Friday

You will do some independent research today on the four types of Local Governments in our area.

Our COUNTY Government, CITY Government, School Districts, and Special Districts. 

I have emailed you a PDF titled: 

Our Four Types of Local Government Guide

Print that out and complete the information. Here are some helpful links. 
Benton County Government 

Franklin County Government 

If you struggle to find information ask Google or for your parents help in locating this information online. 

Due on Monday:

• Our Four Types of Local Government
• Fifteen Quiz Questions & Answers
• Richland Government worksheet

Thursday Blog: City Government

City Government

Look at our three city websites and answer the questions below on a separate sheet of paper. 

Richland 

Kennewick 

Pasco

Explore these three websites and comment on something that you learned about each of the three cities. There are "projects" pages where you can see current projects taking place, there is information about residents and school zones .... click around and find one fact or something you found interesting from each of the three websites and comment on the blog. 

Copy and Paste the following into a Word (or Pages) document, print and then bring it to class on Monday. 

Name: _____________

Let’s look at the Richland City Government

1.    What form of government does Richland have?

2.    How many city council members do voters elect?

3.    Who do these city council members represent?

4.    Do Richland residents vote for a mayor? If the answer is no, then WHO DOES??

5.    What are the responsibilities of the city manager?

6.    What are the responsibilities of the deputy city manager?

7.    How can citizens communicate with city council members?

8.    When and where are Richland City Council meetings?

9.    When and where are Kennewick City Council meetings?

10. When and where are Pasco City Council meetings? 

TODAY (Wednesday) Blog

Overview of Local Government

The concept of local government is deeply rooted in our national heritage. Small communities were the beginnings of the United States. 

Local governments can be more responsive to citizens than state and federal government, but the limitations are that local units need the cooperation of other entities to deal effectively with bigger issues such as transportation and pollution.

There are four main types of local government- 

counties, cities and town, 

special districts, and school districts.

• ·         Counties are the largest units of local government, numbering about 8,000 nationwide. They provide many of the same services provided by cities.
• 
  
• ·      Municipalities include cities, villages, and boroughs and they number about 19,000 in the United States. Often called city government, municipalities provide services such as police and fire protection, parks and recreation, streets and sewers, among others.
• 
  
• ·         Most of the more than 15,000 school districts in the U.S. operate independently of city government.
• 
  
• ·         The 33,000 special districts nationwide are organized to provide one or more services such as water and sanitation, mosquito control, transportation, parks and recreation, flood control, etc. Special districts have the authority to levy taxes and to spend public money.

  

Counties:

 In Washington State there are 39 counties that are headed by county commissioners. Commissioners are elected officials who make policy decisions for the county.  Each county government may operate a little differently based on the population and the special needs of the area. Some counties have much higher populations than others as well as unique needs based on that population and the area in which it is located.

The following positions are either elected or appointed/ hired depending on what county you live in.

·         Clerk and Recorder -records deeds, keeps records and maps of the county

·         Sheriff -keeps and preserves the peace

·         Coroner -determined the cause of death when it is not known

·         Treasurer -received and pays out all money of the county when directed by the county commissioners. Assessor -collects property tax from residents

·         Surveyor -represents the county in boundary disputes -establishes boundaries in the county

·         Building and Zoning -issues building permits for houses and businesses

·         Courts -Civil, criminal, juvenile, traffic, probate, small claims

·         Health -birth and death certificates, food service licenses, nursing homes

·         Housing Authority -housing assistance

Cities/Towns:

 In Washington State there are approximated 281 cities and towns. The Mayor and City Council are the elected officials who make policy decisions for each city.

