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

Legislative Process

What actually goes on in the House of Representatives?

We watched an exciting segment of  the House floor session  to find out!

How does a bill become a law?

                                                     Watch our skit!

Homework:

1.   Create your bill! You can propose legislation for MSA, the nation, our state or county. See sample format below.

2.  Opinion Paper:  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 you opinion should have the power- Legislative or Executive?

3. Due to the number of students absent Thursday our colloquium on Fifty-Five Fathers will be this week 2/28.


Presentation :  Kaylee

Devotional:  George

Sample Bill Format

Italics = Directions (type Your Information or Delete)

109^th Congress

1st Session

Senate Bill # ____________

A Bill For An Act Entitled: Title of bill

or

An Amendment to the Constitution Entitled: Title of amendment

In the Senate

Write the date

Write: Senators Your names introduced the following resolution which was referred to the Committee on fill in this blank when you know the committee name.

Senate Proposal

Resolved by the U.S. Senate of the United States of America, that the following article is proposed as federal law under the jurisdiction of the Untied States of America, enforceable by Executive action.

For a bill: "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that:"

For an Amendment: "Be it amended by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that:"

Section 1: Explanation of terminology- Which terms need to be defined in order to understand the bill?

Section 2: What is the act going to do? Who is going to be involved / impacted /

affected by the act

Section 3: Where? All of U.S. or a certain area / place in the U.S.?

Section 4: How is the act going to be funded? Who is going to enforce / administer

this act?(Which government agency will oversee the bill and its duties?)

Section 5: Penalties (if any) for non-compliance (not following the rules) of the act

Section 6: Enactment Date: When will the law go into effect?

END

In the Senate

109^th Congress

2nd Session

Senate Bill # ____________

A Bill For An Act Entitled:

In the Senate

Date:______________

Senators writing the bill: __________________________________________________________________ introduced the following resolution which was referred to the Committee on _________________.

Senate Proposal

Resolved by the U.S. Senate of the United States of America, that the following article is proposed as federal law under the jurisdiction of the United States of America, enforceable by Executive action.

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

2. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

3. ______________________________________________________________________________________________

4. ______________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Section 1: Explanation of Terminology

6. ______________________________________________________________________________________________

7.­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ ______________________________________________________________________________________________

8. ______________________________________________________________________________________________

9. ______________________________________________________________________________________________

10. Section 2 : Explanation of what the bill will provide for. . .

11. ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_____________________________________________________________________________________________

12. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

13. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

14. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

15. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

16. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

17. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

18. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

19. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

20. _____________________________________________________________________________________________
21. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

22. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

23. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

24. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

25. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

26. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

27. Section 3: Where would this bill take effect:

28. _____________________________________________________________________________________________
29. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

30. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

31. Section 4: Governing body that will oversee the bill and its duties and how funded

32. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

33. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

34. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

35. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

36. Section 5. Penalty for non-compliance with the legislation:

37. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

38. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

39. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

40. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

41. Section 6: Enactment Date:

42. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

43. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________ President’s signature

Congress

Why is the legislative body divided into two branches, the House of Representatives and the Senate?



  "..the House of Representatives will be elected immediately by the people, and represent them and their personal rights individually; the Senate will be elected by the state legislatures, and represent the states in their political capacity; and thus each branch will form a proper and independent check on the other, and the legislative powers will be advantageously balanced."
                                                                                   C.C Pinckney

How has the 17th Amendment changed senators incentive to watch over their state?


Play the game How a bill becomes a law to prepare for our future study of how legislation is passed.






Homework:
  No paper due this week! We need to catch up on our Constitution studies.

1. Rewrite Article 1 Section 4 and 5 in your own words. 
2. Finish reading Fifty-five Fathers- Colloquium NEXT WEEK 2/21!
3. Continue memorizing Declaration of Independence if you have not already done so.

