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Even sports, which is supposed to be based entirely on skill, is influenced by politics.  A Greek Olympic athlete was excluded from competing for her team because of a political joke she made on Twitter, despite how she had trained for years and qualified to compete in the 2012 Summer Olympics.  As another example, how much the outspoken Christian Tim Tebow plays in games for the New York Jets has become a massive political issue in the New York area.  In Sunday's game between the Jets and Steelers, Tim Tebow was abruptly pulled out of the game despite doing better than the other quarterback.  The Jets then lost 27-10 without Tebow being allowed to throw a single pass, to a team that Tebow had defeated 8 months earlier.  The Jets coach was surprised at a "press conference" (an invitation to the media to ask questions and obtain answers) when the media, which has been generally hostile to Tebow because of his political views, demanded that the coach explain why he pulled Tebow out of the game so quickly.  This illustrated how fickle the media can be - don't expect the media to be friendly.

Even sports, which is supposed to be based entirely on skill, is influenced by politics.  A Greek Olympic athlete was excluded from competing for her team because of a political joke she made on Twitter, despite how she had trained for years and qualified to compete in the 2012 Summer Olympics.  As another example, how much the outspoken Christian Tim Tebow plays in games for the New York Jets has become a massive political issue in the New York area.  In Sunday's game between the Jets and Steelers, Tim Tebow was abruptly pulled out of the game despite doing better than the other quarterback.  The Jets then lost 27-10 without Tebow being allowed to throw a single pass, to a team that Tebow had defeated 8 months earlier.  The Jets coach was surprised at a "press conference" (an invitation to the media to ask questions and obtain answers) when the media, which has been generally hostile to Tebow because of his political views, demanded that the coach explain why he pulled Tebow out of the game so quickly.  This illustrated how fickle the media can be - don't expect the media to be friendly.

Participation by nations in the Olympics is also subject to politics.  In 1980, President Jimmy Carter insisted that the United States boycott and not participate in the Summer Olympics in protest over the invasion of the Soviet Union by Afghanistan.  Predictably, the Soviet Union then retaliated by boycotting the 1984 Summer Olympics that were held in Los Angeles.

Participation by nations in the Olympics is also subject to politics.  In 1980, President Jimmy Carter insisted that the United States boycott and not participate in the Summer Olympics in protest over the invasion of the communist Soviet Union by Afghanistan, because those Olympic Games were being held in Moscow.  Predictably, the Soviet Union then retaliated by boycotting the 1984 Summer Olympics, because that year the Olympics were held in Los Angeles.

== Constitutional Convention ==

== Constitutional Convention ==

Answer the first five questions, and then two of the remaining three:

Answer the first five questions, and then two of the remaining three:

1. Describe the three levels of the federal court system, including where a federal case begins and were, in '''''most''''' cases, its final appeal is decided with a full opinion.

1. Describe the process for a case (lawsuit) in federal court, including where a federal case begins, where the first level of appeal is, and where the second possible level of appeal would be.  Give a hypothetical example picking a beginning location in the nation for the case (e.g., New Jersey).

<br>2.  What is the Rule of Four?

<br>2.  What is the Rule of Four?

<br>3.  Are federal judges elected?  Should they be?

<br>3.  Are federal judges elected?  Should they be?

'''Extra credit''' (answer two of the following four questions):

'''Extra credit''' (answer two of the following four questions):

9. Recently Apple won a billion-dollar patent case in federal district court in California against Samsung based on claims that Samsung had copied the iPhone.  Which court would handle this appeal?  (Think about this question carefully before answering.)

9. Recently Apple won a billion-dollar patent case in federal district court in California against Samsung based on claims that Samsung had violated patents owned by Apple for the iPhone.  Which court would handle this appeal?  (Think about this question carefully before answering.)

<br>10.  Where is the pardon power in the U.S. Constitution (include section and clause numbers), and upon whom does it confer the power to pardon?  Was Governor Chris Christie acting pursuant to this power when he commuted Aitken's sentence?  Explain.

<br>10.  Where is the pardon power in the U.S. Constitution (include section and clause numbers), and upon whom does it confer the power to pardon?  Was Governor Chris Christie acting pursuant to this power when he commuted Aitken's sentence?  Explain.

<br>11. Would a lawsuit by students demanding the right to establish a Bible club be brought in federal or state court?  Explain.

<br>11. Would a lawsuit by students demanding the right to establish a Bible club be brought in federal or state court?  Explain.