New definition of a 21st century citizen

       After going through thiws government class I have learned not only bout government but about how it effects our everyday life ; to who runs our country to what we can and can not do. Therefore my defintion of a well informed citizen is...                     

"Someone knowledgeable of world events with a proper, basic education. Understanding of information science/ internet and have an open mind." This was my first definition of what I thought a well-informed citizen was in the 21st century. I do still agree with this first statement but it is a little vague. I now believe that someone with more knowledge of the government and how they have an impact on their life is very important--also having some knowledge on elections. Including what they believe in (such as social security, health care, and foreign relations), social and economic conditions (such as a budget deficit or surplus, or the illiteracy rate),so they can have an input on who runs the country when voting.  Or certain terms that follow the election process...liberal, conservative, primary elections, or the bill of rightsshould be known. 

A well informed citizen should me knowledgeable   in understanding magazines/ newspapers/ news/ internet-- any form for the mass media that the institution provides. So they can comprehend what is going on in the world/ country. Media is a central part of our modern-day lives. This is why it's important for us to understand the way media affects us, and how media works. Recognizing Facebook, Twitter, Linkden, Four Square (social media) and how they operate I believe is what’s coming in years to come and that (not so much now) but will be a huge part in the gathering of political/ worldly news. This will be then a navigation skill that generations will need to become accustom to...someone who can search for information, digests it, and actively participate on society putting your knowledge to a good collective use. Social  Media has created an environment where communication, collaboration and coordination exist without barriers. It gives power to individuals to compete with institutions at a level unprecedented. Institutional containment as we know it does not exist. Market barriers no longer exist as we know it. Knowing this can bring any individual success, also can get someone's veiws publically known.

Putting human rights ideas into practice can helps us create the kind of society we want to live in.They should know the laws that make up our country and our rights. Not only knowing our rights but knowing some background knowlegde about them too should very much contribute to a trait of well informed citizen.

Values of tolerance, equality and respect can help reduce friction within society.  Human rights are an important part of how people interact with others at all levels in society - in the family, the community, schools, the workplace, in politics and in international relations.It is vital therefore that people everywhere should strive to understand what human rights are. When people better understand human rights, it will be easier for them to promote justice and the well-being of society.

Final Exam

http://www.helium.com/items/195251-why-lobbyists-negatively-influence-the-us-legislative-process?page=2



http://www.opednews.com/populum/page.php?f=Of-Candidates-and-Negative-by-Prof-Rodrigue-Trem-120118-844.html


http://video.foxnews.com/v/3912027/power-of-money/


http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/white-house-visitor-logs-show-lobbying-going-strong/2012/05/20/gIQA2ok4dU_story.html


http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-lobbyist.htm



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2DUM6jVasw


       Are Lobbyists a negative impact on todays politics?



Lobbyists are people whose job is to try to influence officials such as congressman, usually for or against a certain cause. Lobbyists are hired by interest groups or companies that want public policies to favor them and their causes (they usually have lots of money). Lobbyists typically use coaxing to try to influence public officials, but some might resort to more immoral or even illegal practices, such as subornation (wiseGeek).I beilive more often then not lobbyists are shady, not trust worthy people. I think alot in the world including politics has resorted to backhanded money deals amnd money has taken over. Lobbyists in  my opinion have a negative impact on politcs and here are 4 reasons why :  

1. Destructive to Individual rights

Lobbyists backed by corporations with a lot of money most definitely harm our individual rights because lobbyist firms are often private businesses that are paid to effect decisions. As a result, they have far superior resources, including money and time, than the average citizens have. They also, since its there job and they are being paid, have to have the qualities to get there way, smooth talker, kaniving, and alluring.Qualities that a normal citizen may not come across seeing lobbyists are not what I would say genuine. Now a private citizen may contact his/her congressman to express his views on a matter, but that phone call may mean little when drowned out by a lobbyist group filling the politician's answering machine with messages or flooding his desk with letters. In the end our rights become minute over the presistence and money lobbyists can bring to the table.

                           

2. Money’s Association with Influence

A common complaint of opponents of lobbying is that it links wealth with influence. I stand by this complaint. When it comes down to lobbying the size of its body and its resources is reliant on its funding. Hence, groups of people or corporations with more money can have a larger lobbying body endorsing their interests. The side of the issue that has more money to spend may have a greater chance at influencing politicians to vote in that side's favor. Not so being bribery (although I do think that happens) but more so treating the political figure to nicer dinners or more exclusive parties. Subsequently, decisions are not essentially made based on the number of people that would benefit, but instead may be dependent on levels of wealth involved.

