Ordie
09-17-2008, 12:46 PM
What binds America is values in our Constitution
Leon Panetta
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Diversity in America is as old as the nation itself. As the home to citizens of more ethnic backgrounds and religious faiths than any other nation on earth, America is not sustained by the same type of cultural unity as most European or Asian nations. So what holds us together? For well over two centuries, the values of our Declaration of Independence and Constitution have served to unify Americans of every background: e pluribus unum. In signing the Constitution on this day in 1787, our founders built America on the values that have sustained us to this day, the ideals of self-government, liberty, and equality - all in pursuit of a more perfect union.
Yet these ideals are not automatically renewed in each generation. In the words of education reformed John Dewey, "democracy must be reborn in every generation, and education is its midwife."
Dewey was not alone in understanding schools as the primary means of ensuring that Americans have the civic knowledge and virtue necessary for responsible citizenship. Nearly forty state constitutions cite the civic mission of schools as the reason for the establishment of their public school systems.
Despite this original mission, over the past generation the number of civics classes offered to youth has been in steady decline. Until the 1960s it was common for students to take three civics courses focused on citizen responsibility in a democracy, but today most schools only offer a single, often optional course for seniors about to graduate high school.
This decline undermines the health of a democracy premised on citizen participation. On the last national civics assessment, released in 2006, two-thirds of students scored below proficient and less than a fifth of high school seniors could explain how citizen participation benefits democracy.
This decline comes at a time when we most need citizens to understand their role in our democracy. The great challenges America faces - from energy dependence to a growing deficit to the war in Iraq - demand shared sacrifice on the part of an engaged citizenry. A nation that is becoming more culturally, ethnically, racially, and economically diverse faces grave threat if young people are not prepared for active citizenship and feel a sense of civic obligation toward each other and their nation.
Moreover, a growing civic achievement gap threatens our most core ideals of equal citizenship. On the last national civics assessment, African-American and Hispanic students are twice as likely as their White counterparts to score below proficient on national civics assessments, and a similar gap exists based on a student's economic class.
This knowledge gap correlates with a gap in attitudes. Minority and low-income students are less likely to trust each other and our national institutions, resulting in vast differences in political participation based on race and class. In a democracy premised on citizen participation and citizen equality, the civic participation gap threatens the cornerstone of our national legitimacy. How can our government fulfill Lincoln's goal of being "of the people, by the people, for the people" if only some people have the tools to participate?
Each generation in our history has been more diverse than the one that came before it. We must ensure that every citizen - from the descendant of the Pilgrims to the newest American - shares the knowledge and the tools necessary to affect change in their communities. Only through civic education can we preserve the Constitution's ideal of a society in which "We the People" control our own futures.
Join the campaign
The Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools advocates for policies that make it easier for schools and school districts to pursue their civic mission. From flexibility to funding to institutional support, there are a range of ways that policymakers can help schools educate the next generation of informed and active citizens.
For more information: Go to www.civicmissionofschools.org (http://www.civicmissionofschools.org/)
Leon Panetta represented the Central Coast of California in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1977 until 1993, when he went on to become the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. He was White House Chief of Staff under President Bill Clinton from 1995 to 1997. He now directs the Leon and Sylvia Institute on Public Policy at California State University - Monterey Bay.
Source:http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/17/EDRK12U1K2.DTL&type=printable
Constitution Day Quiz
David Davenport,Gordon Lloyd
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Today we celebrate the 221st anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. Although the Fourth of July, celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence, has long been observed, it was only four years ago that Congress passed a law mandating the celebration of Constitution Day, at least by schools and federal agencies.
