SUSIE & TYLER’S CURRENT EVENTS November 5, 2013 THE BASICS Topic Election Day
Quotes “We must all do our part to make sure our God-given rights are protected here at home. That includes one of the most fundamental rights of a democracy: the right to vote.” – President Barack Obama http://www.thenation.com/article/173200/time-right-vote-constitutional-amendment#
“Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education – Franklin D. Roosevelt http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/voting
“Every election is determined by the people who show up.” – Larry Sabato http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/voting
Articles •
“2013 Legislative Elections: Fierce but Few”
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“2013 Election: Candidates and Dates”
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“First thoughts: Ideology vs. electability in next week’s races”
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“In Alabama Race, a Test of Business Efforts to Derail Tea Party
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“Chris Christie aims for Nov. 5 landslide, with an eye toward 2016”
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“Where the Mayoral Candidates Stand on Key Issues”
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“Clinton: Political extremism increases voter turnout”
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“Election 2012: Study: Youth vote was decisive”
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/25/stateline-legislative-elections/3186747/ http://uspolitics.about.com/od/CampaignsElections/a/2013-Election.htm http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/28/21210157-first-thoughts-ideology-vs-electability-in-nextweeks-races?lite http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/01/us/politics/in-alabama-race-a-test-of-business-efforts-to-derail-teaparty.html http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/Governors/2013/1031/Chris-Christie-aims-for-Nov.-5-landslidewith-an-eye-toward-2016 http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/08/27/nyregion/where-the-mayoral-candidates-stand-on-keyissues.html?_r=1& http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/10/27/clinton-extremism-voter-turnout/3281889/ http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/83510.html
Questions to Consider • What is the right to vote? Is there a responsibility to vote? • Is voting the most important act of a citizen? What else is needed to guarantee a democratic form of government? • Is voting a right or a privilege? What is the difference? • Where is voting mentioned in the US Constitution? • Should there be an additional amendment guaranteeing voting rights in the Constitution? Why or why not? • Why do we vote on Tuesday? What election reforms are being considered? • What is an off-year election? Are “off-year” elections predictive of what will happen in the mid-term and Presidential election years? • Is the contested gubernatorial race in Virginia about voter turnout? The changing demographics in Virginia? Different political ideologies? The amount of money spent on the election? The well-known politicians who come to support their favorite candidate? Choosing between two relatively unpopular candidates? The recent government shutdown? The Affordable Care Act?
Questions to Consider continued… • What does the mayoral election in New York say about the issues in urban centers? • What difference did young voters make in 2012? Should we encourage 18-25 year olds to vote? How and why? Should the voting age be lowered? • How did the June 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder change the way that voting rights are protected?
THE EXTRAS Pre-teaching, Extensions & Further Reading • •
History of Election Day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Election_Day_%28United_States%29#History “Why are Elections on Tuesday?” http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2012/10/23/162484410/why-
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2013-2014 Election Calendar http://www.politics1.com/calendar.htm “Things that are not in the US Constitution” http://www.usconstitution.net/constnot.html#vote Right to Vote Amendment http://www.fairvote.org/right-to-vote-amendment#.Unf7JCTFbfJ “Lowering the Voting Age” http://www.fairvote.org/lowering-the-voting-age#.Unf7cyTFbfJ
are-elections-on-tuesdays “Why Tuesday?” http://www.whytuesday.org/
What’s the connection? Constitution • “What does the Constitution Actually Say About Voting Rights?”
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http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/08/what-does-the-constitution-actually-say-about-votingrights/278782/ “Voting: Right or Privilege?” http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2012/09/voting-right-orprivilege/262511/ “History of the Right to Vote” http://www.fairvote.org/history-of-the-right-to-vote#.UngqiyTFbfJ
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“15 Amendment to the US Constitution: Voting Rights (1870)”
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“19 Amendment to the US Constitution: Women’s Right to Vote”
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“Everything you need to know about the Supreme Court Voting Rights Act decision”
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http://www.ourdocuments.gov/print_friendly.php?flash=true&page=&doc=44&title=15th+Amendment+to+the+ U.S.+Constitution%3A+Voting+Rights+%281870%29 th
http://www.archives.gov/historicaldocs/document.html?doc=13&title.raw=19th%20Amendment%20to%20the%20U.S.%20Constitution:%20Wo men%27s%20Right%20to%20Vote http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/02/27/the-supreme-court-voting-rights-act-caseexplained/
Students • US Constitution – Amendment 26 http://www.usconstitution.net/xconst_Am26.html Oregon th • “The 26 Amendment” http://www.history.com/topics/the-26th-amendment • “Dave Frohnmayer’s son proposed radical change in Oregon primary system” http://www.oregonlive.com/mapes/index.ssf/2013/10/dave_frohnmayers_son_proposes.html
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Election Guide for Oregon and Washington November 5, 2013 http://www.koin.com/news/politics/election-2013-voter-guide
Oregon State Social Science Standards/CCSS 8.14 Explain rights and responsibilities of citizens. 8.18 Examine and analyze important United States documents, including (but not limited to) the th th Constitution Bill of Rights, 15 -15 Amendments. HS.24 Analyze and critique the impact of constitutional amendments. HS.34 Explain the responsibilities of citizens (e.g., vote, pay taxes). HS.35 Examine the pluralistic realities of society (e.g., race, poverty, gender, and age), recognizing issues of equity, and evaluating need for change. HS.60 Analyze an event, issue problem, or phenomenon from varied or opposing perspectives or points of view. 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.
We the People Lesson Connections Middle School, Level 2 • Unit 5, Lesson 25: How has the right to vote expanded since the Constitution was adopted? • Unit 6, Lesson 29: What are the rights and responsibilities of citizenship? • Unit 6, Lesson 30: How might citizens participate in civic affairs? High School, Level 3 • Unit 3, Lesson 15: How have amendments and judicial review changed the Constitution? • Unit 3, Lesson 20: How has the right to vote been expanded since the adoption of the Constitution? • Unit 6, Lesson 33: What does it mean to be a citizen?
