This document provides an agenda for a class on how government works. It includes topics like what citizens need to know about government, a discussion of amendments to the US Constitution, and an analysis of the Fourth Amendment right to privacy. It notes that most Americans cannot name the three branches of government or how many Senators each state has. It also discusses whether there should be a federal law requiring motorcycle helmets and which level of government should decide.

1. How Government Works

2. Agenda
Attendance
Activity: What does a citizen need to know?
Amendments to the Constitution discussion
Next Class Assignment

3. What Does a Citizen Need to Know?
Two thirds of Americans do not know how many Senators represent each
State.
Three quarters of Americans cannot name the three branches of government.
Sandra Day O'Conner
Retired Supreme Court Justice
What should be on the Citizenship test?
Based on your reading/notes on the Declaration
of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill
of Rights write 20 questions you think all citizens
should be able to answer. Be ready to share.

4. Comparing Citizenship Tests
• Switch with a partner and take their test.
Write your answers on a separate sheet of
paper. Discuss.
• Now look at the actual questions asked of new
citizens on the handout. Why do you think
they ask these questions? Will knowing the
answers make an immigrant a better citizen?
• Which of our questions would be better?

5. Our Amendments
1st Freedom of speech, religion, assembly,
etc.
2nd Right to bear arms.
3rd No quartering of troops.
4th Privacy/ unreasonable searches.
5th Due process.
6th Trial by jury.
7th Fair and speedy trial.
8th Cruel & unusual punishments.
9th Protect rights not named in Constitution.
109h Federal government only has powers
granted by states.
11th Sovereign immunity.
12th Vice-president is elected separately
from the president.
13th Abolishes slavery and servitude.
14th Defines birthright citizenship.
15th Gives all males, regardless of race, etc.
the right to vote.
16th permits Congress to levy the Income
Tax.
17th Direct election of US Senators.
18th Prohibition.
19th Prohibits denying the vote based on
gender.
20th Changed date to Jan 1st when
president takes office.
21st Repealed Prohibition.
22nd Limits President to 2 terms.
23rd Grants electors to the District of
Columbia.
24th Bans poll taxes.
25th Establishes success in case president
and vice-president become incapacitated.
26th Grants right to vote to persons 18 years
and older.
27th Salaries voted by Congress take effect
the following term.
Discuss: Which of the Amendments to the Constitution
do you think is the most important and why? How do
our opinions differ and why?

6. An Amendment in Action
The Fourth Amendment: The right to privacy
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and
effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and
no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or
affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the
persons or things to be seized.
Why is this amendment important? Does the right
to privacy give you the right to risk your own life?
http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2080345_2
080344_2080374,00.html

7. An Amendment in Action
Should there be a Federal law mandating all
motorcyclists to wear helmets?
• Does the 4th amendment apply to this law? Why?
• Who should have the power to legislate? States or
Federal government?
• Who pays for injuries?
Make a choice and defend it:
• There should be no law. It’s an individual choice.
• The states should decide.
• There should be a Federal law requiring helmets in all
states.

8. Who Wears a Helmet?
• In the 1970s, almost all
states had laws because
the Federal government
tied helmet laws to
funding for highways. But
in 1976, states lobbied to
remove the funding link.
• Today only 19 states and
the District of Columbia
have universal motorcycle
helmet laws.

9. Next Class 9/22
• TOPIC: What is deliberation?
• *This Thursday Attend Common
Hour presentation by Dr. Garnar
“The Strange Death of American
Democracy” 11-12 Titchener 102.
Get his signature and write your
Common Hour report
• Buy National Forum Booklets at
Bookstore $3 a piece. Read for
following class Over the Edge Intro
and 3 Options for Tuesday 9/22