What began as an American experiment - the first constitution created by the deliberation of elected representatives rather than by the force of a single leader - is now the longest-living constitution in the world. We invite you to refresh your knowledge of this important era and remarkable document through the following 10 questions:
1. The average age of the framers or Founding Fathers was approximately:
A. 30
B. 40
C. 50
D. 60
2. Who is popularly known as "the father of the Constitution?"
A. Ben Franklin
B. Thomas Jefferson
C. James Madison
D. George Washington
3. Questions have been raised about the eligibility of both John McCain and Barack Obama to serve as president because of their place of birth. The Constitution requires that the president:
A. Be a naturalized citizen
B. Be a natural-born citizen
C. Have resided in the United States for at least 10 years
D. Be a natural-born citizen and a resident within the United States at least 14 years
4. If a gay couple married under the laws of California moves to Kansas where gay marriage is not recognized as legal:
A. Kansas is obligated to recognize the marriage under California law
B. Kansas is not obligated to recognize the marriage under California law
C. Kansas is obligated to petition a federal court to resolve the matter
D. The legal obligation of Kansas is presently unclear
5. Prior to the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920:
A. Women did not have the right to vote for president
B. Women in certain states had the right to vote for president
C. All women had the right to vote for president
D. Women married to landowners had the right to vote for president
6. The phrase "the Constitution means what the Supreme Court says it means" is stated in:
A. Article I of the Constitution on legislative authority
B. Article II of the Constitution on executive authority
C. Article III of the Constitution on judicial authority
D. Judicial decisions by the Supreme Court itself
7. Electors in each state are assigned to a presidential candidate based upon:
A. Winner takes all
B. Proportion of the popular vote the candidate wins
C. Whatever formula the state decides
D. None of the above
8. With regard to education, the Constitution explicitly provides:
A. A fundamental right to a basic education for every American
B. Federal oversight of education
C. A system of public and private education
D. None of the above
9. Which of the following is explicitly mentioned in the Constitution (including its amendments)?
A. The right to keep and bear arms
B. Separation of church and state
C. The right of association
D. The right to privacy
10. According to the Constitution, in order to run for the U.S. House of Representatives, a candidate must:
A. Reside in the state where elected for 5 years
B. Reside in the state at the time of declaring candidacy
C. Reside in the state when elected
D. Reside in the congressional district to be represented
ANSWERS: 1. B, 2. C, 3. D, 4. D, 5. B, 6. D, 7. C, 8. D, 9. A, 10. C
David Davenport is a research fellow at the Hoover Institution and Gordon Lloyd is professor of public policy at Pepperdine University.
Source:http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/17/EDRK12U1D7.DTL&type=printable
It's Constitution Day
SF Chronicle Editorial
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Constitution Day has become a holiday-lite, a calendar marking that brings up nods of appreciation but little else. That's a shame because this year, coming today in the midst of a presidential race, it should be a galvanizing moment.
What does our next president - be it John McCain or Barack Obama - believe about this founding document after eight years of steady and secretive shredding by the White House?
This question doesn't ask for a windy sermon about the Bill of Rights and the succeeding amendments that guide government and protect civil rights. Instead, this presidential campaign should stick to a more basic topic: defending this country's foundational document from erosion.
It's not a pleasant story. President Bush, nudged along by a coterie of advisers, has undercut not just assumed freedoms but also the separation of powers that the Constitution plainly calls for. And the White House hasn't done it alone. A meek Congress has willingly agreed, too worried about the soft-on-terrorism label.
The list of abuses is long and alarming. Terrorist suspects tortured in foreign jails to evade American rules. Wiretaps of overseas calls without court oversight. Indefinite detention, often with no legal representation, in the Guantanamo lockup.
It's not just terrorist activities. President Bush has issued "signing statements" to expand his executive authority beyond the intent of a law passed by Congress. His office refuses to permit subordinates to testify before Congress. His team's handling of the run-up to the Iraq war effectively undercut a congressional review of the evidence, later found so lacking.
In a perverse way, this president has done the nation a service. It's impossible now to think of the Constitution without weighing the abuses he has rained on it. It also calls into question the weak counterweight of a cowed Congress.
Both presidential candidates have spoken critically about the Bush record, but both have backed off. McCain, a victim of torture, has moderated his objections to the practice. Obama, who opposed wiretapping, later voted for a renewal of the program.
Voters deserve to hear how each would repair the damage done to the Constitution by this president. It's not too late to return to that day in 1787 when its meaning was clear, fresh and inspiring.
