Choose one of the six prompts:
Constitution: Religion/Conscience
In class, we talked about the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. Those two clauses represent the distinction between public and private. The Establishment Clause limits what can be done in institutions sponsored by tax dollars. The Free Exercise Clasue prohibits limits on private belief and behavior. Sometimes it is difficult to know where to draw the line. Can a high school valedictorian reference religion in her graduation speech at a public school? Do state capitals really have to display Satanic statues? There are many stories in the news each year that talk about a conflict between free exercise and establishment. Find one and research it.
Use the story to explain why it’s controversial and how it poses a difficult question in terms of free exercise and establishment. Use quality news sources to inform yourself. You will not be graded on your personal opinions about religion but rather your knowledge of this issue and the current events surrounding it. (Note: you might not see the Establishment or Free Exercise clauses mentioned in the story. Instead, the story might just say something about “religious freedom” or “atheists’ rights,” or something, but you know the significance of those parts of the First Amendment.)
Federalism: Marijuana
Marijuana is illegal under federal law. However, in the past decade, many states have passed state-level laws that legalize marijuana in different ways. In some states, recreational marijuana is legal. In other states, it’s only legal if for medicinal purposes. In D.C., it’s legal to possess, grow, and use, but not sell. For this topic, look into at least one state’s marijuana law that permits marijuana in at least some circumstances (at least one state where pot is somewhat legal). You can look into multiple states. Focus on the effects of the policy change in that state and what it has to teach us about potential changes to national (federal) law. Try to focus on a specific topic in the news and be specific in what you’re talking about. Use quality news sources to inform yourself. You will not be graded on your personal opinions about marijuana but rather your knowledge of this issue and the current events surrounding it.
Civil Liberties: Due Process
In class we talked about the due process amendments of the Bill of Rights and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. For this essay, look for news stories on a controversy concerning due process. Feel free to throw in qualified immunity if you want. There are a lot of stories in the news right now about violations of due process in criminal or civil proceedings.Report on one of them. Explain the controversy and use at least one amendment of the Constitution to bolster your understanding. Try to focus on a specific topic in the news and be specific in what you’re talking about. Use quality news sources to inform yourself. You will not be graded on your personal opinions about marijuana but rather your knowledge of this issue and the current events surrounding it.
Civil Liberties: Abortion
When we talked about civil liberties, we looked at abortion and the right to privacy. We know that there are three new Justices on the Supreme Court that may minimize or overturn Roe v. Wade. We also know that there have been recent state-level laws that restrict access to abortion, specifically passed to challenge Roe v. Wade. For this topic, look into this issue further. Research more about a state policy and potential Supreme Court ruling. Focus specifically on the right to privacy, the debate surrounding the issue of abortion, and the role of the Supreme Court. Beyond those big topics, this prompt is wide open. Use quality news sources to inform yourself. You will not be graded on your personal opinions about abortion but rather your knowledge of this issue and the current events surrounding it.
Civil Rights: Affirmative Action/Harvard Case
Throughout the lectures on civil rights, we’ve repeatedly looked at the question, “What is equality.” Most Americans would say that they believe in racial equality, but people disagree on exactly what that looks like. For this topic, look at the current debate surrounding affirmative action, specifically the case before the Supreme Court that evaluates Harvard University’s admission policies and potential anti-Asian discrimination. IFocus on the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and how the Supreme Court has interpreted the 14th Amendment in regards to race and college admissions. Use quality news sources to inform yourself. You will not be graded on your personal opinions about affirmative action but rather your knowledge of this issue and the current events surrounding it.
