BR 3-28-13

I think Italy needs to reform their government system and learn that they cannot convict a person without evidence against them. They are re-trying them to save-face, because the families of the victim are probably crying out for justice. Italy needs to re-think their convictions when over 50 percent of their convictions are repealed.

BR 3-27-13

The Government cannot deny people who are already married! The point of them being granted marriage is to be able to reap benefits. It's not fair that significant others are stuck with the cost of funerals and viewings because they can't receive the benefits from insurance policies. The reason they've fought so hard to get married is to be able to receive the same benefits as heterosexual couples. I think this is wrong and discriminatory.

BR 3-13-13

In 2005 Senator Byrd created a law that required all government funded institutions to educate their students on September 17th about the constitution. He felt it was very important to know the history of the document and how it came about. I agree that knowing the constitution is very important and especially knowing the bill of rights.

Would I like to be a juror?

I believe I would like to be on jury duty for a murder case or other exciting case, but to be paid 15 dollars a day for a basic civil case, I would prefer to decline. I would love a career as a supreme court justice, because I think upholding our constitutional rights is a very important part of the our society. Over the years we have allowed our constitutional rights to be impeded on, and I would like to be part of a society that stands up for the rights we fought for.

Civics Assignment- Jurors' Duties

The role of a juror consists of reading evidence, listening to a case, using good judgment in cases with witnesses, and detemining if the plantiff provided enough information to deem a defendent, guilty or not guilty. They must discuss the case and evidence with the other jurors and come to a unanimous verdict. In the United States there are many types of courts that split into sub-categories between state and federal. State courts split into 3 courts: Trial, Intermediate Appellate, and The Highest State Court. Trial further splits into general which can oversee cases of civil or criminal and limited which oversees cases such as probate, family, traffic, juvenile, smal claims, and municipal cases. The Intermediate Appellate determines if the trial cases follwed the laws set in each state. The Highest State Court is the final revenue for appeals.

Federal courts are split into 9 separate types of courts, 94 districts, and 12 regional circuit courts. Federal oversees court cases dealing with diversity of citizenship and Federal questions which are cases between states, cases that include high ranking public figures, bankruptcy and many other types of cases.

In the US, there are three different types of juries; criminal grand juries, criminal petit juries, and civil grand juries. A criminal grand jury is used in replacement of a preliminary hearing for the prosecution. They decide for 15 dollars a day and gas mileage and determine if a person is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Civil Grand Juries are responsible for investigating complaints in the county and act as a "civil watchdog" for the county and auditing records and books kept by county offices. Petit juries, also called trial juries, are present in civil and criminal cases represented by the local courts.

BR 3-11-13

I cant bring a tube of toothpaste, but I can take a pocketknife on the plane, that's just a little bigger than the box cutter they took down the 9/11 planes with. I really would like to speak with the person who thought this was a good idea. A pocket knife may not be able to take down a plane, but it sure can take out a few people to get to the cockpit!!!

Civics Assignment 3-7-13

1.) I think a filibuster is the most pointless speaking in the Senate chamber, because the only reason for it, is to make people forget about what is most likely, an important vote. Being able to speak that long should not be allowed, and there is absolutely no speech that has taken place in history that has taken over 3 hours to completely get someone's point across. Honestly, if someone held me in a speech without a bathroom I would walk out if it had no point.

2.) Filibuster- An action such as a prolonged speech that obstructs progress in a legislative assembly while not technically contravening the required

Cloture- (in a legislative assembly) A procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote.

3.)      A filibuster originated to take media and minds off of a problem at hand. It is basically a really long speech given at the Senate chamber to prolong a voting for an issue at hand. A filibuster usually works to prolong a vote, but for this past one it was to 






-Did you know the first longest filibuster was 24 hours 18 minutes long?

-Did you know the shortest filibuster was less than an hour and a half? 

-Did you know there is more than 1 way to overthrow a filibuster?

-Did you know filibusters exist outside of the US?

-Did you know the cloture was adopted in 1917?

-Did you know the "Gang of 14" 7 democrats and 7 republicans voted in 2005 to only allow 5 filibusters against judicial nominations in extreme cirsumstances?