American GovernmentUnit 2 Project 2

• Created by: Caleb Blaylock• Date finished: Tuesday, October 23, 2007• Class: American Government

Part 1

Part one is for me to introduce you to my amendment!

What amendments are and what they do

• Amendments are addendum of laws to the Constitution for the nation and protections for the states. Amendments do things such as guarantee basic human and political rights to Americans. An amendment will add to, revise or improve a law in the constitution. Lastly, an amendment can resolves issues of conflict, which were not resolved by the constitution, by making or repealing laws. Basically, amendments make new laws; instead of rewriting the constitution.

• Amendments usually limit the power of the national government and give protections to the states. After the constitution was created some federalist stilled believed that there were not sufficient limitations on government power built into the constitution. When unique circumstances and dramatic national issues arose people saw that the constitution needed more protections; as a result the Bill of Rights was created. As you can see in the previous example; Amendments help balance the power of the national, state, local and district governments. Amendments may continue to be added to the constitution, because as things change and new conflicts arise amendments may be sentry of peace by prohibit a tyrannical society from entering.

The number of amendments to our constitution

• There are 27 amendments to our constitution. The first ten amendments, called the Bill of Rights, was put into affect on December 15, 1791.The last amendment, the twenty-seventh, was proposed in 1789 as part of the original Bill of Rights.

How often we pass amendments

• America was declared independent from Great Britain in 1776, which is 231 years from the year 2007. Therefore, about every eight years a new amendment is passed to the American amendments.

Who is affected by the passage of an amendment

• The three branches of government, the national government, the states, the citizens and all other occupants, settlers or residents of the United States are affected by the passage of an amendment. Amendments affect all of these people, because they are laws that add, take away, revise or prohibit certain rights and laws.The Amendments purpose is to resolve issues of conflict that the constitution doesn’t resolve.

• As a result that the constitutional laws connect and are enforced upon all citizens means; when an amendment is added or repealed all people are, supposed to be, effected regardless of race, status, culture or religion.

The kinds of issues dealt with by amendments

• The issues dealt with by amendments are as follows: protections affording fundamental rights and freedoms, which deal with freedom of religion, speech, press, and assembly. Amendments deal with giving the right to petition the government. Protections for citizens for arbitrary military action, which includes such things as the right to bear arms and that troops may not be quartered in homes during peacetime. Protections against arbitrary police and court action are issues dealt with by the fourth through eighth amendments. Protections such as no unreasonable searches or seizures. The requirement, needed, of the grand Jury indictment for a person to be prosecuted for a serious crime. A right to a speedy, public, impartial trial with a defense counsel. The eighth amendment allows defendants to be released on bail pending trial and requires that bail will not be excessive, but it does not guarantee the right to bail. The ninth amendment states that the rights listed in the Bill of Rights are not the only rights that citizens have. It says that the people retain other rights not specifically listed in the document

• The tenth amendments limits the powers of the national government, thereby protecting individual rights. As a result the amendment gives to the states all powers not reserved for the federal government or prohibited by the Constitution.

If there are currently any attempts to add an amendment to our Constitution

• Yes, there are current attempts to add an amendment to our Constitution. One attempt to create a new amendment is as follows: to preclude corporations from claiming bill of rights protections.

• The second attempt to add a new amendment is as follows: to reverse Buckley v. Valeo and reverse the dominance of wealth in electoral politics.

• The URL below is the location where more detailed information about the above amendments can be found. http://reclaimdemocracy.org/political_reform/proposed_constitutional_amendments.html

Part 2

Part two of my project is for me to propose my amendment!

My proposed Amendment

• My proposed Network Neutrality Amendment is as follows: There shall be no prohibiting of Network Neutrality for any reason. There shall always be a free network. For this free network all people shall have the highest connection capabilities that are currently available. The fee for the highest connection(s) shall be equal/the same for all people. Also, the network will have provided to all people; the highest application speed available. Therefore, for all people; communication may be continual and information/communication needs to be abundant.

• Do you want the government to keep knowledge from you, because you cannot access information expertly; then make you feel stupid, because they have the information.

My evaluative paragraph about my proposed amendment

The issue America has that I think can be resolved by the passage of an amendment is about Network Neutrality. This issue is important to me, because without network neutrality the businesses industry probably will be unbalanced and personal privacy largely may be intruded. The Internet might cease to exist! Dear citizens, the reason there should be an amendment that prohibits the discarding of network neutrality is as follows: network neutrality provides the same use and quality of service for every end user, allows end users to choose winners and losers in an application meritocracy, forces a virtuous cycle where winning requires making offers faster and cheaper by businesses. It allows end users to be in control of what content, services and applications they use; end users should not be regulated or controlled.

