India might be getting a new government....

The Indian National Congress Party, which has dominated the nations politics since India's independence in 1947, looks like it will be facing defeat by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. The BJP has fielded a pro-business leader, Narendra Modi, as its candidate for the Prime Minister's post. Celebrations broke out with singing, dancing, bands and even elephants in the mix as initial Election Commission numbers indicated a hugh lead for the BJP. Supporters of the Party celebrated in the streets in Gujarat, the state where Narendra Modi has served as chief minister since 2001. Modi tweeted: " Good days are here to come." Prime Minister Singh's administration had it popularity decline after allegations of corruption that sparked protest.
This relates to AP Government and Politics because India's government is basically starting from scratch again, so they will go through trials and errors just like the United States did when trying to write the Constitution and how to govern the states.
I really want to watch how India's new government plays out, I hope every thing goes well for the country.







http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/15/world/asia/india-election-results/

Missing Girls in Nigeria

Over two-hundred girls were kidnapped from a Nigerian boarding school in Chibok, a village in eastern Nigeria, on April 16th, 2014. The girls were kidnapped by a terrorist organization known as Boko Haram. It has been two weeks and the Nigerian government still has no answers for the families of the kidnapped girls. Hundreds of protesters stormed the streets of the village earlier in the week in order to capture the attention of the Nigerian government. The protesters believe that the government hasn't put enough focus on the issue, so many of the parents of the missing girls tried to go and find them themselves.
This relates to AP Government and Politics because over the past couple of weeks we have been learning about the role the media plays in government and how it shapes public opinion. The media has been very quiet about this story because it has been two weeks since the girls went missing and I've just heard about this story earlier this week.
I think the Nigerian government needs to do a lot more in order to find these girls. I can't fathom how over two hundred children our kidnapped from a school and the government does nothing about it. Stories like these make me appreciate that fact that I live in the U.S. where incidents like these don't happen, and if they did our government wouldn't sit back and watch it play out. http://www.salon.com/2014/05/01/hundreds_of_nigerians_take_to_the_streets_demand_government_action_to_find_abducted_school_girls/

International Women's Day

International Women's Day was established in 1908 to celebrate the achievements of women. All around the world the day is noted with respect, appreciation and love towards women and acknowledgement of women's economic, social and political achievements. Soroptmist, an organization that looks to improve the lives of women and girls, were joined by the mayor of St. Helens, Andy Bowden to celebrate.
I like the International Women's Day holiday. I feel that it portrays an awesome message to
women everywhere. This holiday shows women how far we have come over the course of a hundred years.
This relates to AP Government and Politics because International Women's Day highlights women achieving the rights that we have today, i.e. the right to vote. Women have gone from having no rights to being considered equals with men.









http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/11110786.Mayor_backs_International_Women_s_Day/

NC legislators listen to debate over Common Core standards.

 This week some critics of the Common Core State Standards voiced their opinions stating that these education guidelines were causing children to hate to go to school. On Thursday a public hearing was held during which a state legislative research committee spoke about considering to recommend dumping or overhauling the standards used in North Carolina’s public schools. Legislators heard from sixty speakers, on both sides of the issue. The Common Core Standards are supposed to set a clear, consistent blueprint for what students should learn from kindergarten through high school. Common Core has been adopted in forty-five states, the North Carolina Board of Education agreed to it in 2010.Several educators who spoke Thursday said that Common Core has improved education by getting students to think more about problem-solving skills as opposed to memorization. Critics of Common Core viewpoints are part of a national conservative backlash that’s causing some states, such as Tennessee, to consider dropping Common Core.

 I think that the Common Core standards are only hurting children. I believe that teachers need to be able teach without out having a certain set of guidelines to follow. As long as children are learning things that are relevant and that are going to prepare them for either college or a carrer, I do not see the need for these “standards.”’

Today we went on a field trip for AP Government and Politics to Onslow County’s Close Up. Close up is an event that allows students to get a closer look at how our local government works. We had a question and answer session at lunch in which we discussed education and if standardized testing is fair. 

http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/03/20/3717599/speakers-debate-use-of-common.html

What did NC lawmakers do with their pay from the government shutdown?

