Obama ISIS fight request sent to Congress
Scenario #1
In this article, it talks about Obama sending a request to Congress to formally authorize the use of military force in the war against ISIS. He presents that ISIS is a "'grave threat' to U.S. national security interests and regional stability". Congress' Democrats and Republicans are split in the support of the Authorization for the Use of Military Force, AUMF. Republicans do not support the power it will give Obama being the Commander-in-Chief since he is a Democrat, while Democrats, of course, support it.
This article relates to Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution. It states that "The Congress shall have Power To...declare War...." In this article Obama has to send a request or proposal to Congress to convince them to formally declare war on ISIS. This article relates because it shows that since according to the Constitution the Congress has the power to declare war the President has to propose to Congress, as Obama does in this case, when they think the U.S. should declare war.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/11/politics/isis-aumf-white-house-congress/
Storm provides Obama with a Commander-in-Chief moment
Scenario #2
Close to Obama's second election campaign for his second term Hurricane Sandy hit New York. Rather than focusing on his campaign he did his job as president acted quickly in doing his job as Commander-in-Chief with federal relief efforts. This left his competitor, Mitt Romney, in an "almost impossible position" in trying to find a way to include himself in this situation, because it earned Obama a lot of help in his campaign for handling it so well as already current President. Obama earned bipartisan praise from Democrats and Republicans commending him on the way he handled this situation. Since this disaster hit so close to the election he must be very careful, any bad decision could cost him many votes.
This article relates to Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution. It states that "The President shall be Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States...." Here, the president is doing his job as Commander in Chief in sending out U.S. Army soldiers for relief effort. As this is one of his granted powers and duties as president, Obama was praised for doing so rather than focusing on his reelection. Therefore, this article relates because it clearly states that Obama is the commander in chief and it talks about how he handled his duty as one during the Hurricane Sandy disaster.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/storm-provides-obama-with-a-commander-in-chief-moment/2012/10/30/5e645952-22c2-11e2-ac85-e669876c6a24_story.html
This article relates to Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution. It states that "The President shall be Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States...." Here, the president is doing his job as Commander in Chief in sending out U.S. Army soldiers for relief effort. As this is one of his granted powers and duties as president, Obama was praised for doing so rather than focusing on his reelection. Therefore, this article relates because it clearly states that Obama is the commander in chief and it talks about how he handled his duty as one during the Hurricane Sandy disaster.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/storm-provides-obama-with-a-commander-in-chief-moment/2012/10/30/5e645952-22c2-11e2-ac85-e669876c6a24_story.html
Obama, Russian president sign arms treaty
Scenario #3
Obama and Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, to reduce the nuclear stockpiles of both nations. It cuts the number of nuclear weapons held by both nations by about a third. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs has hopes that Congress will ratify this treaty. He expresses his hopes that reducing the threat of nuclear weapons is a priority for both parties. Conservatives fear that the president will weaken the U.S.'s nuclear power against possible attacks.
This article relates to Article II, Section 2. This states that "The President... shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur...." This article addresses a treaty signed by Obama and Medvedev still had to be ratified by Congress. This is a direct reflection of the power granted in the Constitution.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/04/08/obama.russia.treaty/
This article relates to Article II, Section 2. This states that "The President... shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur...." This article addresses a treaty signed by Obama and Medvedev still had to be ratified by Congress. This is a direct reflection of the power granted in the Constitution.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/04/08/obama.russia.treaty/
"Gunfight: The Battle over the Right to Bear Arms in America" by Adam Winkler
Scenario #4
This article talks about the gun ownership debate in America. Adam Winkler wrote a book, "Gunfight: The Battle over the Right to Bear Arms in America", about the two sides for and against the right to bear arms. He expresses that throughout American history there has been a gun culture as well as a gun control culture, and he feels that today should be no different. The article questions whether the second amendment only applies to a well-regulated militia alone or to individuals too. It says that the debate is still very present in state legislatures, Congress, and the courts, with more political advantage towards the pro-gun side.
This article relates to the Bill of Rights, Amendment II. It states that "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." This article discusses the debate of the second Amendment between pro-gun and anti-gun laws. Therefore, this article relates to the right protected by the second Amendment to bear arms by discussing the views of the supporters and opponents of this right.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/books/ct-books-gunfight-review-story.html
This article relates to the Bill of Rights, Amendment II. It states that "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." This article discusses the debate of the second Amendment between pro-gun and anti-gun laws. Therefore, this article relates to the right protected by the second Amendment to bear arms by discussing the views of the supporters and opponents of this right.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/books/ct-books-gunfight-review-story.html
Ferguson protesters: The peaceful, the elders, the looters, and the 'militants'
Scenario #5
This article discusses the protests in Ferguson, Missouri in response to the shooting of Michael Brown by a white police officer 6 times. There are many peaceful assemblies of people protesting, while there are also more militant protesters. The militant protesters have been throwing gasoline filled bottles at the police, the police fought back with tear gas. There have also been many looters that took the chaotic situation as an opportunity to loot from nearby stores.
