Principles of American Democracy
Question 1: Explain the difference between the Bill of Rights and the other amendments.
Answer 1: The U.S. Constitution has only twenty-seven amendments. The first ten amendments are known collectively as the Bill of Rights. During the debates on the adoption of the Constitution, its opponents felt that the Constitution as drafted would open the way to tyranny by the central government. They demanded a bill of rights that would spell out the immunities of individual citizens and without it, the Constitution would not have been approved. The Bill of Rights plays a central role in American law and government, and remains a fundamental symbol of the freedoms and culture of the country. Subsequent amendments were added as times changed and changes were required to the Constitution.
There are lots of good resources about Democracy that you can find available.
Question 2: Explain the environmental issues in California’s soil.
Answer 2: Big government programs are incentives for farmers for their conservation efforts. The people of California understand the value of the land in California and feel that it is necessary to take care of it. Through the Farm Service Agency and the National Resource Conservation Service, farmers are paid to refrain from using specific land from production. This land might be susceptible to erosion, contribute to serious water issues, provide habitat for animals, or offer other benefits. Farmers are also rewarded for planting a certain crop that assists with the erosion problem. In 1985, Congress created a Soil Bank in hopes of preventing another 1930 Dust Bowl. Approximately 383 farmers participate in these efforts to conserve soil and land.
Question 3: Discuss the ongoing effects of Owens Lake drying up.
Answer 3: Salt-rich dust from what used to be Owens Lake penetrates the soils and affects vegetation and life in the surrounding area. The dry bed allows dust storms to blow the salt-rich dust for miles. This dust has traces of metals and is dangerous to inhale. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power created a plan. The first step was to irrigate part of the lake to keep it wet, so the dust won’t blow. They also decided that the best vegetation would be saltgrass. This assisted in keeping the dust under control while also contributing to the aesthetic feel of the area that Owens Lake used to offer instead of a dry lake bed.
Previous: Prewar Stalinism, Part 5 - Next: Processing Information, Part 1
|
