Bellringer 3/31/14

Yeah, racism is still pretty much an issue. Just the fact that the question had to be asked proves that racism is still an issue. It is getting better though, I mean people are more tolerant than what they were 20 years ago. Racism mainly exists in poorer communities and less educated places. I don't want to sound like a bigot but it's kinda true.

Bellringer 3/24/14

In Guinea there was an outbreak of Ebola. Like it was totally uncool. But there is free treatment being offered so that is cool. Umm, that's pretty much it. Have a good day.

Three Court Cases

Religion-

Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

 In 1999, Cheryl Perich started teaching at Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School in. While Perich led students in prayer and taught a religion class several days a week, her job Redford, Michigan primarily consisted of teaching grade school art, science, social studies and music. In 2004, Perich left on disability and was diagnosed with narcolepsy. In 2005, after being cleared by her doctors to go back to work, the school told her that they already hired someone else. Perich then threatened to file suit, so the school promptly fired her for "insubordination and disruptive behavior." All nine Supreme Court justices agreed with the decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts that "the Establishment Clause prevents the Government from appointing ministers, and the Free Exercise Clause prevents it from interfering with the freedom of religious groups to select their own." Moreover, because the respondent in this case was a minister within the meaning of the minis­terial exception, the First Amendment requires dismissal of her em­ployment discrimination suit against her religious employer.


Minority-

Ricci v. DeStefano

 557 U.S. 557 (2009), was a contentious decision by the United States Supreme Court concerning racially discriminatory employment practices by New Haven, Connecticut's fire department. Eighteen city firefighters, seventeen who were white and one who was Hispanic, brought suit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 after they had passed the test for promotions to management and the city had nevertheless declined to promote them. New Haven officials invalidated the test results because none of the black firefighters who passed the exam had scored high enough to be considered for the positions. They stated that they feared a lawsuit over the test's adverse impact on a protected minority. The Supreme Court heard the case on April 22, 2009, and issued its decision on June 29, 2009. The Court held 5–4 that New Haven's decision to ignore the test results violated Title VII because the city did not have a "strong basis in evidence" that it would have subjected itself to disparate-impact liability if it had promoted the white and Hispanic firefighters instead of the black firefighters.

School System-

Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1

Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1, 551 U.S. 701 (2007), also known as the "PICS" case, is a United States Supreme Court case. At issue were voluntary school desegregation/integration efforts in Seattle, WA and Louisville, KY. Both school districts voluntarily used individualized racial classifications to achieve diversity and/or avoid racial isolation through student assignment. The Court recognized that seeking diversity and avoiding racial isolation are compelling state interests. However, the Court struck down both school districts’ assignment plans, finding that the plans were not sufficiently "narrowly tailored," a legal term that essentially suggests that the means or method being employed (in this case, a student assignment plan based on individualized racial classifications) is closely and narrowly tied to the ends (the stated goals of achieving diversity and/or avoiding racial isolation)

NOTES 3/20/14

Inferior Courts
Were created to function beneath the Supreme Court
Several Different Courts.

District Courts
U.S District courts are the federal trial courts
94 District courts
12 Judicial Districts

Secret Courts 
FISA
Alien terrorist Remove Courts


District Court Jurisdiction
The district courts do not hear cases within original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
District Courts hear both civil and criminal cases.
Most decisions in the federal
\
Court of Appeals
Normally three judge panels.
Created to relieve the supreme court of hearing all appealed cases.

Court of International Trade
A federal trial court only tries civil cases that arise out of the nations customs and other trade related laws.
9 judges-chief justice appointed by the President and Senate,

Bellringer 3/20/14

I agree with Judicial Activism

Chapter 18 Sec. 1

Alito, Jr., Samuel Anthony (Nominated by George W. Bush)  (60%)

Bellringer 3/19/14

Kinda, there were Americans in that flight. But going after the flight simulator is just silly.

Bellringer 3/18/14

1. Russia wants control of Crimea for their resources and stuff.

2. Yes.

Bellringer 3/12/14

1. Because they probably assumed the plane would veer back on course.

2. Possible hijackings, possible crash into ocean.

Ad campaigns.

1.  Ad targeting all viewers/voters
2.  positive3.  yes4.  ad would be portrayed negatively now5.  no


1.  targeting opposing team2.  negative3.  yes4.  maybe not be showed5.  yes


1.  targeting voters2.  positive3.  no4.  wouldn't affect voters5.  no

Bellringer 3/11/14

1. Yes, because it is important to put humanity before profits.
2. No, because it is the companies decision.

Bellringer 3/10/14

1. I think some tax cuts would be good and possibly less government spending.
2. I think people living on welfare, etc. are benefiting most from the proposed budget.

We are going to miss Mr.Grady because he's the best notes.

NATIONAL CONVENTION

• Called every four years to officially nominate Presidential candidates.
• Each state send delegates based on their electoral votes.
• Differences in choices of delegates between Republican and Democratic Parties.

PRIMARIES

• The device each party uses to select its nomination for president.
• Began in early 1900s as a reaction to party boss dominated politics.
• Two different types
• Delegate selection primary 
• Candidate preference primary
• Typically frontloaded.

DELEGATION SELECTION PROCESS

• Began as a winner take all
• Now moved to proportional representaion

CAUCUSES

• A closed meeting of a political party which gather to select delegates to the national convention

Convention Schedule
DAY2
Adopt platform
Keynote Address
DAY3
Select or affirm choice for Vice Presidential candidate
DAY4
select and affirm Presidential candidate.


NOMINEE CHARACTERISTICS
Typically the current president is nominated
Typically has long run of political experience
Typically protestants from large states
Good speakers who seem to have a stable family life and also have a pleasant and healthy appearance.

Bellringer 1/20/14

No I don't think two inches would be that detrimental here.
No I could not. I think I could manage it if it did snow.
I think it's surprising actually. I wouldn't think people wouldn't know how to react with just a little snow.

Bellringer 2-24-14

No I would not sign this petition. It seems unlawful for them to just do that to the people without them knowing.

NOTES

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

• President, VP, and his cabinet.
• Responsible for carrying out the law.
• The president is the head of the executive branch.

ROLES OF PRESIDENT

• Chief of state.
• acts of cerimonial head of government
• Chief Executive
• Has power both domestically and abroad
• Chief Administrator
• The manager of the massive executive branch
• Chief Diplomat
• All foreign policy
• Commander in chief
• Chief Legislator

FORMAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Be Natural born citizen
• Be at least 35 years of age
• Have lived within the United States for at least 14 years.

(President Pro Tempore-  is the person in the majority party with most years of seniority.)

THE PRESIDENTIAL TERM

• Consists of a 4 year term
• Originally there was no formal limit on the President's term.
• George Washington set the precedent
• FDR broke this precedent by seeking and winning 4 straight terms in office
• 22nd amendment prevents this from happening again prevents from more than 2 terms

PRESIDENTIAL PAY

• Determined by Congress
• Cannot be increased or decreased during a presidential term
• The president may not receive any other pay for work
• Extras/$400,000 a year
• Mansion
• Air Force One
• Personal Bodyguard
• Camp David
• Health Care
• 25th amendment made it law that the VP would become President
• VP and the rest of the Cabinet decide that if the President should be President at the moment.
• VP is used to help balance the ticket.
• If VP dies then the President will appoint a new VP.
• The election of 1800 tied for the first time ever. Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. They each got 73 electoral votes.
• 12th Amendment made separate VP and President Elections.

Bellringer 3-5-14

If the President should die then the Vice President would take the helm, if the VP should die then the speaker of the house would take the helm.