Presentation: Lilly -Roger Sherman

Devotional:  Tyler

"A primary object should be the education of our youth in the science of government.  In a republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important? And what duty more pressing ...than...communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?"
                                                                                                          -George Washington

Constitution Studies
We were patient with ourselves as we practiced rewriting Article 1 Sections 1 and 2 in our own words. After our discussion we tested our knowledge in a short Constitution Bowl.  Take the  U.S.I.Q quiz to test your knowledge of the legislative branch.



Homework:

1. Opinion paper: Does Congress have too much power or not enough?
2. Read Fifty-Fathers by Selma R. Williams.To order Click Here.
3. Read Article 1 section 3. An online version with definitions is available at nccs.net

Presentation:  2/14 Tyler -Alexander Hamiliton   Gigi- Governor Morris

Devotional:  2/14 Kaylee Chapman

The Freedom Factor

Our book colloquium on Freedom Factor led us into a discussion about the following:

What is public and private virtue?  Can one possess one without the other?

Why does the pendulum swing from tyranny to anarchy and anarchy to tyranny on the founders political spectrum?

Where does a pure democracy fit on the spectrum? What are the dangers of a pure democracy on a national level?  

  Our special guest speaker Travis Chapman helped us understand  Constitutional wars as well as our current monetary system and how it differs from what is permitted in the Constitution.His knowledge of the principles of freedom and his ability to apply them to current events is truly inspiring. He knows his stuff! 

Congratulations to all of our Key of Liberty students for memorizing the Preamble to the United States Constitution! 

Homework:

1. Read Article 1 of the Constitution.  It may be helpful to read it online with definitions at nccs.net.
2. Begin reading Fifty-Five Fathers. To order Click Here
3. Bonus: Begin writing Article 1 section 1-2 of the Constitution in your own words.

Presentations:  Brayden & Gigi

Devotional: Gigi

Nature of Government

    The Founders believed that all forms of government have the tendency to become tyrannical. Why? 

At the Constitutional Convention Benjamin Franklin stated:

 "Sir, there are two passions which have a powerful influence on the affairs of men.  These are ambition and avarice; the love of power, and the love of money.  Separately, each of these has great force in prompting men to action; but when united in view of the same object, they have in many minds the most violent effects.  Place before the eyes of such men a post of honor, that shall be at the same time a place of profit, and they will move heaven and earth to obtain it."

The genius of the Constitution is that it distributes power vertically and horizontally to prevent a tyrannical centralized power. The Founders did not ignore human nature. See D&C 121:39.

Which branch in our government has the most power?

Homework:

1. Finish reading Freedom Factor by Gerald Lund. Our Colloquium is this Thursday no exceptions!
2. Write Opinion paper:  What powers do you have in making new laws?
3. Memorize Preamble

Presentation: Gigi

Devotional: Gigi

A Republic, if you can keep it...

    At the close of the Constitutional Convention of 1787,  Franklin was asked by a Mrs. Powell  “Well Doctor what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?"  Franklin replied, 

“A Republic , if you can keep it."

 

What are the advantages of a Republic?

"Refine and enlarge the public views by passing them through the medium of a chosen body of citizens, whose wisdom may best discern the true interest of their country and whose patriotism and love of justice will be least likely to sacrifice it to temporary or partial considerations." James Madison

Test your knowledge of the U.S Constitution by playing the online U.S IQ game!

Constitution Studies

• We started class by playing  "Take a Liberty" card game. 
•  Each group did a great job presenting their assigned type of government.  We discussed Monarchy, Despotic, Aristocracy and Republic. 
• The boys and girls team were able to match the Constitution topics with the correct Article in under 5 seconds! The final scores:  girls 4.3 seconds, boys 4.7 seconds.  Next week we will add the sections to Article 1: 

Article 1       Legislative Branch

                         Section 1:   Lawmaking powers in Congress

                         Section 2:   House of Representatives

                         Section 3:   Senate

                         Section 4:   Elections and meetings

                         Section 5:   Organization of Congress

                         Section 6:   Compensation and Privileges

                         Section 7:   Legislative Process

                         Section 8:   Powers granted to Congress

                         Section 9:    Powers forbidden to Congress

                         Section 10:   Powers forbidden to States

  

