SUSIE & TYLER’S CURRENT EVENTS October 8, 2013 THE BASICS Topic Government shut down
Definition A government shutdown occurs when a government discontinues providing services that are not considered “essential.” Typically, services that continue in spite of a shutdown include police, fire fighting, armed forces, utilities and corrections. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_shut_down
Quote “Sometimes I go back to basic civics: We’re the House of Representatives. We’re the body that’s supposed to be closer to the people,” Jordan said. “That’s why the Founders gave a chance for the people to throw us out every two years.” – Representative Jim Jordan, R-Ohio
Articles “How the government shutdown could end” http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57606258/how-the-government-shutdown-could-end/
“Shutdown’s seventh day begins with political sniping” http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/10/shutdowns-seventh-day-begins-with-political-sniping.html
“Government shutdown: What you need to know” http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/30/politics/government-shutdown-up-to-speed/index.html
“US Government shutdown Q&A: Global Impact” http://www.voanews.com/content/us-government-shutdown-primer-on-world-impact/1760193.html
“Obama pulls out of Asian security and economic conferences” http://www.nytimes.com/news/fiscal-crisis/2013/10/03/obama-cancels-two-more-asia-trips/
“House to vote on back pay for furloughed government workers” http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/326607-house-to-vote-on-back-pay-for-furloughed-government-workers
“US government shutdown will cost the economy $300 million a day” http://business.financialpost.com/2013/10/01/u-s-government-shutdown-will-cost-the-economy-300-million-a-day/
“Five scenarios for ending the shutdown impasse” http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/02/.UkxByHIb7Xc.email
Questions to Consider • What is a government shutdown? • What part of the government does not operate during a shutdown? • How does the shutdown affect private citizens? How does the shutdown affect government workers? • How many workers are affected by the shutdown? • What is the history of shutdowns in the US? • What does the Constitution say about shutdowns? • What is the Tea Party? Why is it influential within the Republican Party? • What is the role of the Majority leader of the Senate? • What should/could Congress do? The President? Citizens? Press? • How is the shutdown related to the debt ceiling?
Questions to Consider continued… • Should government programs be funded while the government is shut down? Why or why not? • Why is there no willingness to compromise/negotiate? • How did the concepts of limited government and divided government influence the Framers? How do they apply to the government shutdown of 2013? • Is more government or less government good for our democracy?
Numbers: • What number of votes is needed to pass a bill in the House of Representatives? • What is the division between Democrats and Republicans in the House of Representatives? • What percentage of the Republicans considers themselves Tea Party members?
THE EXTRAS Pre-teaching, Extensions & Further Reading •
Background: “66 questions and answers about the government shutdown”
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Background: “Government shutdown: Get up to speed in 20 questions”
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Satire: “Potential government shutdown: How would the US media report on it if it were happening to another country?”
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/09/29/questions-and-answers-about-theshutdown/2888419/ http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/30/politics/government-shutdown-up-to-speed/
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_world_/2013/09/30/potential_government_shutdown_how_would_the_u_s_me dia_report_on_it_if_it.html
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Meet the major players o John Boehner http://www.speaker.gov/about o Mitch McConnell http://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/ o Majority Leader Harry Reid http://www.reid.senate.gov/ o Nancy Pelosi http://pelosi.house.gov/ o President Obama http://www.whitehouse/gov.administration/president-obama Key Differences Between the House and Senate http://www.laits.utexas.edu/gov310/CO/keydif/
What’s the connection? Constitution • Preamble • Article 1, Section 8 http://constitutionus.com/ • “Constitution check: Does the federal government have a constitutional duty to stay open?”
http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2013/10/constitution-check-does-the-federal-government-have-aconstitutional-duty-to-stay-open/
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“143-year-old law has Washington treading gingerly during shutdown” http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2013/10/constitution-check-does-the-federal-government-have-aconstitutional-duty-to-stay-open/
Students • Explaining the Government Shutdown to Your Kids
http://swampland.time.com/2013/09/29/explaining-the-shutdown-to-your-kids/
Oregon • “Greg Walden says House GOP may not be hurt by government shutdown”
http://www.oregonlive.com/mapes/index.ssf/2013/10/greg_walden_says_house_gop_may.html#incart_m ost-comments
Oregon State Social Science Standards/CCSS 8.17. Examine the development activities of political parties and interest groups and their affect on events, issues, and ideas. 8.26. Examine a controversial event, issue, or problem from more than one perspective. HS.27. Examine functions and process of United States government. HS.30. Analyze the roles and activities of political parties, interest groups, mass media and how they affect the beliefs and behaviors of local, state, and national constituencies. HS.33. Explain the role of government in various current events. HS.60. Analyze an event, issue, problem, or phenomenon from varied or opposing perspectives. 6-8.RH.2 Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions. 6-8.RH.8 Distinguish among fact, opinion, and reasoned judgment in a text. 9-10.RH.2 Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text. 11-12.RH.2 Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that makes clear the relationships among the key details and ideas.
NEW! We the People Lesson Connections Middle School, Level 2 • Unit 4, Lesson 22: How does the US Supreme Court determine the meaning of the words in the Constitution? • Unit 6, Lesson 29: What are the rights and responsibilities of citizenship? High School, Level 3 • Unit 3, Lesson 16: What is the Role of Political Parties in the Constitutional System? • Unit 4, Lesson 21: What is the Role of Congress in American Constitutional Democracy? • Unit 4, Lesson 23: What is the Role of the President in the American Constitutional System? • Unit 6, Lesson 37: What Key Challenges does the United States Face in the Future?
