Last post of the tri!

Watch or read the State of the Union which President Trump will deliver on 2/5/2019.  Answer one of the following prompts:

- If you were to give the Democratic response what would you say and why?
- What were 2 proposals Trump makes in his speech?  Do you think he will be able to get those initiatives accomplished in 2019?  Why or why not?
-  What efforts did you see in the speech to try to persuade moderates and Democrats to support his initiatives? Do you think he was persuasive to people outside of his base of supporters?  Why or why not?

Your response should refer to specifics in his speech.  You should use a minimum of one other source in addition to the speech.

This is due by Friday, 2/15 and will be our last post for the tri because we are a little tight thanks to the polar vortex.

I look forward to reading what you will write!
- Meredith

Link to text and video of the SOTU
NPR:  Fact Check of the SOTU

Post 2 - Due 1/14

Following up on our examination of polling data this week and the president's address to the nation on 1/8/2019 please answer the following prompt:

Do you think President Trump should declare a state of emergency to secure funding for a border wall?  

Your answer must include at least:

• 2 news sources
• refer to 1 recent poll
• refer to a specific part of the US Constitution

Due on Monday, January 14th.

Articles to consider using:
Why Trump can't simply build his wall.
National Emergency Powers and Trump's Border Wall, Explained

Marco Rubio warns against Trump declaring a national emergency over border security, arguing that one day a Democrat could declare one over climate change

Polling Data:
http://www.pollingreport.com/

Response to Post 1

As the NPR article from post 1 explained,
"The case has attracted extra attention because of Trump's comments that he could possibly pardon his onetime campaign chairman Paul Manafort and other Trump associates who have been — or could be — convicted in prosecutions brought by Mueller.  Presidential pardons, it should be noted, only apply to federal crimes. So, under current law, a state like New York, for example, could go after Manafort for the same crimes under state laws.  These concerns, he noted, extend from the president down to governors or local prosecutors. They could "bestow great gifts upon friends or family by rushing to prosecute them for certain crimes," Saltzburg pointed out, by obtaining minimal punishments.If the Supreme Court were to bar dual prosecutions, "there is a concern that a president of the United States could pardon an individual for all federal offenses" and it would effectively be a "pardon for everything," said George Washington University Law professor Stephen Saltzburg, who served as deputy assistant attorney general in the Reagan and Bush administrations.  That would be "cutting off" the ability of the federal government to bring prosecutions, for the same conduct, particularly in corruption cases."

Your follow up question to post #1 is:
What can keep a president from misusing or overusing their pardoning power? Are their enough checks in place to keep the president from misusing their power to pardon?

You are not required to do additional research for this post.  

Please post before Saturday, 12/22.  Thanks and have a nice break!

Post 1 for Tri 2 - due 12/14

The double jeopardy clause in the Fifth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution provides that "No person shall ... be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb."  However as PBS explains, "there is a 170-year-old exception to the double jeopardy clause known as the separate sovereign exception. That is, if two sovereign states — and the United States, they are allowed to do the double prosecution or two states, which are also separate sovereigns, they could do it as well."


Listen to or read the following story from National Public Radio and the one cited abouve from PBS about the Supreme Court's current case on the issue of Double Jeopardy.  The article summarizes the case before the Supreme Court and its potential implications on the Mueller investigation of the president.

Pretend you are on the US Supreme Court:

Should the federal and state courts have the power to prosecute someone for the same crime even though they broke the law in multiple jurisdictions?  

In your answer you need to reference the Constitution and at least one news article in your answer. 

Your post is due by Friday, December 14th.  

Interesting articles about MN from this week's election

From donning a hijab on Capitol Hill to LGBT representation, a look at Minnesota's firsts this election

Nearly 2.6 million Minnesotans turn out, set midterm voting record in state

Dean Phillips defeats Rep. Erik Paulsen for Third District seat, which was Minnesota's most expensive House race

Last post of the trimester

What do you think the results of the midterm elections on November 6th mean?  What is their significance nationally and in MN?  

Please post at the latest by Friday 11/16 at the latest.  Your post should use a minimum of 3 sources to support your argument.  I look forward to reading your posts.  :)

Ads I found which you could use:

Need to find an ad to review:
Jeff Johnson 
Jeff Johnson
Tim Walz
Tim Walz

This MPR article features 3 different ads.