The Executive Branch: Foreign Policy Agenda and Nominations

The Executive Branch: Foreign Policy Agenda and Nominations

Mr. Obama recently accepted the resignation of Chuck Hagel, a former Republican Senator, as Secretary of Defense. This represents a trend of the Executive Branch affording national security positions to Washington insiders with relatively little foreign policy experience. However, under the Obama Administration, the White House is forced to nominate only those individuals that have a chance to circumvent the Republican controlled Congress. It is the new Defense Sec. nominee, Mr. Asher who stands a reasonable chance due to his lengthy career in the nation's national security apparatus and his non-partisan nature.

Respond to the following questions in your notebook. (DO NOT WRITE THE QUESTION)

http://foreignpolicy.com/2014/12/04/ash-carter-vs-barack-obamas-yogi-berra-foreign-policy-secretary-of-defense/

Who is Ash Carter?

What is his original trade?

How will this allow him to better serve the Defense Department as opposed to politicians like Chuck Hagel?

What 4 reasons does author  David Rothkopf cite as potential areas of difficulty for the incoming Defense Secretary?

How large is the current National Security Staff currently?

Why is this a problem, according to Mr. Rothkopf?

What is the purpose of the National Intelligence Council?

How has it deviated from its main goals?

What is the National Security Act of 1947?

What is the second NSC?

What is the general critique Mr. Rothkopf has of the current White House Staff (Ben Rhodes and Valerie J.)?

What is the key issue for the incoming Secretary of Defense?

What is the author’s view on the White House notion that Iran is an ally in the fight against ISIS?

In the author’s final paragraph, what is his view of the American national security apparatus?

Sin Nombre and the Politics of Immigration/Constitutionality of Same Sex Marriage

Film Review:

What was your overall impression of Sin Nombre?

Did it change your views on immigration policy?

What surprised you most about the film?

Should immigrants fleeing gang violence be given asylum under US law?

Does the US have any responsibility in dealing with rampant violence?

(Please respond to the questions above in ONE paragraph total, do not write a paragraph for each question. Simply weave your responses into a comprehensive paragraph. )



Utilize the link below to respond to questions 1-
Questions 1-3 located in paragraph 1
1. Who is Roy Moore?
2. What did his judicial order do?
3. What was his legal reasoning for this order?

4. What does the phrase "redefining marriage" translate to in "conservative code?" (located in paragraph 4)
5. What reason (s) do progressives reject this notion? (located in paragraph 6)


6. Do the courts have the power to redefine marriage? (located in paragraph 8)
7. What question, beyond the fact that marriage is an institution,  is involved in this issue? (located in paragraph 9)

8. What is an institution? What questions should the American people be answering surrounding these questions? (located in paragraph 10)

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/16/what-alabamas-roy-moore-gets-right/?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=c-column-top-span-region&region=c-column-top-span-region&WT.nav=c-column-top-span-region&_r=0

2014 Mid-Term Election Appraisal (U.S. Congress)

2014 Mid-Term Election Appraisal (U.S. Congress)

NY Times on 2014 Mid Terms

Utilize the link below to respond to questions:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/23/upshot/why-senate-control-matters.html?abt=0002&abg=1&_r=0

How many Red states were needed for the Democrats to maintain control of the US Senate?

In which states were the Democrats needing to block Republican victories in the 2014 Mid term elections?

What major issues are the two parties divided on?

Failing to pass major climate legislation, due to gridlock in both the House and Senate, how has Mr. Obama expected to address climate change?

What has been target of the executive actions?

How does Mr. McConell aim to combat Mr. Obama's premise that he will veto any legislation that aims to defund his policies?

Has public opinion sided with the Republicans when they decide to hold no votes on budget proposals and allow the government to shut down?

As the last two previous presidents did, will Mr. Obama be able to place plenty of federal judges on the bench in his final two years in the executive office?

What percentage among Mr. Obama’s nominees to District Courts have failed to be confirmed?

How have Democrats overcome this tactic of Republican blockage of judicial nominees?

In what areas do the federal courts have major influence?

How long is a United States senate term?

What two projections does David Leonhardt make concerning the potentiality of a Republican and Democratic president?

Human Rights Survey

Click on link below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1js5fvWYLV3kHyFP8ioxxUqhU7e4joIhqj5WZnRkkM1Q/viewform