Changes

'''V. Department of Justice'''

'''V. Department of Justice'''

Much attention these days is focused on the fourth oldest department: the Department of Justice.  Its original head under the Bush Administration, Attorney General John Ashcroft, was bitterly opposed by [[liberal]]s from the beginning.  The [[United States Senate|Senate]] delayed his confirmation and he won in a relatively close vote in early 2001, after [[George W. Bush|Bush]] became [[President of the United States of America|president]] and appointed him.

Much attention these days is focused on the fourth oldest department: the [[Department of Justice]].  Its original head under the [[Bush Administration]], Attorney General [[John Ashcroft]], was bitterly opposed by [[liberal]]s from the beginning.  The [[United States Senate|Senate]] delayed his confirmation and he won in a relatively close vote in early 2001, after [[George W. Bush|Bush]] became [[President of the United States of America|president]] and appointed him.

The Department of Justice is responsible for handling all prosecutions and litigation for the [[federal]] [[government]].  Originally, the [[federal]] [[government]] prosecuted very few [[crime]]s.  Treason was one.  Counterfeiting was another.  But not much more.

The [[Department of Justice]] is responsible for handling all [[prosecution]]s and litigation for the [[federal]] [[government]].  Originally, the [[federal]] [[government]] prosecuted very few [[crime]]s.  [[Treason]] was one.  [[Counterfeiting]] was another.  But not much more.

Now the [[federal]] [[government]] prosecutes thousands of [[crime]]s in all areas of life.  Fraud.  Accounting deception.  Monopolies.  Lying to a [[federal]] official is a special [[federal]] [[crime]].  Obstruction of justice is a [[federal]] [[crime]], when someone interferes with an investigation.  Certain types of murder are now [[federal]] [[crime]]s.  It was the Department of Justice that attempted to break up Microsoft’s monopoly; it is the Department of Justice that is prosecuting Martha Stewart; it is the Department of Justice that is currently investigating a leak from the [[White House]] about a CIA agent.

Now the [[federal]] [[government]] prosecutes thousands of [[crime]]s in all areas of life.  [[Fraud]].  Accounting deception.  Monopolies.  Lying to a [[federal]] official is a special [[federal]] [[crime]].  Obstruction of justice is a [[federal]] [[crime]], when someone interferes with an investigation.  Certain types of [[murder]] are now [[federal]] [[crime]]s.  It was the [[Department of Justice]] that attempted to break up [[Microsoft]]’s monopoly; it is the [[Department of Justice]] that is prosecuting [[Martha Stewart]]; it is the [[Department of Justice]] that is currently investigating a leak from the [[White House]] about a CIA agent.

Unlike state prosecutors, [[federal]] prosecutors are not elected.  They work under the Attorney General, who is appointed by the [[President of the United States of America|president]].  They are called U.S. Attorneys or assistant U.S. Attorneys.  State prosecutors are called District Attorneys.  The top state prosecutors are elected, and thus directly accountable to the public.  When a state prosecution meets with public disapproval, the responsible district attorney can be defeated at the next election.  But the [[President of the United States of America|president]] has to be defeated to change the Department of Justice, and presidential elections are typically determined by economic rather than legal issues.

Unlike state prosecutors, [[federal]] prosecutors are not elected.  They work under the [[Attorney General]], who is appointed by the [[President of the United States of America|president]].  They are called [[U.S. Attorney]]s or assistant U.S. Attorneys.  State prosecutors are called [[District Attorneys]].  The top state prosecutors are elected, and thus directly accountable to the public.  When a state prosecution meets with public disapproval, the responsible district attorney can be defeated at the next election.  But the [[President of the United States of America|president]] has to be defeated to change the [[Department of Justice]], and [[president]]ial elections are typically determined by [[economic]] rather than legal issues.

Many are criticizing Attorney General Ashcroft for expanding [[federal]] [[power]] in investigating and prosecuting alleged terrorists.  After 9/11, the [[George W. Bush|Bush Administration]] sought and achieved new [[power]]s to target criminals under the Patriot Act.  While all are in favor of catching and prosecuting real terrorists, many oppose the loss of liberty in the War on Terrorism.  After all, some say, it is liberty that we are defending against terrorism in the first place.

Many are criticizing Attorney General [[Ashcroft]] for expanding [[federal]] [[power]] in investigating and prosecuting alleged terrorists.  After 9/11, the [[George W. Bush|Bush Administration]] sought and achieved new [[power]]s to target criminals under the [[Patriot Act]].  While all are in favor of catching and prosecuting real terrorists, many oppose the loss of [[liberty ]]in the [[War on Terrorism]].  After all, some say, it is [[liberty]] that we are defending against [[terrorism]] in the first place.

The main dispute revolves around the [[Fourth Amendment]].  The Patriot Act reduced the requirements for [[federal]] investigators to seize evidence and tape-record calls of alleged terrorists.  No longer must a local judge issue a warrant based on a detailed affidavit of probable cause prior to searches of alleged terrorists, broadly defined.  Also, [[federal]] investigators can now search certain homes without leaving a copy of a warrant so that the owner knows it has been searched.  This is known as “sneak and peak.”  There are many newspaper articles discussing this controversy.  On Sunday, a pollster said that after 9/11, people wanted to give up some freedoms in this area to stop terrorism, but now over two years later they no longer want to.  What do you think?

