First, to balance the roles of the small states and the large states. In the electoral college, each state gets 1 elector per representative and senator. As the House of Representatives is based on population that gives a degree of influence to the larger states. However, each state has the same number of senators which gives the small states a degree of influence.

Second, the constitutional convention did not believe that a national electorate really would have sufficient information and knowledge about the candidates to intelligently vote. The Constitution was written at a time when there was no internet, no television, no radio, no telephone, and no telegraph. The primary method of communication between communities was by mail. For the most part, what a resident of Savannah, Georgia knew about what was going on in Philadelphia or New York depended on the contacts of the local newspapers. The framers thought that letting the state legislatures pick a group of informed citizens to participate in the election of the president was the best way of getting a somewhat knowledgeable vote.

Third, even with that, the framers really did not expect too many clear choices to emerge other than the rare George Washington. The rules that the constitutional convention established (two votes per elector, with no more than one from any state) were meant to serve as a mechanism for nominating candidates with the House to actually choose the President and Vice-President. (This part of the reasoning failed as the framers did not think that national parties would form. They were wrong. As a result, the rules got changed after the election of 1800).

This last reason — intended to make the final choice of the President rest with Congress in most elections — is why the electoral college was not designed to strengthen the executive branch. The framers thought — as the only popularly elected part of the government — the House of Representatives would be the strongest "branch."

At the Democratic National Convention in 2004, freedom of speech zones were set up. Apparently the entire country is not a free speech zone, but there are little areas where we can congregate and speak freely.

4th Amendment
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

DUI checkpoints- While I in no way endorse drunk driving as thousands are killed annually from it, DUI checkpoints are a direct violation of the 4th amendment. Random search and seizures based solely on where one is driving is unconstitutional.

The TSA’s controversial patdowns are another violation of the 4th amendment, but there’s a simple solution to this one: Don’t fly. However that’s not an option for many, so thousands of Americans unwillingly get groped by people in the name of security. Benjamin Franklin once said "He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither.", and that’s as true now as it was back then.

5th Amendment
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

This one just became public, but it’s a big one. Terrorist and American citizen Anwar al-Awlaki was recently killed in a drone strike. This blatantly violates the 5th amendment beacuse he was not given a trial, but he was "deprived of life…without due process of law". The president can now order the assassination of an American citizen who he thinks is bad.

Our constitutional rights are constantly being disregarded. Only a moral society can have rights. Ours is immoral.

Further, I’ve read the BF&M, I know what basics of the Baptist denomination are. I’m looking for specifics; thus I’ll ask a few pointed questions. Any of the workings of the SBC you’re willing to share outside my questions is fine as long as its facts or your interpretation of facts; again, no preaching.

About the Southern Baptist Convention church service:
1) Are there many hymns? Is this done with a choir or is it just the congregation?

2) Is there any specific order to the service? Any specific prayers or doxologies that are usually present? Passing the peace?

3) What kind of tone does the pastor tend to use? Does he preach forcefully or more conversationally? Is it generally loud or soft?

4) Is the topic more often about fearing or rejoicing? Is it more about "With God there is heaven" "Without God there is hell" or is it more lessons on how to live ones life? How many times (if at all) in a given church service does the Pastor refer to the congregation as "sinners"?

5) Do all churches have a deacon or just the moderate to large one?

6) What is worn to church? I’ve heard suits and dresses, but I was reading that the SBC churches in my (northern) city have people attend with jeans, shorts, sandals, etc. Is this generally accepted at other churches (particularly in the rural south) or are other churches more formal?

About the Southern Baptist Convention in general:
1) Are they totally against evolution? Because of individual soul liberty and responsibility, I would think they’d leave that up to the individual, but the only thing I found said "they generally reject evolution". What do they preach at church about it?

2) Are they accepting of personal interpretations of the Bible? I would guess they are (individual soul liberty and responsibility and all) but the perception seems to be that they’re really strict.

3) The BF&M seems pretty open-minded. However, the perception of Southern Baptists seems to be that they hold very fast to some principles that many Christians don’t. Not drinking is just one of them (and from what I’ve read, the SBC is actually divided on the issue) If these principles exist, what are they and to what extent are they followed?

Alright, I think that’s about everything. Sorry for writing a book there. However, the more you can give me the better. Thanks in advance for your help.

One last thing: I can see how some of these questions could be interpreted as offensive. I truly don’t intend it and am sorry if I have offended you. I plan to portray Christianity and the SBC in a positive way.

1. Some SBC have a choir, and in some the body does all the singing, there are at least 4 hymns
2. Yes, there is a specific order to the service, but the order is set by the body. The basics though are, Opening Hymn, Offering Hymn, Offering Prayer, Hymn, Messages, Hymn, Sermon, Invitational Hymn, Invitation, Closing.
3.Depends on the Pastor.
4.I have seen Hellfire preachers and Fluffy Jesus preachers.
5. All SBC have Deacons, none have just one.
6. There is one body I know of where the dress code makes you feel like you are back in the 1950s when you walk in the door, and another in which the dress code was a loin cloth, like John the Baptist wore. And everywhere in between.

1.Evolution is unproven, and not accepted as policy by the SBC. It is taught in SBC schools though.
2. Somewhat accepting, but it is a very limited acceptance. They are more accepting of a body-wide interpretation
3. Not drinking and not dancing are firm principles of the SBC. My guess would be that only 1/2 the members abide by those restrictions.