·         The day-to-day operations of cities are carried out by people who are hired, not elected, to their job. Here are some departments in cities. Some departments exist only in larger cities. Compare where you live to this list.

o   PUBLIC SAFETY -Fire -Safety -Animal Control

o   PUBLIC WORKS -streets, water, sewers

o   RECREATION -Parks and open space -sports programs -bike paths -golf courses -pools -recreation centers -senior and youth centers

o   PLANNING -issue building permits for news houses and businesses -plan for the future -supervise city regulations regarding sign codes, etc.

o   ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS -enforces environmental laws

o   AIRPORT - manages the airport

o   LIBRARY -maintains the library

o    LEGAL DEPARTMENT - city attorney- provides legal advice to the city -municipal judge- tried cases involving minor offenses

1.       What is a city/town?

A city is a unit of government that has certain rights and responsibilities to its citizens. Cities collect taxes, make contracts, provide services, and make laws of ordinances for the health, safety, and well-being of its residents.

2.       Who are the leaders?

The elected leaders of a city are the mayor and city council members. In some cities people elect the mayor. In other cities a council member is elected by his/her fellow city council members to be mayor. Only in large cities is the mayor a full-time job. The mayor and city council members make policy decisions about the way the city is run. The people who carry out the policy decisions of the city council are not elected. They are hired employees of the city. The city council hires a city manager or city administrator to manage the daily operations of the city. He/she in turn appoints department heads who are responsible for activities within their departments. Public works, Finance, Planning and Building, Parks and Recreation, and Public Safety (fire and police) are examples of city departments. The City must also have a City Attorney for handling legal issues, a Municipal Judge who presides over the court, and a City Clerk who handles records and documents of the city.

3.       How are cities/towns funded?

Cities depend heavily on sales tax revenue. That means the city collects a percent of every item or service purchased within its boundaries. Cities also receive revenue from fees such as water service to your home, and licenses such as dog or bike licenses. 

School Districts

School districts are units of local government that provide education to children from kindergarten through high school. In some districts adult education and preschool programs are also offered. School districts are headed by an elected school board who hires a superintendent to supervise the daily operations of the district. In Colorado there are over 176 public school districts.

1. What is a School Board?

School boards are set up by the Colorado legislature as a body of elected officials who are responsible for making policy decisions for the school district in their jurisdiction. School boards have the authority to own property, sue and be sued, and to enter into contracts. School boards determine educational programs, adopt textbooks and discipline codes, create a yearly budget, and establish a school calendar, among other responsibilities.

1.       Who are the leaders?

There are no fewer than five and no more than seven board members from each district. The board elects a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. The president and vice president are elected for two-year terms.

2.       How are School Boards funded?

Public schools in Colorado are funded approximately 45% through property taxes collected by individual counties. Additional funding (55%) comes from the state general fund, although the percentages may vary from district to district.

3.       What is the history of School Boards?

 The history of public education in the United States is deeply rooted in our heritage. The Puritans came from England to the New World with an appreciation of education. Initially children were schooled at home, but as towns grew so did the need for a town school. As early as 1642 the colony of Massachusetts appealed to the colonial legislature to enact a law requiring parents and schoolmasters educate children and teach them to read. Town selectmen were responsible for enforcing the education laws as the details of education had become too burdensome and time consuming for individuals to administer directly. In the 1700’s the practice of collecting taxes to pay for schools was well established. By the end of the century the “central town” distributed tax money to each parish, or district that surrounded it so it could maintain its own school.

4.       How are School Boards formed?

The Washington State Statutes grants both the power and the responsibility to school boards to provide free quality public education to citizens of Washington. Voters decide whether or not to form or reorganize school boards.

5.       What powers do School Boards have?

The Washington State Statutes grants school boards certain powers as a local government. These include the power to hold property, sue and be sued, and engage in contracts. 

Special Districts

Special districts are units of local government that are formed by citizens to meet a particular need. There are over 800 special districts in Washington State and their boundaries may cross more than one county. They are run by an elected board of directors, who hires employees to assist with daily operations. Services provided through special districts are: -mosquito control -public parks -safety protection (traffic and safety controls) -sanitation -water -fire protection -street improvements -T.V. relays and translators -cemeteries -hospitals -airports -RTD -flood control

6.       What is a Special District?

When was the last time you turned on the water in your house, or rode your bike on a major street in your town without falling into a pothole? It is likely that a Special District made that possible for you. Special Districts are a unique form of local government because they are almost “invisible.” You don’t hear a lot about them, but there are over 800 Special Districts in Washington. Special Districts are governments whose boundaries cross over city and county lines. Special Districts are forms to provide one or more specific services to citizens. For example, in Washington there are metropolitan (city) park and recreation, fire, hospital, sanitation, water, and water and sanitation districts. However, Special Districts also provide services such as mosquito control, television relay, and museums.

