Legislative Branch Video

Federal Government - The Legislative Branch

CNN's Taliban

CNN aired an interestng inside look at the Taliban this past weekend. Watch a segment below.



Afghanistan Crossroads

Pres. Obama v. Congressional Democrats

WATCH THE VIDEOS POSTED BELOW. After viewing you should be able to answer the following:
1) What are the main provisions of the economic deal reached between the White House and Republicans? Be able to ID at least 3 main points.
2) How have Democrats in the House responded and why? Why are they threatening to block president Obabma's deal? Be able to ID at least 2 specific reasons they oppose this deal.


FIRST VIDEO TO WATCH --->>>President Obama Announces a Deal




For your blog response 9 (Due Tuesday Morning Periods 6 and 1)
What do you think?
-Should the tax cuts include everyone?
-Should unemployment be extended?
-Why is the payroll tax cut controversial?

Period 1 Debate Documents

Document 1
Document 2

Mid-Term Elections

Write a response to the midterm election results. What offices were up for grabs? Who is in control of The House of Representatives? Who is in control of the Senate? How do the election results affect Obama's Presidential Agenda?

Due Friday pm

LBJ - Gulf of Tonkin

Gulf of Tonkin clip

http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/Everyone%20Else/pages-4/US-Soldiers-complaining-about-difficulty-level-in-Afghan-war-Scrape-TV-The-World-on-your-side.html

In class, we have discussed the ongoing war in Afghanistan. We have observed that there is no easy way to "fix" the problems of the Afghan people, even though the original goal of displacing the Taliban regime has been reached. The United States military is now fighting a new war against Taliban insurgents, many of whom have found safety and aid in Pakistan, a well-paid "ally" of the U.S.
Briefly explain how you would deal with the war in Afghanistan, and why. Would you abandon the region? Would you increase the size and scope of the conflict? How would you address Pakistan?

Due Monday 10/18

McMahon v. Blumenthal

Below you will find a link to the Katie Couric Interview we viewed in class. After watching the interviews, what do you think of Richard Blumenthal and Linda McMahon respectively? Think about the following questions in your response: What are some questions you would ask if you interviewed the two candidates? Did you notice any biases within the program? What issues/information do people seem to care about?

Katie Couric Interview

Due FRIDAY pm

Political Parties Exercises

Below are links that you will need to complete the unit on Political Parties and Elections:

Political Parties Platform


Tea Party Upsets
Katie Couric on the CT Senate Race



Political Parties PowerPoint (from class)

Advice to Candidates

Due Wednesday 9/15

What advice would you give to either Linda McMahon (R), Richard Blumenthal (D), or Brian Hill (I), as he/she campaigns for a CT Senate seat (other than "Quit" if you don't like one). Google them. Check out their campaign sites for their views on issues. We will be examining the candidates, as well as the whole election process, over the next few weeks.

First Response

Please respond to the following in a few paragraphs, making sure you clearly identify an issue and provide examples or reasons for your response to get full credit. You response is due by Friday evening.

What do you feel is the most important issue facing Americans today?

Some recent polls.

The Gulf Oil Spill and BP

How should the government deal with BP and the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico?

Spill Drags On
Effects of Spill

Responses due by Friday am.

Memorial Day @ Arlington National Cemetary

V.P Biden & Mrs. Biden Attend Wreath-Laying Ceremony on Memorial Day

How do you think about veterans on Memorial Day? What does the day mean to you?

Due Friday am.

Who would you nominate?

If you could nominate any living individual to the Supreme Court, who would it be and why? Due Monday by 2:00pm.

Immigration

How should the US deal with the issue of immigration? What changes would you make to US policy and why? Be sure to use specific evidence from the articles and video clips in support of your answer.

Responses are due by Friday AM.

White House Correspondents Dinner

Jay Leno hosts the 2010 White House Press and Scholarship Dinner.

The USA PATRIOT Act and the War on Terrorism

Respond to any combinations of the prompts below. Responses are due Friday am.

- How do we fight an enemy like Al Qaeda?
- Are principles and security mutually exclusive, at least to a degree?
- How much power to investigate Americans should the government have?
- Are you willing to give up some degree of privacy to fight the war on terrorism?

The War in Afghanistan

How would you advise President Obama to pursue to the war? Your response should take into consideration the resources we have discussed.

Period 2 due Friday
Period 5 due Friday
Period 6 due Friday
Period 7 due Friday

U.S. forces leave Afghanistan's Korengal Valley - Wednesday, April 14, 2010; 9:59 AM

U.S. and Pakistan adapt their approach on divisive issue of North Waziristan

Homework Readings for 3/29-4/1

Read each of the stories linked below:

An Evolving War - Overview of US involvement in Afghanistan
The Health-care Bill
The Immigration Debate is Heating Back Up

If you could ask either of these men a question, what would it be and why?
-OR-
What was the most interesting response or comment made by either Mr. Gates or Mr. Buffett? Why?


Responses due Friday Morning

The New Age of Walmart

What are your thoughts on the Walmart debate?

Period 2 Due Tuesday 3/23 @ 7:00am
Period 5 Due Wednesday 3/24 @ 7:00am
Period 6 Due Wednesday 3/24 @ 7:00am
Period 7 Due Tuesday 3/23 @ 7:00am

The Healthcare Debate

Some links to stories:
Employers plan to shift more health-care costs to workers, survey reports
Coverage on The Washington Post
Wall Street Journal Online - Subscription required for full access, but articles can be accessed via EBSCO.
More TBA

Student Rights (Ha, Ha)

Do you feel that the majority opinion in your Supreme Court court case was correctly decided? Explain your answer referring to the constitution, using evidence from the case documents and examples from your personal experiences as a student.

Period 2: Due 3/12 by 7:00 a.m.
Period 5: Due 3/17 by 7:00 a.m.
Period 6: Due 3/15 by 7:00 a.m.
Period 7: Due 3/15 by 7:00 a.m.

Life in the White House

Now that you have viewed Inside the Obama White House, what did you find surprising or interesting? Would you want to live there, or be interested in working there? Why/Why Not?

Due Friday morning 3/5

Test Submission

All sections. Post a test submission. Due Mon. a.m.

The State of the Union

The State of the Union



GOP Response
Washington Post Coverage

1. Which issue raised do you personally feel is most important? Why?
2. Was the speech effective? Why/Why not?
3. What would you do to make the speech more effective?

Respond to at least one of the above prompts in a few paragraphs supporting your response with examples from the speech. Due Friday am.

Haiti

News from Haiti

60 Minutes Report from 1/17.

Washington Post Coverage

Also Google CNN, Fox or other networks for news and video reports.

Optional Response for Periods 5 & 6

Possible topics to discuss:
What were your thoughts as you viewed the death and destruction in Haiti?
How do you view America's response during this first week?
What should our long term commitments be?
Should the US allow increased Haitian immigration?
You may comment on these, or any other aspect of this disaster you wish.