[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 54 (Friday, May 3, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E700-E701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          WE THE PEOPLE . . . THE CITIZEN AND THE CONSTITUTION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. VERNON J. EHLERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 2, 2002

  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the more than 
1,200 students who will converge on Washington, D.C., this weekend to 
participate in the We the People . . . The Citizen and the Constitution 
national finals. We the People . . . is a national program, 
administered by the Center for Civic Education, that requires students 
to develop a working knowledge of our Constitution, Bill of Rights, and 
the principles of democratic government. Since the program began, more 
than 26.5 million students at the upper elementary, middle and high 
school levels have benefited from this program.
  I am extremely honored to recognize the students from East Grand 
Rapids High School in my home district who have gone above and beyond 
the call of student duty to reach the national finals. Led by teacher 
Janice Rocque, this year's team includes: Emily Brennan, Evan Koch, 
Claire Lerchen, Kate Mann, Aubrey Merpi, Stephanie Nagengast, Jay 
Rapaport, Komal Saxena, Ian Seasly, Karen Smith, Megan Smith, Caitlin 
Townsend, Molly Tupper, Jacob Turner, and Dan Wohns.
  Mr. Speaker, I cannot stress enough the amount of preparation that 
these students put into this competition. In addition to the academic 
challenges they face in the classroom, these young leaders have juggled 
extracurricular activities and family responsibilities while preparing 
for this competition. Mr. Speaker, so that you and my colleagues can 
understand the rigorous questioning these students face, I am providing 
you with some of the questions they will face during the national 
finals.
  Congratulations to all the participants in this year's We, the People 
. . . The Citizen and the Constitution competition.


[[Page E701]]



   Sample of the We the People . . . 2002 National Hearing Questions

       How did the Renaissance and Reformation change people's 
     views about the relationship between the individual and 
     society?
       What are the political principles and values set forth in 
     the Declaration of Independence?
       ``A deliberative democracy, operating under a good 
     constitution, responds to political disagreement not simply 
     by majority rule, but also by attempting to create 
     institutions that will ensure reflection and reason-giving.'' 
     Do you agree or disagree that such institutions are essential 
     components of a deliberative democracy and of a ``good 
     constitution''? Why or why not? Be prepared to defend your 
     position.
       Should members of Congress consider themselves delegates 
     obligated to vote the way the majority of the people in their 
     districts want or should they consider themselves trustees 
     who, while taking the views of their constituents into 
     account, use their own best judgment or their conscience in 
     deciding how to vote? Explain your position.
       In the ratification debates, the Federalists insisted that 
     the Constitution had been carefully drafted to limit the 
     powers of the national government. These limitations were 
     sufficient, they contended, to allow for healthy, energetic 
     government while at the same time preventing abuses of power. 
     Evaluate those claims made by the Federalists.
       ``The First Federal Congress was the most important 
     Congress in American history,'' according to two prominent 
     historians. ``Its awesome agenda breathed life into the 
     Constitution, and established precedent and constitutional 
     interpretation which still guides us 200 years later.'' What 
     was on the agenda of the First Congress? Should those agenda 
     items be considered ``awesome''? Why or why not?
       Evaluate the major arguments advanced by the Federalists 
     and the Anti-Federalists during the debate about the need to 
     have a Bill of Rights added to the Constitution.
       James Q. Wilson, a noted political scientist, claims, 
     ``Were the American Constitution the only guarantee of the 
     independence of the American states, they would long since 
     have become mere administrative subunits of government in 
     Washington. Their independence results in large measure from 
     the commitment of Americans to the idea of local self-
     government and from the fact that Congress consists of people 
     who are selected by and responsive to local constituencies.'' 
     Do you agree or disagree with Wilson? Why? What evidence can 
     you offer in support of your position?

     

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