•   -In 1998 alone Phillip Morris spent over $25 million lobbying against regulations and restrictions that would decrease their profits.Over the past seven years Phillip Morris has spent over $75 million on lobbying expenses allowing them keep all of these tobacco regulations extremely minimal, even though Tobacco has been one of the leading causes of death in the US for many years. (Helium)

   3. Endorses the Welfare of Corporations

Most of the time lobbyist groups are backed by large corporations. The corporations tend to have a financial importance in the results of the decisions they attempt to influence (more likely then not succeed). In doing this they spend a large portion of their proceeds to protect or increase their future income. It can be tough for individuals or nonprofit associations to compete with the financial resources and institutions of large corporations. Thus, large businesses are more likely to have their interests fulfilled than smaller groups do.

  4.  Affects Elections

Lobbyist groups can and do affect the election process and outcme. Lobbyists often use money to swing the outcomes of elections. The direct donation to a contender is restricted, lobbyist groups can use their assets (companies, interest groups, corporations) to campaign on behalf of a candidate. This not only disrupts the legislative process but discredits voters on the issue, undermining key aspect of democracy. This unpredictable theft of the legislative process is not what some may call simply exercising the right to petition government, but is in fact a form of corruption that can not be tolerated in the U.S.  They can promote the candidate in many ways-- They do this by paying for television advertisements and also sending promotional fliers through the mail.

Now Along with all the negative affects that go along with lobbyists being legal there are few pros that are supposedly positive...

Lobbying is supposed to help special-interest groups (they can be a religion, belief, and industry) so they can get their voices heard by the law-making body. Congress is hard to get in contact of or heard by, so using lobbyist who are professional at getting there voice heard and agreed with works. BUT even with that said to get the lobbyist to work for you, that interest group would have to have large sums of money. Another pro for lobbying is that you can get your beliefs across and possibly make an influence on a policy-- yet again most corporations that use lobbyist are companies that have large sums of money and are fighting against what the people want.

Star Wars

This political cartoon is clearly a negative view on the government and the people/ institutions/ titles that are beneath it. The blunt view on this cartoon is the characters from star wars are bad therefore the police, military, state; lobbyist, media and ourselves are corrupt.

1) The lobbyist otherwise known as the "Advisor", buys laws and legislature with big corporate money. They influence politicians/the state with their swindling, sneaky ways (as shown in the cartoon he is in jabba’s ear). They are charismatic crafty people that know what to say and how to say it. In other terms people with money hire the lobbyists to influence congressman (lawmakers) to do what will benefit that certain company. For instance, a concerned group of people is trying to get cigarettes outlawed (illegal) and they get a lot of support for it THIS is when lobbyists will come in a lot of money from company and change and try and get congressman to keep cigarettes legal. They look for and use loopholes so that in the end the company can still make money. The lobbyists influence the overall decision...usually works ( money makes things happen)…Subtly effecting the system.

• Lobbyist groups can affect elections. Large lobbyist groups can have significant financial means that can sway close elections. Even if the direct contribution to a candidate is limited, lobbyist groups can use their resources to campaign on behalf of a candidate.
  
                              

2) The police with "Guard” playing the blunt caricature, brutish minion of the state. There shown in this cartoon as unruly and authoritative. Otherwise known as bully, there just pawn for the state (government). They have authority to the people and is a tool of the government. The police though have less power less effect then military complex.

3) Military complex with “Boba Fett" being another blunt caricature. They are a heavy monetary investment in military. They have much faith and support from the government in military/industry. They are similar to a bounty hunter. The military furthers state economic/political agenda for the state. Such as Iraq and how we need oil. Military has more structure; they are more covert (subtle) than the police who have a smaller affect...the military is not thought as corrupt (public image different). But both the police and military are bully’s but different contexts/scales.

4) Mainstream media- is the "little rat guy" s who chained and enslaved. This shows how the state controls, dictates, and censors everything with the media. This is used for whatever the government needs; subdued topics, focus on certain issues, cover up mistakes, and much more. Completely in their (the states) control as shown in the cartoon.

5) The state otherwise known as "Jabba the Hut" is a large, power-hungry, monster! It is guided by the lower powers but rules over all of them Very greedy and has quality such as a business guy. Also called the government.

