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Discussion Starters
Discussion Starter provided courtesy of The Bill of Rights Institute.
Emancipation Proclamation
| | The National Constitution Center is now home to a rare printing of the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln. Share this unique document with your students. |
tribunals
| | Does the president have the constitutional authority to create military tribunals? Are the current tribunals acting in accordance with constitutional principles? |
Miers
| | The following resources and questions will help your students better understand the confirmation process that Harriet Miers is likely to experience. |
Intelligent Design
| | Is the required teaching of “intelligent design” in a public school a violation of the First Amendment’s guarantee of separation of church and state? |
Supreme Court 2005
| | We’re taking a look at important cases that have been heard but not decided in the Supreme Court this term. Opinions on the following cases are expected soon. |
Same Sex Marriage Different States, Different Rights
| | This lesson will explore the Tenth Amendment and states’ rights implications of this topic. |
Student Issues in the News
| | This activity will focus on three local issues relating to the Bill of Rights. Each topic represents an issue that directly affects students. |
Pharmacist Conscience Laws
| | Does requiring a pharmacist to dispense medication he/she finds morally objectionable violate his/her First Amendment right to free exercise of religion? |
Banning Violent Video Games
| | Is it a violation of the First Amendment to prevent the sale of video games that may be harmful to minors? |
juvenile executions
| | In the recent decision in Roper v. Simmons, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the execution of minors is unconstitutional. This lesson explores the case and the decision. |
A Right to Die
| | Who has the right to decide if Terri Schiavo should live or die? Is there a constitutional right to die? |
Federal Sentencing Guidelines Revisited
| | On January 12, the Supreme Court made two decisions regarding the federal sentencing guidelines. This activity will help students better understand the Supreme Court decision and its impact on federal crime sentencing. |
New Year, New Cases
| | A great way to get warmed up as the New Year begins, is to take a look at some important cases that the Supreme Court will be deciding in 2005. |
Federalism Marijuana and the Commerce Clause
| | Does the Federal Government have the right to ban medical marijuana use and acts associated with the growing of marijuana for medical purposes under the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution? |
Enemy Combatants on Trial
| | Last week, a United States Circuit Court judge issued a writ of habeas corpus in a tribunal case being tried at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba. Judge Robertson ordered the case to stop pending further hearings about the classification of a prisoner as an “enemy combatant” or a “prisoner of war.” At issue is whether or not the Constitutional and Geneva Conventions’ protections should be afforded to “enemy combatants” and even whether a detainee can be so classified without a hearing. Should due process of law be required for suspected terrorists? |
Cruel and Unusual Punishment for Minors
| | The United States Supreme Court has attempted to define what “cruel and unusual punishment” means for those convicted of a capital offense for a crime they committed while under the age of 18. Is it a violation of the eighth amendment to put someone to death who committed a serious crime as a minor? |
Ten Year Gun Ban Expires
| | On Monday, September 13, the federal government’s ban on certain types of semi-automatic guns expired, making the ownership of such weapons legal once again. Opponents of the ban argue that it was not an effective law, while proponents say that the ban has reduced crime rates and protected citizens. What types of restrictions on firearms are Constitutional? |
Protesting at the Convention
| | Protesters at the Republican and Democratic National Conventions have complained in Boston and New York City that their first amendment rights to free speech and peaceable assembly are being violated. Both cities have argued that they are concerned about public safety during the conventions. Are the cities responding to legitimate public safety concerns or are the protesters exercising their constitutional rights? |
Student Rights at the Prom
| | Last week, two issues involving the rights of high school students at their proms made the news. A school in Pennsylvania is requiring students to take an alcohol-detection test before they are allowed to enter the prom. A school in Texas is prohibiting same-sex dates at the prom. Do these policies violate the Constitutional rights of students? |
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