Homework:   

1. Opinion Paper:  Is it better to have a man of faith in office with a minimal education or a man of knowledge with minimal faith and questionable character?
2. Memorize Preamble. Learning it in sign language helps.
3. Prepare for our matching competition: Boys against girls!
4. Finish reading Freedom Factor, by Gerald Lund by 1/31

Presentation:

Jeremy 

Devotional:

Lilly

Presentation Topics and Schedule:

1/24 Jeremy -    James Wilson

1/31 Gigi-         Governor Morris

2/7   Lilly-         Roger Sherman

2/14 Tyler-       Alexander Hamilton

2/21 Brayden-   John Dickenson

2/28 Kaylee-     Edmund Randolph

3/7  George-     William Patterson

Writing Assignments- Due on the date listed below

1/24  Is it better to have a man of faith in office with a minimal education or a man of knowledge with a minimal faith and questionable character?

1/31  What powers do you have in making new laws?

2/7   Does Congress have too much power or not enough?

2/21 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?

2/28  Have the Supreme Court rulings helped or hindered our nation

3/14  If you were to make an amendment to The Constitution, what would it be?

3/21 What would life be like without the Constitution?

3/28 According to the 1st Amendment does a person have the right to go to a public park and swear around children?

4/4 If a person is suspected of doing evil, should the government be allowed to search his house with out him knowing it?

4/11 Should a criminal die the way he killed a person?

4/18  Is it an unalienable right to intoxicate oneself?  Does the government have the power to take away our unalienable rights? Explain.

4/25 Now that you know and understand our Constitution, what do you plan to do in your life to see that it is not trampled down by power-seeking men?

We the People...

    "I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education.  This is the true corrective of abuses of constitutional power."  Thomas Jefferson

Current Healthcare bill

 U.S Citizens "owners manual" for our republic

            The Constitution belongs to each citizen not a group of scholars, lawyers or politicians. Yes! It is a law written for us and it is written simply enough that we can understand it!  


"Even this nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground, and when the Constitution is upon the brink of ruin, this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean, and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction"( Source: The Words of Joseph Smith 416. Joseph Smith Collection, LDS Church Historical Department. Joseph Smith on July 19, 1840)



"We must have a generation of Americans who believe in the Founders original success formula and who have the ingenuity and grit to restore it as the founders initially planned it." W.Cleon Skousen, The Making of America


Constitution Study:

• Be prepared to give a 5 min. presentation with your partner on your assigned type of government.  

• Finish rewriting the Preamble in your own words.

We discussed each phrase of  the Preamble to the Constitution and worked on rewriting it in our own words.  We also practiced signing it!  To learn it in sign language click here!

This weeks assignments:


Brayden & Jeremy: Monarchy
George & Tyler: Aristocracy
Gigi & Lilly: Despotic
Kaylee: Republic

Skit Preview

 Acting out the injuries of King George III has taught us a lot about the patient sufferance of the American Colonists and the usurpations and tyranny of England over them. We have also learned a lot about each other...it has been very entertaining!

Here are a few pictures previewing our skit with more to come!

King George getting into character.

 The king's butlers looking the part.

     Congratulations to Lilly for being the first to memorize the Declaration of Independence!  She will receive a copy of  Our Constitution Rocks! by Juliette Turner.

Homework:

1. Memorize:   "We therefore ... declare that these united colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown.  And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
2. Please have the Life of Washington by Josephine Pollard read by this Thursday Dec. 6th! 
3. We still need to film the last section of our skit so bring your props.

Presentation: Brayden

 Devotional: Davin 

The Need for Heroes

Can exemplary Heroes help us to develop and maintain a self-governing character?

Did George Washington really pray at Valley Forge?

