Week 1 Discussion Questions

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GOV 260 Week 1 Discussion Topic 1 Discussion #1 Arizona’s Progressive Constitution : The Arizona Territory created a state constitution and obtained Congressional approval, however, President Taft vetoed statehood because the provision in the AZ Constitution on recalling judges was too progressive. Do you agree or disagree that presidents should have the final say in determining if a state enters the Union? The United States Constitution outlines the process for admitting new states into the Union. According to Article IV, Section 3, the authority to admit new states lies with Congress. The Constitution explicitly states, "New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union..." (National Archives). This means that the final decision on whether a state enters the Union does not rest with the President, but rather with the legislative branch. The reason behind this constitutional provision is based on the principles of checks and balances. It ensures that important decisions, such as admitting new states, undergo scrutiny and debate within Congress. This allows for a thorough examination of the implications and considerations involved. Ultimately, the question of whether the President should have the final say is a matter of constitutional interpretation and policy preference. Some argue in favor of maintaining the current constitutional framework to uphold the separation of powers, which I agree, while others may propose changes to the process. These perspectives often align with broader views on federalism, the role of the executive branch, and the distribution of powers within the U.S. government. Reference: https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript McClory, T. (2010). Understanding the Arizona Constitution (2nd ed.). Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press. ISBN-13: 9780816529445 (Available as print text only)

The recall of judges was only one of Arizona’s many progressive constitutional provisions. Others include the initiative and referendum, recall of elected officials (before their term ends), the election of commissioners for the Arizona Corporation Commission (regulates railroads and utilities), and the election of the state mine inspector. Please select three progressive provisions from the list above and explain how power is being provided directly to the voter in each case. Also, please identify the pros and cons of providing such direct political power to the people. 1) Initiative and Referendum: Direct Power to the Voter: Citizens are empowered by this initiative to directly propose and implement laws, circumventing the need for involvement from the legislature. Through the referendum, voters are given the ability to either reject or approve legislation that has been passed by the legislature. Pros:  Empower citizens to influence lawmaking directly.  Provides a check on legislative decisions.  Allows for public participation in the legislative process. Cons:  This may lead to inconsistent or conflicting laws.  Potential for manipulation by special interest groups.  Challenges in ensuring well-informed public decision-making. 2) Recall of Elected Officials: Direct Power to the Voter: Allows voters to request the dismissal of an elected representative from their position before the completion of their term. Pros:  Holds elected officials accountable.  Provides a mechanism for addressing corruption or misconduct.  Reflects the principle of representative responsiveness. Cons:  May be misused for political reasons.  Can lead to frequent elections, causing instability.  Challenges in distinguishing between policy disagreements and misconduct.

3) Election of Commissioners for the Arizona Corporation Commission: Direct Power to the Voter: Commissioners responsible for regulating railroads and utilities are elected directly by voters, granting them the power to have a voice in the supervision of crucial industries. Pros:  Ensures accountability of regulatory bodies to the public.  Aligns with democratic principles of representation.  Allows voters to express preferences on key economic matters. Cons:  The risk of commissioners prioritizing popularity over expertise.  Potential for industry influence in elections.  Limited voter knowledge of complex regulatory issues. 4) General Considerations: Pros of Direct Political Power to the People:  Enhances democratic participation and civic engagement.  Provides a check on potential abuses of power.  Reflects principles of popular sovereignty. Cons of Direct Political Power to the People:  Potential for uninformed or impulsive decision-making.  Challenges in managing complex policy issues through direct democracy.  Risk of manipulation by well-funded interest groups. In brief, although granting direct political power to the public through initiatives, referendums, recall, and direct elections can enhance democracy and accountability, it also presents challenges that require thoughtful deliberation to strike a balance between citizen empowerment and efficient governance. Reference: McClory, T. (2010). Understanding the Arizona Constitution (2nd ed.). Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press. ISBN-13: 9780816529445 https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/initiative-and-referendum-overview-and-resources Topic 1 Discussion #2

components will also be beneficial if a substitute is needed at a late notice. If the teacher is unable to leave a complete lesson plan for the substitute, he or she will still know the premise of the lesson and what they should focus on helping the students to understand based off of the objectives, focus, and summary. If teachers are using the same lesson plans, they are also most likely using the same materials for the lesson which means that they may be able to exclude the necessary materials on their lesson plan and just go off of memory. Unless it is the beginning of the year, teachers typically get to know their students’ needs, learnin Although the covered material

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