Does Congress have to much power?

Does congress have to much power today and if so what power would you take away.  And if you think congress has to little power what new powers would you give them

Responsibility By Corina Flake

When I was seven, my cousins, siblings, and I created a small country of our own. For our government, we had a King or a Queen. The first leader was my older sister.

Being a Queen in our country was different than being a queen in real life. The Queen (or King) had three councillors, who helped her decide on what laws were helpful, and which laws were destructive. The Queen had virtually no power. Everyone voted for what they thought was right. Everyone had a say in the way the country was run. Almost the only reason the Queen existed was because sometimes fights broke out between the 'citizens,' such as (from a disagreement between two brothers) -

Kid A: "I had a dream last night that we were all sitting next to a fire." Kid B: "I had a dream last night that we were all standing next to a fire." Kid A: "You stole my dream. Copycat." Kid B: "I did not! That was my dream!" *Fighting*

There really was no reason to have our Queen other than the fact that sometimes, little kids fight. Otherwise, the ruling and decisions were left up to the people. If a squabble came up about a law, the Queen had the final decision. She was the referee. The mediator.

We prospered in the land, everything was bountiful, squabbles were few, it was a wonderful time. After three years, that time ended.

Someone mentioned the idea that we could have a new Queen. The idea! We all talked about it. Everyone seemed to be on the the same page: If I were leader, I could do so much!

We decided that anyone under the age of eight would lead us astray terribly, and an adult would take away all imagination from the country, so we made a law (through a vote) that a person had to be eight to eighteen to be a leader.

After some motivational speeches about how I would be so good at being a leader because I know more about the way a government is run than you, and I can stop fights in a flash, we voted a person into office. The person was me.

I hated the idea of councillors. Why, I was nine years old! I could handle this. I eliminated the system, and now there was a single power. Me. I treated everyone like servants. Please get me this. Could you please do this? Thank you, but I actually wanted this - could you ask Grandma if that would be okay? Eventually I got more demanding. I need this now. Do it. Harder. You have to do better than that. Stop.

Obviously, the citizens overthrew me. My regime lasted four hours and thirteen minutes. After another brief vote, my cousin Sophie got into office.

She decided that our old system was too old fashioned. She eliminated a system at all, other than one person - her - being the leader. She became the dictator.

Two other cousins, my sister and I began a revolution. Thus started the three-year-war.

All of this easily could have been avoided.

The reason our country fell was because we destroyed two things, the first being power by a large group. Without power by a large group, you have a dictator. With too large a group, you have anarchy. You need to find a balance between to the two to have a solid structure.

The second idea destroyed was structure and system. Without that, you have, once again, dictatorship or anarchy. A balance between the two is what you need. This balance is what I call Congress.

Congress is moved and pushed to making different laws by the people. I don't think Congress needs more or less power; the Constitution laid it out well and without many flaws. Although no system is perfect, this is as close to perfect as we can get. The thing it needs is responsibility by the people. John Adams once said, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Congress is fine. I think the minds and moralities of the people need to be changed. When the people are moral and good, the government will be, too.

From Something So Simple

From Something So Simple By Corina Flake

Somethimes I feel tiny and insignificant. I feel as though government and adults and others like them are the ones to really make a change. I'm not old enough to vote. I can't become president. I can't become a congressperson. I can't go into the supreme court. I'm just a kid! I have really no influence at all!

I can, however, state my opinion! I can say what I think, and that idea could take hold in someone's brain. That idea could grow. They could say it so someone else, sharpening it as they did so. That idea, though unlikely, could become huge!

Then the president would have to listen to the idea, or else how would he get re-elected? The congresspeople would have to listen to the idea, or else how would they get re-elected? The supreme court members would have to listen to the idea, or else why would the president choose them for being on the supreme court?

I would have mady a difference, for stating a raw idea. Multiple times, obviously, but when I state an idea, live by it, know my rights, use my rights to help push the idea forward and all in all work to make the idea more than an idea, and instead an action, people will notice. I would have started something.

From something so simple.

