The Tenth Amendment

Driver licenses can be issued to people at different ages depending on the state laws. This coincides with the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The National Government has given states the right to decide what age licenses shall be issued. In Illinois, the minimum age for receiving a license is 16 years of age; however, the state is debating whether or not they are moving the age to 18.

The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states that 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.

I don't think making driving laws nationally respected is a problem. I think that the Nation should rise the age to 18 due to teenage car accidents. The National Government has given that decision to each state. This is an example of federalism.

The Fifth Amendment

The Fifth Amendment gives a person ,that is under trial, permission to "Plead the Fifth" meaning that he has the right to remain silent. In the picture I think a Lawyer is trying to tease the Judge by asking him of a right that is already guaranteed.

The Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution says that No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

If the Fifth Amendment was never created, then the court system would be different. People who actually plead the fifth would probably be punished. they would have to tell everything that happened and they couldn't hide anything from the jury or the judge. This can also cause feuds between friends because the tried person might tell on their friend since they have to tell the truth.

The Fourth Amendment

Many people take heed to the Fourth Amendment because they know that authority won't intrude their property without proper authorization. In this picture, police are abusing the fourth amendment. The first one is kicking down a door marked with 4th Amendment Privacy Rights. He is also holding a note from the supreme that is agreeing with what the second officer said which was that they were supposed to knock first.

The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution says that the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

I'm glad that this amendment was added to the Constitution because I think that it protects certain people. I personally would be annoyed if police had the right to come in my house without a warrant. If they came at the wrong time then there would be problems.

The Right to Bear Arms.

This cartoon shows the abusing of the Second Amendment by Congress. I think that Congress doesn't really agree with this Amendment since it generally increases crime rate and death.
Even though this right is guaranteed, it is not always a good decision.

According to the Second Amendment, A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

I think people should and shouldn't carry guns. When people carry guns, crime rates increase. If the Second Amendment did not exist, crime rates probably would rollercoast. They would go up because people coudln't defend themselves. Then they would go down because people don't have fatal weapons. The Second Amendment really doesn't have an affect on me because I don't carry a gun.

The Freedom of the Press.

In the political cartoon, a journalist gathers information and is probably going to report it publicly. A police officer is questioning his Freedom of Press because he is searching the bag and trying to find sources that might not be what he wants to see. The thing is, the journalist has the right to publicly display any information he acquires and he cannot be questioned and or arrested.

According to Amendment 1 of the Constitution, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

I personally think alot of problems would be settled because if the Freedom of Press didn't exist, there probably would be less false information. Alot of homework for students like me would be easier since everything on the web would be the truth. For instance, if posts could not be published on wikipedia without legal notarization, homework would be much easier; consequently, wikipedia's entire structure may have been completely false. Leaving children with no source.

The Freedom of Speech.

As an oppressed African- American, Martin Luther King Jr was stripped of certain rights and priveleges that were technically given to him. Since the government was white, blacks really didn't have a say in the world. However, King knew that the U.S. Constitution granted blacks all the rights whites had. He knew that he could speak without being denied the right according to the Constitution.

Amendment 1 of the U.S. Constitution says that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Say the First Amendment was never created. Where would America be right now. The world would not understand what blacks were going through and we probably would still be under similar pressure. I'm glad the First Amendment was created because it lets people express their own opinions and it lets them know that nobody has the right to tell them they can't speak.

The Freedom of Assembly.

This is a picture of people gathering to protest the Iraq War. They have the right to assemble and protest againt government decisions only to a certain extent. No where in the Constitution does it say that there is the Freedom to Riot.

In the Bill of Rights, The First Amendment guarantees that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

If we didn't have the right to assemble, speak, or print, minorities probably would still be in a extremely racial environment. If the right to assemble and speak wasn't included in the Constitution, Martin Luther King Jr, Caeser Chavez, or Rosa Parks would not have had the opportunity to fight for the rights they were stripped of.

Judge Larson's Compensation Diminished?

Federal Judge Stephen G. Larson is a judge in the California district and he's taking a stand. Larson argues that the pay he is receiving is not enough to support his family. The fishy thing is, Larson claims that he is quitting but Judges cannot be removed from office that way. They must either retire or be impeached. America wonders where Larson will go in order to make more money then a job that great.

This Article relates to Article 3, Section 1 of the United States Constitution. 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 statement clearly says that judges shouldnt be stripped or cheated of their pay and this happened to Larson.

Honestly, I wonder where Larson is going to go in order to make more money than a Federal California Judge. I understand that he is a father of an underaged 7 children but I possibly couldn't think about giving up a wonderful job for anything else. Based on his job, Larson would probably need to go to college and obtain a different degree because the only other choices he may have is to be a lawyer and Federal Judges obviously make more than they do.

