Murad's AP Govt Blog

1. What action (or lack of action) caused the government shut down? 1. The Senate failing to ratify the house's short term spending bill. 2. In a shutdown, which government functions continue? Which ones stop? 2. The military, Social Security, and and Air Traffic continues to operate. Nonessentiel federal government activities are suspended.  3. How were Democrats able to force Republicans to address the DACA issue? 3. By not passing a spending bill, the Senate Democrats were able to demand the Republicans address DACA. 4. Why were some Democrats eager to end the shut down so quickly? 4. They could be blamed for the shutdown and had been promised a bill on DACA. 5. In the funding agreement, what changes were made to Children's Health Insurance Program? 5. They were provided funding for the next 6 years. 6. What promises did Democrats get from the Senate Majority Leader? 6. They were promised a bill addressing the issue 7. Why was this shutdow...

1.  If the vice president and majority of the cabinet decide the president is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, what step do they take first? 1. They have to write a letter and send it to the Speaker of the house and senate pro-tempore 2. How many people does it take to make the vice president the acting president? 2. 9 3. What happens if the president disagrees with the VP & cabinet? 3. If the president disagrees then a 2/3 majority in the house and senate is required to keep the vice president in charge 4. What event led to the passage of the 25th Amendment? 4. The slow motion trainwreck that is Woodrow Wilson.  5. Prior to the 25th Amendment, what happened if the VP office was vacant? 5. Nothing, it stayed empty 6. Which part of Section 4 of the 25th Amendment is still vague, or open to interpretation? 6. What constitutes "executive offices" 7. Why is this unlikely to allow a coup to overthrow the president? ...

1. Why did the Trump administration decide to end the Voter Fraud  Commission? 1. It was extremely unpopular with both democrats and republicans due to how incredibly violating it was. 2.  What claims had Trump made about voter fraud? 2. Trump has claimed that millions voted illegally in the presidential election, primarily in California. 3. What rate of voter fraud was found by a Loyola Law School study? 3. He found that 35 cases were actually true, counting only a few hundred ballots. 4. What rate of voter fraud did the North Carolina Board of Elections find? 4. one in 48 million votes were cast illegally. 5. What information does Trump base his claims on? 5. A breitbart news article. Yikes. 7.  How has Attorney General Jeff Sessions changed federal marijuana law enforcement? 7. He has rescinded Obama era regulatory practices that allowed for leniency.  8. How did the Obama administration treat this issue? 8. Obama practiced...

Wall Street Journal Article 1. What problem did General Electric have with the version of the tax reform bill passed by the House of Reps? 1. The new bill costs them roughly $1 billion in new taxes. 2. How is the Senate version different than the House version of this tax reform bill regarding the provision GE was worried about? 2. The senate bill renders GE less liable to be taxed due to losses abroad. 3. How do foreign owned airlines and Delta want the tax bill to be different? 3. It would add taxes to income earned on flights in the US, even if the airline wasn't American. 5. What will happen to the bill after it is debated and voted on in the Senate? 5. It will either be discarded upon failing or be presented in a joint committee with the House to amend any differences and combine clauses into a single bill. New York Times Article 6.  What problem do real estate company lobbyists have with the House version of this tax bill? 6. They claim that...

1. Which two senators does the article single out as being potential obstacles to the passing of the tax bill & where are they from? 1. Senator Murkowski and Senator    Susan Collins . 2. What indications has Murkowski made about how she may vote on this tax bill? 2. She has said she disagrees with the deficit addition it would cause, as well as the loss of healthcare for 13 million Americans.  3. What did Republicans add to the bill that would specifically encourage Murkowski to vote for the bill? 3. They added a provision allowing for oil drilling in the arctic preserve for her.  4. Why would Murkowski be more likely to support the bill if it adds this provision? 4.  She would get more support from oil companies in her home state, and her state's economy would benefit. 5. Why does Murkowski support "Obamacare" if she is a Republican? 5. It provides healthcare for the poor, that isn't supporting the bill its supporting a b...

1. How many total Republicans in Congress have already announced that they will not run for reelection in 2018? 1. 12 2. How many total Democrats in Congress have already announced that they will not run for reelection in 2018? 2. 3  3. What is so unique about the discrepancy between these two groups? 3. It reveals the very real possibility of a "democratic wave", where democrat incumbents win traditionally Republican seats. 4. What factors do the authors of the article suggest are behind these decisions not to run for reelection? 4.  The vast majority are retiring as to not have their reputation - and that of their party - sullied by an increasingly right wing Republican party. 5.  Why might the elections for those in "safe red districts" be more difficult than in recent elections? 5. The republican party is decreasing in over all support, and thus it would be easier for a democratic party member to assume the position of a traditiona...