 2. How are they funded?

Special Districts are funded (get their money from) property taxes. That means if you own property, every year you are taxed by the county. The amount of tax is based on how much your property is worth. A part of that tax goes to the Special Districts in the county.

 3. Who are the leaders?

Most Special Districts are run by a board of elected members who meet regularly and who are paid a small amount of money each year for their efforts. Some larger Special Districts have members who are appointed, either by a County Commissioner or by the Governor.

Your assignment for this blog is to be the teacher. You will create a quiz and will "test" other students on Monday. 

Write down fifteen questions and answers based on the above information. You will turn this in as an assignment. 

Read ALL of the text ... no skipping or skimming... because your teacher just might give you a pop quiz as well!!

Comment here on what you did today or in the last few days that was FUN.  Your teacher misses you and wants to hear happy news. :) 

Checks & Balances

The system of checks and balances is an important part of the Constitution. With checks and balances, each of the three branches of government can limit the powers of the others. This way, no one branch becomes too powerful. Each branch “checks” the power of the other branches to make sure that the power is balanced between them. How does this system of checks and balances work?

The process of how laws are made (see the following page) is a good example of checks and balances in action. First, the legislative branch introduces and votes on a bill. The bill then goes to the executive branch, where the President decides whether he thinks the bill is good for the country. If so, he signs the bill, and it becomes a law.

If the President does not believe the bill is good for the country, he does not sign it. This is called a veto. But the legislative branch gets another chance. With enough votes, the legislative branch can override the executive branch's veto, and the bill becomes a law.

Once a law is in place, the people of the country can test it through the court system, which is under the control of the judicial branch. If someone believes a law is unfair, a lawsuit can be filed. Lawyers then make arguments for and against the case, and a judge decides which side has presented the most convincing arguments. The side that loses can choose to appeal to a higher court, and may eventually reach the highest court of all, the Supreme Court.

If the legislative branch does not agree with the way in which the judicial branch has interpreted the law, they can introduce a new piece of legislation, and the process starts all over again.

Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances

Crash Course Government and Politics #3

Play this short game online 

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has a special role to play in the United States system of government. The Constitution gives it the power to check, if necessary, the actions of the President and Congress.

It can tell a President that his actions are not allowed by the Constitution. It can tell Congress that a law it passed violated the U.S. Constitution and is, therefore, no longer a law. It can also tell the government of a state that one of its laws breaks a rule in the Constitution.

The Supreme Court is the final judge in all cases involving laws of Congress, and the highest law of all — the Constitution.
The Supreme Court, however, is far from all-powerful. Its power is limited by the other two branches of government. The President nominates justices to the court. The Senate must vote its approval of the nominations. The whole Congress also has great power over the lower courts in the federal system. District and appeals courts are created by acts of Congress. These courts may be abolished if Congress wishes it.

The Supreme Court is like a referee on a football field. The Congress, the President, the state police, and other government officials are the players. Some can pass laws, and others can enforce laws. But all exercise power within certain boundaries. These boundaries are set by the Constitution. As the "referee" in the U.S. system of government, it is the Supreme Court's job to say when government officials step out-of-bounds.

How the Justices Make Decisions

The decisions of the Supreme Court are made inside a white marble courthouse in Washington, D.C. Here the nine justices receive approximately 7,000 to 8,000 requests for hearings each year. Of these the Court will agree to hear fewer than 100. If the Court decides not to hear the case, the ruling of the lower court stands.

Those cases which they agree to hear are given a date for argument.

On the morning of that day, the lawyers and spectators enter a large courtroom. When an officer of the Court bangs his gavel, the people in the courtroom stand. The nine justices walk through a red curtain and stand beside nine tall, black-leather chairs. The Chief Justices takes the middle and tallest chair. "Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!" shouts the marshal of the Court. (It's an old Court expression meaning hear ye .) "God save the United States and this Honorable Court."

