Do Now 8/29/13: Complete the handout after the video

http://www.usatoday.com/media/cinematic/video/2697139/

Questions to guide discussion1) Where is this happening? To who? Syria-chemical weapons

attacks. Communities outside Damascus where Syrian government believed Rebels are. Women, children, all kinds of people killed.

-Pres. Bashar al-Assad.-How many killed in recent attack?-80 (Chicago Tribune); 1000 people (Wall Street Journal); hundreds (nbcnews)-2 yrs of civil war/fighting 100,000 killed2) Does Congress have the power to declare war without Presidential approval? The U.S. Constitution says the president is the commander in chief of the military, but it gives Congress the power to declare war and control war funding. President sets foreign policy.3) Based on the video and the article above, should the US get

involved? HOW? Why or why not? (opinions vary) 4) Has your opinion changed knowing more info?

Congress: What powers do they have? Why?

Legislative Branch

• Founders on Congress: Legislative Branch would be dominate branch of government

• Bicameral legislature – Upper House (Senate)

• Elected by state legislature until 17th Amendment, now members are elected by the people

• Further from the people bc 2 represent the whole state– Lower House (House of Representatives)

• closer and more responsive to the people bc they represent smaller districts

– Virginia Plan + New Jersey Plan = Connecticut “Great Compromise”

Who are they? – Business and Law are dominate

occupations– 10% of House of Rep. Af. American (13% of

pop)– 0 Af. Americans in Senate– 24 Hispanics in House, 2 in Senate (16% of

pop)– Native Americans & Asians even more

underrepresented – WOMEN most underrepresented group

• Make up over 50% of the population and only 17% of Congress

• Does this matter? “prioritize issues”

House Senate• 435 Members (based on pop)• 2 yr terms• Minimum age 25 yrs• Citizens for 7 yrs• Must live in the state they represent• All 435 seat up for re-election at once• Voted in by their constituencies, like

cities (smaller then Senate)• Closer to the people• Redistricting and Census affect seats and

representation (Gerrymandering)• Each member serves on about 6

committees• Leadership: Speaker of the House &

Majority Leader• House Rules committee determines rules

for debate and agenda• Introduce all tax/revenue bills• Can vote to impeach Federal officials

• 100 Members (2 per state)• 6 yr terms• Minimum age 30 yrs• Citizens for 9 yrs• Must live in the state they represent• 1/3 of seats up for re-election every 2 yrs• High visibility makes (2 per state) make

them more subject to public disapproval• More removed from the people• Leadership: VP (who votes when there’s

a tie) & Majority Leader• Leadership: Speaker of the House &

Majority Leader• More influential on foreign affairs

(making treaties)• Majority vote required to approve

presidential appointments (ex: Supreme Court Justices)

• Introduce all tax/revenue bills• Can vote to impeach Federal officials

Gerrymandering

“After redistricting and the 2012 election…the average Republican congressional district went from 73 percent white to 75 percent white. And even as Hispanics have emerged as America’s fastest-growing demographic group, only about one-tenth of Republicans represent districts where the Latino population is 25 percent or higher.” (Politico.com)

Incumbents vs. Challengers• More than 90% (House) 80% (Senate) of incumbents win re-

electionIncumbents

– Have more money to spend bc of Political Action Committees (PACS)• PACS limited to $5,000 donations but many give more $$$ after election• Allows them to pay for advertising, more visibility• Allows them to run for re-election (average cost to run for House $1.4

million)– Servicing their constituents: helping their constituents get what they

want • Pork barrel spending: federal projects and grants earmarked to bills, made

to a specific district or state (ex: a military base in your district to create jobs)– Having weak opponents who are inexperienced, unknown,

unrecognized

What are their powers & limits? Enumerated vs. Implied

Art. I, Sec. 8: Necessary and Proper Clause or Elastic Clause

“The Congress shall have Power To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.”

Art. I, Sec. 8: Coinage Clause

“The Congress shall have Power To...coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin....”

McCulloch vs. MarylandWhy is coining money an enumerated power? Why is making a federal reserve an implied power?

“If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks…will deprive the people of all property until their children

wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered…. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.”

– Thomas Jefferson in the debate over the Re-charter of the Bank Bill (1809)

Enumerated vs. Implied Congressional Powers

Enumerated: Powers explicitly stated in the Constitution.Ex: exclusive power to declare war, to raise and maintain the armed forces, and to make rules for the military.

Implied: Powers not be explicitly stated in Constitution, so long as the law helps them carry out their enumerated duty. “To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper…“

Creating bills (laws): Over 9,000 bills are proposed each term and fewer than 10% are enacted into law.

LimitsConstitution first came without Bill of Rights! • Bill of attainder: Says person cannot be

declared guilty of a crime without a trail.– Bills of attainder were common in Britain 1300-

1800 and resulted in executions of dissidents.• Writ of Habeas Corpus: The principle of habeas

corpus ensures that a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention—that is, detention lacking sufficient cause or evidence.

Article I PosterWhat is the first Article I of the Constitution all about?

Directions: 1) In your group, annotate Article I of the Constitution (mini-constitution/back of the book)2) Create a Poster that does the following:

– Identify the Branch of focus (Executive? Legislative? Judiciary?)– Sections as follows

Sec 1: Picture to illustrate this sectionSec 2: What house does this deal with? Congress or the Senate? What are three requirements to be in this part of Congress?Sec 3: What house does this deal with? Congress or the Senate? What are three requirements to be in this part of Congress?Sec 4: One sentence summarySec 5: QUOTE three things each house must do to keep things running smoothly, then paraphrase them in your own wordsSec 6: Two main ideas of this sectionSec 7: One sentence summary of this section & CONNECT it to YOUR LIFE.Sec 8: Find and quote the enumerated powers that that relate to the a) do now/Syria, b) to “property rights” (LOCKE!), c) “necessary and proper”/elastic clause and d) immigration. Breifly say how they relate to each.Sec 9: summarize 2 big ideas from this sectionSec 10: A picture to summarize this section

3) ONE SENTENCE that summarizes what this article all about at the bottom of this poster.4) Neatly write your names in the bottom right hand corner of your poster when your done

Article I of the Constitution

1) A significant quote from the Article (SAY)2) Summarize in a sentence or two what it’s all about (MEAN)

3) Explain why it’s significant (MATTER)4) One sentence that summarizes what this article is all about

Branch?

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3Section 4

Section 5Section 6

Section 7

Section 8

Picture to illustrate this section

One sentence summary

Find and quote the enumerated powers …

Two main ideas of this

sectionQUOTE three things each house must do

Section 9

Section 10

summarize 2 big ideas from this

section

One sentence summary &

CONNECT it to YOUR LIFE.

What house? 3 requirements

A picture to summarize this section

What house? 3 requirements

Key TermsDirections: In your group create a key term map by connecting ideas

(how are they related?), explaining their significance, or simply define each term on the poster. Add images!

• Gerrymandering• House of Representatives• Senate• Pork barrel• Constituents• Districts• Bicameral Legislature• Incumbents • Connecticut “Great”

Compromise• PACS• Campaign spending

• Writ of Attainder• Writ of Habeas Corpus• Implied power• Enumerated power• McColluch vs. Maryland• Majority Leaders• Elastic/Necessary and proper

clause