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Friday, 3/1/19 US Gov (CP)

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Test Corrections: Come in during lunch M-Th to Ms. Mallen’s room (12L)

HW:

Content Review

WARM-UP INSTRUCTIONS:

Would you kill one person to save 5?

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The Trolley Dilemma

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How do we address this dilemma?

In groups, come up with a step by step way to solve this dilemma.

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Steps to Solving a Dilemma:

  • Issue?
  • Facts of the situation (Relevant Evidence)
  • What have others done when faced with our situation? (Precedent)
  • Evidence v. Feelings (Credibility)
  • Options? Consequences of options?
  • Make a decision (Ruling)
    • Be able to explain why (Majority Opinion and Dissenting Opinion)

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Clash of the Clauses

What happens when the Free Exercise Clause (1st Amendment) and the Equal Protection Clause (14th Amendment meet in court?

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Does the free exercise clause protect you if your religion prevents you from providing others service?

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This is a constitutional dilemma

One part of the Constitution says that you have the right to freely exercise your religion.

However, the 14th Amendment says that people have a right to equal protection under the law.

Which one is “right”?

How can we address this dilemma?

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How can we address this dilemma?

  • What is the issue?
    • What do we need to understand about this issue?
      • What is the Free Exercise Clause?
      • What is the Equal Protection Clause?

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Monday, 3/3/19 US Gov (CP)

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Test Corrections: Come in during lunch M-Th to Ms. Mallen’s room (12L)

HW:

Content Review

WARM-UP INSTRUCTIONS:

With someone next to you, explain the free exercise clause and the equal protection clause.

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Does the free exercise clause protect you if your religion prevents you from providing others service?

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How can we address this dilemma?

  • What is the issue?
    • What do we need to understand about this issue?
      • What is the Free Exercise Clause?
      • What is the Equal Protection Clause?

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Precedent for the Free Exercise clause

2. In the past, how has SCOTUS defined “compelling state interest”?

Case

Explanation of the Case

Compelling State Interest

Wisconsin v Yoder

Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye, Inc. v. Hialeah

Is it a violation of the free exercise clause to make amish students go to school past the 8th grade?

Yes - Gov’t has no compelling interest to interfere with Amish practices

Does outlawing ritual animal sacrifice violate the free exercise clause?

Yes - Gov’t has no compelling interest to stop group’s religious practices.

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Compelling Interest

“Most governmental regulation, including would be presumed constitutional, but regulation aimed at fundamental rights, the operation of the political process, and disadvantaged minorities must be viewed with more scrutiny and subjected to stricter review.

Regulation vital to the protection of public health and safety, including the regulation of violent crime, the requirements of national security and military necessity, and respect for fundamental rights are examples of compelling governmental interests.”

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Precedent for the Equal Protection clause

2. In the past, how has SCOTUS applied the Equal Protection clause in cases?

Case

Question of the Case

Equal Protection

Brown v. Board of Education

Obergefell v Hodges

If everyone has access to the same education, can schools be segregated?

No - Separate but equal is not constitutional, everyone is entitled to equal protection under the law.

Do gay people have a right to marry and do all states have to recognize that right to marry?

Yes - People who are LGBTQ have the right to marry and all states must recognize that right legally

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Civil Rights Act of 1964 (public accommodation)

TITLE II--INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AGAINST DISCRIMINATION IN PLACES OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION

SEC. 201. (a) All persons shall be entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, and privileges, advantages, and accommodations of any place of public accommodation without discrimination or segregation on the ground of race, color, religion, or national origin.

(b) Each of the following establishments which serves the public is a place of public accommodation:

(2) any restaurant, cafeteria, lunchroom, lunch counter, soda fountain, or other facility principally engaged in selling food for consumption, including, but not limited to, any such facility located on the premises of any retail establishment.

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Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission

Just based on the name of the case, can we predict anything?

Who do you think is going to be arguing in favor of the free exercise clause? the equal protection clause?

Why do you think that?

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What is an Amicus Curiae Brief?

  • Amicus Curiae Brief means “friend of the court”
  • Filed by someone (or a group of people) who is not part of the case to try and persuade the court to rule a certain way.

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Amicus Brief #1

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Amicus Brief #2

Religious Groups that “accept same sex marriage as the law of the land”

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Tuesday, 3/4/19 US Gov (CP)

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Test Corrections: Come in during lunch M-Th to Ms. Mallen’s room (12L)

HW:

Content Review

WARM-UP INSTRUCTIONS:

Clash of the Clauses

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Fishbowl Discussion

Role #1: You will argue the side of the cakemaker

Role #2: You will argue the side of the couple

Role #3: You are the scorekeeper - you will listen and keep score. You can get point from using evidence from:

  • Amicus Curiae briefs, precedent cases, compelling interest examples, or the Civil Rights Act of 1964

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Fishbowl Discussion

If the couple must find a new baker, do you see any issues with that? Why or why not?

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Fishbowl Discussion

Role #2: You will argue the side of the cakemaker

Role #3: You will argue the side of the couple

Role #1: You are the scorekeeper - you will listen and keep score. You can get point from using evidence from:

  • Amicus Curiae briefs, precedent cases, compelling interest examples, or the Civil Rights Act of 1964

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Fishbowl Discussion

How do previous cases (precedent) help the side of the baker? How does precedent help the couple?

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Fishbowl Discussion

Role #3: You will argue the side of the cakemaker

Role #1: You will argue the side of the couple

Role #2: You are the scorekeeper - you will listen and keep score. You can get point from using evidence from:

  • Amicus Curiae briefs, precedent cases, compelling interest examples, or the Civil Rights Act of 1964

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Your Task:

Does the state have compelling interest to stop someone from denying service to a specific group of people based on religious beliefs? Why or why not?

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Wednesday, 3/4/19 US Gov (CP)

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

UNIT TEST: Thursday, 3/14

HW:

Content Review

WARM-UP INSTRUCTIONS:

Clash of the Clauses

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Brainstorm

Arguments for the Masterpiece Cakeshop

Arguments for the Colorado Civil Rights Commission

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Writing a Claim...

How do we write a claim?

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Peer Review

When looking at paragraphs:

Is the claim clear?

Is the evidence relevant?

Is the evidence explained in detail?

Are the details accurate?

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Your Task:

You will write an Amicus Curiae Brief to the SCOTUS. Using evidence, you will need to justify why you believe the court should side with either the Free Exercise Clause OR the Equal Protection Clause.

Your evidence needs to come from the Amicus Curiae briefs, precedent (related supreme court cases) compelling interest, or laws (Civil Rights Act of 1964).

Your brief should include

  • A clear claim
  • AT LEAST two (2) pieces of relevant evidence that support your claim
  • Persuasive essay techniques
  • Proper sentence structure, spelling, grammar, etc..