| Line 154: |
Line 154: |
| | ==Issues== | | ==Issues== |
| | | | |
| − | 1. Are laws against certain advertisements unconstitutional?
| + | #Are laws against certain advertisements unconstitutional? |
| − | <br>The federal government reserves the right to prohibit certain types of advertising, such as ads for harmful products like alcohol or cigarettes. Tobacco companies voluntarily stopped television ads rather than wait until the federal government banned them. The First Amendment says “Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech.” Should the federal government have the power to ban certain types of ads?
| + | #*The federal government reserves the right to prohibit certain types of advertising, such as ads for harmful products like alcohol or cigarettes. Tobacco companies voluntarily stopped television ads rather than wait until the federal government banned them. The First Amendment says “Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech.” Should the federal government have the power to ban certain types of ads? |
| − | | + | #free 50 guilty defendants rather than convict one innocent defendant? |
| − | 2. free 50 guilty defendants rather than convict one innocent defendant?
| + | #*The Bill of Rights contains many protections for criminal defendants. Clearly, these rules will allow some guilty defendants to go free in order to minimize convictions of innocent persons. Do you agree with this approach? |
| − | <br>The Bill of Rights contains many protections for criminal defendants. Clearly, these rules will allow some guilty defendants to go free in order to minimize convictions of innocent persons. Do you agree with this approach?
| + | #Is there a constitutional right for defendants to question potential jurors before trial? |
| − | | + | #*The selection of the jury is often the most important aspect of a criminal trial. The Sixth Amendment guarantees an “impartial jury,” so questions are asked of potential jurors to identify bias for one side or the other. A jury that favors government is what the prosecutor wants; a jury skeptical of government is what the defendant seeks. How much freedom should the defendant have in asking questions of potential jurors before they are chosen for the trial? This process is known as “voir dire.” In state court, defendants have much more leeway than in federal court, and the conviction rate is higher in federal court partly for this reason. Should defendants have a right for their attorneys to question potential jurors during jury selection? |
| − | 3. Is there a constitutional right for defendants to question potential jurors before trial?
| + | #Does the Fourth Amendment prohibit drug testing of all public school students? |
| − | <br>The selection of the jury is often the most important aspect of a criminal trial. The Sixth Amendment guarantees an “impartial jury,” so questions are asked of potential jurors to identify bias for one side or the other. A jury that favors government is what the prosecutor wants; a jury skeptical of government is what the defendant seeks. How much freedom should the defendant have in asking questions of potential jurors before they are chosen for the trial? This process is known as “voir dire.” In state court, defendants have much more leeway than in federal court, and the conviction rate is higher in federal court partly for this reason. Should defendants have a right for their attorneys to question potential jurors during jury selection?
| |
| − | | |
| − | 4. Does the Fourth Amendment prohibit drug testing of all public school students?
| |