Source:http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/17/EDGS12V029.DTL&type=printable
Leon Panetta
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Diversity in America is as old as the nation itself. As the home to citizens of more ethnic backgrounds and religious faiths than any other nation on earth, America is not sustained by the same type of cultural unity as most European or Asian nations. So what holds us together? For well over two centuries, the values of our Declaration of Independence and Constitution have served to unify Americans of every background: e pluribus unum. In signing the Constitution on this day in 1787, our founders built America on the values that have sustained us to this day, the ideals of self-government, liberty, and equality - all in pursuit of a more perfect union.
Yet these ideals are not automatically renewed in each generation. In the words of education reformed John Dewey, "democracy must be reborn in every generation, and education is its midwife."
Dewey was not alone in understanding schools as the primary means of ensuring that Americans have the civic knowledge and virtue necessary for responsible citizenship. Nearly forty state constitutions cite the civic mission of schools as the reason for the establishment of their public school systems.
Despite this original mission, over the past generation the number of civics classes offered to youth has been in steady decline. Until the 1960s it was common for students to take three civics courses focused on citizen responsibility in a democracy, but today most schools only offer a single, often optional course for seniors about to graduate high school.
This decline undermines the health of a democracy premised on citizen participation. On the last national civics assessment, released in 2006, two-thirds of students scored below proficient and less than a fifth of high school seniors could explain how citizen participation benefits democracy.
This decline comes at a time when we most need citizens to understand their role in our democracy. The great challenges America faces - from energy dependence to a growing deficit to the war in Iraq - demand shared sacrifice on the part of an engaged citizenry. A nation that is becoming more culturally, ethnically, racially, and economically diverse faces grave threat if young people are not prepared for active citizenship and feel a sense of civic obligation toward each other and their nation.
Moreover, a growing civic achievement gap threatens our most core ideals of equal citizenship. On the last national civics assessment, African-American and Hispanic students are twice as likely as their White counterparts to score below proficient on national civics assessments, and a similar gap exists based on a student's economic class.
This knowledge gap correlates with a gap in attitudes. Minority and low-income students are less likely to trust each other and our national institutions, resulting in vast differences in political participation based on race and class. In a democracy premised on citizen participation and citizen equality, the civic participation gap threatens the cornerstone of our national legitimacy. How can our government fulfill Lincoln's goal of being "of the people, by the people, for the people" if only some people have the tools to participate?
Each generation in our history has been more diverse than the one that came before it. We must ensure that every citizen - from the descendant of the Pilgrims to the newest American - shares the knowledge and the tools necessary to affect change in their communities. Only through civic education can we preserve the Constitution's ideal of a society in which "We the People" control our own futures.
Join the campaign
The Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools advocates for policies that make it easier for schools and school districts to pursue their civic mission. From flexibility to funding to institutional support, there are a range of ways that policymakers can help schools educate the next generation of informed and active citizens.
For more information: Go to www.civicmissionofschools.org (http://www.civicmissionofschools.org/)
Leon Panetta represented the Central Coast of California in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1977 until 1993, when he went on to become the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. He was White House Chief of Staff under President Bill Clinton from 1995 to 1997. He now directs the Leon and Sylvia Institute on Public Policy at California State University - Monterey Bay.
Source:http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/17/EDRK12U1K2.DTL&type=printable
Constitution Day Quiz
David Davenport,Gordon Lloyd
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Today we celebrate the 221st anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution. Although the Fourth of July, celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence, has long been observed, it was only four years ago that Congress passed a law mandating the celebration of Constitution Day, at least by schools and federal agencies.
