Tom Vilsack was appointed by President Barack Obama as the 30th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and sworn into office on January 21, 2009. Vilsack is working hard to strengthen the American agricultural economy, to revitalize rural communities, to protect and conserve our natural resources, and to provide a safe, sufficient and nutritious food supply for the American people.

Dr. Robert M. Gates was sworn in on December 18, 2006, as the 22nd Secretary of Defense. Dr. Gates is the only Secretary of Defense in U.S. history to be asked to remain in that office by a newly elected President. President Barack Obama is the eighth president Dr. Gates has served.Secretary Gates has been awarded the National Security Medal, the Presidential Citizens Medal, has twice received the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, and has three times received CIA's highest award, the Distinguished Intelligence Medal.

www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=4683
Chief Executive
Roles: The president is "boss" for millions of government workers in the Executive Branch, deciding how the laws of the United States are to be enforced and choosing officials and advisers to help run the Executive Branch.
www.c-spanclassroom.org/pdf/ws_rolesofthepresident.pdf

Role:

of his political party get elected or appointed to

office. The president campaigns for those

members who have supported his policies. At

the end of a term the president may campaign

for reelection with his party’s support.
In this role, the president helps members

Class Discussion questions

1.  Pick two countries in Chapter 22 and provide an in depth paragraph on their government and how it operates.


Russia: The Soviet Union was the modern successor to the Russian empire whice began to emerge in the fifteenth century and was formally established by Peter the Great in 1721. The biggest struggle for political power was after Lennin's death in 1924. Stalin started a purge of the government an won by eliminating any opposing forces. Russia has somewhat of a constitution but it does not give it citizens rights to many things such as freedom of speech. Gorbachev's reform was a big turning point for the fall of the soviet union. Since 1991 Russia is moving tward a democratic government and economic reform.

Mexico: Mexico was first very influenced by the Aztec people. They captured much land but eventually had great disputed with other nations and countries over border claims. Mexico was able to get independence from spain in 1821 with an elite group of people know as mezmito. The current government of mexico is very similar to the United States. They have a president, general congress and an elaborate court system. Mexico has a mulit party system.

2. What are some of the similarities of the countries that are in Chapter 22?
All of the countries are moving if they dont have one already, a democratic government. They are all pushing forward to having a great economical land and being somewhat rich and having a well rounded place for its citizens to live.

3. What are some of the differences of the countries that are in Chapter 22?

Many of the countries dont have a locked in constitution like the United States. Not all the citizens are gaurenteed to basic rights. China is still a communist countrie also.

4. Which country in Chapter 22 do you believe has the strongest government and why?
China by far has the strongest government. They have one ruler who tells everyone what to do. They are also very rich in their economy. They have the largest military force in the world.

5. In what ways does the U.S. government relate to the methods of governments listed in Chapter 22?

The United States has been influencing all the nations for having an democratic government. We are trying to show them how working together and everyone having a voice is helping to form the nations and bring everyone closer together.

Also find two current events relating to the British government and provide a paragraph of reflection.

Also find two current events relating to the British government and provide a paragraph of reflection.

The United States is not an "Empire" like Great Britian. The United States doesn't have any desire to annex countries and rule them directly like Great Britian. People try to say that the United States and Great Britian are the same because of inperialism. This is FALSE. The United States was in a way imperialistic in the past. but as mentioned, we do not rule our countries directly. Great Birtian doesn't have ha written Constitution like the United States does. Our constitution is very hard to change as to where Great Britian has a documents called Acts of Parliment that can change things.

Also find two current events relating to the British government and provide a paragraph of reflection.

