Lenea Harris
American Government
B Band
1/19/11
How I Interact with My Government
Executive Branch
Positive +++++++
The Department of Public Welfare
The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare provides food, shelter, health care and other forms of assistance to Pennsylvania residents in dire need. The department serves low- income citizens through cash assistance programs, employment and training programs, home heating assistance, and assistance programs for refugees and the homeless of Pennsylvania. The Department of Public Welfare positively affects my life because my household is apart of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). My father and mother are currently unemployed and without SNAP, my family would not have the resources, nor any household income in order to keep food on the table. Also, because my family receives ‘Food Stamps’, I am elligible for free lunch at school; which prevents the worry of a hungry school day. I am also elligible for SAT fee waivers, and 4 college application fee waivers because I receive SNAP benefits.
Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. PA.Gov. PDPW. 30 Dec. 2010. Web. 18 Jan. 2011.
U.S Department of Education---> Federal Student Aid ----> *Free Application for Federal Student Aid*
Federal Student Aid is an office of the U.S Department of Education that provides eligible students with money for post secondary education. The FAFSA application is free and available to all individuals. If a student desires to participate in any federal and state financial program, it is required that he completes the FAFSA application. As a high school senior that will rely on federal aid and loans to pay for college, my father and I are currently working on completing the FAFSA. I live in a house hold with an income well below the poverty line, and all forms of Financial Aid will help me through my 4+ years of college. If it were not for the Federal Student Aid Office, I would be spending the remainder of my senior year stressing for scholarships, working to save money, and applying for private loans with high interest rates that’d take me my entire life to pay off.
Federal Student Aid. Federal Student Aid. DE. 28 Jun. 2010. Web. 19 Jan. 2011.
Negative --------
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
The Department of Transportation enforces many rules, policies, and procedures in order to ensure the safety of all drivers. As a minor, in order to obtain a driver’s license, I’d have to first obtain a permit, and then wait 6 months before I could get my official license; or I’d have to wait until I’m 18 to get my license all in one sitting. I turn 18 in a few months, so it’d be stupid to get the permit to wait 6 months, instead of waiting only a few months to get everything. Even still, because of this process, I can’t apply for jobs that require a driver’s license.
Department of Transportation. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. CP. Web. 19 Jan. 2011.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
The IRS is a bureau of the U.S Department of Treasury. The IRS is responsible for tax collection and tax law enforcement. The IRS negatively effects me, but not directly. Since the death of my grandfather, my mother, grandmother, and uncle have received royalty checks periodically throughout the year for the past decade. The checks that they receive are not taxed, and it is entirely their responsibility to pay the taxes on that money each year. For years, my mother did not file her taxes, and the amount of money that she owed accumulated. As a high school senior, I have to complete the FAFSA application. The most necessary information when filing for the FAFSA is the income tax returns of the previous year. My mother and father’s taxes are filed as a joint return; despite the extreme differences in income. My mother’s income will seem to be extremely high for the past few years, despite the fact that she has been paying off debt. This will effect the amount of Financial Aid I’ll be eligible for, and there will be no money accounted for to put me through college.
Internal Revenue Service. IRS.gov. USDT. Web. 19 Jan. 2011.
Legislative Branch
Positive ++++++++++++
HB 20: Children’s Health Insurance Act
The Children’s Health Insurance Act was signed into law in 1992 by Governor Robert P. Casey. This lead to the creation of The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) of Pennsylvania. Later, SCHIP was signed into law as a federal government health care program. CHIP provides health insurance to all uninsured children of families who are inelligible for Medical Assistance, but cannot afford to pay for private health care. I am insured under CHIP. As a teenager with mental disabilities, acid reflux, a bulging disk in the lower area of my spine, asthma, and many other health conditions, CHIP has made buying various medications affordable. My doctor’s visits are covered, my Physcial Therapy treatments were covered, and all of the treatments that I have needed in the past and will need in the future are covered.
“A Brief History of CHIP.” CHIPcoverspakids. Pennsylvania Children’s Health Insurance Program. n.d. Web. 17 Jan. 2011.
Pennsylvania’s Zero Tolerance Law
Pennsylvania’s Zero Tolerance Law lowered the Blood Acohol Content (BAC) for minors from .10% to .02%. It makes it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to drive with any ammount of alcohol in their blood. A minor could be charged with a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) and receive penalties of jail time, fines, mandatory Alcohol Highway Safety School, treatment for drugs/ alcohol, and increased insurance costs. The Law also includes penalties for false identification, open alcoholic containers, and furnishing alcohol to minors. The Zero Tolerance Law positively effects me because there will be less drunk driving minors on the roads, and it helps in preventing my friends from drinking while driving, or drinking period. This keeps my friends and I out of danger.
Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. PLCB. Web. 19 Jan. 2011.
Negative ----------------
Philadelphia Curfew Ordinance
The Philadelphia Curfew Ordinance refrains persons under the age of 18 from being in a public place from the beginning of the curfew until 6:00 A.M. Curfew hours during the summer and school year are the same, but differs between weekdays and weeknights. Teens between the ages of 13 to 17 are not allowed on the streets between 10:30 p.m to 6:00 a.m on weekdays, and from Midnight to 6:00 a.m on weekends. Until I turn 18, this curfew effects me negatively because it restricts my ability to travel or go out as I wish during the weekends. All social events are not over at Midnight for 17 year- olds, and it is inconvenient to be required to have my parent with me during the night so that I won’t be stopped by a cop.
Robinson, Angela P. “Philadelphia Curfew Ordinance.” Phila.gov. 2007. Web. 19 Jan. 2011.
Judicial Branch
Positive +++++
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education is a reknowned court case that changed the entire school system to the school system that we are apart of today. It was a collection of five cases against the Board of Education; all combined and filed under one name. The NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund was involved in the five cases, but Thurgood Marshall argued the cases in front of the Supreme Court. African American parents wanted to enroll their children into local schools that were established as ‘white only’ schools. The court ruled in favor of the parents, outlawing racial segregation in public schools throughout the United States. This court case was a turning point in the history of the United States, and positively effects me because it allows me to attend any public school that I wish with no regards of my race. If it were not for this case, I’d be taking a bus to a school across town for a pitiful education and would have no hopes of obtaining a successful career simply because of the color of my skin.
U.S Courts. United States Courts. USC. Web. 19 Jan. 2011.
Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District
In 1965, three students wore arm bands to protest the war in Vietnam. School officials demanded they remove the arm bands, and when they refused, they were suspended. They sued the school district, and the Supreme Court ruled in their honor stating that “students don’t shed their constitutional rights of freedom and speech or expression at the school house gate” (according to a nytimes article). This court case positively effects me because I am a student, and it is essential that I have rights. This case will prove as a reference if I ever encounter a dilemma with a school official over a piece of clothing or accessory. I wear an “Abstinence is Kool” band daily, and if a teacher ever demanded that I remove it, I’ll be able to say that because of this case, I don’t have to.
Jacobs, Tom. “Ten Supreme Court Cases Every Teen Should Know.” nytimes.com. NYTimes, 15 Sept. 2008. Web. 18 Jan. 2011.
Negatiive---------
DeShaney v. Winnebago County Social Services
A four year-old lived with his abusive father in Wisconsin. At some point, the State Department Social Services took custody of the boy, but returned him after three days. Later, the child was hospitalized with bruises and sever brain damage. The boy’s mother sued the Department of Social Services for returning him to his father. Her argument was that the department had a duty to protect her son. The supreme court ruled against the mother ruling that the Constitution does not protect children from their parents, therefore the government was not at fault. I am not particularly involved with any for child abuse, but I have been involved with the Department of Human Services. According to this case, if something occurs in my household even after DHS has been involved, and the department had forseen any dangers before this event, the department would not be held accountable for anything. What exactly is the purpose of the Department of Human Services if it does not protect the children from whom they were hired to protect them from?
Jacobs, Tom. “Ten Supreme Court Cases Every Teen Should Know.” nytimes.com. NYTimes, 15 Sept. 2008. Web. 18 Jan. 2011.
Grutter v. Bollinger
In 1997, Barbara Grutter, a white Michigan resident with an exceptional G.P.A and good test scores, was denied admission to the University of Michigan Law School. She sued the school over it’s affirmitave action policy, which considers race as a factor in admissions. The court sided with the University, declaring that student- body diversity can justify the use of race in university admissions. But because the school conducted a thorough review of each applicant and did not assign a number of offers specifically for minority applicants, the University’s policy was acceptable. I am currently in the process of applying for colleges, and if Universities are legally allowed to consider race as a factor or admission, this can still affect me negatively. I am a minority, but I could meet and go beyond every application requirement for acceptance, but if there happens to be ‘enough’ African Americans accepted already, I may be denied. Also, this court case could result in reverse racism in admissions meaning the school considers race in the admission process, and accepts fewer minorities.
Jacobs, Tom. “Ten Supreme Court Cases Every Teen Should Know.” nytimes.com. NYTimes, 15 Sept. 2008. Web. 18 Jan. 2011.