Overview
Are the responsibilities of the most powerful leader in the world, the American president, too large a job for one person? Why has the American presidency as an institution grown so large? Are there any powers you think should be taken away from the president?
Initial Reply (150 words) and 2 Replies to Peers (70-100 words)
Part 2:
1. Visit Constitution Annotated to learn about the Impeach Provision of the U.S. Constitution.
2. After thoroughly reviewing the resources provided in the content page titled: Impeachment, share your thoughts and impressions about the former president's speech and conduct as it pertains to his second impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate. Is the former president's speech and conduct protected by the First Amendment or not?
3. Carefully vet and cite the sources that helped you arrive at your conclusion.
4. Submit your comments in a few well-constructed paragraphs-
"Title Impeachment"
An important means of ensuring that no president could become tyrannical was to build into the Constitution a clear process for removing the chief executive—impeachment. Impeachment is the act of charging a government official with serious wrongdoing; the Constitution calls this wrongdoing high crimes and misdemeanors.
The Second Impeachment of the Former President
Former President Donald Trump had two impeachment trails. We will take time this week to learn about the impeachment process, political division, the grounds for impeachment and the first amendment.
The U.S. House of Representatives website and learn about the constitutional origins and history of the congressional impeachment powers and process.
Learn about the role of the U.S. Senate in the impeachment process.
Watch this short TED-Ed video for a simple explanation of the impeachment process:
What is an impeachment inquiry? Watch this short ABC News video for information concerning the prior impeachment inquiry: (I have to recorded a short video from Canvas)
What is second impeachment trial based on? Read the House Resolution HR 24 (pgs. 3-5) that states the grounds for the impeachment of the former president. He is accused of inciting a mob to violently attack the U.S. Capitol building where the Congress was meeting to certify and confirm the results of the 2020 presidential election. (He is also accused of attempting to interfere in the results of the Georgia election by threats and coercion.)Some defenders of the former president claim that the 1st Amendment protects his speech and conduct. Others, who support the impeachment and conviction of the former president say that "incitement to violence" is not protected by the first amendment and that he knew what he was doing and intended for the crowd to act just as they did - with a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol building. There is also a claim that the president urged the crowd to engage in sedition. Time to think: After reading the house resolution to impeach the former president, and learning from first amendment ACLU lawyer, Lee Rowland in the 5-minute video below, do you think that there was incitement to violence by the former president?
Two perspectives:
USA Today Opinion Trump's speech is not protected.
Bloomberg Law Trump may be shielded from riot charges.
And finally . . .
Business Insider After the violent attack on the capitol, the former president tells the rioters "We love you . . . you are very special." Is his tweet relevant? Does it help you determine the former president's intent in delivering his speech to the riotous crowd?