America and Me

By Emerson Becker

There are three factors of freedom I think American citizens need to develop: being moral, educated, and keeping the constitution safe. If all American citizens were moral, America would prosper for centuries. We need to be concerned and educated about the revolution and the government. The constitution is one factor of freedom we have but we are letting it slip away. 

One factor of freedom that the people of America need to establish is being moral. Being moral is not seeking for power and riches. It's being good and choosing to do right. Our country needs moral people to have a good government and a good free country. In the Freedom Factorgood morals are something Mr. Mannington doesn't have. He deceives and lies to gain power. He wanted to be a puppet master of the people in the government. George Washington had good morals. He didn't want to be in control instead he wanted the country to be free and independent. A big part of freedom is having morality.

Being educated about laws, government, and the constitution is one of the factors of freedom America needs to develop. Our rights and freedoms are being squandered by our government and those in office. Many Americans are not concerned about this aspect of our country. Mike Dice, who is an internet personality, interviews people on the streets about our laws, our constitution, our president, and our government. It is crazy how much people don't about the laws and the government or about the founding fathers and what it took to build our country.. In the Freedom Factor Bryce Sherwood learns how the constitution preserves our liberty. We could make our country great if we were educated about laws, government, and the constitution.

The constitution is a strong factor of our freedom here in America. The constitution restrains those who would not let others have their freedom. It restrains people like Mr. Taylor from Mr. Smith goes to Washington who use congressmen to satisfy their will. The Constitution magnifies our freedom. The government would be different without the constitution because the constitution is the guidelines of our government. The constitution is one of the strongest factors of our American freedom. 

Morality, education, and saving the constitution are freedom factors that apply to America and me.

What factors of freedom do I need to develop in your life to increase my personal freedom? 

By Shaun Leahy

In a world where freedom is treated as a privilege not a right, I must protect my right. But what is freedom to me? Freedom has many personal means to others but, to me freedom is simply having the right to be who I want to be and do what I need to do. But how would I increase my personal freedom? When I just a kid? Well, as a kid you can do things such as become trust worthy to you parents and they will give you more freedom. You can wash the dishes after diner or clean the family room. But these are things that you can do right now to increase your freedom there are many things you can do to make sure that are free forever and continue to be free your whole life such as educate yourself so you will know when you are being oppressed and what freedom truly is. I notice that that the title of this paper is about developing my freedom. I agree with that because you cannot be given you freedom no one has can truly own another human. When American slaves where "freed” I didn't just happened it was fought for, it was developed, freedom cannot be given to another because it is something that person already owns, they just don't know it. The way that I am going to develop my personal freedom is by be aware that it is MY freedom it is my birth right to be free as is it everyone's and I want the world to know that they are free but first I must develop my own personal freedom. To increase mypersonal freedom I have to be aware that I am free and so are you.

The Chance by
Corina Flake

America. It brings to mind an idea. That idea is something that every person in every time at some point in their life has wanted, needed, or in rare cases, had.  To be free is a God-given right, and we as people, from everywhere, no matter our upbringing or lifestyle, desire. America gives this chance to people. America gives people their lust for a way out, through hard work. So many people have been blessed and helped by freedom. This is why America is different. Because we have a dream that we work for.

America has one of the only governments to be governed by the people. The people choose the government officials. The people have the power. This adds to freedom. People want to be in charge. They want to be heard. It's a natural human tendancy. And America gives everyone a chance. This is why America is different. Because we make a councious effort to give everyone a chance.

But most of all, we work. That's the heart of it. Hard work, persistance, working to continue the effort. And that is what makes America different. The chance - the duty! - to come somewhere free and work to keep your freedom. That is what makes my country different: the chance of a new life if you truly want it.

Why is America different?

By Jenna Worley

I believe that the foundation of a government is the first and foremost important aspect of any nation; laws and principles should never be arbitrary or unsupported, but rather they should have a logical and orderly pattern. The foundation of the American government is the Constitution of the United States; strong consideration and sincere intentions went into the composing of this document in the hopes that it would "promote the general welfare” of a newborn country for centuries to come.