The justices take their seats. The lawyers step forward and explain their case. The justices listen from their high seats and often interrupt to ask the lawyers questions. Several cases may be argued in one day. Finally, in the late afternoon, the Chief Justice bangs his gavel, rises from his seat, and leads the other justices through the red curtain out of the courtroom.

The justices may take several days to study a case. Then they meet around a large table in a locked and guarded room. From their table, they may occasionally look up to see a painting on the wall.

It is a portrait of a man dressed in an old-fashioned, high-collared coat. This man is John Marshall, one of the greatest Chief Justices in American history. More than anyone else, he helped the Supreme Court develop its power and importance.
Before Marshall became Chief Justice, the Supreme Court had not yet challenged an act of Congress. The Constitution did not clearly give the Court power to judge laws passed by Congress. Therefore, the Court wasn't even sure it had this power.

But Marshall made a daring move. In a famous court case in 1803, Marbury v. Madison, he wrote the Court's opinion, which declared a law passed by Congress to be unconstitutional.
This decision gave the Supreme Court its power of judicial review. Ever since, the highest court has used the power to review the nation's laws and judge whether they were allowed under the Constitution. It has also reviewed the actions of the President.

The Constitution does not allow Congress or state legislatures to pass laws that "abridge the freedom of speech." Freedom of speech is protected in the United States, and no lawmaking body may interfere with that freedom. Right? Usually. But there may be limits, even to free speech.

No freedom, even one specifically mentioned in the Constitution, is absolute. People convicted of serious crimes lose their right to vote. Some religions encourage a man to have several wives. But that practice is forbidden in the United States, even though the Constitution says that there shall be no laws that prohibit the "free exercise" of religion. Even words themselves may pose a "clear and present danger" to the well-being of the country.

When are mere words so dangerous that Congress (or a state legislature) may limit the freedom of speech?

That is the sort of difficult question that the Supreme Court justices must often answer.

Here's an example. The justices sat around the conference table in their locked room, trying to decide what to do about a man from Chicago named Terminiello. The year was 1949.
It seems that Mr. Terminiello had given a speech to an audience in a hall in Chicago, attacking all sorts of people. A crowd had collected outside the hall to protest. Terminiello had called the crowd "a surging, howling mob." At other points in his speech, he called those who disagreed with him "slimy scum," "snakes," "bedbugs," and the like. The crowd outside screamed back: "Fascists! Hitlers!" Windows were broken, a few people were injured, and Terminiello was arrested. For what? All he did was talk. But by talking, he broke the law.
This Chicago law outlawed speech that "stirs the public to anger, invites dispute, (or) brings about a condition of unrest." But maybe this law was unconstitutional.

Justice William Douglas said that the Chicago law went against the First Amendment. He said that freedom of speech is important because it invites dispute. It allows people to raise tough questions, questions which should be answered in a democracy. Just because people get angry or annoyed at something that is said, Justice Douglas went on, does not mean that it should not be said.

Justice Robert Jackson felt differently. Yes, he agreed, Terminiello had not said anything illegal. But because of the crowd and the anger around him, his speech was dangerous to the peace and order of the community. Therefore it was not protected by the First Amendment. There is a point, said Justice Jackson, beyond which a person may not provoke a crowd.

Finally the Court voted. Each justice, including the Chief Justice, had one vote. Five agreed with one opinion, four with the other. One of the justices in the majority was then asked to write a long essay explaining the legal reasons for the majority's decision. Another justice announced that he would write a dissenting opinion. This was an essay telling why he disagreed with the Court's decision.

How do you think the Court ruled in Terminiello v. Chicago?
What if Terminiello had been a Republican campaigning for office among bad-tempered Democrats? What if he had been a Communist? Consider these and other important questions that might occur to you. Which is more important: protecting free speech, or the peace and order of the community? Where do you draw the line?


If you had been on the Court in 1949, would you have voted to allow the Chicago law to stand, or would you have voted to rule it unconstitutional?

