Unit 4

Supreme Court Agrees to Rule on Gay Marriage

Summary:

In January, the Supreme Court decided to finally rule on the gay marriage debate.  In April, the Court will hear 2 1/2 hours of oral arguments and then provide a ruling before the term ends in June.  They will hear four cases from Michigan, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio.  In 2013, the Court ruled on two cases: U.S. v. Windsor which made the federal government recognize gay marriage, and Hollingsworth v. Perry which allowed gay marriage in California.  California was the 13th state to allow gay marriage.  Currently 36 states allow gay marriage, while 14 don't including Tennesse, Kentucky, Ohio, and Michigan.  The Court will have to consider two different questions:  If states are required to allow same-sex marriages, and if states have to recognize same-sex marriages from other states.  The four state cases involve either one or both of these questions.  This ruling will be one of the most historic rulings in modern history since gay marriage is currently one of the most prominent debates in the U.S.


Analysis:

The Court's ruling on this issue will be a monumental moment in U.S. history.  Currently 70% of Americans live in states where gay marriage is legal, but many people want that number to improve to 100%.  There are many people, mostly conservatives, who argue against gay marriage and say that a marriage is strictly between a man and a woman.  The nine justices are very split on the decision, and in 2013 they voted 5-4.  The Obama administration has come in on the side of gay rights.  I personally don't encourage same-sex marriage, but I don't think it's fair that those people should be denied the right to marry who they want.  Just because I don't like the idea of it, doesn't mean that it shouldn't be allowed.

Resources:  http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/01/16/supreme-court-gay-marriage/21867355/

Unit 4

House Passes Keystone Bill, Sending It To Obama For Veto

Summary: The Keystone XL pipeline is probably one of the most controversial, most debated topics in Congressional history. The House has just recently passed a bill (270-152) that approves the construction of the pipeline. This is the eleventh time that the House has voted on a measure to approve the pipeline, and this bill is very similar to the one that was previously passed just with a few amendments. The Senate approved the same bill on January 29, 2015. The bill will now be sent to the President who is most likely going to veto it, making this only the third veto of his presidency. The State Department also has a big say in what happens since the pipeline will cross an international border. Even though the Senate and the House have a majority made up of Republicans, neither chamber has enough votes to override the President’s veto. 

Analysis: Obama did end up vetoing the bill, and the Senate tried to override his veto but failed. The Senate vote was 62-37, with all of the Republicans and a few Democrats voting in favor of an override. Most Democrats, and a lot of environmentalists, are against the Keystone XL Pipeline while Republicans are in favor of it. The Pipeline is said to be either the key to solving America’s economic problems, or a major environmental disaster. The Republicans say that the Pipeline project will create 42,000 jobs, but the Democrats are against the Pipeline because of the damage to the environment. I think that America should refine its own oil and not depend so much on other countries, so therefore the Pipeline could be a good thing, but I also care about the environment. It might also make me a little more upset if I was someone who lived somewhere where the Pipeline was going to be laid, like in Nebraska.

                                 

Resources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/11/house-keystone-veto_n_6663392.html?utm_hp_ref=house-of-representatives

http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-keystone-veto-override-20150304-story.html