Chapter 14 Blog

Here is what I learned about our US Supreme Court Justices:

• John Roberts-Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, appointed by President George Bush Sr., graduated from Harvard Law. He was the captain of his football team at LaLumiere High School in LaPorte, Indiana. 
• Sonia Sotomayer-She is the first Hispanic American supreme court justice, appointed by President Obama. She grew up poor in the housing projects in South Bronx. She attended Princeton University and Yale. 
• Stephen Breyer-Appointed by President Clinton, he attended Stanford, Nagladen College at Oxford, and Harvard Law. In his early career, he was a law clerk to former Associate Justice Arthur Goldberg.
• Samuel Alito-Appointed by President George Bush Sr. He attended Princeton and Yale. He was also in the ROTC program and was later in the Army Reserves.
• Elena Kagan- Appointed by President Obama, she attended Harvard and Princeton, and was the first female Dean at Harvard Law. Her father was a lawyer and her mother was a teacher. 
• Clarence Thomas-Appointed by President George Bush Sr., he attended Yale school of Law, which Thomas considers his degree to be worth 15 cents. He grew up extremely poor, his father abandoned his family when Thomas was 2 years old. His mother, struggling to make ends meet, took the family to live with her parents, at which point Thomas learned the value of hard work from his grandfather. 
• Antonin Scalia-Appointed by President Reagan, he graduated from Harvard Law. Though he was always at the top of his class, I found him to be the least interesting of the justices. He is even quoted as saying, "I was never cool". 
• Anthony Kennedy-Appointed by President Reagan, he attended Stanford and Harvard Law. His father was an attorney and he was once in the Army National Guard. 
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg-Appointed by President Clinton, she attended Cornell University, Columbia and Harvard Law schools. She was the first Jewish female to be appointed to the Supreme Court. Most of her law career was devoted to the advancement of women's rights. 

In the case of Center for Reproductive Law and Policy v. Bush (2002), Sonya Sotomayer upheld a lower court ruling in favor of the Mexico City Policy, a policy that states that no country receiving funds from the US government may use the money to fund abortions.  In this case an abortion rights group claimed that this policy violated their First Amendment rights. Sotomayer wrote that "since the claims are based on International Law, they are indistinguishable from the First Amendment. She also wrote that "The Supreme Court is free to favor the anti-abortion position over the pro-choice position and can do so without public funds."  I agree with her for several reasons. As a firm believer in pro-life, I am against abortion in general. I also feel that our government should only give money and assistance to other countries where it is absolutely essential, not for abortions. I agree that US Constitutional Rights only apply to American soil. 

Judicial Review should be used regularly. I feel that the implementation of Judicial Review gives an adequate balance of power to the judicial branch, in relation to the executive and legislative branches. I feel that it is of utmost importance that statutes and treaties passed are constitutional, therefore it is important that the Supreme Court has the power to overturn any law passed through Congress. 

I think it is important for the High Court to consider the intent of the Framers, while considering the changes in society. I believe in our Constitution, however it was implemented 225 years ago. We are a completely different society today. Our country is much larger now, and with very different major issues than in the latter 1700's. With that being said, I think that if we stray to far from the strict construction of our Constitution, our country will begin to lose it's way, entirely.

   
Blogs I commented on:
-Dylan Thevenard
-Robert Johnson
-Matthew Cooper

Chapter 13 Blog

It is difficult to choose just one federal agency that is the most important, because I believe there are several that are absolutely crucial, however since I have to choose just one I will go with the United States Department of Defense. Headquartered at the Pentagon, the Department of Defense is made up of the US Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, National Guard and US Coast Guard. It is the oldest and largest government agency. Without our nation's military, we would have only the defense of our citizens. We could be bombed or taken over at any time without any type of defenses. Our military is also considered the world's police, overseeing matters in other countries and also providing disaster relief. Without our military, our country would've had no need for any other government agency, because it simply would not exist.

I do not feel that any of our federal agencies are not important, and that any of them would not be missed. They all serve a very special and important purpose in or country.

I don't think we need any more federal agencies. After researching all of the different agencies, departments and what they do, I think every possible scenario or need of an agency is already covered. A week ago I would have said that there needs to be an office that oversees spending in each agency, but I've learned that office already exists and it's called the Office of Management and Budget and reports directly to the president.

Blogs I commented on:
-Taylor Wilson
-Matthew Cooper
-Sarah Ham

Great presidents and their qualities

What makes a president great? In my opinion it goes without saying that a great president must possess exceptional leadership qualities. He/she must be able to communicate with the public effectively. One of the greatest presidents of our time, Franklin D. Roosevelt held fireside chats. These chats were a radio broadcast that held the attention of 80% of Americans.
I feel that the president should have the ability to implement ideas that will be effective in solving the problems of our nation, without spending money that our country doesn't have.
A solid leader must also have the ability to advocate for the people, while making sound economic decisions.

I think it goes without saying that Franklin D Roosevelt was one of the greatest presidents of our time. He led our country through two of the worst periods our nation has ever encountered, the Great Depression and World War II. Roosevelt created jobs for the people, and did not believe in handouts. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he had all the provocation he needed to declare war on Japan, where he led us to be victorious in the outcome of that war.
Thomas Jefferson was one of our countries founding fathers, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was a strong supporter in the first amendment, and was publicly opposed to slavery, even signing a bill in 1807 to abolish it. He was also involved in the Louisiana purchase in 1803.
I researched a little known president William McKinley. He was assassinated 6 months into his second term.  McKinley's face is printed on the $500 bill, which is no longer in circulation. He was a decent president, who presided over the war with Spain, giving us control over Puerto Rico and Guantanamo Bay.

Blogs I commented on:
-Donna Fox
-Robert Devaney
-Taylor Wilson

Chapter 11 blog

Our Senators for the state of Tennessee are Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker. The Congressman for district 3 in which I live, is Charles Fleischmann. Both Senators and Congressman share my views on abortion, and life beginning at conception. All agree on banning federal funding coverage including abortion. As a mother, this issue is particularly important to me. How anyone can abort a fetus and it be protected under the mother's right to privacy is completely beyond me. It is murder, plain and simple.
Charles Fleischman voted for the Title X abortion act, prohibiting federal family planning assistance to an entity unless the woman is raped, a victim of incest, or a medical disorder endangering the life of the woman. (May 2011)
I disagree with Senator Bob Corker, and his opposition to changes in the second amendment (April 2013). While I am pro gun rights, I do not feel that a typical American citizen needs high powered assault rifles, and high capacity magazines. Those weapons are designed for our police and military. A magazine holding more than 10 bullets only enable mass shooters to create more casualties and injuries.


Blogs I commented on:
-Mona Manwill
-Dylan Thevenard
-Matthew Cooper