Watch: How is a Supreme Court Justice chosen? (3.44)

Watch: Inside the Supreme Court. (4 minutes) 

credit:  http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/ushistory/brownvboard.htm#sthash.0APx7AJB.dpuf

Famous cases

Brown v. Board of Education

In Topeka, Kansas in the 1950's, schools were segregated by race. Each day, Linda Brown and her sister had to walk through a dangerous railroad switch yard to get to the bus stop for the ride to their all-black elementary school. There was a school closer to the Brown's house, but it was only for white students. Linda Brown and her family believed that the segregated school system violated the Fourteenth Amendment and took their case to court. 

Federal district court decided that segregation in public education was harmful to black children, but because all-black schools and all-white schools had similar buildings, transportation, curricula, and teachers, the segregation was legal. 

The Browns appealed their case to Supreme Court stating that even if the facilities were similar, segregated schools could never be equal to one another. The Court decided that state laws requiring separate but equal schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Watch this 2 minute video and tell us what you learned.

Miranda vs State of Arizona

Ernesto Miranda was arrested after a crime victim identified him, but police officers questioning him did not inform him of his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, or of his Sixth Amendment right to the assistance of an attorney. While he confessed to the crime, his attorney later argued that his confession should have been excluded from trial. The Supreme Court agreed, deciding that the police had not taken proper steps to inform Miranda of his rights.

First watch this one minute video then 

 this 2 minute video and comment one thing that you learned.

The 2016 Election is OVER!!

Donald Trump delivers victory speech 

after winning US election

Hillary Clinton's Full Concession Speech

President Obama Reacts 

To Donald Trump's Election Win  11/9/16

Election 2016 by the numbers

Voting in the United States

To vote in the United States, one must be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years old on election day. States also require various periods of residency before voting is permitted. Most states have two other rules as well: A voter cannot be a felon (someone who has committed a serious crime) or mentally incompetent.

In all states, voting is free. It is also voluntary; no one can be forced to vote. It is also a crime to try to stop another person from voting. Voting is private — no one can see how another person votes. And a person may vote only once in any election.

Each state, county, city, or ward (division of a city) is divided into voting districts called precincts. Before voting, people must register to vote in the precinct where they live. This consists of filling out a form with one's name, address, and other information. Registration ensures that people vote in the right place. People can usually register by mail.
Registration laws vary from state to state. In some states, citizens can register on election day. Typically, however, the registration deadline is several weeks before this. If a person fails to register in time, he or she will not be allowed to vote. 


Elections may take place at many different times. In the United States, general elections (for federal officials) are held every two years in even-numbered years. They are held on the Tuesday that falls between November 2 and 8.
In most cases, people vote by machine in private voting booths. Because elections in the United States are generally run by state and local governments, many kinds of voting machines and devices are in use. Today these have become increasingly computerized. A voter may touch a computer screen to cast a ballot or may fill out a computer-readable paper form.

People can also vote by mail; they submit what is known as an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots are especially useful for those who have difficulty getting to the polling place or who are away from their hometowns on election day.
After all the votes have been cast, poll workers and election officials count them (usually with help from computers) and declare which candidates and ballot measures (votes on public issues) have won. 

Winning the Right to Vote

In the early days of the United States, only about 120,000 people in a total population of more than 4 million could vote. Voting was usually limited to free white men who owned property and met certain religious qualifications. Eventually the right to vote became more widespread. By 1860 almost every state allowed all white men over 21 to vote.

After the Civil War (1861–65) the 15th Amendment to the Constitution gave the vote to men of all races. In practice, however, most black people in the South did not gain the right to vote until the civil rights movement of the 1960s and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Women, after a long political struggle, won the right to vote in 1920 with the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.

The right to vote has been further extended in recent decades. In 1971 the 26th Amendment to the Constitution gave 18-year-olds the right to vote. More recently, federal law has guaranteed the vote to people with disabilities and to those whose first language is not English.

