In this lesson students will examine a pro and con speech about real legislation (the Green New Deal) being discussed in the United States Senate. Students will summarize the speeches, consider their arguments, and use them to enhance their own knowledge of environmental policy.
Bell Ringer: The Role of Delegates in the House of Representatives
Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) discussed the differences between a Delegate to the House of Representative and members of the House of Representatives from states.
Bell Ringer: Significance of Presidents’ Day
Author and Presidential Historian Lindsay Chervinsky discussed the significance of Presidents’ Day, how Americans have remembered and memorialized departed presidents, and how Americans’ views of presidents have changed over time.
Bell Ringer: Free Market Economics
Samford University business professor Art Carden talked about Strangers with Candy, his book of essays on the benefits of free-market economics. In each of the clips he discusses the role of the free market in stimulating economic growth.
Bell Ringer: The Phillips Curve Today
Economist Ekaterina Peneva talks about the relationship between inflation and unemployment.
Bell Ringer: Milton Friedman on Inflation
A portion of the PBS series titled “Free to Choose” is highlighted in which Milton Friedman explained inflation.
Bell Ringer: 50th Anniversary of President Nixon’s Resignation
Biographer and historian John Farrell talked about his book, “Richard Nixon: The Life,” and the 50th anniversary of President Nixon’s resignation.
Bell Ringer: Origin and Impact of Title IX Legislation
President Nixon signed Title IX into law in June 1972, prohibiting sex discrimination in any education program receiving federal money—most notably sports. These clips provide background information on the legislation, discuss the role of former U.S. Commerce Secretary Barbara Franklin, and the impact that President Nixon’s administration had on equity for women.
Bell Ringer: Voter Turnout
Voter turnout, or the choice by voters whether or not to participate in a given election, is impacted by a variety of factors. These factors include voter demographics (personal characteristics), political efficacy (the sense that one’s vote is important and impactful), structural barriers (such as voter registration laws and voting procedures), and type of election (midterm versus presidential).
Bell Ringer: Federalism
The United States government is organized on the principle of federalism, the sharing of power between national and state/local authorities. There are three broad categories of powers: 1. Exclusive powers: held by only one level of government and includes both enumerated powers (expressly articulated in the United States Constitution) and implied powers (which are are not specifically enumerated in the Constitution but inferred from expressed powers, particularly the Necessary and Proper Clause, as affirmed in the landmark McCulloch v. Maryland decision). 2. Reserved powers: any powers not granted to the national government or forbidden to the states, as affirmed in the Tenth Amendment (“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”). 3. Concurrent powers: shared between both levels of government.