6) You is played by "Leah" who is enslaved by the system, crushed, and dehumanized. She is thee populous or everybody. The difference between the media and the populous is that the media is an institution or a concept. You is the people, the population.

Now there are similarities between all of them and differences. Differences being there different responsibilities and duties (jobs). The similarities being, everything is under the state, while each guide the state he still rules over all of them. They all contribute to his ruling.  The state controls all , all the other characters are his pawns being the players of state. They represent the system society of where we live. So individually they make sense as well being good representations of parts of government (sensible caricatures of the government) but together they make up the social system. They are and do the governments/ state agenda (goals, stuff set on doing).

Running With Romney

One of the most important choices a president has is picking a VP. (vice president)  It can either make or break their campaign. If the President dies, resigns, or is impeached and convicted, the Vice President becomes President. So the people need to know that the vice president is good enough to be a possible president. Think back to John McCain, everything was going great until he picked Sarah Palin as a VP. Not many Americans thought she had what it took in order to help run this country, and in result McCain lost the election.

As Romney begins to think about who is going to pick for a VP there are a couple of things he should consider. For starters, he should pick someone who wants to actually be the Vice President. Many possible VP's, including Condoleezza Rice, have stated that it's just not a job that they want to be doing. This is unsettleing for many reasons seeing he could be the futrue president. Secondly, I believe he should pick someone who will back his idea's up. Many people are unsure if Romney would make a good president and having an extra person with him who agree's with his beliefs and back him up would be a good idea. Finally, Romney should look at the type of people voting for Obama, and figure out what it would take to have them change there mind. Is it a certain religion, race, gender, etc?The vice president can help sway possible voters his way!

Lucky for Romney, he has many Republican choices when trying to find a VP. As Romney's best choice I believe he should pick Congressman Paul Ryan. . Paul Ryan's resume consists of congressman of Wisconsin, chairman of house of budget, former political aide, speech writer. Although Ryan is young, he holds alot of responsibility, he currently chair the house budget committee where hes played a prominent role in promoting the republican parties long term budget proposal. Ryan has also created the "Romney Ryan Budget" that shrinks medicare, prevents debt crisis and will reform tax code.Not only does the GOP love him, but so does Team Obama. Ryan and Romney campaigned together in Wisconsin and Ryan states that the job as Vice President is definitly something that he would consider. I think he would be a great pick to bring both Republican and Democrat voters together. As the worst choice for VP I think it would be former running mate Rick Santorum. When asked if he would consider it Santorum said, "I'll do whatever is necessary to help our country." The reason he would be so bad is because Romney spent so much time telling America why he is better then Santorum. Having him be a Vice President is like he's been lying to America the entire time. I also am not for Rob Portman. At 57 years old Mr.Portman is too similar to Romney. Portman is said to befairly boring as well , Mitt Romney has been said to be boring also here and there, so someone who is even more known for being boring  wouldn't interest voters. Portman is actually said to be in favor in winning, but that can negatively effect the vote. Choosing someone in favor of the party could wear away the contrast Romney is trying to drive against the binding.

Elections

Our election process is fairly swift and easy. It is efficient and works but i beilive we could make a few changes to the proccess. Closing polls at the same time, showing an identification, and making voting manditory are all important things that should be considered.

 The first change that I would make is closing polls at the same time. This is because some people are still voting when a decision has already been made on the candidate winner. For example, in 2000 news stations had said that Al Gore had won Florida, before the west side of the state had even finished voting. When the polls in Florida closed, Bush was actually the one who won. There was a major fued and recounts were put into order. This was a huge mistake that could've been avoided if all the polls would close at the same time.

The second change I would make is madatory identification check.  I think that ID should be required when voting. Right now nobody shows any identification when they go to vote. This logic does not make much sense and i think it should be required. Without identification, we could have identity theft problems where people try to vote under other people's names.
The third change i think shuld be put into place is all personal 18 years or oolder should have to vote. It should be madatory.As of right now voting is an option, you don't have to do it if you don't want to. I believe voting should be manditory for all people 18 years and older. It is understandable that some people just don't have time in their day to do it. However, making work places give their employees time to go off and vote would be beneficial to the entire country. Even if there was a way to make the election process online for those who can't find a way to get out of their house. Also, since the world is becoming all technology, I think electronic voting would be very beneficial. Voting online, or on touch screen computers at the polls would be a great improvment for the United States.
Closing polls at the same time, showing an identification, and making voting manditory are all important things that should be considered when thinking of change.