Members of North Carolina’s Congressional delegation made differing reports about what they would do with their pay they received from the sixteen day government shutdown in October. They were asked if they would take their pay, defer it, or donate it to charity. Five lawmakers donated their pay to charity. Four lawmakers said that would not accept their pay in order to show their support for the furloughed federal workers. Six other lawmakers never answered the question. These findings were a result of a recent Washington Post survey and supporting interviews done by The News & Observer. In a survey of all lawmakers, the Washington Post found at least 116 of the 244 lawmakers who pledged not to take their full salaries donated about 495,000 to charity or the government treasury.

This relates to AP Government because it involves the delegates we elect. This is a right that is given to citizens in the Constitution.

I think that the delegates should have all donated their money to charity. I do not that it would hurt them financially to skip out on a paycheck.

http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/03/05/3676127/nc-lawmakers-declined-pay-during.html

U.S. government sues Philadelphia schools over beard issues.

On Wednesday the U.S. government sued the Philadelphia's school district for religious discrimination. The school district demanded that a veteran Muslim police officer trim his beard. The school district passed a law in 2010 that mandated that beards on police and security officers be no longer than one-quarter of an inch. Officer Siddiq Abu-Bakr keeps an untrimmed beard longer than one-quarter of an inch in accordance to his Islamic faith. This is not the first time an incident like this has happened. In January the Pentagon decided to ease rules on beards and turbans in the U.S. Army. Abu-Bakr has maintained an untrimmed beard for his 27 years with the district. When Abu-Bakr told his supervisor that he could not cut his beard because of beliefs, he was given a written reprimand. After this Abu-Bakr filed a charge of racial discrimination with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The government's lawsuit is seeking an injunction that would force the district to adopt non-discriminatory grooming policies. 

I believe that Siddiq Abu-Bakr should be allowed to keep his beard, as long as it is not interfering with his work. If he can still do his job accurately and efficiently then I see no reason to cut it. I think the grooming policy is a little too much.

This relates to AP Government and Politics because the lawsuit is debating whether or not Abu-Bakr has the right to wear a beard in accordance with his religion. The right to religious freedoms can be found in the first amendment of our Constitution. 

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/06/us-usa-philadelphia-beard-lawsuit-idUSBREA2506720140306

House wants the government to study federalism

The House of Representatives has passed the bill HB120. This bill would require all state agencies and cities to appoint people to attend federalism seminars. Early this year Representative Ken Ivory wanted to require every lawyer and judge working for state and local governments to attend annual seminars on states’ rights to help battle the federal government. The bill was passed with a 51-16 vote and sent to the Senate. Ivory argues that states must be better at exercising its right to check the federal government. There have been different opinions on the bill. Rep. Keven Stratton, agreed, and said the bill "will help stem the tide and help bring balance back to our inspired government." Rep. Brian King opposed the bill, saying it instructs the Commission on Federalism — composed entirely of legislators — to write the curriculum for the seminar, and says it likely does not have the expertise needed.                                                It would not hurt for the states to go through a refresher course on federalism every so often.  Who knows state governments may find some new confidence when it comes to dealing with the federal government. I see these seminars as only helping the states.                                                                                     Chapter three in AP Government and Politics deals with Federalism. Within in this chapter we talked about how federalism got its start and which government is supreme (National or state).

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/57614893-90/federalism-government-ivory-rep.html.csp


http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/57614893-90/federalism-government-ivory-rep.html.csp

Venezuelan Government cuts Internet access...

In the midst of the violent protest happening in Venezuela, authorities cut off internet services and blocked certain websites in San Cristobal. The authorities have also blocked a walkie-talkie service that was widely used by the protesters. These protests are collectively called Venezuela's information war, which was escalated last week when the government blocked twitter pictures that showed the carnage in Caracas. This is like the tip of the iceberg for the Venezuelan citizens; among the list of grievances are inflation, food shortages, and one of the highest crime rates in the world. President Obama has urged Venezuela to release protesters detained in anti-government protest and condemned the violence that has gone on for the last two weeks in protest of Venezuela's socialist government. President Nicolas Maduro then accused the United States of promoting the opposition protest and that the US has ulterior motives. 

