Amending the Constitution Essay Example for Free

Amending the Constitution Essay Step 1: Which route do you choose? The route I chose was Congress route. Smart start! Why? You remembered that, historically, constitutional amendments have never been initiated at national conventions, even though that is one of the two possible methods outlined in Article V. Your decision to use the route that has proved successful in the past increases the odds of your effort succeeding. Question #2: House or Senate First? Step 2: Which route do you choose? The route I chose was the House First. Great choice! Why? You have two distinct advantages in the House that you dont have in the Senate: (1) you are a senior and respected member, and (2) a block of House members already supports the amendment. If you succeed in the House, your odds of also succeeding in the Senate are increased because the House vote may convince many skeptical senators. Question # 3: Negotiations in the House Step 3: Whose support will you go after? Good move! Why? Fiscal conservatives arent overjoyed with your decision, because leaving in the two-thirds language will still allow the government the option to run a deficit. But, they still want some kind of amendment that will make running a deficit more difficult for the government. Moderates, on the other hand, are happy that youve sided with them. The result is that the bill passes in the House by a comfortable margin, with only a small block of the most ardent fiscal conservatives voting against it. Question #4: A Court Challenge Step 4: What is your response? Good choice! Why? As your supporters thought, the suit is thrown out. The judge rules that it is without merit. Having wasted no time on the suit, you are ready to begin working on the Senate to pass your proposal. Question #5: Negotiations in the Senate Step 5: What is your response? Smart move! Why? The president gives a forceful speech in support of the proposed amendment and within three weeks the bill passes in the Senate. Youve achieved your goal of succeeding at stage one of the process. Now youve got to turn your attention to getting two-thirds of the states to ratify the amendment, and that could take years. Your work is cut out for you, but youve made it farther than most! You Are Proposing a Constitutional Amendment (cont.) Conclusion Amending the U.S. Constitution is not easy. Remember, only 27 amendments to the Constitution have been ratified, while over 10,000 have been proposed. One reason there are so few amendments is that the writers of the Constitution made it very difficult to amend it. The two-stage process established by Article V sets the bar high and ensures that any amendments are supported throughout the land before they are added to the Constitution. Based on what youve learned in this simulation, consider the following: * Are there any issues right now that you think have enough support throughout the country to become constitutional amendments? * What is the primary benefit to having a constitution that is so difficult to amend? * What is the primary problem with having a constitution that is so difficult to amend? You have completed this activity. To find out if your professor has made a test available for the activity, close this window and return to your course.

Unbroken :: essays research papers

Unbroken I wouldn't know how to describe a painting or a sonata, but I can tell someone how I feel, though they rarely know what I mean. Words fail me often, but nobody notices. They aren't listening anyway. One person knows me. When I talk to him I feel like a knife in a drawer, because my words have power. The possible damage would be irreparable. He and I are like a house falling apart. Our sidewalk is askew and our mailbox is missing. It is painted pink and yellow. We love it, it's unique. Last night I stomped my feet through the floorboards because I wanted to feel my toes in the earth. I pushed my hands through the ceiling and kicked down the walls. I know he wonders why I do things like that. I just wanted to let some air in. I said, "Look hon, now we can see the stars." He brushed off the debris and put me to bed. He won't sleep tonight. His thoughts stay up with the moon trying to exercise the demons in his mind. Too intelligent, too spiritual for his own peace. A shaman, unstuck in time. A stroke of genius and a slap in the face of this world. Always restless, searching for answers. Impulsive and inspired, writing down his thoughts. Funny stories about Elvis and his followers, the Elvi, or dirty poetry. Painting his visions on sheets that hang from the eaves or painting me with psychedelic designs. It doesn't matter which. All of it makes me want him more. Some things I say to him are like sour notes played too often. I'm out of tune. He always sings along. Our waltz is better than most, I suppose. We know the steps by heart. The world moves quickly around us and our quiet drunken pace, but we don't care. Our minds move quickly despite this world's petty distractions. It's us and them, and we're the only two sane people left. He makes me nervous, still. His dreams are bigger than both of us. When we speak the words fall from my lips. They aren't enough to explain who I want to be. I am so flawed. He says, "Sometimes people have imperfections that are worth living with. You're a little eccentric. It's part of your charm." This man knows me, and loves me anyway. He is crazier than I am. Eight years might as well be a thousand where we're concerned. History has roots that go deep. They go to the center of the earth and back and wrap

