Synopsis of CNN Economy Article

Maryland raises minimum wage to $10.10                       Story From: CNN.com Minimum wage will be looking up for the folks of Maryland by the year 2018. The state legislature on Monday approved a bill that raises the wage floor from $7.25 to $10.10 by 2018, and Gov. Martin O'Malley is expected to sign it into law. This raise in pay will begin Jan. 1 2015 and continue over the years. The workers have been praising the Maryland Legislature and rightfully so, for it seems our economy is finally looking up. Whether it be a big change or a small one, a gain in economy is something we can all appreciate.

Plessy V. Ferguson:

Summary: Plessy attempted to sit in an all-white train car. He was ordered to move to the back but refused to do as he was told. Plessy was arrested for violating an 1890 Louisiana statute that provided for segregated “separate but equal” railroad accommodations. Ferguson presided over the court which found Plessy guilty. Plessy filed a petition for writs of prohibition and certiorari in the Supreme Court of Louisiana against Ferguson, asserting that segregation stigmatized blacks and stamped them with a badge of inferiority in violation of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth amendments. The court found for Ferguson and the Supreme Court granted cert. 

Verdict: States can continually enact "separate but equal" facilities

Opinion: I dont believe that this is right. If we're equal, then why do we need to be separated. If people are intolerable of others simply because of the color of one's skin, maybe they're the ones who should be separated from our society.

President Report Card

Presidential Report Card

Name of President: Benjamin Harrison

Number of Presidency: 23

Years in Office: 4

In the following ten categories, grade your president from an A to an F. (You may “acknowledge” border-line grades with a – or a +).  You will need to give a 50 word justification as to why your candidate scored as they did. 

Category	Grade	Comments
Ability to handle and deal with a crisis	A+	Harrison was a soldier and part of a supreme court before presidency.
Ability to work with Congress and Cabinet	A	Worked well with many branches of government.
Character and Integrity	C-	popular vote wasn’t overwhelming. Known for wasting money
Education	A	Went to two different colleges
Empathy	A	Assisted in civil rights policy
Foreign Policy	B-	Helped manage foreign issues and helped face crises
Relates to the common man	B	Harrison understood people, but also has an older understanding
Persuasiveness	B	Gave many inspiring speeches that changed minds
Political Experience	A	Worked in senate and other branches including presidency
Public speaking & Communication	B	Good speech maker in many different aspects.

Bellringer 3/11/14

1.  Should pharmaceutical companies put people ahead of profits?

Yes they should. If there's a chance to save someone's life we should always take it.

2.  Should government be able to compel pharmaceutical companies to provide life saving medicines?

Yes, if they can control military, laws, taxes, and jobs then they should certainly be able to give out medication!

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln

When the thought of presidents comes into mind, I’m willing to bet that Abraham Lincoln is amongst the first names on that list. He is easily one of the most influential and notable presidents ever. This is the man that gave the Gettysburg Address. This is the man that freed the slaves. This is the man who came from near nothing, and became the president of these United States.

Lincoln was born in a simple log cabin in Kentucky on February, 12 1809. As a child, he taught himself to read, and would often give speeches to his friends or family members. His reign of presidency began on the date of March 1861. In his time in office, he gave the Gettysburg Address, and the Emancipation Proclamation. His actions resulted in the freeing of slaves from most states. It is because of these actions he earned the name “The Great Emancipator.” Sadly though, his life was cut short when he was assassinated on April 16, 1865 by John Wilkes Booth in a theatre.

            Lincoln’s credentials are impressive, but here are some things about Lincoln’s life that you may not know. Before Lincoln was assassinated, he created the Secret Service only hours before his death. Even though it is named after him, Abe never actually slept in the Lincoln Bedroom in the White House. Lincoln personally test fired rifles outside the White House. The last little known fact about Abraham is that he is actually inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame. It was reported that Lincoln lost only won match in a total of three hundred.

Bell Ringer 2/7/14

President Obama is falling short of helping the economy in any way. The job market, income, taxes and many other issues continue to plague the U.S. and our president isn't doing anything helpful to stop the issue.

Bellringer 2/5/14   Do you agree or disagree with this change? Why/Why Not?

Yes I do agree with this change completely. People abuse welfare and food stamps all the time now, so anything that takes away from their over-pampered living habit is for the better. It also helps with the dental and health problems we have in WV. Maybe with less sugar in their system people wont have rotten teeth or a swollen gut.

Midterm Part I

1.       List the five freedoms protected by the First Amendment. Freedom of Press, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Petition, The Right to Assembly

1.       List four of the five rights that are protected by the Fifth Amendment

Grand Jury, Double-Jeopardy, Self-Incrimination, Legal Proceeding

1.      What amendment adds unwritten powers to the states? __10th______

4.  The Third amendment prohibits the government from forcing citizens to ____House Soldiers_____

1.       Unreasonable bail and no Cruel or unusual punishment are prevented from occurring by the ____8th____ amendment.

The right to jury trial in most civil cases is guaranteed by the _______7th_________ Amendment

1.       The right to keep and bear arms is protected by the _________2nd_________ Amendment.

2.       The right to protection from unreasonable searches and seizures is protected by the ____4th______ Amendment.

3.      The Constitution gives the people rights that aren’t written down in the __________ Amendment

4.       A speedy and fair trial is guaranteed by the _____6th________ Amendment.

5.      Give two examples of unwritten powers that the states have.

1.       How many amendments have been made to the Constitution since the Bill of Rights was added.? ___17____

2.       How many of the amendments from question 12 are still “effective” today? ________25____

3.       What year was the Bill of Rights ratified (passed)? ________________

Dec. 15, 1791

Midterm Part II

1.       Who serves as president of the Senate?

A.      Pro-Tempore     B. Vice President     C. Most Senior Senator D. Appropriations Chair

2.       How long is US Senators’ term of office?  _____6 years_______

3.       Why did colonists issue the Declaration of Independence?____________To declare freedom from Great Britain because King George III refused to assent laws____________ ________________________________________________________________________

4.       What branch of government is responsible for regulating trade?____________________

5.       Where is the right to trial by jury located in the Constitution?_________7^th Amendment______________

6.       What was the name of the first “Constitution?”______________Articles of Confederation____________________

7.       What are the main parts of the Declaration of Independence?___________The Constitution, and Signitures___________ ________________________________________________________________________

8.       Due process of law is guaranteed by what two Constitutional amendments? ____5^th/14th_______

9.       How many amendments have been made to the Constitution? ___________10___________

10.   What five rights are protected by the First Amendment? __________Speech, Religion, Assembly, Petition, Press_________________ _________________________________________________________________________

11.   How long is a US Representative’s term of office?

A.      8 years     B. 6 years     C. 4 years     D. 2 years

12.   If president dies, who becomes president? ______________Vice President________________________

13.   If vice president dies, who becomes president?_______________Secretary of State_____________________

14.   Where is the Supremacy Clause located at in the Constitution?__________Article Six_____________

15.   The US has three branches of government, they are:

A.      Legislative, Executive, State

B.      Legislative, State, Judicial

C.      State, Judicial, Executive

D.      Legislative, Executive, Judicial ß---

16.   What term is used to describe power being shared between the branches of government?________________Federaism________________________________________________

17.   How long are federal judges appointed for? ________________As long as they aren’t impeached_______________________

18.   What branch of government is responsible for establishing the lower courts?

A.      Judicial     B. State     C. Legislative     D. Executive