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English
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Every decade, after each United States census, states engage in redistricting, the redrawing of congressional and state legislative boundaries. This process often becomes politicized, with district lines drawn to create partisan advantages and disadvantages, a tactic known as gerrymandering.
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English
Description
Since its creation in 1906, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has helped ensure that the food and drugs Americans consume are safe. During the COVID-19 pandemic in the early 2020s, however, the FDA came under heavy criticism for moving too slowly to approve vaccines. This slow pace of approval, some charged, endangered the lives of many people who were infected with the coronavirus. Others defended the FDA, arguing that approving drugs and...
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English
Description
The Executive is a very powerful branch of the government, considering the president’s mandate to dictate foreign policy and direct the armed forces as Commander-in-Chief. His cabinet, the Vice President, and various law enforcement agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), and Department of Treasury are all an integral part of the Executive Branch.
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The Supreme Court’s responsibility is to interpret all laws and ensure that they do not conflict with the founding principles of the Constitution. Examine numerous landmark cases including Marbury v. Madison, McCulloch vs. Maryland, and Gibbons v. Ogden. The challenges faced by the Judicial Branch over the history of the United States are fascinating and crucial to complete understanding of the American political system.
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English
Description
On January 6, 2021, supporters of President Donald Trump (R, 2017–21) stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., to stop the certification of votes from the 2020 presidential election that Joe Biden (D) won. Threatening to hang the vice president, rioters broke windows, stole property, and vandalized offices. Seven people ultimately died as a result of the events of January 6th, and hundreds were soon arrested. "The insurrection was an existential...
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English
Description
Although the office of the president personifies American leadership, the legislative branch was actually designed to hold at least as much power as the executive, if not more. Many Founding Fathers envisioned Congress as the primary governing body, given its closeness, politically speaking, to the people. This program examines the origins, history, and activities of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. Topics include the roots of today’s...
Language
English
Description
Many equate it with the presidency, but the executive branch of our government is far more complex than that. Containing departments and agencies that directly affect the health, safety, security, and prosperity of the American public, the Executive branch is an administrative mountain with the White House at its peak. This program expands on that description, familiarizing students with the most visible arm of U.S. leadership and its evolution through...