Primary and Secondary Succession Essay

Ecosystems are environments where biotic (living) organisms and abiotic (non-living) components interact together to create a functional, complex network of nutrient and energy cycling. These balanced environments take time, sometimes many years, to develop. During the course of development, species are replaced by other species within the ecosystem, a process known as succession. Primary succession happens when species grow in locations where organisms have never previously existed. Secondary succession occurs after an ecosystem disturbance. The basic difference between primary and secondary succession is the presence of soil. When primary succession begins, soil is not present; in the case of secondary succession, soil is already in place. What occurs during primary and secondary succession? How can an ecosystem recover from a natural or man-made disaster? By examining the workings of an ecosystem and a case of primary and secondary succession, environmental scientists can find the answers to these questions. What is an Ecosystem? As stated above, an ecosystem is a place where biotic and abiotic components interact within their environment. Living parts of an ecosystem include animals and plants. These animals and plants perform roles of producers, consumers, or decomposers. According to Raven & Berg (2004), these three roles are indispensable within ecosystems. Producers provide food and oxygen, consumers create balance between producers and decomposers, and decomposers prevent accumulation of dead organisms and waste products (p. 72). Non-living components of ecosystems include soil, sun, and weather conditions. Working together, the biotic and abiotic components cycle nutrients within the ecosystem. This is vital action because without nutrients the ecosystem and its inhabitants would not survive. Where do ecosystems come from and how do they begin? The answer lies in the definition of primary succession. Primary Succession The very beginning of an ecosystem happens when primary succession occurs. After devastation from volcanism, glaciations, or sand dunes, an environment  is devoid of soil and living organisms do not exist. From this barren emptiness, primary succession begins with a pioneer community. Raven and Berg (2004) give an example of primary succession within Glacier Bay, Alaska (p. 87). In the case at Glacier Bay, rocks remain after a glacier’s retreat and the pioneer community is lichens. The lichens form soil, where colonies of moss thrive. The soil condition slowly progresses to the point where grasses and ferns can grow. Eventually the soil increases enough for shrubs to grow. Thanks to primary succession, over time the emptiness of Glacier Bay becomes a forest community. Once living organisms unite with non-living components, much like what happened at Glacier Bay, a new ecosystem is born. As the example at Glacier Bay has shown, primary succession is a birthing process. On the other hand, secondary succession is similar to a re-birthing process. To see how the re-birthing process works, environmental scientists can travel to Yellowstone National Park or North Carolina. Secondary Succession What happens when an ecosystem’s important cycle experiences a disturbance such as from fire or human activities? Once disturbed, ecosystems proceed through periods of changes that affect their structures and functions. This process of change, known as secondary succession, occurs very quickly because soil is already present. An example of severe destruction followed by a re-birth occurred in Yellowstone National Park. As a result of the fires that burned in the park in 1988, 1.2 million acres was scorched ecosystem wide (â€Å"The Great Fires of 1988†, n.d.). Amazingly, secondary succession happened quickly in Yellowstone National Park and within one-year herbs and lilies covered the ground area (Raven and Berg, 2004, p. 87). Another example of secondary succession is witnessed in North Carolina where abandoned farmland progresses through almost predictable restoration stages. For the first year, the uncultivated farmland is overcome with crabgrass. The second year finds horseweed dominating the area. Since the horseweed roots strangle the horseweed seeds, the third year observations find completely different dominating species within the ecosystem. Regardless of which species dominate, the ecosystem has successfully experienced a re-birth thanks to secondary succession. Humans and Ecosystems Many scientists are trying to learn all they can about ecosystems by observing healthy, thriving ecosystems in action. Humans, even though their intentions are often good, can upset the fine balance that exists in an ecosystem. Some examples are land clearing and damming can upset the sediment yield within river systems. A local project is actively testing two hypotheses regarding trophic structure and its affect on estuaries. This project is a joint effort between many organizations including the National Science Foundation. Many scientists all over the world are attempting to find answers to questions about saving natural ecosystems. Only in this way will our Earth be able to sustain future generations. Conclusion Since the components of ecosystems all work together to sustain their environment, changes in any single part of the process, biotic or abiotic, can affect the entire ecosystem. Outside influences can also wreak havoc on an established ecosystem. These disturbances can result from natural or man-made disasters. Primary and secondary succession, although their instances of occurrence differ, both provide a type of birth and re-birth to an ecosystem. By observing and studying ecosystems, along with primary and secondary succession changes, environmental scientists can learn how to help and not harm Earth’s precious ecosystems. References: Bearman’s Yellowstone Outdoor Adventures, (n.d.). The great fires of 1988. Retrieved June 24, 2005, from Yellowstone National Parks Year of Fire web site: http://www.yellowstone-bearman.com/yfire.html Berg, L. & Raven, P. (2004). Environment (4th edition). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Can You Drink Too Much Green Tea