However, virtuous and honorable leaders might be just as vital to the nation's well being as it's framework because all of the principles and laws within the Constitution need to be kept, not simply neglected. Worthy leaders are those who desire for the constant improvement of a people's situation, security, health and domestic felicity.

The kind of government that can adhere to its standards of morality and teaches uncorrupted values is what makes a country stand out as an example for others, a torch lighting the way. If you want to know how to benefit your country, then read study the Constitution so that you may teach others the value of freedom and as you teach, try to see through the eyes of the valiant men and women who's vision of this country was not based on its present state, but on its potential for strength and virtue.

What Makes America Different?

By Clarence

The biggest thing in my opinion that makes America different is We, the People; the American people is what makes us as a nation different. Right from the beginning with the Pilgrims, Americans were thirsting for freedom, and they continued to. The American revolutionaries and founders also thirsted for freedom and they found a way to preserve that freedom "for themselves and their posterity”. That way was our new and different system of government.

     All over the world there were corrupt and tyrannical kings, emperors and dictators, but in America the founders were tired of tyrants, tired of their rights being abused, so they decided to try something different. They "brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” It was a new government, a true republic, based on the system of equal rights and equal representation but not necessarily equal things. 

     Today some other nations have followed the example of the United States to a degree, but almost none have quite the same system, and almost none have had anywhere near the success we've had with our system. Many other nations have presidents, prime-ministers, and parliaments, etc., but they don't have the limited government, separation of powers, or checks and balances that our constitution provides. 

     As for why this form of government works so well and has lasted so long, I think that is because our constitution is written down, not just a pile of laws and no constitution at all like some other nations. Also it is very difficult to amend, requiring a two-thirds majority of both houses to pass, and three-quarters of the states must also ratify amendments. But perhaps the biggest reason is that it is a "government of the people, by the people, and for the people”, and if we all do our part to keep it that way it will not perish from the earth. 

Laws and Leadership

By Emerson Becker

America and its government are different from other nations past and present. America is a country of mixed culture. The citizens of America have the opportunity to vote on laws and leadership.

America is different because we have a mixed culture, a three branch government, and God needs it to be. America is made up of serval different cultures we don't really have cultural dances or songs because America is made up of many different people and cultures. Our government is another thing that makes our country different. We have a three branch government, which other countries don't have. Another reason that America isdifferent from the rest of the world is because God needs it to be. Mixed culture, our government and God is what makes our country different.

Government in America is different from other nations because we have a three branch government, we don't have a monarchy, and there are no heirs to the throne. Our government has three branches the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial branch. With three branches to hold power, no one branch can hoard all the power. We don't have a monarchy and since we don't have a monarchy there are no heirs to the throne like in England. We elect our presidents. A three branch government, no monarchy, and no heirs to the throne are what make our country different.

American government has lasted for as long as it has because we have a written constitution, elected president, and citizens vote on laws and leadership. The USA is one of the few places that have a written constitution. The people also have access to the constitution to study it. I believe our government has lasted as long as it has because the presidents are only in office for 4-8years. Instead of a king who would rule his whole life time. In Being George Washington it talks about how when America won the revolutionary war they wanted George Washington to be their king. He would not. So it is because of George Washington that American government has lasted so long. Another reason is that citizens of America vote on the laws and the leadership. American government has lasted so long is because of we have a written constitution, the presidents have a limited amount of time in office, and the citizens of America vote on the laws and leadership.

Our government is different from other nations because we don't have a monarchy. We have a three branch government so no branch has all the power. America is different because we have a mixed culture. American government has lasted for 228 years because American citizens can vote on the laws and the leadership. 

America

Katheryn Kidd

The American government is different from the governments of other nations. America has a written constitution, and many other countries do not. We have more freedom than other countries do. America is concerned with the rights of its peoples. Not all countries are. Our American government has lasted a very long time. This may be because our constitution is a good document and has created a good and just government.