Mr. Isaac Potts, who oversaw the grinding of the grain for Washington's army was an eye witness to this occurrence:

     

     "It was a most distressing time of the war, and all were for giving up the Ship, but that great good man.  In that woods.... I heard a plaintive sound as of a man at prayer.  I tied my horse to a sapling and went quietly into the woods and to my astonishment I saw the great George Washington on his knees alone, with his sword on one side and cocked hat on the other.  He was at Prayer to the God of the Armies, beseeching to interpose with his Divine aid, as it was a Crisis, and the cause of the country, of humanity and of the world.  

     Such a prayer I never head from the lips of a man.  I left him alone praying.  I went home and told my wife, I saw a sight and heard today what I never saw or heard before.  We never thought a man c'd be a soldier and a Christian, but if there is one in the world, it is Washington. She also was astonished.  We thought it was the cause of God, and America could prevail."

     "....The man must be bad indeed who can look upon the events of the American Revolution without feeling the warmest gratitude towards the great Author of the Universe whose divine interposition was so frequently manifested in our behalf.  And it is my earnest prayer that we may so conduct ourselves as to merit a continuance of those blessings with which we have hitherto been favored." George Washington, September 28, 1789

    

For our devotional Tim shared Red Skelton's inspiring message about the Pledge of Allegiance.

Homework: 

1. Opinion Paper: What made Washington a great man? How can you become more like him?
2. Bring props for our video skit.
3. Continue memorizing the Declaration of Independence. For memorization techniques click here.

Devotional: Brayden

Presentation 11/15: George and Tyler

A Land of Liberty

A Land of Liberty

I beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters.  1 Nephi 13:12

Christopher Columbus

None come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord...this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring.  1 Nephi 1:6-7

And it came to pass that I beheld the Spirit of God, that it wrought upon other Gentiles; and they went forth out of captivity, upon the many waters. 1 Nephi 13:13

Pilgrims

And if it so be that they shall serve [God] according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them;  2 Nephi 1:7

The Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord and the power of the Lord was with them.  1 Nephi 13:16

George Washington at Valley Forge

...the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations. 1 Nephi 13:19

Revolutionary War

It is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another.  And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood. Doctrine and Covenants 101:80

Do you need help memorizing the 13 original colonies?  click here.

Homework:
Read The Life of George Washington by Josephine Pollard
No Opinion papers due this week

Updated Presentation Schedule:
11/8 Tyler
11/15 George
11/29 Lilly
12/6 Timothy
12/13 Brayden

Devotional Schedule
11/8 Timothy
11/15 Kaylee
11/29 George
12/6  Davin
12/13 Genevive

Presentation Ideas

1. Navigation Acts
2. Proclamation of 1763
3. Sugar Act/ Writs of Assistance
4. Stamp Act / Quartering Act
5. Sons of Liberty
6. Townshend Acts
7. Battle of Golden Hill (New York)
8. Boston Massacre
9. Tea Act of 1773
10. Boston Tea party 
11. Coercive Acts ( Intolerable Acts)
12. First Continental Congress
13. Committees of Correspondence / Committees of Safety
14. Massachusettes Circular letter
15. Minutemen / Militia
16. Currency Act

Additional Ideas:

Tory / Tories / Loyalist / Redcoats / British Soldiers / Hessians / American Loyalists

King George III

French and Indian War 1690-1760

Weaponry of the Revolutionary War

Early Documents (Magna Carta / Mayflower Compact / Petition of Rights-1623 / English Bill of Rights-1689)

American Colonial Fashions (dress)

Paul Rever's Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Battle of Bunker Hill / Fort Ticonderoga / Crown Point

Second Continental Congress-1775

Declaration of Independence

Family member Revolutionary War experience

Resources and sources of wealth in the colonies

• Presentations should be about 7-10 minutes long.
• Props, handouts, visual aids or demonstrations are encouraged

U.S Heritage Award

U.S Heritage Award

Our kids can not only earn their keys and ribbons for completing assignments in our Key of Liberty class but they can also receive the U.S Heritage Award medal for completing the requirements below. We worked on some of them today by playing "U.S History Bowl" which made it fun.

