more than yea or nay day 2 0

VOTING IN CONGRESS:VOTING IN CONGRESS:

It’s More Than Just It’s More Than Just “Yea” or “Nay”“Yea” or “Nay”

Day 2: Try Your Hand!Day 2: Try Your Hand!

BILL “A”BILL “A” mail delivery mail delivery

on Saturdays!on Saturdays!

StopStop

Yikes! That seems like a big decision!

We’d better look at the

four factors…

Does Congress have the power to Does Congress have the power to establish post offices?establish post offices?

A.A. YesYes

B.B. NoNo

FACTOR #1FACTOR #1Does Congress have the power Does Congress have the power to stop Saturday mail delivery?to stop Saturday mail delivery?

Is deciding what days mail will Is deciding what days mail will be delivered part of establishing be delivered part of establishing a post office?a post office?

A.A. ProbablyProbably

B.B. Probably notProbably not


A.A. Congress has the power to stop Congress has the power to stop Saturday mail deliverySaturday mail delivery

B.B. Congress does not have the Congress does not have the power to stop Saturday deliverypower to stop Saturday delivery

Therefore:Therefore:

(Quickly explain why on your paper.)(Quickly explain why on your paper.)


WAIT!WAIT!

There are a few things There are a few things you should know before you should know before you make up your mind.you make up your mind.

FACTOR #2FACTOR #2In your opinion, should In your opinion, should

Saturday mail delivery end?Saturday mail delivery end?

The U.S. Postal Service pays The U.S. Postal Service pays for itself with the money it for itself with the money it brings in from its services.brings in from its services.

HOWEVER… The Postal Service is HOWEVER… The Postal Service is losing a LOT of money because losing a LOT of money because people are sending fewer letters. people are sending fewer letters.

Postal Service IncomePostal Service Income

Postal Service IncomePostal Service Income Instead of using the Instead of using the mail, people are mail, people are texting and sending texting and sending email…email…

… … and paying their and paying their bills online. bills online.

Postal Service IncomePostal Service Income In 2009, the Postal In 2009, the Postal Service lostService lost$ 3,800,000,000$ 3,800,000,000

(That’s $3.8 billion.)(That’s $3.8 billion.)(With a “b.”)(With a “b.”)

Stopping delivery on Stopping delivery on Saturdays would save Saturdays would save the Postal Servicethe Postal Service$ 3,000,000,000$ 3,000,000,000(That’s $3 billion.)(That’s $3 billion.)

Is it worth it? Should Is it worth it? Should you consider other you consider other factors besides how factors besides how much money it costs?much money it costs?

Decide what you think and mark your Decide what you think and mark your answer on your paper. Don’t forget to answer on your paper. Don’t forget to explain your choice.explain your choice.


Saturday mail delivery end?Saturday mail delivery end?

Look at the checklist of Look at the checklist of values on your handout. values on your handout.

FACTOR #3FACTOR #3Would your political party Would your political party support ending Saturday support ending Saturday

delivery?delivery?

Which value most matches Which value most matches the purpose of this bill?the purpose of this bill?

Cost saving!Cost saving!

FACTOR #3FACTOR #3Would your political party Would your political party support ending Saturday support ending Saturday

delivery?delivery?

That means the Republican That means the Republican Party would be most likely to Party would be most likely to support this bill.support this bill.

WAIT!WAIT!

There are a few things There are a few things you should know before you should know before you make up your mind.you make up your mind.

FACTOR #4FACTOR #4Would your Would your votersvoters support support

ending Saturday mail delivery?ending Saturday mail delivery?

In 1957, Congress passed a In 1957, Congress passed a law to stop Saturday mail. It law to stop Saturday mail. It lasted one Saturday!lasted one Saturday!

Voters were so angry that Voters were so angry that Congress passed a bill to Congress passed a bill to bring Saturday delivery back!bring Saturday delivery back!

Did they have email in 1957?Did they have email in 1957?

A.A. YesYes

B.B. NoNo

(Do you think that would make a (Do you think that would make a difference to voters today?)difference to voters today?)





For this activity, let’s pretend the For this activity, let’s pretend the state or district you represent state or district you represent has more older voters than has more older voters than younger voters. younger voters.



Older voters are more likely to Older voters are more likely to still use the Postal Service. still use the Postal Service. Younger voters are more Younger voters are more likely to use email.likely to use email.



So… Do you think your voters So… Do you think your voters will support this bill?will support this bill?

Mark your papers.Mark your papers.

TIME TO VOTE!TIME TO VOTE!

You’ve looked at all four factors.You’ve looked at all four factors.

Now you must weigh them all Now you must weigh them all and decide whether to vote “yea” and decide whether to vote “yea” or “nay.” or “nay.”



If you marked “yea,” raise your If you marked “yea,” raise your hand.hand.

If you marked “nay,” raise your If you marked “nay,” raise your hand.hand.


Did the bill pass?Did the bill pass?

BILL “B”BILL “B” Increase the Increase the

minimum wage fromminimum wage from

25 cents! That’s a lot!

We’d better look at the

four factors…

$7.25$7.25 toto $7.50$7.50per hour.per hour.