Media

1. Finding creditable sources on the internet can be very hard! The internet is a place were the unimagible is imagined. That means anything can be said, anything can be written. Nearly 50-70% of information on the internet is false. Therefore using the internet is tricky and mostlikely going to lead you in the wrong direction.
• blogs
• personal websites
• video diaries
• wiki sites
2. Because of the amount of false information on the web people are most likely going to find those, therefore, that false information will be there influence. If the bad opionions, propaganda, and ideas are influencing our younger generations; violence can come out of that. Incorrect information can cause riots, protests, and other disorderly conduct.
3. News that shouldnt be spread quickly or is supposed to be supressed can spread very quickly via internet. This can cause a pandemic throughout society if the information is something lethal.
• Information about other countries that can offend those countries

• government problems



Electoral College

Make three logical and detailed agruments to KEEP the Electoral College.  Make sure that your arguments are logical and well thought out....

1. The Electoral College protects the interests of the rural communities and smaller States. It makes sure that a candidate who has campeigned best based on the geography of the country, makes it to the highest offices in the country.
2. In every election process there is the chance of needing a recount and with the electorol college it is swift and focuseson the state BUT with the popular vote there would be douzens of hundreds  counties across the board that would need a recount.
• It avoids the possibility of a recount of the entire nation.
• 2000 presidency election- the fiasco in Florida was easily recounted because of it was only one state imagine recounting the whole countries votes!
3. Presidents have to campeign wide and far! They can not just focus on the big states with the electoral college. They need to campeign to all states because the next president would need to win the majority of the electoral college.
• everybodies vote countes
• candidates go to every corner of the battleground states and many people get the opportunity to meet and question them
• Less campaign money is required (focusing on a handful of states)
  
  

Graphic Analysis

Political Parties
Conservative- Liberal, Liberal- Consrvative;there just two words but when looking more in depth of whats behind the two there a world apart. So although the two political parties have many differences there are FEW simularties. (emphasis on the few)

• First both conservative and liberal ideologies hold family up to the responsibility of raising children to be good citizens. Love and respect are displayed between parents and children. Each side is raising their children by instilling qualities that lead to active members of society. The families of each political spectrum are raising their children to have vocations in order to be productive members who contribute to their society.
• The current academic world employs both the learning emphasis of the liberal side of the spectrum and the skill sets of the conservative side of the spectrum. In other words current educational practices involve reliance on asking questions, relating and co-operating with others( left leaning),  while also promoting succeeding, competing and individualism(right leaning).
• The issues that both ideologies support within 10% points are gay rights, God and unmarried sex. God has always been a concept that has been deeply rooted in the American tradition for both liberal and conservative. Conservatives have developed more left leaning tendencies on some social issues, such as gay rights and unmarried sex.

 Whether it be in raising children, in contributing to productive vocations or in shared values; there are simulatires that rise from the pile of differences that make up the two parties.

Polling

Polling

In every presidency election there are die heart voters that are either solely democratic or solely republican. There are also the “in-betweeners” these voters are wishy washy and can sway back and forth, these votes are important to please because it makes up nearly 60% of votes. Now there’s the question; should the candidate try and advertise themselves to the extremist form the other side? In my opinion, no, I think it is not worth the damage it could create for their loyal voters. Now it’s up to the candidate to be abrasive and captivating with his/her voters.  Lastly, there are the first time voters who are right out of high school and are swayed by family, friends, and media. It’s important to capture their attention and votes because they will be the future generations in voting. In this case Mitt Romney's campaign should be aimed to focus on specific groups or categories of people that he can sway in his direction. According to the exit polls form the New York Times (1992- 2008) there are a few main groups that are trusted republican voters who will vote for Mitt Romeny no matter what; Rural areas, all protestants, and some college education. Also ages 30 to older and men are fairly loyal to the Republican Party. These groups have been consisting voted for the republican group of the democratic group. I believe high school, college, and college graduates are really important to focus on as well because that is such a large group of people and according to the poll more years than not they voted republican. Another back and forth group is women and white race. They have been on the border of republican and democratic every year swaying one way to the other. These indecisive votes are what make a candidate win.

Founding Fathers

The powers of the President have strayed very far from the original Constitution but I believe that they would still be comfortable with their current state of power.

When Eisenhower brought the Military in to help the Little Rock Nine. This was a good example of the Executive Power because if Eisenhower did not use this power then schools might have never been desegregated. This was a key moment in American history and is shown by how many books and movies have been made on the subject and how much importance is put on it during history classes and the Founding Fathers would have been proud.

