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Current Issues Blog

Discover new resources and teaching techniques to help you discuss current issues in the classroom!

Civil Rights & Individual Liberties Government & Elections

Should Washington, DC, Become a State?

May 29, 2019

If you visit Washington, DC, one of the things you may notice is the license plates on local vehicles. While the inhabitants of the District of Columbia pay federal taxes, they do not have voting representation in Congress – just one delegate whose votes do not count. So since 2000, after approval by the Mayor […]

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Civil Rights & Individual Liberties Government & Elections Judicial Branch

The End of the Draft?

March 12, 2019

Last month, a federal judge in Texas ruled that an all-male draft is unconstitutional.1Current laws demand that all males must register for Selective Service within 30 days of their 18th birthday, or face prosecution, fines and prison time. If an American male over 18 is not registered, he is not eligible for federal student aid, cannot […]

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Civil Rights & Individual Liberties Current Constitutional Issues Equality Government & Elections Legislative Branch

ERA Won’t Go Away

February 20, 2019

“Yes Virginia, there is an ERA” “One State to 38!” These slogans adorned the banners and signs that ERA supporters brought to the Virginia State Capitol at the beginning of the General Assembly’s legislative session this January. ¹ ERA activists are hoping that this year’s session would include a floor vote on ratification of the […]

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Civil Rights & Individual Liberties Government & Elections

Don’t Like the Election Results? Change Them!

December 11, 2018

Just when you thought it was safe to declare the 2018 midterm elections over… Historically, the results of elections have always been honored, even when the fairness of a given contest is debatable. In recent history, for example, some people questioned to what extent the elections of John F. Kennedy1, Richard Nixon2, Ronald Reagan3, George W. Bush4, […]

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Civil Rights & Individual Liberties Equality Government & Elections

Election Integrity or Voter Suppression?

October 25, 2018

One of the most fundamental rights of citizens in a representative democracy is the right to vote—the right to decide who should govern and give input on key policy decisions. In recent years, conservative policymakers have raised concerns over voter fraud and its potential to influence the outcome of elections. President Donald Trump continues to claim that […]

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