WEB
QUEST:
Does
President George W. Bush’s plan to give tax dollars to faith-based charities
violate the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution?
Created by Monica Kauschinger
Introduction:
President George W. Bush and many conservative
Republicans believe that government programs to help the needy have
failed. They think community based
charities and houses of worship would do a better job. President Bush supports a new initiative to
help the needy. In the past
conservatives have been criticized for not supporting government aid to the
poor. So Bush has embraced a new idea
called “Compassionate Conservatism.”
His plan is to give government aid to churches and other religious
groups to provide social services. As part of the administration's crusade,
Bush has created a new federal agency, the Office of Faith-Based and Community
Initiatives, that will work from the White House to expand government aid to
religious ministries and create church-state "partnerships."
Some Americans oppose President Bush’s plan to
support faith-based charities. They
argue that it violates the separation of church and state. The first amendment of the Constitution not
only guarantees our right to freedom of religious expression, it prohibits the
government from establishing an official religion. Critics of the President’s plan argue that taxpayers will be
forced to financially support religious institutions they may not believe in.
What
Do You Think?
Task:
1. Create
a power point presentation designed to persuade people to support or oppose
President Bush’s plan to give government aid to faith-based charities.
2. Are
you in favor or against the President’s plan?
Describe your position.
3. Explain
why you believe other positions on this issue are incorrect.
4. Explain
how U.S. Courts have ruled on past
cases dealing with the issue of separation of church and state.
5. Closing
arguments.
Process:
1.
Use the websites provided in the
resources list to research the information needed to complete each task.
2. After
you have collected all the necessary information create a power point
presentation that:
a. Is
designed to persuade people to support or oppose the President’s plan.
b. Contains
at least four slides.
c. Uses
a precedent (a past court decision on the issue of separation of church and
state that backs up your position.)
Resources:
The Bush 'Faith-Based' Initiative:
Why It's Wrong
President Bush’s
Speech: Rallying the Armies of Compassion
Separation of Church
and State Cases
Evaluation:
1. Arguments
for your position. 20 POINTS
2. Arguments against other positions. 20 POINTS
3. Explain
how U.S. Courts have ruled on past
cases dealing with the issue of separation of church and state. 20
POINTS
4. Closing
arguments. 20
POINTS
5. Overall
presentation. 20
POINTS
Meeting
the Standards of New York State:
1.
Standard 5.1
The study of civics, citizenship, and government involves learning about
political systems; the purposes of government and civic life; and the differing
assumptions held by people across time and place regarding power, authority,
governance, and law.
2.
The state and
federal governments established by the Constitutions of the United States and
the State of New York embody basic civic values (such as justice, honesty,
self-discipline, due process, equality, majority rule with respect for minority
rights, and respect for self, others and property), principles, and practices
and establish a system of shared and limited government
(Adapted from The National
Standards for Civics and Government,