The main dispute revolves around the [[Fourth Amendment]].  The Patriot Act reduced the requirements for [[federal]] investigators to seize evidence and tape-record calls of alleged [[terrorist]]s.  No longer must a local [[judge]] issue a [[warrant]] based on a detailed affidavit of probable cause prior to searches of alleged [[terrorist]]s, broadly defined.  Also, [[federal]] investigators can now search certain homes without leaving a copy of a warrant so that the owner knows it has been searched.  This is known as “sneak and peak.”  There are many newspaper articles discussing this controversy.  On Sunday, a pollster said that after 9/11, people wanted to give up some freedoms in this area to stop terrorism, but now over two years later they no longer want to.  What do you think?

'''VI. Elections'''

'''VI. Elections'''

[[President of the United States of America|President]] Harry S Truman would say, “The buck stops here.”  The [[President of the United States of America|president]] is accountable for all that he does, and all that the Executive Branch does while he is in charge.  The reelection or defeat of the [[President of the United States of America|president]] after his first term will depend not only on what he does, but also on everything else that happens under his “watch”.

[[President of the United States of America|President]] [[Harry S Truman]] would say, “The buck stops here.”  The [[President of the United States of America|president]] is accountable for all that he does, and all that the [[Executive Branch]] does while he is in charge.  The reelection or defeat of the [[President of the United States of America|president]] after his first term will depend not only on what he does, but also on everything else that happens under his “watch”.

When a [[President of the United States of America|president]] is reelected after serving a full term, which happens about 50% of the time now, he then becomes a “lame duck.”  That means he loses [[power]] because everyone knows he is merely serving out his term and cannot be reelected again (due to the 22nd Amendment).  Still, an effective [[President of the United States of America|president]] can accomplish a great deal during his second term.  [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[Ronald Wilson Reagan|Reagan]], for example, dramatically cut taxes and made his successful demand that the communists tear down the Berlin Wall dividing communism from freedom in Germany.

When a [[President of the United States of America|president]] is reelected after serving a full term, which happens about 50% of the time now, he then becomes a “lame duck.”  That means he loses [[power]] because everyone knows he is merely serving out his term and cannot be reelected again (due to the 22nd [[Amendment]]).  Still, an effective [[President of the United States of America|president]] can accomplish a great deal during his second term.  [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[Ronald Wilson Reagan|Reagan]], for example, dramatically cut [[tax]]es and made his successful demand that the [[communism|communists]] tear down the [[Berlin Wall]] dividing [[communism]] from [[freedom]] in [[Germany]].

A [[President of the United States of America|president]] can be elected with less than 50% of the vote, as [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]] was.  But no [[President of the United States of America|president]] can be elected with less than 50% of the electoral college.  If no candidate can muster a majority of electoral votes, then the election is decided by the House of Representatives.  This occurred in the election of John Quincy Adams, and supporters of Andrew Jackson complained bitterly about the process.  Four years later, Jackson beat Adams in a landslide.  Can you find the constitutional provision dictating how the House of Representatives can choose the next [[President of the United States of America|president]]?

A [[President of the United States of America|president]] can be elected with less than 50% of the vote, as [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]] was.  But no [[President of the United States of America|president]] can be elected with less than 50% of the [[electoral college]].  If no candidate can muster a majority of electoral votes, then the election is decided by the [[House of Representatives]].  This occurred in the election of [[John Quincy Adams]], and supporters of [[Andrew Jackson]] complained bitterly about the process.  Four years later, Jackson beat Adams in a landslide.  Can you find the constitutional provision dictating how the [[House of Representatives]] can choose the next [[President of the United States of America|president]]?

'''VII. Issues'''

'''VII. Issues'''

1.  Should we have free trade with China?  China is a communist country notorious for requiring abortion, persecuting citizens for religious reasons, and pouring its money into a military that threatens free Chinese on Taiwan and aims missiles at our western cities like Los Angeles.  When we buy goods from Communist China, some of that money funds its totalitarian [[government]].  Should our [[government]] encourage trade with China by granting it “Most Favored Nation” trade status?

1.  Should we have free trade with [[China]]?  [[China]] is a communist country notorious for requiring [[abortion]], persecuting citizens for religious reasons, and pouring its money into a military that threatens free Chinese on Taiwan and aims missiles at our western cities like [[Los Angeles]].  When we buy goods from Communist [[China]], some of that money funds its totalitarian [[government]].  Should our [[government]] encourage trade with [[China]] by granting it “Most Favored Nation” trade status?

2.  The Attorney General has been controversial in exercising greater [[federal]] [[power]]s to investigate criminals, including terrorists.  Do you think the [[federal]] [[government]] should have more [[power]] in this area?

2.  The [[Attorney General]] has been controversial in exercising greater [[federal]] [[power]]s to investigate [[criminal]]s, including [[terrorist]]s.  Do you think the [[federal]] [[government]] should have more [[power]] in this area?

3.  [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]] beat Al Gore in 2000 even though Gore won the popular vote, because [[George W. Bush|Bush]] won a narrow majority of the electoral college.  Is that fair?

3.  [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]] beat [[Al Gore]] in 2000 even though Gore won the popular vote, because [[George W. Bush|Bush]] won a narrow majority of the [[electoral college]].  Is that fair?