Changes

5. I like that the 80th Congress actually got things done.  Rather than promise lots of action and then do nothing (as Truman accused it of), the 80th Congress hit the ground running and passed much important legislation.  Perhaps my favorite legislation is the term limit on the Presidency, which has both a practical and historical purpose: it limits the President’s power and helps guard against power grabs, and it enshrines George Washington’s precedent into law and thus honors him.

5. I like that the 80th Congress actually got things done.  Rather than promise lots of action and then do nothing (as Truman accused it of), the 80th Congress hit the ground running and passed much important legislation.  Perhaps my favorite legislation is the term limit on the Presidency, which has both a practical and historical purpose: it limits the President’s power and helps guard against power grabs, and it enshrines George Washington’s precedent into law and thus honors him.

6. The first thought is Ronald Reagan, but he was not a major player until the 1980s got under way.  So, I’m going to choose Jimmy Carter, whose abysmal record helped sway public opinion to the Republican Party and paved the way for Ronald Reagan, one of the most effective, if not one of the best, American Presidents.

6. The first thought is Ronald Reagan, but he was not a major player until the 1980s got under way.  So, I’m going to choose Jimmy Carter, whose abysmal record helped sway public opinion to the Republican Party and paved the way ''for'' Ronald Reagan, one of the most effective, if not one of the best, American Presidents.

7. The Warren Court lasted from 1953-1969.  Aside from being activist, the Warren Court seems to have favored federal over state power, as it decided that the federal Bill of Right should apply to the states.  The Warren Court was also very political, supporting liberal policies in its “interpretation” of the Constitution, such as removing religion from public life and favoring criminals.  I find most interesting the Court’s apparent view of the 1st Amendment: it contorted freedom of speech to apply to pornography but not prayer, and, it would seem, loosely read the establishment of religion clause to prohibit non-compulsory prayer.

7. The Warren Court lasted from 1953-1969.  Aside from being activist, the Warren Court seems to have favored federal over state power, as it decided that the federal Bill of Right should apply to the states.  The Warren Court was also very political, supporting liberal policies in its “interpretation” of the Constitution, such as removing religion from public life and favoring criminals.  I find most interesting the Court’s apparent view of the 1st Amendment: it contorted freedom of speech to apply to pornography but not prayer, and, it would seem, loosely read the establishment of religion clause to prohibit non-compulsory prayer.