This article relates to the Bill of Rights, Amendment I. It states that "Congress shall make no law...abridging...the right of the people peaceably to assemble...." In this article they talk about peaceful assembling of people protesting police brutality. This article reflects the Amendment because it shows that the peaceful protesters did not face police retaliation like the militant protesters did, the militant protesters were not peaceably assembling.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ferguson-protesters-the-peaceful-the-elders-the-looters-and-the-militants/2014/08/18/d6be1262-26f3-11e4-8593-da634b334390_story.html
This article relates to the Bill of Rights, Amendment I. It states that "Congress shall make no law...abridging...the right of the people peaceably to assemble...." In this article they talk about peaceful assembling of people protesting police brutality. This article reflects the Amendment because it shows that the peaceful protesters did not face police retaliation like the militant protesters did, the militant protesters were not peaceably assembling.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ferguson-protesters-the-peaceful-the-elders-the-looters-and-the-militants/2014/08/18/d6be1262-26f3-11e4-8593-da634b334390_story.html
Cruel and Unusual Punishment for 14 Year Olds
Scenario #6
In 2005, the Supreme Court banned the death sentence for minors convicted of murder. In 2010, it banned life without parole for minors convicted of crimes other than murder. In two cases of 14-year-old boys convicted of murder, the article expresses that the next step should be to ban life without parole to minors convicted of murder. The Supreme Court has found that there are key differences between the susceptibility of teens and adults involving peer pressure and other forces. Therefore, it would be cruel and unusual to punish these minors the same as an adult.
This article relates to the Bill of Rights, Amendment VIII. It states "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted." This article talks about minors convicted of murder getting the same ruling as adults convicted of murder, life without parole. The article relates because it justifies this ruling as cruel and unusual punishment for minors, which goes against the right protected in this amendment.
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2012/03/21/opinion/cruel-and-unusual-punishment-for-14-year-olds.html?referrer=&_r=0
This article relates to the Bill of Rights, Amendment VIII. It states "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted." This article talks about minors convicted of murder getting the same ruling as adults convicted of murder, life without parole. The article relates because it justifies this ruling as cruel and unusual punishment for minors, which goes against the right protected in this amendment.
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2012/03/21/opinion/cruel-and-unusual-punishment-for-14-year-olds.html?referrer=&_r=0
Missouri Reports Wide Racial Disparity In Traffic Stops
Scenario #7
In Kansas City, Missouri police officers were 75% more likely to stop black drivers than white drivers 73% more likely to search black drivers. It also found that black drivers were less likely to be found with contraband than white drivers. 27 percent of white drivers were found with contraband, while only 21 percent of black drivers were found with it. Kenneth Novak, a criminology professor says it is hard to interpret disparity data without knowing where the police were deploying their resources.
This article relates to the Bill of Rights, Amendment IV. It states "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, house, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated...." This article talks about how more black drivers are stopped and searched by the police, although more white drivers are found to have more contraband than black drivers. Although they suggest the data is inconclusive, there seems to be not much more reason based on the findings than because of racial profiling, which is why this article suggests to violating the amendment with unreasonable searches of black drivers.
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/06/02/us/big-disparity-for-blacks-pulled-over-in-missouri.html?referrer=
This article relates to the Bill of Rights, Amendment IV. It states "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, house, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated...." This article talks about how more black drivers are stopped and searched by the police, although more white drivers are found to have more contraband than black drivers. Although they suggest the data is inconclusive, there seems to be not much more reason based on the findings than because of racial profiling, which is why this article suggests to violating the amendment with unreasonable searches of black drivers.
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/06/02/us/big-disparity-for-blacks-pulled-over-in-missouri.html?referrer=
Arizona Enacts Stringent Law on Immigration
Scenario #8
Phoenix Governor Jan Brewer signed nations toughest bill on immigration. It aims to identify, prosecute, and deport illegal immigrants. People protest it will allow for the racial profiling of many Hispanics by the police. Some say the fact it will be illegal for people to not carry their citizenship papers is much like "Nazism".
This article relates to the Bill of Rights, Amendment X. It states "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively...." This article is about a controversial law on immigration passed by Arizona. This relates because it shows Arizona, the state, making its own law on immigration which is their right to do under the Bill of Rights.
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2010/04/24/us/politics/24immig.html?referrer=
This article relates to the Bill of Rights, Amendment X. It states "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively...." This article is about a controversial law on immigration passed by Arizona. This relates because it shows Arizona, the state, making its own law on immigration which is their right to do under the Bill of Rights.
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2010/04/24/us/politics/24immig.html?referrer=