Another example is with President Nixon and the Watergate Scandal, I believe that he did have to give up the tapes although everything said in the oval office is supposed to be secret because of the severity of the scenario. He told CREEP to break into the Democratic Headquarters and spy on them which is completely unethical and probably illegal. He did not have the right to do this or keep the tapes.

Lastly, George W Bush used the executive powers when it came to the war in Afghanistan. He used his executive power to kidnap people, use warrant-less wire taps, and use questionable interrogation tactics. He did all this to "Keep America safe." This seems like it has gone a little far from what the Founding Fathers would've wanted, but it was all important in keeping our country safe and therefore is normally helpful and successful.

Too many or too few rights?

Our Rights

I think we have to many rights, But i think the law knows how to work

around them in certain scenarios. Making us actually have less rights.

For instance Searches and Seizures, the law has to present a warrant

to you in order to search your things, but the warrant has to lay out

exactly what they are searching. In some situations the law actually

found other illegal activities & had taken, like drug paraphernalia,

weapons etc. Then being tried in court & the judge most times would

say, your fourth amendment had been violated, and charges would be

dropped. But other times they had know choice to arrest a person for

vigorous illegal acts, even when there right was being violated.

Another example would be the first amendment, Freedom of Speech, but

you really don't have absolute freedom of what you can say. Like at

the airport you wouldn't want to say something about terrorists, it

scares other people and the authority has no choice but to consider

you as a threat. In schools, you can't say certain things to your

teachers, & the same goes for them. So the government works around

this amendment by saying you can say what-ever you want, but in

reality you can't.

The last example, is second amendment, the Right to Bare Arms, we now

have the right to conceal carry, but in a lot of stores they are

putting up signs before you walk in, saying you cannot conceal carry

in this place of business. for example; the situation at Kwik trip,

the man defended himself while conceal carrying, even though Kwik trip

was a place where you could no bare arms. But in the end Kwik trip

dropped the charges on the man because he protected himself and the

store. Even though he was breaking a law, he was considered a hero.

This is why i believe we have to many rights, but in the end we don't

have enough with how the court works around them. Even though in some

cases the charges should be dropped, we have a law and we can't keep

making exceptions for people.

Congress and the Budget Process

  I think the reason its so difficult is because the more important
things like health care benefits and social security are really
important to people. But it also doesn't help us pull out of national
debt. And some of the little things like wildlife funding and
searching planets, isn't something we normally think about on a
regular basis, but if we end it completely we save money, but we can't
just end that. Because, then its taking away millions of jobs
for people and other research that we will need to look at.
      I think the factors that a member of Congress must consider
when prioritizing budgetary decision, is to look at the most important
things like health care, social security and the military. Even though
it doesn't help us save money or get out of debt, its something we
NEED and something the Congress always needs to consider. Because as
we get older, things happen to our bodies that we simply cannot
control, and probably cannot afford. As, we all get older I think its
nice to know that the Government can help you out to a certain degree.
Same with your social security, you work your whole life, having money
put aside once you are retired, so you can live off it. But if the
government takes that away there are going to be a lot more sick and
homeless elderly people. And that's something that cannot happen, its
unfair and cruel. Also we need to keep funding the military, for one,
it has opened up millions of job opportunities. And it helps keep
America safe knowing that if something were to happen we have a great
army to fall back on, and or feel protected from danger striking.
 Overall, I do believe the Congress has to make tough decisions,they shouldn't
take the most important ones out. The agian, different issues are
 imoprtant to differnent people so finding what id better for the country and the
people that work hard is what they need to look at.

Constitutional Principles

Although all are equally important to keep the government from getting to powerful over the people, I beilive checks and balances are most important and federalism are east important.

Most Important
Checks and Balances- The government is organized around three separate branches. Though the constitution says that these three powers must be separated they are still connected and are not completely independent of each other. What ties them together is known as checks and balances. Three major factors that make checks and balances te most important are:

Independence-Checks and balances create independence amongst the Judicial, Executive, and Legislative branches of the U.S. government. Each branch has its own procedures and rules of conduct, giving them the liberty to legally operate without constraint from another branch.

Limited Power-Each part of the U.S. government is limited in their power as designated by the Constitution. This ensures that no single government branch can overtake another when making policy decisions, attempting to create a single government entity.

Punishment-Each branch of the government has procedures to punish or restrict their members from acting in an unethical manner. This type of punishment usually relates to a break in parliamentary procedure on the code of ethics of that particular government branch.

