We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Harper v Virginia Board of Elections, 1966 In a 6 to 3 vote, the Court ruled in favor of Ms. Harper. The Court noted that “a state violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution whenever it makes the affluence of the voter or payment of any fee an electoral standard. Voter qualifications have no relation to wealth.” This ruling reversed a prior decision by the Court, Breedlove v. Suttles, 302 U.S. 277(1937), which upheld the state's ability to impose poll taxes, and the Court did so despite the fact that there had been no relevant change in the text of the Constitution between 1937 and The 24th Amendment, adopted in 1964, outlawed the poll tax in federal elections, but did not speak to the question of state elections, which was the question involved in the Harper case.Breedlove v. SuttlesU.S.27724th Amendment

It costs money to hold an election. The tax being charged at Virginia polling places was used by counties for expenses such as conducting voting and by the state to support public education. The maximum tax was only $ Why is $1.50 unfair? 2. Another word for justice is fairness. What happens in our country to make sure that things are fair?

Burson v Freeman Facts of the Case Freeman, a Tennessee political campaign treasurer, challenged the constitutionality of the Tennessee Code forbidding the solicitation of votes and the display or distribution of campaign materials within 100 feet of entrances to polling facilities. On appeal from a lower court's dismissal, the Tennessee Supreme Court reversed, finding that the 100-foot ban was unconstitutional. Question Did Tennessee's 100-foot limit violate the First Amendment's freedom of speech? No. After subjecting Tennessee's statute to exacting scrutiny, since it constituted a facial content-based restriction on political speech in a public forum, the Court held that the statute was narrowly drafted to serve a compelling state interest. By creating a safe zone around polling sites, the statute served the state's interest in protecting its citizen's right to vote freely and effectively. Moreover, the 100-foot zone was acceptable since it was not so large as to completely block out the presence of political messages.

1.What does it mean to "insure domestic tranquility"? 2.Shouldn’t we have the right to talk to candidates we want elected? 3. How did the case Burson v. Freeman insure domestic tranquility"? What other examples of domestic tranquility can you list?

Roosevelt’s Address to Congress, Dec. 8,1941 The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu. Yesterday the Japanese government also launched as attack against Malaya. Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night Japanese forces attacked Wake Island. And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island. Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation. As commander in chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us...

1. How does that help provide for the "common defense”? 2. What is the point of the Uncle Sam poster? 3. How does our government today "provide for the common defense"? 4. What does "provide for the common defense" mean?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or USFDA) is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments. The FDA is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety, tobacco products,dietary supplements, prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs(medications), vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, blood transfusions, medical devices,electromagnetic radiation emitting devices (ERED), and veterinary products.agencyUnited States Department of Health and Human ServicesUnited States federal executive departmentspublic healthregulationfood safetytobacco productsdietary supplementsprescriptionover-the-counterpharmaceutical drugsvaccinesbiopharmaceuticalsblood transfusionsmedical deviceselectromagnetic radiationveterinary products The FDA also enforces other laws, notably Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act and associated regulations, many of which are not directly related to food or drugs. These include sanitation requirements on interstate travel and control of disease on products ranging from certain household pets to sperm donation for assisted reproduction.Public Health Service Actsanitationinterstate travelpetssperm donation reproduction The FDA is led by the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Commissioner reports to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The 21st and current Commissioner is Dr.Margaret A. Hamburg. She has served as Commissioner since May 2009.Commissioner of Food and Drugsadvice and consentSenatethe Secretary of Health and Human ServicesMargaret A. Hamburg In June 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt signed into law the Food and Drug Act, also known as the "Wiley Act" after its chief advocate Dr. Harvey Washington Wiley who riveted the country's and eventually congress's attention with public hygiene demonstrations. This act was the basis for the modern USFDA, being originally given the name of the Food, Drug, and Insecticide organization. The name eventually was shortened to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) a few years later.Wiley ActDr. Harvey Washington

1. How do meat inspections "promote the general welfare"? 2. What else does the government do to promote the general welfare? 3. What does "promoting the general welfare" mean?

1. When, why and how should liberties ever be restrained... and when should they not be? 2. What does it mean to "secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves"? 3. How did the Fifteenth Amendment secure the blessings of liberty to those who had NOT been enslaved?

1. Wouldn't some children your age be tempted to leave school and take up a job if they could? 2. Why are there no more coal breaker boys? 3. How does improving the rules today help secure the blessings of liberty for people in the future (that's what "posterity" means)? 4. Can you think of some other ways the government makes sure people in the future will have liberty? 5. What does "securing the blessing of liberty to our posterity" mean?