Our constitution is fairly short. It is detailed enough to make the system work but short enough to be accessible. America is a republic, and always has been, so it is rule by law. It was born out of a need of fairness and freedom. It determines how laws will be made and how they will be kept and how they can be changed. It is also flexible so that as the needs of the people change so does the government.

There are many different types of government. There are republics, democracies, dictatorships, and communism. But no other government is like America's. Other republics or democracies have severe taxes, which go to free healthcare, and education but, you don't get to make many decisions. Some countries have no leader or government at all, and are in complete chaos. Or they do have leaders or governments but they are corrupt and sometimes violent.

America is different from all of the other countries. It is "the land of the free and home of the brave” and no other country can say that. America has a just and flexible government and a strong constitution to keep it running smoothly.

The Symbiotic Relationship

In the family we can become who we need to be to help our country. The family is where we learn, grow, and become better. My mom and dad taught me how to read when I was four. We have scripture study every night, which helps us grow spiritually. Spencer W. Kimball said, “Home is the place to save society.” We will learn how to be leaders and how to work with others in our families, which we can’t learn anywhere else. I’m the oldest of six kids. I get to help my younger sibling with things like knitting, chores, and bracelet making.  We also learn to honor our fathers and our mothers, as is stated in the Ten Commandments. The family is where we learn how to protect our freedom and our country.

Our country is important. It should help uphold the importance of the family. Our country can keep us safe, free, and happy. If we didn't have our wonderful country we would not be as free and as happy as we are now. The pilgrims give an example of when a country was important in their lives. They were able to come to this great country to be free and independent. Our country plays an important part in our lives.

My family and my country both are important but my family draws a little ahead of my country. I see it as a symbiotic relationship as seen in the animal world. A symbiotic relationship is when to things help each other and both get something out of it. Clown Fish and Sea Anemones, Pilot Fish and sharks, and the Honey Guide Bird and the Honey Badger are just a few examples. So I think that’s the same with our families and our country. I would say its family that is most important, which helps our amazing country like a symbiotic relationship. 

Opinion Paper: Why is a moral people required for good government?

By Shaun Leahy

Why do governments fall when they started off with an iron will, a strong sense of morals and a tireless philosophy of freedom and rights for the people and turn in to a mad, conniving, thieving society that is thoughtless, corrupt and destructive? What happened to this government? How did these people begin to starve when the country was thriving and became one of the world's largest supplier in grain?

The answer to these questions is an immoral person with a charming smile. Every country that falls has many corrupt men behind it. For the person that represents a country has much influence and will set the tone of the country. A good, smart, uncorrupted government requires moral, sane people in charge. Why because they want to create a solid, stable government that the people truly want.

Another reason is because the moral man is not the one to speak lies that are often told to citizens to control of influence them. An immoral man speaks lies openly with pride and deception. A nation that is going to be a good nation must know the truth, with a government that will not do anything that makes the people grow ignorant and become unaware of what is happening to them. (Such as the Mao's Communist China, or North Korea today) I have noticed that all corrupt governments are soon replaced with other corrupted governments.

I also feel that the people themselves the regular average Joe are very important to this operation to have a good government the people must be involved and that is why I believe that one of the biggest reasons our country is failing is because the citizens of America are becoming less free and less involved in the country to make our nation stornger we must involve the people and they must be recognized for the people make up the country.

My point is that you must have moral people to run the country for they help to determine what is moral in a nation.

I believe that one of the duties of a citizen is to make sure that the person in charge is being ethical if they are not the nation will fall. The people do not want a dictator no one in the world wants to be a slave to their own nation, when that is the case, war will break out and unless the charges against this dictator a new corrupted nation would emerge from this fallen one. My point is that if you have strong, smart, moral people to run and be citizens in this nation that it would stay a strong, moral, and sane. If the people remain that way then so will this country.

What are my self-evident rights?

