Federal Court System

4. Find a graphic organizer depicting the organization of the federal court system. 

You should be able to explain, from memory, how many circuit and district courts there are, as well as the federal district and circuit in which Huntsville is located.’

• 94 district courts (trial court)
• 13 circuit courts (first level of appeal)
• https://www.justice.gov/usao/justice-101/federal-courts
• United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama in the 11th circuit

Inside Obama's Presidency Questions

1. Why did Obama abandon his idea to work with both Democrats and Republicans?
2. Why did Obama and his wife slow dance in front of all the American people?
3. What did Obama do to help the economy?
4. What made Obama change to a war president?
5. Why did Obama change to a war president, since he opposes war policies, and since it doesn't help the economy?

1st term
-Obama wants to save economy
-He wants to unify the Democrats and Republicans
-Wants to pass Obamacare
2nd term
-Turns into a Wartime president
-Forgets unification of Democrats and Republicans

2nd Semester Reflection

This semester has been more difficult than last semester. Last semester, I always did my blog posts so I got good grades from that. This semester, we don't have them so my average is not as good. The tests are also harder. The study guides are very helpful, but they are a lot harder to do. Overall, AP Gov is harder this semester, but I am learning a lot more. I feel like an expert on Congress and I will soon be an expert on the Presidency! I really hope that I will finish the semester with an A or even an A+.

Walmart to close 154 stores in the US; 10,000 workers affected (5)

Walmart is closing stores around the U.S.                                       beforeitsnews.com

At the end of the month, Walmart is closing more than 135 of their stores in the United States. These stores account for less than 1 percent of its global revenue, so they are closing them down. More than 95% of the stores that are going to close are within 10 miles of another Walmart. Most of the Walmarts closing are Walmart Expresses, which were opened as a test in 2011. By closing these 135 stores around the U.S., more than 10,000 workers are being affected.

Fox News: Walmart to close 154 stores in the US; 10,000 workers affected

Earmarks, Logrolling, and Pork Barrel Make-up Work

1. Earmarks: a legislative (especially congressional) provision that directs approved funds to be spent on specific projects, or that directs specific exemptions from taxes or mandated fees. Origin: England, meaning "to set aside money for a special purpose".

• An example is the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) signed last year. This $787 billion act was supposed to provide earmark funding for "shovel-ready" projects that would help get Americans back to work. However, they added a $3.4 million "turtle-crossing" project to be constructed under Highway 27, so that they can cross safely. This is an example of an earmark because they added this act in to make more people, environmentalist, vote for it. 
• Earmarks are legal, accepted, and commonly used. Politicians don't want to rid earmarking because they can use it to their advantage, even if someone else uses it to their disadvantage. 

2. Logrolling: the trading of favors, such as vote trading by legislative members to obtain passage of actions of interest to each legislative member. Origin: American English, from the notion of neighbors on the frontier helping one another with the heavy work of clearing land and building cabins. No body falls off the log- they keep it rolling.

• An example of logrolling is the Hurricane Sandy Disaster realsease act. Conservatives voted against the aid because there was so much unnecessary stuff tagged onto the bill. This made the Conservatives look extremely bad because who would vote against aid for a hurricane? However, all the Democrats passed it because it was a helpful act for the Hurricane Sandy Disaster that appealed to the public, but they tagged on a lot of extra things.
• Logrolling is legal, accepted to who uses it, not accepted to those effected by it because it is a corrupt practice, and it is commonly used.  

3. Pork Barrel: a metaphor for the appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured sole or primary to ring money to a representative's district. The term is used in derogatory fashion to attack opponents in election campaigns. Origin: American English. 

• An example of pork-barreling is when Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa received $7.2 million for his self-untitled program, the Harkin Grant Program, which benefitted Iowa's public schools.
• Pork Barreling Politics has been used since the 1800's, so it is a very common practice. 

Each of these three concepts are connected because they are all corrupt, the legislators doing it are all after their own agenda to get stuff done for their sake. Most of the things they do is wasteful spending. Tax-payers deserve to be treated better than this. Logrolling refers to the how a few people work together to "stay on a log and make it roll around" right. They work together to pass what they want for the "good" of each other. Pork Barreling and Earmarks do not refer to the act of working together, instead they both use funding for their own benefit. Earmarking is regularly called earmarks, so they are very similar. 

Fiorina knocks Clinton's tech IQ (4)

Carly Fiorina, former HP CEO                                              www.ibtimes.com

During the Thursday evening Republican primary debate, Carly Fiorina challenged Hillary Clinton's understanding of tech issues. She repeatedly mocked her for her responses to questions about her email system. Fiorina is the former HP CEO, so she is an expert in technology. She retaliated to Clinton about a comment made in August, "We need a President who understands technology in the Oval Office. Mrs. Clinton, actually you cannot wipe a server with a towel". This comment was when Clinton casually diverted a question on whether her server had been wiped clean or not.

Fox News: Fiorina knocks Clinton's tech IQ: 'You cannot wipe a server with a towel'

Mexico moving recaptured drug lord 'El Chapo' from cell to cell (3)

El Chapo stands for his prison mugshot

Six months ago, El Chapo escaped from a maximum security prison through a tunnel. He was recaptured on Friday and is being held in the same prison in which he escaped in. The prison has 24-hour video surveillance of El Chapo in all parts of his cell. He has also been moved eight times since he was recaptured. He only spends hours or a couple of days in the same cell. El Chapo has escaped two previous times, which is embarrassing for the government of Mexico. Now, Mexico is doing everything they can to keep El Chapo from escaping again. The U.S. has sought his extradition, however, Mexican officials have said this process could take a year. 

Fox News: Mexico moving recaptured drug lord 'El Chapo' from cell to cell