Another important advance in the voting process has been the secret ballot. This allows people to vote without worrying about retaliation from others, including those in power. At one time, voting was not private. Before the Civil War, U.S. citizens often said their votes out loud or voted by raising their hands. After the Civil War, printed ballots became common. However, since these were distributed by individual candidates or parties and were often different colors or shapes, it was usually possible to tell whom someone was voting for.

It was not until the 1890s, when the Australian ballot came into use, that voting became truly secret. Under this system (so named for its earlier use in Australia), the names of all qualifying candidates were printed on a single ballot by the government. These could only be distributed at polling places, where voting was done in private booths. The use of voting machines has further ensured the secrecy of the vote.

Voting Today

In the United States, voter turnout — the percentage of qualified voters who vote — often depends on the type of election being held. More people tend to vote in presidential elections than in other kinds. Even in this case, though, many people who are qualified to vote do not. In the 2000 presidential election, for example, only 51 percent of the electorate (all qualified voters) turned out.

This was not considered unusual. But other voting issues during the 2000 election drew considerable public attention. Significant flaws in the voting process were revealed when the vote in Florida required a recount that lasted for 36 days. A close examination of the results showed that thousands of people had voted incorrectly. Thousands of other votes were unclear.

In fact, experts believe that between 1 and 4 percent of all votes are not counted as the voter intended. In 2002, Congress passed the Help America Vote Act to help eliminate voting errors and to give states money to improve their voting systems. However, some computer experts and citizens' groups continue to question the accuracy of computerized voting machines.

In 2004, a proposal to allow military personnel and other U.S. citizens living abroad to vote via the Internet was canceled after computer experts tested the process and found that it would be impossible to prevent hackers from tampering with election results.

Watch this 3 minute video on the History of Voting. 

View this 3 minute video as well. 

This is the link for Monday's homework. 

Check out the Election Map tomorrow as the voting results trickle in across the country! 

Comment: Tell us two things you learned from the reading above and one thing from a video. 

Judicial Branch

The Judicial Branch of the United States government was established by Article III of the U.S. Constitution. 

There are currently nine Justices (Supreme Court judges). Out of these nine is the Chief Justice.

In order to become a Supreme Court judge (Justice), there are no specific qualifications, but most have been trained in law. The judges are not elected by the people like the president and members of congress, they are appointed by the president and then confirmed by the Senate. 

The U.S. President can nominate anyone they choose, but the Senate must approve the nominee. If the Senate decides against the nominee the President must then supply them with another nominee.

The Constitution doesn't say how many Supreme Court Justices there should be. There have been as few as 6 justices in the past, but since 1869 there have been 9 justices. The President nominates all the Supreme Court members and the Senate confirms them. They hold their offices for life. 

Court System of the United States

There is a hierarchy of federal courts in the United States. District courts cover area of the countries and handle most of the federal cases and the first level of trials. Above them is the 13 courts of appeals. At the top of the Judicial Branch is the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has the final say. 

The United States Supreme Court Federal judges are appointed for life. They can only be removed from office by death or by impeachment from Congress. This is to allow judges to make decisions based on their conscience and not on what they feel they need to do to get elected. The job of the courts is to interpret the laws of the Congress. They do not make laws. They also only make decisions on actual cases where someone has shown that they have been harmed. 

The Supreme Court doesn't have a lot of trials. What they mostly do is review cases that have been appealed from the lower courts. Not all cases that are sent to the Supreme Court are reviewed. Around 7,500 requests are sent to the Supreme Court each year and they only consider around 150 important enough to review. 

The Judicial Process The Constitution states that every person has the right to a fair trial before a competent judge and a jury of their peers. The Bill of Rights adds to this guaranteeing other rights such as a speedy trial, the right to legal representation, the right not to be tried for the same crime twice, and protection from cruel punishments. 

Once arrested for a crime, the accused will get to appear before a judge to be charged with the crime and to enter a plea of guilty or not-guilty. Next the accused is given a lawyer, if they can't afford their own, and is given time to review the evidence and build up their defense. Then the case is tried before a judge and a jury. 

