Cambridge-Isanti Invitational

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Discussion Tasks

Discussion Tasks will be posted here.

Round 1 - 

ROUND I: Section II – Our Democracy From Within – Subpoint D – Status of the U.S. Constitution in the 21st Century

Article V of the U.S. Constitution grants states the power to call a convention to propose constitutional amendments if two-thirds of the states call for it. At such a convention, all states would send one delegate to represent their interests. For any constitutional amendments proposed, each state gets one vote. If a majority of the delegates vote for an amendment, it would be sent to the states for ratification.  

You are Minnesota legislators meeting to explore the current status of the movement to call for a Convention of States and to discuss the pros and cons of passing a resolution to officially call for a Convention of States. Your task is to first determine if Minnesota should pass such a resolution and then generate ideas of what constitutional amendments to propose should a Convention of States be called (with or without Minnesota passing such a resolution).

Round 2 - 

ROUND II: Section II – Our Democracy From Within– Subpoint F – State and Role of Political Parties

The founding fathers warned of the danger of political parties with John Adams famously writing, “There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other.”  You are to discuss the merits and flaws of the American two party system as opposed to the multiparty system of other other democracies.  Determine what it would take for the U.S. to shift to a true multiparty system and come to a consensus on whether or not this would have a positive or negative affect on our democracy.

Round 3 - 

ROUND III: Section II – Our Democracy From Within – Subpoint G – The State of Checks and Balances

Many states have criteria for governors to exercise expanded authority through a special umbrella known as a state of emergency. You are bipartisan legislators meeting about these powers. You all have vocal constituents on both sides saying that it takes too long for the legislative branch to make decisions in an emergency while others worry about a lack of checks and balances if a governor were to use emergency powers, especially if those powers are used for an extended period of time. Both sides look to recent events in other states and the use of states of emergency for their evidence both for and against.

Your task is to propose a bill that satisfies the need for decisions to be made quickly while still providing for a system of checks and balances. Assume that it is agreed upon by both sides that the current provisions are regarded as outdated and a new law written from

Finals - 

FINAL ROUND: Section II – Our Democracy From Within – Subpoint I – Inconsistency Amongst the States 

States vary in their methods of redistricting which often falls victim to partisan gerrymandering. You are members of a nonpartisan organization seeking to bring consistency and transparency to the redistricting methods used across the country. Your task is to determine the scope of the problem of gerrymandering in the United States in general and Minnesota in particular, and to draft a model process states could adopt. You are to explore the redistricting options available and identify the potential risks of each before making your recommendation.