Adam Gadahn Charged with Treason

Adam Gadahn was arrested and charged with treason after creating 5 videos over a 2 year period. The videos contained content that went against the U.S. and aided al Qaeda. In a video Gadahn destroyed a U.S. passport and threatened the U.S. The F.B.I. has reported that Gadahn actually had connections with Osama Bin Laden and that he attended terrorist camps. The thing is, Gadahn was American-born. He was born in Oregon. He still awaits his court date.

This Article relates to Article 3, Section 3 of the United States Constitution. Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. Gadahn was accused of admitting that he would destroy the United States in order to "Aid and Comfort" al Qaeda, which is our enemy.

If there was no such thing as treason, a lot of people would be destroying the United States and it is the country their were born in. People like Gadahn would be helping other countries that we aren't bonded with, fight us and attack us. I'm glad that treason is in the constitution and i;m glad it's taken as serious as it is.

Arizona Immigration Law Criticized by Obama.

The Arizona Immigration Law was sent to President Obama's office. His reaction? He criticized the law harshly. He also stated that he is "looking for an election-year fight over the volatile issue." President Obama agreed to the signing of the "nation's toughest immigration law", which was signed by Arizona Governer, Jan Brewer. President Obama says that "it was the state that was 'misguided' and that the Arizona measure would 'undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans.'"

This Article clearly demonstrates Article 2, Section 3 of the United States Constitution. "...convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them..." According to FoxNews.com, many people opposed Obama's decisions on making strict laws about illegal immigration. Obama delivered a speech that changed the minds of his opponents.

If illegal immigration wasn't taken seriously, the economy would be worse because the fight for jobs would be even greater. I think crime rates would go up because "aliens" would want money and need places to live. If illegal immigration was legal then the United States, I think, would be a complete disaster. We would encounter overpopulation faster than we expected.

Congress Aids Obama.

President Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, is aided by Congress in the passing of the Climate Change Bill. Obama barely wins with 7 extra votes. Since Obama is so popular, people are wondering why the bill he proposed only passed by so little. Michael Tomasky writes that "the founding fathers wanted a system of divided government, but now Congress is 'checking and balancing to the point of paralysis'."

This article clearly demonstrates Article 2, Section 3 of the United States Constitution. He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.

I think the President needs the Congress to help him make decisions that are based on laws. Other times the President may need Congress' help to pass a law. As you can see, Congress helped President Obama pass the laws he wanted to be passed by aiding him with 7 more votes. I think that all three branches need each other in order to successfully carry out their own procedures. If there was no Congress, Obama's desired laws may not have been passed and his plan on healing the economy might not have been an option.

Sarkozy's Reform Bill Barely Passes.

Source:
http://www.newser.com/story/33027/sarkozy-s-reform-bill-passes-by-a-hair.html


As President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy proposed a bill that will allow "parliament to set half its agenda and veto presidential appointments, and limit presidents to two 5-year terms." According to BBC, "The overhaul of parliamentary and executive powers passed in the assembly and senate by a single vote, capturing 539 when it needed 538." Sarkozy says that "the camp of movement, change, modernity has won over the camp of immobility, of rigidty, of sectarianism."

This article clearly demonstrates Article 1, Section 7 of the United States Constitution. Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it becomes Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall be likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law.

If Laws were vetoed without the voting of the Congress, many of them probably wouldn't exist today. If Congress had the control to pass a Law without the President's consent, then there would probably be ridiculous laws. I think that The Legislative and Executive Branch require each's opinion. Without the other, one branch probably would have distorted the way people feel about the country based on the laws that were enforced. In this Article, the Congress voted on the Reform Bill Proposed by a foreign countr President, which was Nicolas Sarkozy. The Bill luckily had an extra vote, 539 out of the 538 needed, which passed the Bill. Sarkozy was glad that he could negotiate with the United States and he believes that the Bill will change alot of concepts.

Coburn Rises to the Challenge

Coburn Challenges Congress

Mahbubani Says U.S. Congress' Decisions Aren't Wise

Kishore Mahbubani says that every nation listens to the United States because they're so powerful. Topics he discuss are that the U.S. is transforming it's ways of helping other countries, underestimating the value of Chinese currency, and listening to what other countries have to say instead of always standing on the podium. Mahbubani says that the U.S. is ignorant and that it's time for a "new strategy."

House of Representatives Passes Resolution Honoring National Library Week

The House of Representatives passed resolutions that would aid National Library Week. The resolution stated that “Whereas the Nation’s school, academic, public, and special libraries make a difference in the lives of millions of people in the United States, today, more than ever; Whereas librarians are trained professionals, helping people of all ages and backgrounds find and interpret the information they need to live, learn, and work in a challenging economy; Whereas libraries are part of the American Dream, places for opportunity, education, self-help, and lifelong learning.”