"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press..." (United States Constitution 1789). Throughout the history of the United States of America, the Constitution has always been put to ...

On June 21, 1788 Congress ratified the US constitution. This historic document contained the powers that congress would have under this democratic government. The first amendment specifically details several powers that would be excluded from this list. The first amendment states "Congress sha...

On June 21, 1788 Congress ratified the US constitution. This historic document contained the powers that congress would have under this democratic government. The first amendment specifically details several powers that would be excluded from this list. The first amendment states "Congress shal...

Banning Prayer in Schools When schools first opened hundreds of years ago prayer was always enforced, and the Bible was the only book most schools had to read. Our first constitutional right states that we have the right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion, and as our right the go...

The significant debate on religion in schools is becoming more and more heated. Many people say that banning religion in schools would be unconstitutional, which in some aspects is understandable since the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects freedom of religion....

"Freedom of speech, freedom of expression, both oral and written, from governmental prior restraint, except as such expression constitutes libel, slander, obscenity, sedition, or criminal conduct such as bribery, perjury, or incitement to riot." In the U.S., this freedom is protected by...

 In this essay I will give a short history of the government in United States of America (U.S.). Then I will describe each of the three branches of government in the U.S. and the relationship between them. In principle, the U.S. is a democratic republic, they govern themselves by ch...

Our Little Island Government I think that our right of 'freedom of religion' is a good right. It can be sustained over a long period of time. People should be able to believe what they want to freely and openly. We shouldn't tell people what they have to believe and prosecute the...

On June 13, 1866, Thaddeus Stevens, the leader of the House of Representatives and the nation's most prominent Radical Republican, addressed his congressional colleagues on the issue of the Fourteenth Amendment. The purpose of this amendment was to secure the fruits of Union victory in the Civil Wa...

The issue of campaign finance reform has been around for many years. It has significantly deterred many qualified people from participating in politics because they feel like they have no way to be heard in a system, which is driven by big dollar contributions. Campaign finance is a confusing topi...

THE CIVIL WAR: THE PATH TO DISUNION Missouri Applies for Statehood- 1819 In 1819, Missouri wanted to join the Union, although in the North, as a slave state. In would make the balance of power in the Congress unequal. Many Northerners were opposed to the idea. Northerners in Congress refused to p...

The Pledge of Allegiance is spoken daily in many schools throughout the United States. During the last several years this fact has become a source of contempt for many parents, who do not promote a particular religious belief in their homes. Reciting wording specific to a particular set of religio...

One law in particular led to bitter conflict. The Tenure of Office Act prevented the President from dismissing a Cabinet member without the consent of the Senate. Johnson said the act was unconstitutional because it violated the separation of powers. To make the Supreme Court rule on this law, Johns...

"The Permanent Campaign" was written by Norman J. Ornstein and Amy S. Mitchell. This article appeared first in The World & I, in January 1997. Norman Ornstein is regarded as one of our nation's foremost experts on Congress. Mr. Ornstein received a Ph.D.. from the University ...

"A symbol is something that stands for or suggests something else because of relationship, association, convention, or accidental resemblance." (Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary 1194). These emblematic masterpieces have been both created and destroyed by war. These wars have...

There must be reform! At the rate the United States of America is evolving at, it wouldn't be a surprise if it is on its way to becoming an oligarchy. This country is governed by the dollar, not by the president or even the people. The campaign for the presidency is becoming like a campaign...

"There is a general consensus among social scientists that television violence increases the propensity to real-life aggression among some viewers." Recent studies conducted have shown evidence of television influencing people many different ways. One subject most often brought up is that ...

During the 1960s many civil rights movement swung into full gear. Many civil rights activists started to meet and discuss future strategies for civil rights protest. Many activists also started to form groups to help fight against racial discrimination and segregation. Many of these groups chose ...

Post-Civil War Law: Who Did It Benefit? For most Americans today, the law is a static entity, something which, from day to day, does not cross our minds because of its relatively fixed position. Theoretically, the law protects all Americans equally, regardless of race, ethnicity, or class, and ...

The Constitution Right from the beginning of it's creation the constitution of the United States has been a shaky document. The very basis for it being there was in fact illegal. The story of American politics starts with the Declaration of Independence. This document was brilliantly writt...

What We Don't Know About Campaign Finance Does Hurt Us. "No matter what your social issue, if you want to solve it get the money out of politics. Only then will lawmakers vote for their people rather than their pocketbooks." Jack E. Lohman. Money corrupts politics, and wh...

What We Don't Know About Campaign Finance Does Hurt Us. "No matter what your social issue, if you want to solve it get the money out of politics. Only then will lawmakers vote for their people rather than their pocketbooks." Jack E. Lohman. Money corrupts politics, and when...

The Constitution Right from the beginning of it's creation the constitution of the United States has been a shaky document. The very basis for it being there was in fact illegal. The story of American politics starts with the Declaration of Independence. This document was brilliantly...