Bill of Rights AND Homework AND Upcoming

OK -- Sorry for the delay in updating the blog.

On Wednesday we finished going through the Bill of Rights.  Please check out this video on a quick way to memorize them:




It is quick and simple.  The Bill of Rights are basic to our understanding of liberties in the USA.  Amazinly the words penned over 200 years ago are so applicable and even contemporary.

Homework for the week: 

1. What amendment has been the most visited by the Judicial System?  I did make up a word -- "Judiciated" which is not correct, but judicate is a word.  See if you can find the definition. 
2. Find the 4 Amendments to the TN State Constitution in November and what they are all about.
3. When did TN become a state?  Find out and put within the larger timeline of US history.  Please don't just come up with the date of statehood, but make sure you associate it with other events in US history.  
4. Explore the Dred Scott case.  How did that impact the US and how do the Bill of Rights apply to it?
5. How does the Bill of Rights (esp the ones we went over this week) apply to Guantanamo Bay?
6. What is the legal definition of due process and imminent threat?  How does the Bill of Rights protect citizens in relationship to these issues?
7. Does Amendment 7 only apply to Civil lawsuits?  What does it really mean?
8. Why does America not use firing squads? 

In class this week we will explore some important court cases related to the Bill of Rights.  Know the Bill of Rights (QUIZ and reward) for the discussion.  Be prepared to talk.  We'll be splitting up into groups to work on the project AND groups will report their findings to the class.  

We are ALMOST halfway through the semester!!!  We are going to begin to explore the design of the Governemnt of the USA and POLITICS!  It is gonna be an adventure.  Please begin to be aware of popular culture and how it gives glimpses into the significant events of an era.  Listen out and look for songs that give insight into government or politics throughout the history of the USA.  Look out for art (cartoons -- political or not).  See what you can learn about the different decades (for the sake of time we'll digest it by decades) and the dynamic nature of history.  

Thanks!  See you next Wednesday!!!