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| Chapter 2: The Founding and the Constitution |
| You Decide |
| This exercise relates to Chapter 2’s Policy Debate “A Federal Marriage Amendment?” |
| 1. Read these articles detailing the specific benefits of marriage:
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Taxes/P48908.asp
http://www.msaclu.org/marriage.html
http://www.religioustolerance.org/mar_bene.htm
Based on what you’ve read, list three benefits to being married. Do homosexuals face a financial penalty for not being allowed to marry? |
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| 2. Read this article summarizing the 2006 New Jersey Supreme Court decision:
www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/25/gay.marriage/ Explain the ruling. Why did three judges dissent against the ruling? How would you have ruled? |
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| 3. Watch this clip:
Copyright © MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International Inc. 2007—All Rights Reserved. Comedy Central is a registered trademark of Comedy Partners. What did Bennett mean when he said this debate is over? |
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| 4. The following Web site from the Polling Report includes numerous survey results by several different organizations:
www.pollingreport.com/civil.htm Do the various Polling Report survey results support Bennett’s point? Explain. |
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| 5. Do you agree with Jon Stewart’s analysis that the debate is about whether being gay is part of the human condition or just a random fetish? |
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| 6. How should the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the Constitution be applied if some states continue to allow gay marriage? |
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