What began as an American experiment - the first constitution created by the deliberation of elected representatives rather than by the force of a single leader - is now the longest-living constitution in the world. We invite you to refresh your knowledge of this important era and remarkable document through the following 10 questions:
1. The average age of the framers or Founding Fathers was approximately:
A. 30
B. 40
C. 50
D. 60
2. Who is popularly known as "the father of the Constitution?"
A. Ben Franklin
B. Thomas Jefferson
C. James Madison
D. George Washington
3. Questions have been raised about the eligibility of both John McCain and Barack Obama to serve as president because of their place of birth. The Constitution requires that the president:
A. Be a naturalized citizen
B. Be a natural-born citizen
C. Have resided in the United States for at least 10 years
D. Be a natural-born citizen and a resident within the United States at least 14 years
4. If a gay couple married under the laws of California moves to Kansas where gay marriage is not recognized as legal:
A. Kansas is obligated to recognize the marriage under California law
B. Kansas is not obligated to recognize the marriage under California law
C. Kansas is obligated to petition a federal court to resolve the matter
D. The legal obligation of Kansas is presently unclear
5. Prior to the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920:
A. Women did not have the right to vote for president
B. Women in certain states had the right to vote for president
C. All women had the right to vote for president
D. Women married to landowners had the right to vote for president
6. The phrase "the Constitution means what the Supreme Court says it means" is stated in:
A. Article I of the Constitution on legislative authority
B. Article II of the Constitution on executive authority
C. Article III of the Constitution on judicial authority
D. Judicial decisions by the Supreme Court itself
7. Electors in each state are assigned to a presidential candidate based upon:
A. Winner takes all
B. Proportion of the popular vote the candidate wins
C. Whatever formula the state decides
D. None of the above
8. With regard to education, the Constitution explicitly provides:
A. A fundamental right to a basic education for every American
B. Federal oversight of education
C. A system of public and private education
D. None of the above
9. Which of the following is explicitly mentioned in the Constitution (including its amendments)?
A. The right to keep and bear arms
B. Separation of church and state
C. The right of association
D. The right to privacy
10. According to the Constitution, in order to run for the U.S. House of Representatives, a candidate must:
A. Reside in the state where elected for 5 years
B. Reside in the state at the time of declaring candidacy
C. Reside in the state when elected
D. Reside in the congressional district to be represented
ANSWERS: 1. B, 2. C, 3. D, 4. D, 5. B, 6. D, 7. C, 8. D, 9. A, 10. C
David Davenport is a research fellow at the Hoover Institution and Gordon Lloyd is professor of public policy at Pepperdine University.
Source:http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/17/EDRK12U1D7.DTL&type=printable
It's Constitution Day
SF Chronicle Editorial
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Constitution Day has become a holiday-lite, a calendar marking that brings up nods of appreciation but little else. That's a shame because this year, coming today in the midst of a presidential race, it should be a galvanizing moment.
What does our next president - be it John McCain or Barack Obama - believe about this founding document after eight years of steady and secretive shredding by the White House?
This question doesn't ask for a windy sermon about the Bill of Rights and the succeeding amendments that guide government and protect civil rights. Instead, this presidential campaign should stick to a more basic topic: defending this country's foundational document from erosion.
It's not a pleasant story. President Bush, nudged along by a coterie of advisers, has undercut not just assumed freedoms but also the separation of powers that the Constitution plainly calls for. And the White House hasn't done it alone. A meek Congress has willingly agreed, too worried about the soft-on-terrorism label.
The list of abuses is long and alarming. Terrorist suspects tortured in foreign jails to evade American rules. Wiretaps of overseas calls without court oversight. Indefinite detention, often with no legal representation, in the Guantanamo lockup.
It's not just terrorist activities. President Bush has issued "signing statements" to expand his executive authority beyond the intent of a law passed by Congress. His office refuses to permit subordinates to testify before Congress. His team's handling of the run-up to the Iraq war effectively undercut a congressional review of the evidence, later found so lacking.
In a perverse way, this president has done the nation a service. It's impossible now to think of the Constitution without weighing the abuses he has rained on it. It also calls into question the weak counterweight of a cowed Congress.
Both presidential candidates have spoken critically about the Bush record, but both have backed off. McCain, a victim of torture, has moderated his objections to the practice. Obama, who opposed wiretapping, later voted for a renewal of the program.
Voters deserve to hear how each would repair the damage done to the Constitution by this president. It's not too late to return to that day in 1787 when its meaning was clear, fresh and inspiring.
Source:http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/17/EDGS12V029.DTL&type=printable