If the jury determines that the defendant is not-guilty, then charges are dropped and the accused goes free. If the jury has a guilty verdict, then the judge determines the sentence. If one side feels that the trial wasn't handled correctly or fairly, they can appeal to a higher court. The higher court may overturn the decision or keep it the same. The highest court is the Supreme Court. There is no appealing a Supreme Court decision.

Since our government was established, more than one hundred justices have served on the Court, and until recently, all were men. Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman named to the Supreme Court. She was appointed in 1981. Known as a swing vote through much of her Supreme Court service, Sandra Day O'Connor retired January 31, 2006. 

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was seated in 1993 as the second woman.

Thousands of lawyers from all over the country go to the Supreme Court every year hoping to plead their cases. 

The Supreme Court rules only on the most important cases. Often these cases are those that concern basic freedoms and civil rights protected by the Bill of Rights. 

Sometimes the Supreme Court is asked to make a decision so important that the whole country pays careful attention to its ruling. 

Racial segregation (the separation of black and white people) in public schools was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1954. The Court’s unanimous opinion outlawing this kind of separation in public schools was written by Chief Justice Earl Warren. Schools all over the United States were affected by this decision. This decision also paved the way for new civil rights laws passed in the years that followed.

Read about the Supreme Court Justices. 
Here and Here

Pick one that you are interested in and do a little bit more research. Share in the comments what you learned! 

Electoral College

Electoral College

When you cast your vote for President, you are actually voting for a group of people known as electors. They are part of the Electoral College, the process used to elect the U.S. President and Vice President.

The Electoral College serves as a compromise between election of the President by a vote in Congress and election of the President by a popular vote of qualified citizens.

The process begins when political parties select the people who will serve as electors, The electors meet to vote for President and Vice President, and then Congress counts the electoral votes.              

Number of Electors

There are a total of 538 electors. A candidate needs the vote of more than half (270) to win the Presidential election.

• Each state’s number of electors is equal to the number of its U.S. Senators plus the number of its U.S. Representatives. Washington D.C. is given a number of electors equal to the number held by the smallest state. View the division of electors on a map of the U.S.
• In 48 states, when a candidate receives the majority of votes, he or she receives all of the state’s electoral votes.
• Maine and Nebraska are the only two states that use the congressional district method.
• • For example: Nebraska has five electoral votes (one for each of the three congressional districts plus two for the state’s senate seats). The winner of each district is awarded one electoral vote, and the winner of the statewide vote is then awarded the state’s remaining two electoral votes.
• U.S. territories are not represented in the Electoral College.

It is possible for a candidate to receive the majority of the popular vote, but not of the electoral vote, and lose the Presidential election.

• For example: If the United States had only three states each with a population of 100, each state would have three electoral votes (2 Senators plus one House of Representatives member) so a candidate would need 5 electoral votes to win the election.
• • Candidate 1 wins the first two states by receiving 51 votes per state and loses the third state by receiving just one vote. This gives them a total of 103 popular votes from all three states (51 + 51 + 1). And this translates into a total of six electoral votes--three each from the states the candidate won and none from the state the candidate lost.
  • Candidate 2 loses the first two states by receiving 49 votes per state and wins the third state by receiving 99 votes. This gives them a total of 197 popular votes from all three states (49 + 49 + 99). And this translates into a total of three electoral votes--none from the two states the candidate lost and three from the state the candidate won. Because electoral votes are what count in the end, even though Candidate 2 won the popular vote, they lost the electoral vote and therefore lose the election.

What Happens if No Candidate Gets 270 Electoral Votes?

If no candidate receives the required majority of votes, the House of Representatives elects the President from the three candidates who received the most electoral votes, and the Senate elects the Vice President from the two vice presidential candidates who received the most electoral votes. 

How to Change the Electoral College

Because the Electoral College process is part of the U.S. Constitution, it would be necessary to pass a Constitutional amendment to change this system. For more information, contact your U.S. Senator or your U.S. Representative.

credit: https://www.usa.gov/election

Watch this video on the Electoral College. 

And this one too!

Comment on the Blog: How do you feel about the Electoral System?  Do you think it is fair? Unfair? Why or why not?