State+Law+Project

State Project Links at DeliciousState Law Project

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Over the two years that I have taught this course, I have developed a project on state laws. In the past students have presented their research in a powerpoint. Each student selected a state - no two students could have the same state - and used the web to find the answers to a series of questions about the state.

This year, I would like you to present you findings as a wiki. The wiki is a web 2.0 or collaborative tool. It allows us to monitor each other's work and offer assistance. As the saying goes, two heads are better than one. I am excited to see what happens when we put 25 or more heads together. I will join you in building the wiki as the author of the Virginia wiki.

The wiki benefits you! First, you will be learning valuable collaborative tools that are currently used in colleges and universities. Second, it is just plain fun.

My goal is to eventually have all fifty states represented in our wiki. Future classes will complete the states that we don't do this semester. Looking even further ahead, classes will need to edit the wiki to ensure that the information is current. I also envision charts and diagrams that compare and contrast the governments of the fifty states.

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Assignment Summary: Describe the basic structure of a single state government in a wiki.

For some of the questions below, the answer may be “no.” You will need to state the negative in order to receive credit. For example, “there are no terms limits on either house of the legislature.”

You must include a link for each source you use to find the information. The links must be on the page where the information is displayed.

I love Wikipedia. It is a tremendous source of information. The problem with wikipedia is that potentially anyone can edit a page and add incorrect or deliberately false information. As a researcher, it is part of your job to verify any information you find in wikipedia. The citations included on the most reliable wikipedia pages are a valuable resource.

Use my Virginia Wiki as a template for your wiki page. The overall wiki must be consistently formatted. Your creativity can come in the form of suggestions that the class as a whole can decide whether or not to use.

Useful Links:

====__[|Retirement Living Information Center] __ ==== 

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 ===== **[|131] ** a retirement site discussing taxes for all 50 states  ====[|National Council of State Legislatures] ==== 

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 ===== <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #73adff; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 4px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|2] ** <span style="clear: left; color: #333333; display: block; height: auto; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; width: 640px;">This link is to a page on term limits for state legislators. <span style="clear: left; color: #333333; display: block; height: auto; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; width: 640px;"> ====<span style="color: #000000; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 4em; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; url(http: //l.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/nt/ic/ut/bsc/success_metro16_1.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #1259c7; padding-right: 24px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|National Council of State Legislators] ==== <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: -1px;">

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<span style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: absolute; right: -6.3em; top: 1px; visibility: hidden; width: 6em;"> ===== <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #73adff; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 4px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|2] ** <span style="clear: left; color: #333333; display: block; height: auto; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; width: 640px;">This link is to a page includes a list of states which have recall laws <span style="clear: left; color: #333333; display: block; font-size: 12px; height: auto; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; width: 640px;"> <span style="clear: left; color: #333333; display: block; font-size: 12px; height: auto; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; width: 640px;"> ====<span style="color: #000000; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 4em; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> [|AJS [American Judicature Society - Judicial Selection Methods]] ==== <span style="clear: left; color: #333333; display: block; height: auto; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; width: 640px;">list of how state judges are selected and retained  <span style="clear: left; color: #333333; display: block; font-size: 12px; height: auto; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; width: 640px;"> ====<span style="color: #000000; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 4em; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; url(http: //l.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/nt/ic/ut/bsc/success_metro16_1.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #1259c7; padding-right: 24px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|Initiative and Referendum Institute] ==== <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: -1px;">

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<span style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: absolute; right: -6.3em; top: 1px; visibility: hidden; width: 6em;"> ===== <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #73adff; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 4px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|5] ** <span style="clear: left; color: #333333; display: block; height: auto; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; width: 640px;">Details the history and present laws on initiatives and referendums for each state. <span style="clear: left; color: #333333; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; width: 640px;"> <span style="color: #787878; font-family: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 14px;"> ====<span style="color: #000000; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 4em; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> [|U.S. State Constitutions and Web Sites] ==== <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: -1px;">

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<span style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: absolute; right: -6.3em; top: 1px; visibility: hidden; width: 6em;"> ===== <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #73adff; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 4px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|9] ** <span style="clear: left; color: #333333; display: block; height: auto; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; width: 640px;">Contains lists to many state constitutions and commentaries. ====<span style="color: #000000; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 4em; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> [|The Green Papers: United States Midterm Election 2010] ==== <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: -1px;">

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<span style="font-size: 9px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: absolute; right: -6.3em; top: 1px; visibility: hidden; width: 6em;"> ===== <span style="display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #3274d0; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #ffffff; display: block; font-size: 12px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 4px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|119] ** <span style="clear: left; color: #333333; display: block; height: auto; line-height: 1.4em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px; width: 640px;">Various useful pieces of information about state governments. This site can be difficult to navigate.

