LINKS Presidential Authority Brookings Institution Constitution Daily Cornell University Law School Smithsonian Magazine New York Times HowStuffWorks Washington Examiner Campaign Finance New York Times Federal Election Commission Federal Election Commission (Links) S.1480 Open Secrets (2008 Election) Open Secrets 2 (Links) WNYC Radio CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS Presidential Authority 1. Was President Obama’s executive order on immigration similar to those of other presidents? 2. Should the Constitution have different or clearer guidelines for what a president can and cannot do? 3. Did President Obama act illegally by unilaterally making broad changes to the immigration system without the consent of Congress? 4. How do you think the Supreme Court will rule as far as whether Obama’s executive orders on immigration were unconstitutional? 5. Where in the Constitution do presidents draw their authority? Campaign Finance 1. Is our current system of campaign finance in need of reform? Why or why not? 2. Should our campaign finance system be public rather than private? 3. How would you change campaign contribution laws? 4. Do the wealthy have too much control over election outcomes? 5. Is your right to spend your money how you choose part of your right to free speech, or not?
Ideas for Teachers/Critical Questions – Feb. 2016
LINKS Paris Climate Agreement White House Statement European Commission Washington Post Article New York Times Article Fox News Article CNBC Article Social Media & Terrorist Activity H.R.3654 Bill Washington Post Article NPR Article The Atlantic Article Fox Business Article CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS Paris Climate Agreement
- Do you believe that climate change is occurring and that humans are contributing to it?
- What is the evidence that proves the climate is or is not changing?
- Was the Paris Climate Agreement a victory for the U.S. and the planet? Why or why not?
- According to Fox News, the climate agreement marked “the world’s first comprehensive climate agreement with all countries, not just wealthy ones, taking action to tackle global warming.” Why is this significant?
- Why was the Paris agreement hailed as a “diplomatic achievement” on the part of the Obama Administration?
Social Media & Terrorism
- Is it fair to ask the social media companies to be responsible for monitoring and reporting terrorist activity?
- Is it a violation of First Amendment right to free speech to censor terrorist postings on social sites?
- Was H.R.3654 a good piece of legislation? Why or why not?
- Why do you think Twitter is the most popular social site for ISIS terrorists? What makes it attractive?
- How does the global nature of social media make it especially challenging to police in the United States?
Ideas for Teachers/Critical Questions – Nov./Dec. 2015
Links:
Student Loan Debt Reform White House goo.gl/mGn0Za
Student Loan Bill Tracker goo.gl/1pTD05
Congressional Budget Office Report goo.gl/4ycDYM
Moveon.org Petition goo.gl/ULnS4m
Forbes Where 2016 Presidential Candidates Stand goo.gl/EpzyB6
Boots on Ground in Syria USA Today Article goo.gl/Vz1G5J
Vice News Article goo.gl/1tBPlm
ForeignPolicy.com goo.gl/PkTuzN
CNN Article goo.gl/5ZeW3Y
Brookings Institution Article goo.gl/PT7ZhR
Critical Thinking Questions:
Student Loan Debt Reform
- Why is student loan debt such a major problem now when it didn’t used to be decades ago?
- What factors led to this crisis?
- Is a college degree worth the money today?
- Why are college tuition amounts increasing so quickly?
- Is legislation like the Student Loan Borrowers’ Bill of Rights Act, introduced by Rep. Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), a good idea?
Boots on the Ground in Syria
- What is a “proxy war” and how does the term apply to the Syria situation?
- How do the recent bombings in Paris, France, change the stakes in the ISIS situation?
- What factors make putting boots on the ground in Syria a complex decision?
- Did President Obama make the right decision to send troops to Syria?
- What else could he have done?
Ideas for Teachers – October 2015
Resources for additional study: Minimum Wage Raise the Minimum Wage raisetheminimumwage.com University of Chicago Poll of Economists goo.gl/QvzwA2 Economic Policy Institute epi.org/pay/ Pew Research Center goo.gl/BB1x3A UC San Diego Dept of Economics Study goo.gl/PK4FTa Congressional Budget Office Report goo.gl/EPFmoY High-Speed Rail White House’s Position goo.gl/SmizZc American Public Transportation Assn. goo.gl/XtqqJo Heritage Foundation Commentary goo.gl/9OGiWz Campaign for America’s Future Commentary goo.gl/ZNHMOh Debate.org’s Pro & Con Arguments goo.gl/xLtbVR SGAP makes a concerted effort to provide links to reliable sources, and to provide links to a balance of left-leaning and right-leaning publications. Some of the links have been shortened for your convenience. Issue # 1 – Should the federal government raise the minimum wage? Those in favor of raising the minimum wage say all Americans should be able to earn a “living wage” – that is, enough money to maintain a normal standard of living by working a 40-hour week. They say if workers earn more money this will translate into fewer people needing government-assistance programs as well as more discretionary spending, which will fuel the economy. Those against argue that in a capitalist system the government should not intervene in free-market dynamics because this will affect companies’ ability to hire and pay workers, which could result in a loss of jobs. Should the U.S. raise the federal minimum wage? Issue # 2 – Should the government spend money to build a national high-speed rail network and grant funding to states such as California? Those for an intercity, high-speed rail across the U.S. say it will spur growth, reduce traffic, increase mobility by offering an alternative to flying or driving and reduce our dependence on oil. Those against the idea of the government investing in a national high-speed rail say it is simply too costly, with the expense outweighing any benefits. They point out that some states, such as Texas, are utilizing private funding. Should the U.S. government fund a high-speed rail system through grants to specific states?