If network neutrality is taken away, then there would be higher fees for connection and application speed. Organizations such as Intel or Verizon would be able to choose whether a business succeeds or wins over another in the digital age. For example, Verizon could be paid more money to make one business have better access or application speed, which means that company is better able to maneuver their business in the digital business environment, thereby winning. American should not have big business control what information people obtain. An end user should be able to use the internet and be able to have the same abilities to have the same tools. Innovation probably will end for the majority of people, because people won’t be able pay high fees for internet access and higher applications speed; therefore they will not be able to compete with major competitors. Privacy of end users most likely will be taken away, because billing systems will be applied and the monitor, and tracking of the types of applications and content customers use.The main thing to keep in mind is that innovation may cease and end users will not choose winners and losers in an application meritocracy. Now, network neutrality will help keep connection access, application speed and business competition fair between people and companies won’t be able to control business or what people can access. Kevin McArthur wrote, “By protecting Net Neutrality, we guarantee that pro-union sites do not get blocked, that ISPs do not charge anti-competitive 'preference' fees and that independent media can compete based on content, not pocketbook, with the largest of publishers.” Sir Tim Berners Lee is the inventor and founder of the internet. He said, “When I invented the Web, I didn't have to ask anyone's permission. Now, hundreds of millions of people are using it freely. I am worried that that is going end" Network Neutrality is a serious issue and I propose that Network Neutrality should not be taken away or intruded upon.

Main References: http://gigaom.com/2006/02/06/net-neutrality-not-an-optional-feature-of-internet/ (Article by: Daniel Berninger)

And http://www.neutrality.ca/ (Posted by: Kevin McArthur)

Websites and references I used for my evaluative paragraph

• Website:

1. http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/02/sir_tim_berners.html

2.  

http://www.w3.org/People/Berners Lee/Weaving/Overview.html

3. http://gigaom.com/2006/02/06/net-neutrality-not-an-optional-feature-of-internet/

4. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/H/HTTP.htm

References:

5. First blog by Daniel Berninger that is senior analyst at Tier1 Research

http://gigaom.com/2006/02/06/net-neutrality-not-an-optional-feature-of-internet/

6. Dictionary.com

7. etymonline.com

8.http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/H/HTTP.htm

Part 3

• The third part of my project is for me to talk about the process I used to get my proposed amendment added to the constitution.

Process 1 and 2

• 1. My amendment was proposed to both houses of Congress.

• 2. My amendment was ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures.

Process 3

3. Many things happened during the ratification process. First I researched material regarding the definition and function of Net Neutrality. I researched information to answer questions such as: how network neutrality affects the economy, the government, businesses, education, individuals, safety and etc. Secondly, I wrote the skeleton part of my amendment, then had it written professionally by my trusted friend who works at the United States Copyright Office. I then had my copyright amendment registered in work with the U.S. Copyright Office. Fifth, I created an organized Power Point Presentation and wrote a Research Paper in MLA format, in order to organize the information I researched. My research and information was now solidified, and I was now completely ready to move quickly in trying to persuade both houses of Congress to ratify my amendment. I started by writing a letter explaining my status, occupation and my proposed amendment. I also wrote why I created the amendment and my goal and reason(s) for wanting to add the amendment.

Process 3… Continued

• I attached my power point presentation and research paper with my written letter, then sent all three things, as one package, to every person involved in any form with/in both houses of Congress. Each person that received my package was able to fully understand the purpose of my amendment and how it will affect the nation. Seventhly, it was time to wait for the final decision. I received email messages back from all of those I sent letters. One special email had special encryption. After I followed the instructions to break the encryption, the letter read; “The Network Neutrality Amendment gives the people access to the internet with a connection and application speed that gives them to great an ability of communicating and access to much information. If the people have enough capability of accessing information, then they are actually accessing more power, because knowledge is power. If the government cannot control what applications, process, connections and networks people use, then the information given to people cannot be regulated. This amendment gives the people to great of access to information, therefore they will have too much information, which means more power. The balance of power between the government and the people is unbalanced if this amendment is ratified.

Process 3… Continued –Again-

• There is not an equal amount of power between the government and the people; if the people have to much information they have to much power.” After receiving this letter and not being able to have access any links so that I could send it else-where. I could not copy the message, because after it was open five minutes it automatically terminating itself. Spooky! I did not no what to do. This was the only letter with an argument that I received about my proposed amendment. 90% of the letters sent to me, in reply to my letter, gratified my work. I calmly restrained myself from trying to find who sent the “Special message” and waited for the notification decision of my proposed amendment.

• Since, 90% of of the people in both houses of Congress gratified my amendment proposal I decided to advertise my proposed amendment nationally. In order for me to national publicize my proposed amendment I first wrote my story about the journey I had taken to get my amendment proposed. I included that 90% of the replying letters sent to me were gratifications of my proposed amendment. I sent this letter to NBC, CNN, Fox News and ABC. The networks did not charge me for air-time, because my story could make history, because it may become the twenty-eighth amendment!

