dis 3 For this discussion, we are going to look at a controversial issue: criminal voting rights. There are many pros and cons to this issue, and the federal government has looked into potential full restoration of rights for anyone who has served their time. Watch the following video, read the following articles and review the U.S. map of laws regarding felon voting. Do any extra research as necessary and then answer the following questions: 1.) Explain the pros and cons of allowing convicted felons to have full restoration of their voting rights. 2.) What does the data show regarding disenfranchisement? 3.) What are the laws in Texas, with regards to voting rights? How do our laws differ from other states? 4.) What role are the Federal and State courts playing in this issue currently? 5.) Since a person would have already served his or her time, does this become a civil rights issue? 6.) What are your thoughts on full restoration? Is there a compromise that can be made on restoration? dis 4 For this discussion, we are going to look at something that has been covered in the news recently: the military draft. First, read the following article: and then do some research with how the draft has been used throughout American history. Once you feel educated on the topic and have completed the appropriate research, answer the following questions: 1.) What is the purpose of the Selected Services? Who is required to register and what are the ramifications for failing to register? 2.) How has the draft been used historically? What events
led to the need for a draft? How was the decision to draft met by public opinion? Was it different during WWI versus the Vietnam War? 3.) What is the reason for the recently-sparked traffic on the Selected Service webiste? What events led to this? 4.) If there was a draft in 2020, what requirements would be in place? Would we draft both men and women? What would be the possible exceptions? 5.) Overall, how do you feel about this topic being discussed in the news in 2020? What are your thoughts about Congress initiating a draft, if necessary? dis-5 For this discussion, we are going to consider lowering the voting age in an effort to raise voter turnout and engagement. Read the articles and do any extra research as necessary and then answer the following questions: 1.) What are the arguments in favor of lowering the voting age? Against? Explain. 2.) Being a young person (or when you were a young person), would you have participated in voting if you had been given the legal ability to do so? Do you think it would have impacted your interest in politics? 3.) With so many recent issues in the news (immigration, shootings, education, etc), how might these events and modern issues mobilize our youth to participate in politics? Do these issue motivate you to participate, regardless of your age? 4.) What are your overall thoughts about this issue, given what you are read in the provided links above? Could this save democracy or will this just lead to more apathy and non-participation by an even larger group of potential voters?