Ideas for Teachers – May 2015
Websites and videos for additional study:
Will the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade agreement be more beneficial to Americans than to multinationals?
Do the benefits of fracking outweigh the disadvantages?
The links above are to established, peer reviewed journals. Peer reviews are the evaluations of work by professional journalists who hold other journalists to standards of truth-in-reporting. SGAP makes a concerted effort to provide links to reliable sources, and to provide links to a balance of left-leaning and right-leaning publications. The links have been shortened for your convenience.
Issue # 1 – Will the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade agreement be more beneficial to Americans than to multinationals? Most business interests, Republicans and the Obama administration back the TPP agreement, while virtually all of organized labor, most Democrats and environmental groups oppose it. Students can consider how America interacts with its global neighbors. Issue # 2 – Do the benefits of fracking outweigh the disadvantages? Fracking is at the heart of America’s oil and gas industry. To understand the controversy that surrounds the extraction method, students may want to consider these questions: What are the dangers of fracking? Are proper regulations in place to protect people and the environment? If America’s own fossil fuel is not produced, what are the consequences? Is it better for the U.S. to buy foreign fuel or to regulate its own oil and gas industry? Teachers – Please remind your students to download the new SGAP mobile app. Go to Google Play or iTunes Apple Store.
Ideas for Teachers – February 2015
Websites and videos for additional study:
Should the U.S. normalize relations with Cuba?
Should Congress make vaccinations mandatory?
The links above are to established, peer reviewed journals. Peer reviews are the evaluations of work by professional journalists who hold other journalists to standards of truth-in-reporting. SGAP makes a concerted effort to provide links to reliable sources, and to provide links to a balance of left-leaning and right-leaning publications. The links have been shortened for your convenience.
Issue # 1 – Should the U.S. normalize relations with Cuba? The White House says, “It is clear that decades of U.S. isolation of Cuba have failed to accomplish our enduring objective of promoting the emergence of a democratic, prosperous, and stable Cuba.” Do you think American Democracy will be in jeopardy if it reestablishes ties with its Communist neighbor? You may want to define Democracy and Communism before you formulate your answer. Issue # 2 – Should Congress make vaccinations mandatory? While some say vaccinations are personal and each individual family should have the legal right to decide what is best based on their doctor’s recommendation, others say vaccinations are also meant to protect the lives of others, and no one has a right to put public health in jeopardy.
Ideas for Teachers – October 2014
Websites and videos for additional study: Should Congress pass legislation to reinstate Net Neutrality rules?
Should Congress pass legislation to block the EPA’s Water rule?
The links above are to established, peer reviewed journals. Peer reviews are the evaluations of work by professional journalists who hold other journalists to standards of truth-in-reporting. SGAP makes a concerted effort to provide links to reliable sources, and to provide links to a balance of left-leaning and right-leaning publications. The links have been shortened for your convenience.
Issue # 1 – Net Neutrality
Do you think “Big Cable” is trying to mislead the public by saying net neutrality is the same as over-regulation? Do you believe charging more for premium Internet services is a good idea? Do you think net neutrality will keep telecom companies from developing ideas and innovations for those who use the Internet?
Issue # 2 – EPA’s Water Rule
Do you think farmers and ranchers would be right to feel the EPA was invading their privacy if officials came on their land to inspect small bodies of water? How would you define America’s waterways? Do you feel our waterways must be strongly protected for the safety of all?
Ideas for Teachers – May 2014
Websites and videos for additional study:
Gun-Free School Zones
- Strategy: Gun-Free School Zones
- Federal Law on Guns in Schools
- Stockman Seeks Repeal of Gun-Free School Zones Law
- Pratt: ‘Gun-free zones are murder magnets’
Photo IDs for Voters
- That Was Quick: Texas Moves Forward With Voter ID Law After Supreme Court Ruling
- It turns out disenfranchising people is unconstitutional
- N.C. sued soon after voter ID bill signed into law
- How does Pa.’s voter’s ID law impact the Amish?
The links above are to established, peer reviewed journals. Peer reviews are the evaluations of work by professional journalists who hold other journalists to standards of truth-in-reporting. SGAP makes a concerted effort to provide links to reliable sources, and to provide links to a balance of left-leaning and right-leaning publications. The links have been shortened for your convenience.
Issue #1 – Gun-Free School Zones
Should Congress pass a law doing away with gun-free school zones?
- Do you think gun-free school zones make students safer or more vulnerable to attack?
- Would you feel safer if an adult at your school was trained to carry a firearm?
- List ways that would help reduce violence on school campuses.
Issue #2 – Photo IDs for Voters
Should voters be required to present a photo ID at the polls?
- Do you think a photo ID requirement would keep people from voting? If so, what would you do about that?
- Should the federal government help less capable citizens acquire photo ID documents?
- Do you think voters should have to prove they are U.S. citizens?
Results of last issue’s poll
Should Congress do more to stop Russian aggression against Ukraine?
| Yes | No | Undecided |
|---|---|---|
| 40% | 42% | 18% |
Should the American Gray Wolf be removed from the Endangered Species List?
| Yes | No | Undecided |
|---|---|---|
| 38% | 49% | 13% |