By Shaun Leahy

As human beings, there are certain rights that we cannot survive without. We will be dehumanized without these fundamental rights, and yet, there are countries in this world that are constantly taking away these natural laws, formed by humanity itself. Thought the tempest that is this world, something stands out when people are being unjustly treated. An understanding that we are all meant to be treated by with these standards. But what are they? What is the single most subject that all human beings agree upon? Here are some self-evident rights that I believe that every being wants.

1. The right to be treated fairly in the court of law. Innocent until proven guilty.
2. The right to be heard. By a nation, people, leader or even among friends.
3. Freedom of thought. To think what you want to think.
4. The right to associated with whomever you want to.
5. The freedom of speech.
6. The ability to learn what you want to. Read, write, or other forms of learning.
7. The right to be yourself or who you want to be.
8. The freedom to express yourself in any group.
9. The right to follow who you want to
10. The right to your own religion. To worship as you please
11. The right to express yourself
12. The right to choose your profession
13. The freedom to enjoy life.

These are just some of the self-evident that I believe all people upon this earth should have. If everyone in the world had these rights then we would have a better, smarter and saner society. I wonder what right I take away from people in my everyday life without trying to. I say this because these laws don't just apply to a government they apply to everyone in the world. Although the people should be the government. I wonder what I can to make sure that people around me are at least treated by their fundamental rights. I guess what I can do is to treat people the way I want to be treated. I believe everyone has the same rights, we are all born with these rights. And so to know my rights I must ask myself how I must be treated as a human being and how must I treat others.

The Flame of Liberty

 by Emerson Becker 

"For though the flame of liberty may sometimes cease to shine the coal can never expire," as declared by Thomas Paine. To understand what this statement is describing I'll take it apart. The "flame of liberty” he is referring to liberty as a fire. "For though it may sometimes cease to shine,” I would describe as our liberty is being taken away from us and we are taking it for granted. The "coal can never expire” means at least the idea of liberty will never be completely destroyed. I believe it is a true statement.

When the pilgrims came to America in 1620 for their religious freedom their flame of liberty was burning bright.

Through the years of living in America they took their freedoms for granted and their flame started dimming until it was almost coal.

Then when the king of England George the III started to take away their liberty their coal almost burst into flames. That started the revolution in the 1770's as it became a bonfire.

It burned for a couple hundred years but is now mostly coal. 

Some of us are stoking our fires. The right to own and use fire arms is being taken away. Organic farmers are having more and more regulations. We should wake up to what's going on around us and help bring back the "flame of liberty”.

Why is a good moral people required for good government?

For me, to define this question first I have to figure out what moral people are. The definition of moral is; good, honest, just, decent, and virtuous; a moral person does not lie or steel. To me that means a moral person believes in his/her ideals and tries his/her best to reach them, they have integrity and are honest and willing to do the right thing. They do what is right not what is easy.

Now to define why moral people are required for good government. Well for one thing laws would be bad because they must define the right thing to do and what will help people, if there weren't moral people to make those laws they will fail, and our country will, too. Moral people also must be in existence so that government can continue doing the right thing and elect a good president, as well as governors and representatives for the states and the country. And to explain and make deals and to promote America and Americas well being. That is how I would explain why moral people are required for good government.

Learning from history

Let’s Work Together
by Zack Milne

Abraham Lincoln was glumb
Robert E. Lee was a plumb
One wanted the right
The other to fight
They marched to the beat of thr’ own drum

Abe was a frontier bloke
About good laws he spoke
With Congress he sat
Chewing the fat
Wanting to free the slave folk

He wanted to free all the slaves
he had to be courageously brave
For about his cause
He created some laws
The South thought he was a knave

Robert E. Lee was a dandy
He liked to drink wine and brandy
He rose in the ranks
He didn’t use blanks
With a gun he was so handy

He was a Virginian man
Stick with Virginia, he can
He’ll never stray
Till he gets his way
Creating his battlefield plan

So against one another they fought
Using the strategies they taught
If one side won
The other’d be done
Leaving us to deal with the lot

We can all learn from this story
That one persons might isn’t glory
If we all combine
Life will be fine
Fighting and war is too gory

Define the word stubborn, and is it a good thing to be stubborn?

