E-Congress+Phase+2

**Research Guide**
 * Phase II: Research for e-Congress 2011**

As you work online, use this guide to navigate the pages of the Research Phase of e-Congress. This Research Guide is designed to help you keep track of all of the information you gather as you prepare to write your bill. Ask your teacher whether you will be required to turn in your Research Guide.


 * SECTION 1 – TOPIC RESEARCH**

1) Which topic from the list on Page 2 most interests you? Why? Criminal Justice because it is more me to the situation where it is like a social politics and the citizens have more to the say in things.

2) Click on this topic to pull up a //Topic Resource Guide// that will help you research your topic. Read the political cartoons and select one to analyze. a) List two symbols used by the cartoonist. Explain what each symbol means.
 * the elderly getting zapped -> elderlys do not get treated in violent actions.


 * the policeman that zapped feriously -> police officer is the one who help people

b) Would you describe the cartoonist’s political ideology as liberal or conservative? Why? It is more of an liberal because this cartoon shows more of a predicted action to the thought to do something. The people on the background shows the dialogue that it is between whether it is the right thing to do or not. There are second thought to what should or should not be done differently.

c) What point is the cartoonist trying to make? That small misdemenors should not be taken such strict punishments.

3) Next, look over the list of websites listed in the //Topic Resource Guide//. Select at least three websites that seem interesting to you. For each of the three sites, complete the information below. Notes from additional sites can go on a separate sheet of paper.

a) [|American Civil Liberties Union] b) notes and useful information from this site c) ideology of site (liberal, conservative, unbiased) liberal because it encourage and/or promote to take action
 * Website 1**
 * This is more of the social issues where different individuals tells their story
 * There are issues about immigration, womens' rights, discrimination, religion and also something about the internet
 * They have a "Take Action" button
 * "The ACLU is our nation's guardian of liberty, working daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country"

a) [|U.S. Department of Justice] b) notes and useful information from this site c) ideology of site (liberal, conservative, unbiased)
 * Website 2**
 * They got like a box for communication anf feedback for any topic that they are putting on issue on
 * They do federal, state, local, and tribal justice systems
 * works with the justice community

a) [|America Bar Association] b) notes and useful information from this site c) ideology of site (liberal, conservative, unbiased) This is probably unbiased because it is a kind of court justice that finds justice, that is the fairness in the court. Whatever it is, the accused is innocent before found guilty.
 * Website 3**
 * It is mainly about the roles within the court justice and such
 * It is almost like lawyers and judges is about; defending the rights (liberty) but bring justice
 * The public is influencial to the subject they are in because they have the jury and the Grand Jury
 * They have 400,000 members in the Bar Association
 * Has open opportunity for people for employment


 * SECTION 2 – POLITICAL PARTY RESEARCH**

1) When considering what type of bill you will write, remember that it is important to consider your own political ideology. Use the links on your //Topic Resource Guide// to read how each party approaches your topic. Fill in the information below.

a) This party’s positions on my topic include: They include the courts as an issue to them, explaining that the judge have to do the ruling by the law only (interpret the law); they base ruling on the law. They do not wanto make lawas from the bench; judges from the federal court should demostrate fidelity to the U.S. Constititution. b) I agree/disagree with this party’s position on my topic because: sometimes it involves many different people that have a different sayor point of view to this, what they need is find a jury of some sort. There may have enough information or evidence to this. By the law, meaning a strict court process with no mercy.
 * Republican Party**

a) This party’s positions on my topic include: b) I agree/disagree with this party’s position on my topic because: a) This party’s positions on my topic include: well, they include that the conditions on the prisons and such are wrongs. Stealing their life's savings from them and that they should have a more decent way of punishment. They also that the law enforcement should directly address the violent crimes and should also include the trafficking of drugs. b) I agree/disagree with this party’s position on my topic because: we should be able to bring a balance to the criminal justice. I agree that the conditions of some criminal punishment are a bit off and unkindly; not all guilty accused are guilty and have to live in an environment that is not right. a) This party’s positions on my topic include: b) I agree/disagree with this party’s position on my topic because:
 * Democratic Party**
 * Green Party**
 * Libertarian Party**

1) On Page 4, you are asked to review legislation currently under consideration by Members of Congress in the House of Representatives and in the Senate.
 * SECTION 3 - IDENTIFYING CURRENT LEGISLATION**

2) Use Thomas ([|www.thomas.loc.gov]) to identify two recent bills on your topic. Fill in the information about each below.


 * Bill 1**

a) bill title

b) sponsors (authors)

c) this bill proposes:


 * Bill 2**

a) bill title

b) sponsors (authors)

c) this bill proposes:

SECTION 4 – LEGISLATION AND THE CONSTITUTION
1) Click the “Constitutional Issues” link on Page 5 to view a list of web resources that will help you identify any potential conflicts between a bill you might write and the Constitution. Select at least two websites for your research. For each of the two sites, complete the information below.


 * Website 1**

a) [|Oyez]

b) important Supreme Court cases involving my topic

c) sections of the Constitution relating to my topic

d) I think that my bill would (or would not) conflict with the Constitution because:


 * Website 2**

a) [|Cornell University Law School]

b) important Supreme Court cases involving my topic

c) sections of the Constitution relating to my topic

d) I think that my bill would (or would not) conflict with the Constitution because: =Section 5- REFINING IDEAS FOR LEGISLATION=

1) Now that you have had a chance to take an in-depth look at an issue that interests you, complete each of the statements below to help you decide what type of bill you will write:

a) I __agree__ with the federal government’s current approach to the issue that interests me because:

b) I __disagree__ with the federal government’s current approach to the issue that interests me because:

c) What I would like to better understand about this issue is:

d) My ideas for a bill are different from what the government is currently doing because:

2) Use the space below to list your ideas for a bill you might write for e-Congress. What might be two positive consequences of each idea? Two negative consequences?


 * Idea #1:**

Positive Consequences:

Negative Consequences:


 * Idea #2:**

Positive Consequences:

Negative Consequences:


 * Idea #3:**

Positive Consequences:

Negative Consequences:

3) Which of the ideas above is most appealing to you? Explain why you like this idea and how you might be able to eliminate the negative consequences of a bill like this.


 * SECTION 6 – CONTACTING A MEMBER OF CONGRESS**

On Page 6 you will find suggestions for how to write to a Member of Congress. Ask your teacher whether you and your classmates will be writing letters or emails, or whether the decision is yours to make.


 * SECTION 7 – UNDERSTANDING GOVERNMENT SPENDING**

Refer to pages 7-10 to help you answer the questions below.

1) Page 8 of the Research Phase says, “to create a new program, the government normally gets the money either by cutting funds to an existing program OR by raising taxes.” How will you pay for your bill?

2) After reviewing Page 9, explain whether your bill’s spending will be **//discretionary//** or **//mandatory.//**

3) Does your bill fit into a currently funded project or would it require cutting current spending?

4) To implement a bill, the government usually needs to buy equipment and materials (computers, automobiles, office supplies) and pay for services (workers’ salaries). What are four examples of equipment, materials, and/or services that would be necessary for your bill?


 * __Item__** **__How Item Will Be Used__**


 * a)**


 * b)**


 * c)**


 * d)**

5) The equipment, materials, and labor you described above cost money. For each item, brainstorm ideas for how you might determine its cost. What websites could you use? What organizations inside or outside the government might be able to help you?


 * __Item__** **__Where to Look to Determine Cost of Item__**


 * a)**


 * b)**


 * c)**


 * d)**