FACTOR #1FACTOR #1Does Congress have the power Does Congress have the power

to raise the minimum wage?to raise the minimum wage?

What is the minimum wage?What is the minimum wage?

A.A. It’s when a wabbit gets It’s when a wabbit gets a tiny bit angwya tiny bit angwy

Grr.

B. It’s the smallest hourly rate B. It’s the smallest hourly rate an employer is allowed to an employer is allowed to pay an employeepay an employee



Look at the list of powers Congress Look at the list of powers Congress has. Does it say Congress can set has. Does it say Congress can set peoples’ wages?peoples’ wages?

A.A. YesYes

B.B. NoNo



What power lets Congress do What power lets Congress do something that’s not on the something that’s not on the list if it relates to something list if it relates to something that is on the list?that is on the list?

Make any laws “necessary and Make any laws “necessary and proper” for laws on the list!proper” for laws on the list!



Look at the list again. Is there a Look at the list again. Is there a power that might relate to the power that might relate to the money people earn at their jobs?money people earn at their jobs?



Here’s a hint: It’s one of these three Here’s a hint: It’s one of these three powers: powers:

A.A. Establish post officesEstablish post offices

B.B. Pass laws about business that Pass laws about business that happens across state lineshappens across state lines

C.C. Declare warDeclare war



Businesses are the ones that Businesses are the ones that pay people a wage, so this pay people a wage, so this power is related to a bill about power is related to a bill about the minimum wage.the minimum wage.



Mark your papers!Mark your papers!



Congress raise the minimum Congress raise the minimum wage to $7.50 per hour?wage to $7.50 per hour?

FACTOR #3FACTOR #3Would your political party Would your political party

support raising the support raising the minimum wage?minimum wage?


Which value most matches Which value most matches the purpose of this bill?the purpose of this bill?

FACTOR #3FACTOR #3Would your political party Would your political party

support raising the support raising the minimum wage?minimum wage?

Generosity!Generosity!

That means the Democratic That means the Democratic Party would be most likely to Party would be most likely to support this bill.support this bill.


raising the minimum wage?raising the minimum wage?

WAIT!WAIT!

There is some important There is some important information that will help information that will help you decide...you decide...



Some states have their Some states have their own minimum wage that is own minimum wage that is higher than the national higher than the national minimum wage.minimum wage.

Some do not.Some do not.

Check out the minimum wage Check out the minimum wage laws in your state:laws in your state:

The state’s The state’s minimum wage minimum wage law is…law is…

higherhigher

lowerlower

equal toequal to

… … the national the national minimum wage.minimum wage.

No state No state minimum wage.minimum wage.

Source: http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/america.htm

January 1, 2010January 1, 2010Write down the Write down the information for your state.information for your state.



Now you must weigh them all Now you must weigh them all and decide whether to vote “yea” and decide whether to vote “yea” or “nay.” or “nay.”



If you marked “yea,” raise your If you marked “yea,” raise your hand.hand.

If you marked “nay,” raise your If you marked “nay,” raise your hand.hand.


Did the bill pass?Did the bill pass?

BILL “C”BILL “C” The government will The government will

give titles of give titles of nobility to some nobility to some

citizens.citizens.Hey! Who made

her Queen?

Dunno! Better look at the

four factors…


to grant titles of nobility?to grant titles of nobility?

Is “granting titles of nobility” on Is “granting titles of nobility” on the list of Congress’s powers?the list of Congress’s powers?

A.A. YesYes

B.B. NoNo

C.C. Absolutely not!!Absolutely not!!



The Constitution specifically says that The Constitution specifically says that “no title of nobility shall be granted by “no title of nobility shall be granted by the United States.”the United States.”

FACTOR #2FACTOR #2In your opinion, should In your opinion, should Congress grant titles of Congress grant titles of

nobility?nobility?


FACTOR #3FACTOR #3Would your political party Would your political party support granting titles of support granting titles of

nobility?nobility?


Do any of the values match Do any of the values match the purpose of this bill?the purpose of this bill?

FACTOR #3FACTOR #3Would your political party Would your political party support granting titles of support granting titles of

nobility?nobility?

No!No!

Neither party would Neither party would support this bill. It’s support this bill. It’s just plain un-American!just plain un-American!

X X X X X X

FACTOR #4FACTOR #4Would your voters support Would your voters support granting titles of nobility?granting titles of nobility?

Since not everyone would Since not everyone would get a special title, do you get a special title, do you think most voters would think most voters would support this?support this?




Now you must weigh them all Now you must weigh them all and decide—and decide—

WAIT!WAIT!


There is one factor that matters more There is one factor that matters more than all the rest. Which one is it? than all the rest. Which one is it?

A.A. Congress’s powerCongress’s power

B.B. Your personal opinionYour personal opinion

C.C. Political party supportPolitical party support

D.D. What your voters thinkWhat your voters think


Would a bill clearly against Congress’s Would a bill clearly against Congress’s power even make it to a vote?power even make it to a vote?

A.A. ProbablyProbably

B.B. Probably notProbably not


If this bill did come to a vote, If this bill did come to a vote, would YOU vote yea or nay?would YOU vote yea or nay?


more than yea or nay day 2 0

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