The dictionary says that stubborn means: having or showing dogged determination not to change one's attitude or position on something, especially in spite of good arguments or reasons to do so. Ok, well imagine if no one in the word was stubborn, everyone would be obedient, and that would be boring! But mostly being stubborn is good, to a certain extent. There is a place to stop though, you should not be stubborn at every single thing a person says, that would be argumentative, and that is not good, what a lot of people in the world need to know is how to tell stubbornness from being plain argumentative, so many people think they are being stubborn when they are being argumentative. Now though I need to tell you what the difference is, ask yourself, are you standing up for something you believe in, or are you standing up for everything, even if you think it might be bad, just standing up for it for the sake of it? Men in the war were stubborn, they stood being tortured, not just for the sake of it, because they were brave, because it was for their country, because it was the right thing to do, it wasn't easy, but it was right. Sometimes thought it is useless to be stubborn, if the object is impossible to reach, like in this quote: In the face of an obstacle which is impossible to overcome, stubbornness is stupid.

Simone de Beauvoir

In conclusion, stubborn is a good thing, if you are doing it for the right reasons.

There's a fine line between stubbornness and the positive side of that, which is dogged determination.- Jeb Bush

What is your personal responsibility to America and freedom?

What is your personal responsibility to America and freedom?

I as an american belive it my duty to do my best to uphold our constitution and the memories of war, peace, happiness and prosperity within it. Fighting for our country to keep the honors of the men and women that died to protect our country, The United States Of America.

I belive that I Will do my duty to America by supporting the troops and helping to provide food and clothing for them. Also helping the homeless and donating clothes to places like goodwill, and St. Vincent de Paul.

There are so many small things that make a difference too! Standing up for bullying, what is right, telling the truth. Standing up for liberty even if nobody notices.
America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and loose out freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves. Abraham Lincon
The law, it protects our freedom. True laws protect people they don't take things and give them to other people, no, true laws let you give willingly to other people. Steeling is ALWAYS wrong, even when it may be a law, or hidden under one, it is still wrong

For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhancesthe freedom of othere. Nelson Mandela I am an american, we have rights, meaning I have some things I can do and nobody else can stop me. But there are some things that I shouldn't do that is where your concience works. It tells you what is right and what is not.

Freedom is never more than one generation away fron extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstreem. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same. Rohnald Reagan

Who Are We? 

We are youth from all across the country who want to make a difference in our community and nation. Our ages range from 11-17, we are all taking a class called Key of Liberty learning more about the American founding and the principles of liberty.

Rather than just complain about things in our nation we don't like or the way our nation is headed we have decided to take matters into our own hands and get an education and share what we learn and do with the rest of the youth of America.

Join us! Help us become the generation of youth who take america to its greatest heights. Share your thoughts with us. Sign up for a Key of Liberty class in your area. Do something good today to change someones life. Above all get and education! Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts with us.

Please Share us with your friends to get the word out.

American freedom. What is my part?

 

The state of freedom we have in America is very uncommon. And it is my duty as a citizen and human being to maintain my rights that are available to all in this country. I believe that America is the place that has gotten the closest to being completely free. I believe that America is becoming less and less free with the government slowly taking over and the reason that is happening is because the American people do not understand the important of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and other important documents that helped to create America and American government. If people understood freedom and how unique their freedom is instead of taking it for granted, then we would be a much stronger country. I know that Americans must be educated and the people must know that they are free for if we do not understand that we are free we will not be. Because people with bad intentions will take it away by corrupting the education system and giving the youth "new ideas” about government, America and our Founding Fathers, that frankly are lies. In this new society we would not appreciate our Founding Father's original philosophy that all men are created equal and the people make up a country. My duty is to know that I have rights and to help educate others so that they are also aware their freedom and rights. I don't believe that freedom is absolute anarchy with no government at all. For that society would immediately fall apart. I believe that freedom is rights and privileges created by the people maintained by the people. My point is that America has freedom but if we do not uphold our ideas of freedom then they will be taken away. So we must learn.