Monday, September 20, 2010

Judicial Branch

Article III, Section 1, The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behavior, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.
             This is saying how they will have a supreme court with people who will be fair and protect our rights and the constitution. Its also saying how in order to keep this a well organized court they must have good behavior and judge fairly.
            This article is about the new supreme justice Sonia Sotomayor being the first Hispanic person in the Supreme Court. She was nominated by president Obama in May 2009 to replace David H. Souter. She was recognized for her hard work. President Obama sad that she was a good candidate for this position since she has worked so hard and well. He also stated how she started form a humble beginning and became someone very important. This part of the constitution is still being into practice. This is an example how Sotomayor is in the Supreme Court. Also how they still follow it by the letter.  
            If we didn’t have this type of order, things would be crazy. With people not doing their job of enforcing the laws of the country and respecting the constitution things wouldn’t be right. People would be going wild in their natural state but would eventually find a way into government again. But its better how we have it now with people enforcing the laws made by congress.

Source: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/s/sonia_sotomayor/index.html

Executive Branch

Article II, Section 1, Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
            This is saying how in order to take the place of presidency he/she must say the oath administrated by the chief of justice. This is something that they say in order to have an idea what is expected form them as the president. This also helps the president start on something when he wants to do something for us.
            This video is when the chief of justice administrated the Oath to our president Barrack Obama. This shows how we still use this oath in our present day to give the position to our new president in order for him to serve his term of office. This has been done for many years and it still is in all the Inaugurations done for the new president of the United States.

source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpeK4CGHapA

Executive Branch: The President


Article II, Section 1,”the executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice-President chosen for the same Term”

            This is saying hoe we should have a president for a term of four years. In addition, how this person will have certain powers that other people in office won’t have. He/she will have more power but he won’t have all power. The separation of powers prevents a single person from having too much power.
            This cartoon is saying how we were in the 2008 elections when Hilary Clinton and Barrack Obama were in the running for representing the democrats in the presidential running. They were both nominees that could represent the Democratic Party. This is showing how they are electing presidents every four years and how they are electing nominees to represent the Democratic Party.
            I believe that if we didn’t have this election every four years we would get tired of the president if he wasn’t doing his job. And because we would want more and new ideas in the government. So it is good that we get new elections every four years.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Legislative: The Senate

Article 1 Section 3, The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, (chosen by the Legislature thereof,) (The preceding words in parentheses superseded by 17th Amendment, section 1.) for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.




     This is part of what I was talking about in the last blog, on how congress was separated into two different parts. This is the second part, which is the Senate, which is also known as the Upper House. The Senate has in all 100 members, two from each state. The Senators serve a six-year term. They help run the congress and have similar powers as the House.

     In this article, it shows how the senate is practicing its powers and its responsibilities. The article states how the senate passed a $4.5 billion nutrition bill. This bill will help the well-being of our youth. This shows us how our senate is still fulfilling its duties. Now that they just need to keep following the rest of the steps, so it can become a law.

     I believe that the senate does play a big part in the congress because it helps run the congress more smoothly, since it’s the other half. The senate is amore bigger representation of the state, which in all I think helps it because it helps us be represented more.

Source: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0810/40719.html

Legislative: The House

Article I Section 2, “The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.”




     This is saying how the congress has to be separated into two and that one of that is the House of Representatives. It’s also saying that the representatives will take care of people from their state and more specifically their district. It’s also saying how we shall vote for them and they will serve for a term of two years.

     This article demonstrates how the House of Representatives are still in use. This article is about how congress in trying to pass a different health reform but are going through some difficulties trying to pass it since it favors the republicans more. The republicans prefer this one then the one already passed by president Barrack Obama. This shows how the house still plays a major roll in making bills laws.

     Without the house, I believe some people would be very unhappy. The representative’s job is to represent their district. In addition, the bill that they are trying to pass might not benefit the district so they would want to vote against it and something for it. So their representative would be able to do something for them.

Source: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0910/42015.html

Legislative: Bill Hearing

Article I Section 7, "Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate."


This is saying how in order for a bill to become a law both the House of Representatives and the Senate must pass it. In order for that bill to become a law they must present it in court where the senate and the house would be able to heard the proposition of the senator or representative proposing the bill.

This video is from a congress meeting where Representative Barbara Lee is trying to pass a bill for Minority Owned business to be better represented and actually be taken more into consideration. In addition, it protects the right of the worker and gives them better conditions. This video shows how it has to get through congress in order to become a law.

If we didn’t have this I believe, it would be horrible. I say this because people would be making useless laws. There would be laws contradicting each other because nobody would be checking them, they would just be approved. This wouldn’t be a good government. It would be a very unorganized congress.



Video Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR-zCBFUGoI