Green tea is a healthful beverage, rich in antioxidants and nutrients, yet its possible to suffer negative health effects from drinking too much. Heres a look at the chemicals in green tea that can cause harm and how much green tea is too much. Adverse Effects From Chemicals in Green Tea The compounds in green tea responsible for most negative health effects are caffeine, the element fluorine, and flavonoids. The combination of these and other chemicals may cause liver damage in some persons or if you drink a lot of tea. Tannins in green tea reduce the absorption of folic acid, a B vitamin that is particularly important during fetal development. Also, green tea interacts with several medications, so its important to know whether or not you can drink it if you take prescription or over the counter drugs. Caution is advised if you take other stimulants or anticoagulants. Caffeine in Green Tea The amount of caffeine in a cup of green tea depends on the brand and how it is brewed but is around 35 mg per cup. Caffeine is a stimulant, so it increases heart rate and blood pressure, acts as a diuretic, and increases alertness. Too much caffeine, whether from tea, coffee, or another source, can lead to rapid heartbeat, insomnia, and tremors, to stimulant psychosis or even death. Most people can tolerate 200-300 mg of caffeine. According to WebMD, the lethal dose of caffeine for adults is 150-200 mg per kilogram, with serious toxicity possible at lower doses.  Excessive consumption of tea or any caffeinated beverage can be extremely dangerous. Fluorine in Green Tea Tea is naturally high in the element fluorine. Drinking too much green tea can contribute unhealthy levels of fluorine to the diet. The effect is particularly pronounced if the tea is brewed with fluoridated drinking water. Too much fluorine can lead to developmental delays, bone disease, dental fluorosis, and other negative effects.   Flavonoids in Green Tea Flavonoids are potent antioxidants that help protect cells from free radical damage. However, flavonoids also bind nonheme iron. Drinking too much green tea limits the bodys ability to absorb essential iron. This can lead to anemia or a bleeding disorder. According to the Linus Pauling Foundation, routinely drinking green tea with meals can reduce iron absorption by 70%. Drinking tea between meals rather than with food helps to reduce this effect. How Much Green Tea Is Too Much? The answer to this question depends on your personal biochemistry. Most experts advise against drinking more than five cups of green tea per day. Pregnant and nursing women may wish to limit green tea to no more than two cups per day. For most people, the benefits of drinking green tea outweigh the risks, but if you drink too much green tea, are sensitive to caffeine, suffer anemia, or take certain medications, you may experience serious negative health effects. Just as its possible to die from drinking too much water, its possible to drink a lethal volume of green tea. However, caffeine overdose would be the primary risk. References Fluorine Safety References, Purdue University Department of Chemistry (retrieved 03/01/2015)WebMD Green Tea Side Effects (retrieved 03/01/2015)Linus Pauling Foundation, Oregon State University