Legislative Preview & How a bill becomes a law.

Some of the things that the websites provided was how a bill becomes a law. there are several steps involved including: A Bill Is Born-Committee Action-Subcommittee Review-read through-Committee Action to Report a Bill-Voting-Referral to Other Chamber-Conference Committee Action-Final Action-Overriding a Veto.

I had no idea how a bill became a law before reading about it and learning. I think it's good that there are so many people it has to be checked by first to make sure that its good.

Quiz Ch 7 - Your blog Due Friday, Dec 10th

1. Explain the difference between hard and soft money:
Hard money is money that is harder to get compared to soft money that can just be donated money and spent wherever it is needed the most.


2. What is the electoral process and is this something that you agree or disagree with and why?
If more than one candidate from the same party seeks the office, a primary election is held to determine which candidate will be on the ballot in the general election.


3. What is the difference between a closed and open primary?
Closed primary only allows individuals from a specific party to vote. Open primary anyone can vote.


4. Explain what absentee voting is and what the positives and negative may be with regards to it:
Absentee voting is the option to vote by mail due to not being able to show up to vote for some reason or other. The positive is it makes it convenient and the negative is it can be posible for fraud voting.


5. What changes to your see in the way we run elections ten years from now?
Some changes I could see happening is people being allowed to be younger when they vote.


6. Explain your views on money and elections with regards the amount of money that is spent:
I think there should be a cap to the amount of money people can spend to make it fair.


7. Go to cnn.com or foxnews.com and find an article dealing with the election process.  Post the article in your blog and provide your viewpoints pertaining to the article.

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Ch 6 Test

1.  Provide a paragraph on an important issue of your choice from Section 1:

     In Secion 1, an important issue that I learned about was voting and what that means. Peoples rights to vote. Suffrage qualifications (the right to vote) is left for each state to decide. And why its important that people do vote.



2.  Provide a paragraph on an important issue of your choice from Section 2:
     In section 2 I learned a little more about voting and requirements for that. In the 26th amendment it states that any person of the age of 18 and a Uunited States Citizen, has the right to vote. The three basic qualifications for voting are: (1) citizenship, (2) residence, and (3) age.


3.  Provide a paragraph on an important issue of your choice from Section 3:

     Section 3 talked about the 15th Amendment. The 15th Amendment allowed all citizens of any race, color or previous condition of servitude. It was put written to help the earlier african americans that were treated as slaves. This allowed them to be able to vote.



4.  Provide a paragraph on an important issue of your choice from Section 4:

     This section touched more on the problem we face with people that do not vote. Your vote is your voice in this country. If you don't vote you don't have a say in whats going on. Millions of americans today still do not vote in city, county, and other public elections.



5. Explain voter apathy and what can be done to help it:

    Voter apathy is people who do not vote because of what they believe. Voting is something that must be done no matter what. It's what helps shape this country. The United States now has the lowest rate of voter participation of any democracy in the world. Voter apathy is the peoples participation in voting.


6. Explain the qualifications for registering to vote:

    You must be a U.S citizen. Must be registered to vote. Must be atleast 18 years of age. Can not be convicted of a felon. and must have proof of residence. Must have knowledge of the english language.

   

Election Results

After viewing the National election results I see the majority of the people voting, voted republican. I think this may be because so many people are unhappy with the way Obama is dealing with things like the health care plan and where are troops are.  So as voters, I think people may want polititians from the other side (republicans) to even things out.

The State wide elections results were simular. The majority of the people statewide also voted for republicans. The smoking ban also got voted to come into effect. I think this will effect how many people come into a bar to smoke and play the video lottery, bars may be losing buisiness because of this, and video lotteries could be lossing buisiness as well.

Federalism Round Up

Pick two areas from each of the three sections in Chapter 4.  Write a paragraph on those areas and what you have learned in regards to each area.  You should have six total paragraphs.

Section 4.1:
          I learned about Federalism and that it's a political concept in which a group of members are bound together by covenant with a governing representative head.
         
          The separation of powers, also known as trias politica, is a model for the governance of democratic states. The model was first developed in ancient Greece and came into widespread use by the Roman Republic as part of the uncodified Constitution of the Roman Republic.

Section 4.2
          I learned about the obligations that the Constitution places on the nation for the benefit of the States, like: Republican form of government , Invasion and internal disorder, and Respect for territorial integrity.

          Respect for Territorial Integrity means that the national government must recognize the legal existence and the physical boundaries of each state.

Section 4.3
          I laerned about how Interstate relations are relationships between states to share important data, resources, and awareness.

          Also that Extradition is the official process whereby one nation or state surrenders a suspected or convicted criminal. Between nation states, extradition is regulated by treaties.
   

Assignment #2

1.  What does Federalism mean by definition and what does Federalism mean to you?
Federalism: distribution of power in a federation between the central authority and the constituent units (as states) involving esp. 
What federalism means to me is agreement between the people to be great.
2.  List and describe the three powers of the National Government.
Doctrine of dual federalism,powers of Congress under the Commerce Clause, the Eleventh Amendment, the taxing and spending power.
3.  Explain the division of powers and why it is important?

legislative, executive and judicial. I believe these powers are important to ensure diversity of power. so that no one power is to out of context and they will keep each one of the other powers in line.

4.  What is the Supremacy Clause and what is its function?

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding. U.S. Const. art. VI, Paragraph 2

5.  Find a site on the Internet that deals with Federalism.  Take 10 minutes and review that site.  Provide the link and provide some of the useful information that you found to help you better understand what Federalism is and how it works. 

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/federalism/

A Principle of government that defines the relationship between the central government at the national level and its constituent units at the regional, state, or local levels. Under this principle of government, power and authority is allocated between the national and local government units, such that each unit is delegated a sphere of power and authority only it can exercise, while other powers must be shared.

Assignment #1

1. What are your views on the latest political ads on TV?  What candidate(s) do you like or dislike and why?


My views on the latest political adds on TV are that I think some of the candidates like Stephanie Herseth and Nome are too concerned about the bad things the other one has done or what they are doing. Rather than what they themselves are doing. I like Nome because she represents home town values, she has a family and a home that she cares about. And she came from a farm so she knows how to work hard. 


2. What role do you feel that you will play in politics and government in the future?  What ways are you participating currently?


In the future I plan on voting for the candidate that I see will be best for our country. Right now I'm participating by learning about they government by being on student council and learning the meaning of a government.