Friday, 9/23: States' Responses to Shelby v. Holder + Test Prep

Three resources to get us started:
1. John Oliver rips apart the Supreme Court's ruling on Shelby County v. Holder 

• Those of you who read the majority opinion of the court, pay attention to how John Oliver use of logical fallacies in covering the Supreme Court's decision. Be ready to point those out to your partner when  you share out your research on the court's ruling.

2. States previously covered by section 4 and 5 of the VRA 
3. Current Supreme Court Justices (you can typically tell what their political affiliation is based on which President appointed them). Obama appointed Merrick Garland to replace Antonin Scalia who recently passed away

Ashley's apology for sub-par teaching methods the past week
Mea culpa. It is the first time either Lori or I have taught Voting Rights and between gathering resources, and learning the content ourselves, we haven't had much time left over for thinking creatively about how to design lessons. So I get that it has been a bit dry.  That said, I firmly believe this topic is SO important.  It is not only one of if not THE biggest pieces of Civil Rights legislation and Supreme Court ruling but it also has the potential to dramatically impact you all as soon-to-be voters.  Moreover, being able to read dense legal language as we've done is an important skill and will enable you to better decipher ballot measures and other laws.  LASTLY, Lori and I both felt that by using the VRA of 1965 as a case study, you'd be able to better understand the way the three branches work and thus will be more successful moving into Model Senate.

That said, moving forward, what types of class activities would you like to see me try to incorporate more?

Shelby County V. Holder Supreme Court Ruling Review- 10 minutes
Review the reading from the end of class yesterday on the Shelby County v. Holder Supreme Court ruling.   So, we've spent a good deal of time looking at the legislative branches role in VRA (passed all those Amendments) and now the Supreme Court (Judicial Branch) role in striking down Section 4 of the VRA.

As you review, make sure you've summarized the main arguments of your assigned "sides" opinion AND selected the most powerful quote.

Sharing Out Your Research
Get together with someone who had the other opinion.  Share notes--make sure you understand both arguments!  Now answer the following questions:

1. Which opinion, in your view, is most convincing?  Why?
2. Predict what changes, if any, happen as a result of Shelby v. Holder.

*********Transition to States' responses to Shelby County v. Holder*************
Mini-discussion: What do you think we should be more concerned with today?  Voter fraud or voter suppression?
*Voter fraud means people trying to rig elections, cast votes for dead people or vote more than once, or miscount ballot.
*Voter suppression means restricting people's access to vote or preventing minority group's opportunities to elect a representative. 

State Responses to Shelby v. Holder
Choose ONE of the following media options.  This may be completed individually or in pairs:

1. WEBSITE:  http://www.brennancenter.org/analysis/state-voting-2014
2. RADIO SHOW (with transcript):  http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-08-13/update-new-voting-rights-laws-across-country  I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS ONE!!!
3. NEWSPAPER ARTICLE:  https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/07/07/how-has-voting-changed-since-shelby-county-v-holder/

For whatever media option you chose, read it or listen carefully.  When you are done, you should be able to summarize:

1. What are some examples of changes that have been made that are making voting laws more restrictive?
2. ​What are some examples of changes that have been made that make voting laws less restrictive?
3. What did you learn about the new voter ID laws and voter fraud from your source?
4. What else strikes you as interesting from your source?
5. On balance, have voting laws become more or less restrictive in the aftermath of Shelby v. Holder?
6. Based on the information you have now, do you think the Supreme Court made the right decision in Shelby County v. Holder?  Why/why not?

Test Prep Time
Here are the assessment tasks you'll face on next Tuesday's test:

1. In class essay, evaluating whether or not we need the VRA today.
2. Checks and balances--give examples of how the VRA shows checks and balances between our judicial branch and legislative branch
3. Checks and balances scenarios:  I’ll give you a scenario, you explain what branch can DO the initial action, what branch can check them, and how they can check them.
4. Branch powers (multiple choice)

NEED MORE RESOURCES FOR THE ESSAY?  Check this out!  A bunch of short op-eds from various opinions!  http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/02/24/is-the-voting-rights-act-still-needed

Study Stations  (Options A-F below)
A. ESSAY:  Thesis Statement Workshop

1. Review concessive structure
2. Everyone write a thesis statement that answers the question:  Is the Voting Rights Act still needed?
3. Trade thesis statements, give feedback on the following questions:
   1. ​Is the stance the author is taking clear?  Summarize their argument in your own words.
   2. Does this answer the question directly?  If not, how could they make it more direct?
   3. Based on this thesis statement, what are three things you would expect to find in this essay? These could be arguments, themes, or specific pieces of evidence.
   4. List one thing the author could do to make this thesis better.
   5. Get thesis feedback, revise
   6. If time, and if needed, check out some more resources here: NY Times Op-Eds on VRA

​
B. VRA Checks and Balances
List all the different checks that happened between legislative and judicial branch for the VRA.  HINT:  Look at the amendments!  Not everything is here, but some is!

C. Branch Powers
Create flashcards for different powers

1. Power on the front
2. Branch on the back
3. If time, use these flashcards to study with your partner

D. Checks and Balances Scenarios

1. First, try to draw the checks and balances diagram from memory.  Don’t cheat here, this is to see how much you know, so you know what to study!
2. ​Check it against one of the diagrams on the back wall, and highlight or mark things that you need to study
3. Draw yourself a blank chart that you can use to study

For each of the following scenarios, tell me:

1. ​Who has the power to DO the action?
2. Who can CHECK this action?
3. HOW do they check it?

​
E. Scenarios for 3 Branch checks/balances

1. ​Scenario 1:  Secretary of Defense dies in a chinchilla attack, and needs to be replaced.
2. Scenario 2:  A bill was recently passed to allow citizens to choose their own health care plan under Medicare.
3. Scenario 3:  The United States has signed a peace treaty with Iran.
4. Scenario 4:  The Supreme Court rules a recent law requiring all male citizens to wear clown noses unconstitutional.
   

​F. Essay Brainstorm: Hold a small seminar to hear other students' opinions on the essay prompt: Do we still need the Voting Rights Act?

1. 1. ​Get together with a small group to discuss the questions I created to guide your research on states' response to Shelby County v. Holder

HOMEWORK: ​Study for TEST next TUESDAY!!!  See above for study guide and strategies.