REQUIREMENTS: To earn the United States Heritage Award you must: 1. Tell when the Declaration of Independence was adopted. 2. Tell when the Constitution of the United States was signed. 3. Know the first two verses of the national anthem “The Star Spangled Banner.”     Tell who wrote it and when. 4. Know the Pledge of Allegiance. Explain what it means. 5. The United States Flag:     a. Tell what the thirteen stripes represent. Please list all thirteen.     b. From 1795 to 1818 there was something different about the US Flag.         Find out what it was and why it was changed.     c. Explain three proper ways of displaying the United States flag.     d. Tell how you show respect for the United States flag. 6. Do one of the following:     a. Find out what the parts of the flag are called. Draw a picture         showing the following: • Canton • Flag Staff • Fly •Grommet • Field (or     Ground) • Peak • Fly End • Union • Hoist • Truck • Finial • Halyard     b. Write a short story or poem about one of the following topics :         Why America Is Special To Me,         What It Means to Be An American,                   What It Means To Be Free, If I Were President. 7. Make a list of the 50 states of the United States of America. 8. Name the current President, Vice-President, and the Speaker of the House. 9. Name the two Senators for your state and the representative for your     congressional district. 10. Render a service that benefits a neighborhood or community.

     Can you believe a 14 year old girl wrote a book explaining each Article and Section of the Constitution in her own words?  Meet Juliette Turner at http://www.constitutingamerica.org/. Read her book  Our Constitution Rocks!

     We will be making a video in which our class will get a chance to recite parts of the Declaration they've memorized.  We divided the kids into groups and each group chose two injuries of King George listed in the Declaration that they will act out for the video.  We will then send the video to http://www.constitutingamerica.org/ to introduce our amazing class!  

Homework:

1.  John Adams colloquium postponed until November 1st.
2. Opinion paper: What is more important, your family or your country?

Presentation: Kaylee

Devotional: Timothy

A Declaration

John Adams

When attending Harvard as a young man John Adams often felt discouraged.

    . "I feel my own ignorance.  I feel concern for knowledge.  I have a strong desire for distinction...I never shall shine, 'til some animating occasion calls forth all my powers."  

Could he be searching for his life's mission? Perhaps the spirit of God is nudging his heart in preparation for "some animating occasion"? In the Doctrine and Covenants section 101 one can see that the Lord was clearly involved:

"...I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up..."

John Adams defended the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre.  "It's of more importance to community, that innocence should be protected, than it is , that guilt should be punished."

His mission first began to unfold as a lawyer with the intent to use "...all [my] knowledge, well digested and ready at command, to assist the feeble and friendless, to discountenance the haughty and lawless, to procure redress to wrongs, the advancement of right, to assert and maintain liberty and virtue, to discourage and abolish tyranny and vice."

John Adam's mission expanded to include a passion to fight for the independence of America from Great Britain

He would give the most powerful and important speech in Congress to persuade the delegates to vote for independence. Although no notes were kept of the meeting Monday July 1, 1776, John Adams would recollect :

"[I was] carried out in spirit, as enthusiastic preachers sometimes express themselves."

Thomas Jefferson would record that he spoke,  "with a power of thought and expression that moved us from our seats." 

 Richard Stockton praised him as, " the man to whom the country is most indebted for the great measure of independency...He it was who sustained the debate, and by the force of his reasoning demonstrated not only the justice, but the expediency of the measure."

When one does not fulfill their mission humanity suffers.

What is your mission?  How can you prepare?

Homework:

1. Book Colloquium is this Thursday Oct. 25th. 
2. Memorize, memorize, memorize!!
3. You can enter the We the people contest by writing a song or essay.  The official rules for 2013 entries will be posted November 1st!

Devotional: Lilly

Presentation: Kaylee