Amendment

AMENDMENT XIX

The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.

Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

All women have the right to vote and states cannot infringe on that right.

This amendment is important because it serves the democratic ideals if the United States and better represents the American population.

Comparing Health Care

United Kingdom

• funded by taxes, 8.3% GDP
• "socialized medicine" run by government (National Health Service)
• focused on preventative care, general practitioners=gatekeeper
• long waits, few options for care

Japan

• funded by individuals, 8% GDP
• $280/mo., employers foot 1/2 bill
• 30% copay, capped based on income
• "social insurance"
• required have insurance, help from gov. for those can't afford, privatized medicine
• very successful, too little $$ going to medicine

Germany

• funded by ind., 10.7 % GDP
• $750/mo. pegged by income
• $14/3 mo., certain exempt
• "social insurance" (orig. under Bismarck)
• sickness funds
• no gatekeeper, higher copay if private practitioner
• underpaid, top 10% exempt-->treated sooner, for profit insurance

Taiwan

• funded ind., 6.3% GDP
• $650/yr fam. 4, 20% copay
• government run issuer mandatory insurance
• underfunded

Switzerland

• ind. funded, 11.6% GDP
• $750, subsidies available, 10% copay
• universal, insurance for profit beyond basic care
• expensive

Looking at the graphs, Americans pay the most for care, but do not receive the same quality of care as other nations. We have the highest infant mortality rate of the compared nations and the lowest life expectancy.

I would like to live in Switzerland because, despite the high costs, it has a good reputation for quality of care and a high life expectancy. The copay on care is low and the government did not have to fight the people to get universal health care.

A Fierce Green Fire

A Fierce Green Fire. Dir. Mark Mitchell. Perf. Ashley Judd, Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Isabelle Allende, Van Jones. PBS, 2012. Online.

A Fierce Green Fire is an environmental documentary created to celebrate Earth Day. It chronicles the history of the movement through the formation of the Sierra Club and Greenpeace. The human cause and effect is discussed through the Love Canal incident, global warming, and Chico Mendes.

Liptak, Kevin, Kevin Liptak Reported from Washington, and Jethro Mullen Reported from London. "White House Sets out Looming Climate Risks for U.S., Calls for 'urgent Action'" CNN. Cable News Network, 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 06 May 2014.

Climate change is no longer a threat that our descendants will have to deal with, according to the Obama administration. It is a very real and present threat. This issue has also emphasized the polarization of the government, as consensus with in the lawmaking body has not been reached. Hundreds of experts collaborated on this report citing flooding, drought, and heat waves as only the beginning.

Valdez, Linda. "Business vs. Environmentalism? Tucson Puts the Old Lie to Bed." Business vs. Environmentalism? Tucson Puts the Old Lie to Bed. Gannet Company, 5 May 2014. Web. 06 May 2014.

Some old preconceptions are being knocked down in Tuscon, AZ. There John Wesley Miller, Republican, environmentalist, and founder of Green Chamber, is proving that business, politics, and environmentalism can go hand in hand, and should. He and his organization are committed to building net zero buildings and homes.

FRQ #22

The merit system hires based on tests and skill or abilities, not political favors or seniority. Bureaucracies are independent from policy making for many reasons. Firstly, many positions require a high level of expertise to operate efficiently, expertise that many do not posses. Due to that expertise, and the merit system on which hiring and promotions are based on, it is very difficult to fire or remove positions. The legislative branch can check the bureaucracy, through the federal budget, restricting cash flow to certain areas. Also, the courts wield the power of judicial review and the ability to declare bureaucratic actions unconstitutional. Finally, interest groups can limit the bureaucracy by using the media to put public pressure on the institution.

The federal bureaucracy as part of the executive branch exercises substantial independence in implementing governmental policies and programs. Most workers in the federal bureaucracy are civil-service employees who are organized under a merit system.

1. (a)  Describe one key characteristic of the merit system.
2. (b)  For each of the following, describe one factor that contributes to bureaucratic independence.
   
   • The structure of the federal bureaucracy
   • The complexity of public policy problems
3. (c)  For each of the following, explain one Constitutional provision that it can use to check the bureaucracy.

• Congress
  
• The courts
  
• Interest groups 
  
  http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap10_us_govt_politics_scoring_guidelines.pdf
  

FRQ #21

Two major provisions in the Bill of Rights that protect individuals who try to influence politics are freedom of speech and freedom of press. Interest groups may use litigation to exert influence over policy by going to the Supreme Court to declare constitutionality. For example the NAACP has successfully used litigation in the Supreme Court to secure their civil rights. Also, interest groups may use lobbying in the House or Senate to promote their interests. Through lobbying, interest groups can have direct contact with policymakers, which helps put a face to a cause and hopefully sway policymakers. Federal government does regulate influence of interest groups by requiring the registration of PACs and setting limits on donations to candidates campaigns.

Individuals often form groups in order to promote their interests. The Constitution contains several provisions that protect the rights of individuals who try to promote their interests in a representative democracy.

1. (a)  Explain two provisions in the Bill of Rights that protect individuals who try to influence politics.
2. (b)  Interest groups engage in a variety of activities to affect public policy. Explain how each of the following is used by interest groups to exert influence over policy.
   
   • Grassroots mobilization
   • Lobbying of government institutions
   • Litigation
3. (c)  Describe one specific federal governmental regulation of interest groups. 
   
   http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap10_us_govt_politics_scoring_guidelines.pdf