but for the last 60 years the President has declared war.  Which branch in your opinion should have the power-Legislative or Executive?
2. Read The Great Little Madison, by Jean Fritz.  Colloquium 4/4
3. Continue to write the Constitution in your own words.
4. Choose an ammendment for your presentation.

Presentation:  George

1 See A Guide for Learning and Teaching The Declaration of Independence and the U.S Constitution by Joseph Andrews. p.145

The Test

“… As we have inherited the spirit of liberty and the fire of patriotism from our fathers, so let them descend [unchanged] to our posterity.”   
                                                                                                                                                          ^{Elder Phineas Richards} 

Tips for writing Congress' powers in your own words:  

1. Identify and look up unfamiliar words in the Websters 1828 Dictionary or nccs.net
2. Read the clause 3 times aloud and write down key words (for larger clauses break it up into smaller sections).
3. Explain to someone what you think it means.  Write it down simply and with as few words as possible. 
4. OR finish this sentence in as few words as possible:  The people of the states empower Congress to...

Homework:

1. Write Article 1: Section 8  in your own words.  See tips above.
2. Opinion paper:  Does Congress have too much power or not enough?   If you have already written this paper concentrate on writing the Constitution in your own words.

Presentation: Gigi -Governor Morris

Devotional:  Jeremy

House Floor Simulation

" We enter mortality not to float with the moving currents of life but with the POWER to think, to reason, and to achieve."  Thomas S. Monson


 We learn from each other!

     Our Scholars  wrote their own bills and debated them in our simulated House Floor Proceedings. The Honorable Nellie Hill was designated speaker of the House pro tempore for the day with Courtney Davies as House reading clerk.  Our representatives wrote and presented their own legislation then The Floor was opened to 1 minute speeches/ debates. The most popular topics:  Cat overpopulation in Texas, mandatory chocolate in schools, and gun control.



                                                                 

We discussed the genius of the men
who created the Constitution  of
the United States.

Homework:  

1.  Catch up on opinion papers or write another bill.  ( You never know when the House will be in session!)
2. Start reading The Great Little Madison by Gene Fritz
3. Read Article 1 section 8:  Powers of Congress

Devotional: Brayden 

Presentation:  George