If you really want to know about the SBC, go attend a few services at different bodies. There are differences between bodies. There is one I know of which will not do any contemporary Christian songs in their worship, and another one which has their own Christian Rock band. There is one body I know of where the dress code makes you feel like you are back in the 1950s when you walk in the door, and another in which the dress code was a loin cloth, like John the Baptist wore.

Also, is it a pretty feasible walk to the convention center? I won’t have a car. I’ll probably be walking back at night some days as well. Thanks!

That part of San Diego is VERY safe!!!

2.Which statement does NOT accurately compare Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson?
a.Both ran for president in 1912.
b.Both used presidential power to promote pragmatic change
c. Both took significant symbolic steps to break down barriers to racial segregation.
d.As his re-election Champaign neared, Wilson began advocating programs that fit Roosevelt’s “New Nationalism” ideas.

3.“Under the “Roosevelt Corollary” the U.S.:
a.Agreed to abstain from interfering in the internal affairs of the Caribbean nations
b.Declared the canal zone open to all nations
c.Established a system of mutual financial and commercial obligations with Panama
d. Justified intervention in the internal affairs of Caribbean countries.

4.It provided emergency food, clothing and medical care to war refugees including whites’ southerners, and took charge of setting freed people on abandoned land after the civil war.
a.The compromise of 1877
b.The populist party
c.. The freedmen’s Bureau
d.The freedmen’s Act

5.How did the United States pay for the costs of its involvement in World War I
a.Subsidies from Britain and France
b.Reparations from defeated Germany
c.Borrowing from U. S. Citizens
d.Inflationary currency manipulated by the Federal Reserve

6. Characterize the “Fourteen Points”
a.A pragmatic list of specifics undergirding Wilson’s desire to mediate an end to the war
b.An idealistic vision for a postwar world order freed of militarism and selfish nationalism
c. A blueprint for a punitive peace that would prevent any resurgence of German aggression
d. A code of moralistic guidelines for future diplomatic practice

7.The Treaty of Versailles never received Senate ratification because
a.The vast majority of Americans came to opposed it
b.Wilson himself came to oppose i
c.Wilson could not compromise and appeal to the “mild reservationist Republicans.
d.It would have destroyed U. S. national security

8.The attitudes and public behavior in America immediately after the end of the war have been given the label:
a.The “Red Scare,”
b.“Normalcy.”
c.The “Great Euphoria”
d.The “New World Order.”
9.One of the most important economic transformations in the years after World War I was:
a.The shift from industry’s reliance on railroads to reliance on the automobile.
b The shift in production from heavy industry to consumer goods and services.
c.The move from the Northeast and Midwest to the West Coast as the country’s industrial heartland.
d.A change from a more cooperative to a more adversarial relationship between government and business

10The Homestead Act, did all of the following except:
a. Provided land to every head of family who was a citizen or who intended to become a citizen.
b. Provided up to one hundred and eighty acres of public domain.
c. The Homesteaders were required to live for 5years on the land
d. After 6 months on the land, they could purchase it outright for one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre.

11.The word reconstruction refers to
a.The political process by which the rebel states were to be restored to the union
b.All states were required to a constitutional convention to decide the rate of confederate
states
c.The confederate states were to decide the appropriate time for restoration to the union
d.The appropriate time for the emancipation of the slaves.

12.All of the following states were members of the confederacy EXCEPT
a. Virginia
b. Kansas
a.South Carolina
b.Florida

13.How many states that actually left the union and formed the confederacy
a.9
b.13
c.10
d. 11

14.Which was the last state to be readmitted into the union
a.Tennessee
b.North Carolina
c.Georgia
d.Alabama

15.All of the following were southern states that had agree to the Lincoln Plan, EXCEPT
a. Virginia
b.Tennessee
c.Arkansas
d.Louisiana16.

16. This Act in 1917, exempt met under twenty-one from the draft
a. Selective Service Act
b. The Sedition Act
c.The conscription Act
d. The War Intervention Act

17.In 1920, led by Roger Baldwin, this organization was formed to guard against a repetition of shameful chapter in American Judicial History
a.The workers Union
b.The American Freedom Union
c.The Industrial Workers of the World d The American
d. Civil Liberties Union

1) A, A large majority of American voters now favored it.
2) IDK.
3) A, Agreed to abstain from interfering in the internal affairs of the Caribbean nations
4) C, The Freedmen’s Bureau
5) A, Subsidies from Britain and France
6) A, A pragmatic list of specifics undergirding Wilson’s desire to mediate an end to the war
7) A, The vast majority of Americans came to opposed it
D, The “New World Order.”
9) IDK
10) D, After 6 months on the land, they could purchase it outright for one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre.
11) A, The political process by which the rebel states were to be restored to the union
12) B, Kansas
13) D, 11
14) A, Tennessee
15) D, Louisiana
16) A, Selective Service Act
17) D, Civil Liberties Union

I hope this help.(:
Fan me, so I may be able to help you in the future.(:

If you don’t want to use that, then look it up on google or something to that affect.

Slacking off in high school will not get you anywhere, it’ll only make it 10 times harder when you hit college.

Good luck.

http://www.conventionscene.com/