I find it crazy to think that something we take for granted everyday in the United States can be taken away so quickly.  It is weird and unfair for the government to control these aspects in society.

This week we are still learning about the Constitution and personal liberties and freedoms within it. These freedoms and personal liberties can be found in certain articles or certain amendments. Some of these freedoms and liberties include, freedom of speec, the right to a grand jury, and the right to bear arms.

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2014/02/21/venezuelan-government-cuts-internet-access-blocks-websites-in-war-against/

US government issues new banking rules....

 Today the Obama administration issued new rules that should ease the concerns of banks that are wanting to conduct business with businesses that legally sell marijuana. These new rules, issued by the Treasury and Justice Departments, are intended to "move from the shadows the historically covert financial operations of marijuana businesses," said Jennifer Shasky Calvery, director of Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. Twenty states and the District of Columbia have passed laws allowing the sale of medical and recreational marijuana, but the production, sale, and possession is still illegal. Marijuana dealers have not been able to get banks to do business with them because the federal government regulates banking transactions. Because of this dealers have been operating with cash only, these new rules are meant to lessen the dangers of running an all-cash business. Banks wishing to do business with the dealers, under the new regulations, need to verify that they are properly licensed and get information on the types of products they sell and the nature of the customers that buy the products. They must also be alert for any signs that the dealers are participating in "improper" transactions. Banks still have to notify federal regulators of suspicious activity by their customers, but banks that believe that a marijuana dealer is reputable will file a "marijuana limited" report. If banks suspect that a dealer is not sticking to these new guidelines, they should file a "marijuana priority" report. Bankers have called on Congress before to change the federal law dealing with marijuana, they are still skeptical even with the new rule changes. "This guidance is a set in the right direction, but it's not enough," said Amanda Averch; director of communications at the Colorado Bankers Association. "We don't see that guidance as giving banks a full green light to bank these businesses. We feel the only real and lasting solution is an act of Congress."
 
I think that the federal government did the right thing by not changing the law right away; i believe that they are giving these new banking rules a trial period to see how everything goes. That way when and if they are ready to change the law the federal government will what to include and exclude from the law.

This week in AP Government and Politics we discussed chapter two, which dealt with our Constitution. We reviewed all the different parts of the Constitution i.e. the Preamble, the Articles, and the Amendments. We learned that the enumerated powers given to the federal government are stated under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101418265

Expanding the use of Technology

Last year President Obama stated that he wanted to connect 99 percent of American students to high-speed broadband. In the annual State of the Union Address he announced that with help from the Federal Communications Commission and independent companies like Apple and Microsoft. He now had the down payment to start providing over fifteen thousand schools and twenty million students with high-speed broadband over the next two years. The three million dollar investment will help to close the technology gap in American schools. Microsoft announced its intentions of discounting digital devices for all public K-12 schools as well as offering free copies of Microsoft Office to students at low income schools. Some of the money will also go towards educating teachers on how to properly use the technology in the classroom. Rose Stuckey Kirk says “One key result we found from training teachers on mobile technology in the classroom is that their students learn better problem-solving skills, which are essential for 21^st-century education and an ability to compete internationally.”

I feel that more American students can become internationally competitive if we give everyone the gift of technology. I believe that with access to technology students can obtain not just a “sound and basic” education, but a “world-class” education. Students need an education that will give us the ability to compete in a fast-paced, globally competitive world.

This article relates back to a discussion that we had in AP Government and Politics. We were discussing the drop-out rate in America and some reasons as to why students drop-out. This led us to talk about some of the fundamentals of an American education as defined in the Constitution, “sound and basic”. The class came to the unanimous decision that a “sound and basic” education will not suffice in this 21^st century society.










http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/02/04/obama-to-announce-nearly-3-billion-in-education-technology-commitments
http://www.forbes.com/sites/beltway/2014/01/28/full-text-president-obamas-2014-state-of-the-union-address/3/