Examples of checks and balances include the Presidential veto of a Congressional bill, the Congressional impeachment of the President, or the Judicial ruling of Congressional laws that violate the U.S. Constitution.

 

Least Important

Federalism-Federalism is a political system in which the powers are divided between the central government and numerous regional governments. There is a written constitution which formulates this power sharing arrangement between the state and its units. The local governments have exclusive powers to issue licenses, provide for public health, conduct elections and form local governments, and look after the intrastate trade.Prevents the creation of a national policy:The United States does not have a single policy on issues; instead, it has fifty-one policies, which often leads to confusion.

Leads to a lack of accountability: The overlap of the boundaries among national and state governments makes it tricky to assign blame for failed policies.

Federalism promotes regional inequalities. Natural resources, industries, employment opportunities differ from region to region. Hence earnings and wealth are unevenly distributed. Rich states offer more opportunities and benefits to its citizens than poor states can. Thus, the gap between rich and poor states widens.

Founding Documents

When comparing the Declaration of Independence with the Constitution of the United States of America, it becomes apparent that there is a staunch contrast in interests and intents among the two documents. The respective tone of the Declaration is that of raw emotion driven from a chain of events that left them alienated, infuriated, and desperate to break away from Great Britain. "Some of the offences that took places are...

_For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

_For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

_For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

_For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

_He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people." (These actions against the colonists have pushed them to retaliate and break away from British rule.) “We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends." (This shows the emotion of the colonists and there raw anger and tiredness of British rule. This also shows how they finally had enough and how they band together to form a unified country free from nobility and harsh ruling.) The Constitution on the other hand is setting for the plans for a new type of government that yields considerable power; contrasting the wishes of the early republicans. " (Article 1 Section 1)  All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives." (This establishes the first of the three branches of the government, the Legislature.) "(Article 2 Section 1) The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States ofAmerica. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice-President chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows." (This passage establishes the office of the President and the Vice-President, and sets their terms to be four years. This is the  Presidents are elected by the Electoral College, whereby each state has one vote for each member of Congress. Certain minimum requirements are established again, such as a 35-year minimum age. Presidents must also be a natural- born citizen of the United States. The President is to be paid a salary, which cannot change, up or down, as long as he in is office. This a new form of goverment that differed from British rule. " (Article 3 Sction 1) The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordainand establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behavior, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office." (This is the last of the three branches of government, the Judiciary. It establishes the Supreme Court, the highest court in the United States. It also sets the terms of judges, of both the Supreme Court and lower courts: that they serve as long as they are on "good behavior," which usually means for life.) All three branches show the goveremnt and how the created a new, fresh, unified system.

The philosophy throughout the Constitution is that of which adheres much more strictly to organized and structured government. " (section 2 Article 1)The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States." (This brings in new members and allows the government to be structured and innovative). "(section 2 Article 1) No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen." ( This is a rule that promotes aged knowledge and more structure because of the criteria that must be followed). The Declaration of Independence is a rather straightforward outcry against British tyranny and the necessity of an independent union of states, the United States. "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." (This is a direct passage from the DOI that translates; When a government is taking away the rights of citizens and is not doing that the people want, then the citizens have the right to change or replace the government. I believe that this clearly states that the colonists will change the government if it is unfair and unjust; such as how the British were.)

The Declaration of Independence was written to Great Britain on July 4, 1776 to notify the monarchy that the United States of America was no longer a British colony. Instead, the USA was now its own country with its own government. The Declaration of Independence listed reasons why the USA decided to sever its ties to the British crown. The Declaration was composed during a meeting in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania State House."The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world." (This shows one of the reasons why the USA decided to ended ties with the British) The US Constitution was signed in 1787 at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, PA. The Constitution outlined the most important government laws and citizen rights, creating a strong, centralized government. The Constitution was submitted to the states for their approval and after the vote, the United States Federal Government came into existence. The Constitution established our government as it exists today. "(Article I section 10) No titles of nobility." (This shows the unity of the people and the equality throughout our country.) “(Amendment 1) freedom of speech/ press or the right to petition the government," (This is an example of one of the citizens rights.) While the Constitution may be take priority as the official "law of the land," the Declaration of Independence remains one of the most respected and sought after landmarks of the United States, even to this day.

My definition of a Well Informed 21st Century Citizen

Someone knowlegeable of world events with a proper, basic education. Understanding of information science/ internet and have an open mind.