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Chapter 4: Civil Liberties

What Government Does and Why It Matters

During the summer of 2006, a proposed constitutional amendment read: “The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.”

Click here to watch coverage of this debate in Congress, and then answer the following questions.

1. Make a list of reasons why this amendment should have passed.

Now watch the below video:

2. Make a list of reasons why this amendment did NOT pass according to the above video and the discussion of the First Amendment in Chapter 4 of your text.
3. What, in your opinion, would constitute flag desecration?
4. Would you have supported this amendment? Explain.
5. If this amendment had passed, it would have been the first time in more than 200 years that the First Amendment had been altered in any way. What, in your opinion, would be some possible consequences of amending the First Amendment?
6. Chapter 2 discussed the way all our Constitution’s amendments refer to substantive changes in how government acts. Would this amendment fall within this category?

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