**State Government**

a. Executive Branch □ Who is the current chief executive? □ Is he/she a democrat, republican, independent or other? □ What is the term of office for the executive? □ Does the executive have a term limit? If so, how many terms? Are they consecutive? □ What are the qualifications for becoming the chief executive (for example: age, residency, profession, experience)? □ Who is the current vice/lieutenant executive? □ Is he/she a democrat, republican, independent or other? □ What is the term of office for the vice/lieutenant executive? □ Does the vice/lieutenant executive have a term limit? If so, how many terms? Are they consecutive? □ Who is the current Attorney General? □ What is the term of office for the Attorney General? □ Does the Attorney General have a term limit? If so, how many terms? Are they consecutive? □ Is he/she a democrat, republican, independent or other? □ Does the executive have a general veto and/or a line item veto? Hint: the veto power can often be found in the legislative branch’s constitutional article as part of the description on how a bill becomes a law. Don’t ask the teacher what these terms mean!!! Look it up in your textbook or notes or simply google it. □ Is it the executive’s job to prepare a budget? □ Does the executive have the power to appoint officials? If the executive has the power to appoint officials, give a few examples of positions. □ Does the legislative branch have to give consent to the executive appointments? □ Does the executive have extradition powers? □ Does the executive have the power of pardon? If so, are there any limits on this power, like a list of what he/she can or cannot pardon? Does the legislative branch exercise any control over the pardon, like the “advice and consent” found in the United States Constitution? □ Does the executive have the power of parole? Are there any limits on this power, such as a board that reviews or assists the executive with parole applications?

b. Legislative Branch (13 points of required information) □ Is the legislature bicameral or unicameral? □ What are the names of houses? □ How many members are there in each of the houses? □ How long are the terms of office for each house? □ Are there any terms limits for the members of each house? If so, how many terms? □ What are the qualifications for legislators (for example: age, residency, profession, experience)? Do they vary according to house? □ Who currently controls each house, republicans or democrats? □ How often does the legislature meet (annually or bi-annually)? □ What is the date of the first legislative session each year (for example, the first Tuesday in February)? □ How long is each session of the legislature (for example, 90 days or from February to the last day in April)? □ Name the powers of the legislature (Think about the powers given to the US Congress is Article I, Section 8 – like the power to tax). □ Are there any restrictions on raising taxes? □ Does your state have no sales tax, double digit sales tax, or no personal income tax? (HINT: check your text book). □ Who represents your state in the United State House of Representatives and the United States Senate? c. Judicial (5 points of required information) □ How is the Judiciary selected? ( HINT: these are defined in your state notes.) Select one of the following and explain how it works in your state. You may assume that the election is partisan if the state’s constitution does not specifically designate partisan or non-partisan. o By Partisan Election? o By Nonpartisan Election? o By Legislative Election? o By Governor Appointment? o By a Merit Plan? □ What are the term limits for judges? □ What are the qualifications for judges (for example: age, residency, profession, experience)? □ What are the titles of the major courts (For comparison: at the federal level we have the Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal and District Courts).

d. Constitution (5 points of required information) □ What year was the state constitution ratified? □ How many major revisions have there been of the constitution? The newest states probably will not have major revisions/rewrites? Southern states involved in the Civil War will have a number of revisions. □ How many amendments have there been since the last revision? This can be a very difficult number to find. Leave this until the end of your research. Don’t spend time on it at the expense of other more important information. Please don’t ask the teacher: she doesn’t have a quick answer. □ Does the Constitution have a Bill of Rights? If so, name at least five rights protected. □ Does the Constitution contain a reference to God (specifically God, not freedom of religion)? If so, what is it?

e. The State Constitution and Direct Democracy (4 points of required information) HINT: This website has all the information you need on direct democracy. [] HINT: The terms below are defined in your notes on states. □ Does the Constitution or other law provide for Direct Initiatives? □ Does the Constitution or other law provide for Indirect Initiatives? □ Does the Constitution or other law provide for Direct or Popular Referendum? What purposes may the referendum be used for (for example: signature, advisory, amendment, bonds, taxes)? □ Does the Constitution or other law provide for a Recall vote?

f. Elections – we will study this later on in the year. (3 points of required information) HINT: check your textbook. HINT: Do a google search on The Green Papers □ Does your state select presidential candidates by primary or caucus. □ On what date is the primary or caucus held (for example: 3rd Thursday in April). HINT: [] □ Does your state have any elections this year? If so, what positions are up for election (e.g. governor, US House of Representatives etc.)