The United States and Great Britain have alot of the same views on laws. There are alot of things going on with gun control. Liberals everywhere think it is so wrong to have rifles and handguns but what they dont see is that weapons are a way of life. We need them to protect ourselves and to get food for our famlies. A nother thing is arguements on the economy. We both are having to make cuts and take away from people to try and leverage out the bad in our economy.

quiz thinggy

1. Explain how a bill becomes a law:

First, a bill must pass both houses of Congress by a majority vote. After it has passed out of Congress, it is sent along to the President. If the President signs the bill, it becomes law.
Both houses of Congress, the House and the Senate, are divided into large groups called Committees, with most committees divided yet again into Subcommittees. Each Committee tends to a general topic in the nation's business, like Finance or the Military. Subcommittees are even more specialized, with one on, for example, Military Nuclear Weapons, and another on Military Pay.
Once in the hands of the full House, the amendments placed on the bill by the Committee of the Whole are voted upon - they can be voted upon en masse or one at a time. After that, one of two votes can happen - either a vote to recommit (which can send the bill back to committee if approved), or a vote on the bill, as amended. If a recommit vote fails, a full vote is taken.After a Senate committee refers a bill to the full Senate, it can take one of two main roads. In some cases, with emergency or other non-controversial bills, a simple voice vote is taken of the Senate, and the bill either passes or fails. Amendment is possible even when the simple voice vote can be used. If consent for a voice vote is not available, the bill is placed on the calendar for review by the entire Senate at a later date.

2. What is a committee and what purpose does it serve?:

Comitties are groupe of people formed to go over proposed bills and fine tune them and read them over to work out and potential problems.

3. Read the following link and share your opinions: 1 paragraph 

I am a very firm follower of Kriti Noems beliefs. I belive now that we have an upfront conservative Republican in office again, the State of South Dakota will be able to finally grow and our personal economy will most deffinately beging to climb back on top. I as along with many other South Dakotans are really watching and following close because we belive in Noems posibilities and power. She will do great things for the geatest state!

4.  Read the following link and find a story and give a reflection on it:1 paragraph 

It is about time that the Constitution is getting read over again! If the past political leaders would have done this a long time ago, we would most deffinately not have all the economical and  political turmoil we have standing with us today. Sing the GOP has basically taken over office again, the rights to the people and the accuracy of making bills into Constitutional following laws will greatly increase! With the Republicans now back in office we will  most deffinately be conservative and we will absolutely have better laws and a new start on getting our economy back on track.

5. Read the following link and give a reflection on it: 1 paragraph  

i am starting to belive that  the invention of the Credit Card and the worthless aid of going to over seas places to help is what has dragged our economy down so far. I dont think that people have a full understanding on what credit card debt can do to you. I personally know first hand because my father is in it. We have to only learn to spend what we have and pull our companies back into the US and stop worrying about foreign affairs and deal with our own nations problems.

6. Read the following link and give a reflection on it: 1 paragraph
There deffinately has to be something wrong with Obama if people are now leaving the White House and going for less of a job. not only has he been stalling our econemy from getting back on its feet, but now he is messing up peoples lives and making them get tired of his crap and quit.

Senate passes controversial tax cut deal

Senate passes controversial tax cut deal

President Obama has passed the Bush-era Tax cut extension to lower taxes on American famalies and extend the unemployment fund for 13 months. Obama has urged the House to quickly get the plan into action. He also has said he hopes that both parties can come together for the good of the people of the United Sates.

Government May Shut Down Amid Standoff on Pork-Filled Spending Bill

Congress is going over a 2000 page bill that wants to be passed that will give the government 1.72trillion to keep the government going throught the end of the fiscal year. Republicans are contesting the bill and wanting to have the 1924 page bill read aloud in the hearing, this would take 30-40 hours and push the debate into Saturday.

The Senate's war over Christmas

Once again, instead of working together  for the good of the people, the Republican party and the Democrat party are fighing about whose fault it is that the bill was so big and has the potential of going on into the christmas break. I think they should stop wasting time and get it resolved reguardless whose darn fault it is.

Take ten minutes to look over the links and then in your blog, describe what your views are on the materials that we covered. Provide a paragraph of reflection on what areas you had prior knowledge of and those that you did not.

South Dakota Legislature is very different then i first thought. Many of the Legislature people are part time and while they are not working in Peirre forming and debating laws, they are normal people with the same concerns as we are. To be a part of the Legislature you have to be atleast 21 years of age, be a US citizen and have lived atleast 2 years in the state of South Dakota. The term for the Senators and Representatives are both two years. No Senator or Representative can serve more then eight years.