Part 4

• Part four of my project is for me to conclude my project.

Why my Amendment was passed or why it died (failed)

• Well, My proposed amendment was professional presented to government officials and gratified by 90% of them. Then, the story about my journey was nationally televised on four major television networks. As a result of the television broadcasting radio stations Broadcasted discussions about my story and my proposed amendment. National polls were taken on who agreed with the proposed amendment. Since, all of these things were happening and I had not spent any money on proposing my amendment; I decided to set-up a personal website. The website was professionally completed by a web-designer company called “exa.” The site gave details and simple writings about myself, my journey of prosing my amendment, what happened during the long journey, what the amendment affects, who approved and disapproved of my amendment and why I think we should have the amendment added. This concluded my journey!

• Through all of my early mornings and late nights working on trying to propose and get my amendment ratified just might be rewarded. One early morning at my front door opened I received a hand delivered notification letter from both houses of Congress. The notification letter read, “Sir, Caleb Edward Blaylock, Congratulations for proposing your amendment. Your Network Neutrality amendment is, now, currently; the twenty-eighth amendment to be ratified to the United States Constitution.” My amendment lived!

Any other way that my proposed amendment could have been resolved.

• I could have resolved my issue of passing my amendment by having two-thirds (33 states) of the state legislatures ask Congress to call a national convention to propose my amendment. Then, have the amendment proposed by the convention, which would require ratification by three-fourths (38 states) of the states legislatures.

• I also could have taken a more prolonged period of time proposing my amendment, in order that this issue not be hurriedly placed in peoples minds. If people are not familiar with a topic and the topic is something that creates quick change or takes or gives things away, then people are more prone to shun the topic. Therefore, if I prolonged the proposal, then it would help prevent people from shunning my proposed amendment.

If I think that passing amendments is a good way to resolve the issues of today

• Passing an amendment to resolve the issues of today is both a good and bad way to resolve the issues of today. What I mean by good is that the proposed amendment is recognized on a national level. What I mean by bad is that people begin to think, since the amendment is recognized nationally, that amendments are the only main laws that affect every citizen. This is not true because many decisions every year are finalized on the local and state government level. These decisions affect with just as much dynamism as nationally proclaimed amendments.

Why and when amendments should be passed

• Amendments should be passed only when it is about anything concerning the federal government. Amendments should only be passed when about the previous topic, so that people will better recognize and understand the powers of the Federal Government. This helps people to understand the ladder of powers in the United States government.

The End!!!Thanks for Viewing:

Caleb (2007)More Options Below

View my self-evaluation Part 5.

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Post this slide show to a blogger, myspace, ect.

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I give a special thanks to Mr. Moses who helped me each week to stay on track, in order to complete this project.

And

To slideshare for making its creative tool available for my use.

Part 5

• For part five of my project I am going to evaluate my project myself. I am going to discuss how I did in accordance with the grading rubric used for this project. I will be giving examples from the project of why I earned the rubric points.

The Development Objective

• My score was 4 points for the Development Objectives. Some examples of why I earned this score are as follows: “Preclude corporations from claiming bill of rights protections.” “Network all citizens shall have the highest connection capabilities.” “The ability for anyone or thing(s) to be able to allure or take away Network Neutrality.”

The Organization Objectives

• My score was 4 points for the Organization Objectives. Some examples of why I earned this score are as follows: What minor flaws were present? I followed the organizational plan created by the instructor. I included all of the parts and followed the directions within each part. For example when the teacher told me to tell who are affected by the passage of an amendment; I told who the people are that are affected and on top of that I described in more detail why amendments affect them.

The Attention to Audience Objectives

• My score was 4 points for the Attention to Audience Objectives. Some examples of why I earned this score are as follows: Yes, I provide information relevant to the needs of the audience. I describe in detail why I am proposing my amendment. Then, to add more detail I told what Network Neutrality does for people, the internet, the economy, business and you.

The Language Objectives

• My score was 4 points for the Language Objectives. Some examples of why I earned this score are as follows: I consistently provide language choices to enhance my project. Example of this are in the first part: “Pending upon this information, about every eight years a new amendment is passed in America.” For part two: “the impetust available so that there should be an amendment.” For part three: “quickly in trying to actuate both houses of Congress to ratify my amendment.” Part 4: “Then people are more prone to shun the topic.”

What I liked and disliked about this unit and project?

• I disliked nothing in this project. Even though it took four weeks to complete the project it helped me to retain the information I learned regarding the passage procedures of an amendment. I liked that I found how to use slidecast, because it allows me to have a more creative way to present my project. I enjoyed Mr. Moses organized guidelines each week in the video announcement. His blogs each week helped me to stay focused on what I need to complete, in order to stay on track.