Current Events

Citizen Bee questions in the Current Events category will be based on a number of sources. There are no Study Guide entries for this category. To do well in the Current Events portions of the Bee, be sure to study the following:

• Bill of Rights in the News Activities
• Names and offices of Cabinet members
• Candidates and issues of the 2008 general election
• National news stories related to:
• The Constitution and all amendments;
• constitutional principles including separation of powers, federalism, republican government, limited government, and popular sovereignty.

Political Conventions - September 2, 2008
Welcome back to a new school year and Bill of Rights in the News! This week our spotlight is on the First Amendment issues surrounding the Democratic and Republican National Conventions being held last week and next week.
Click here to read the full lesson.

An Impartial Jury for OJ? - September 15, 2008
The not-guilty verdict in OJ Simpson’s 1995 double-murder trial shocked many Americans—some were left believing Simpson had gotten away with murder. Simpson’s recent attempt to publish a book titled “If I Did It,” brought the events of 1995 to the forefront and stirred emotions in many people. OJ Simpson is now facing another trial on charges of kidnapping and robbery. While the jury for Simpson’s trial was seated last week, the process of empanelling the jury actually began a month ago. Throughout this process, the Sixth Amendment’s guarantee of an “impartial jury” for criminal trials has been highlighted.
Click here to read the full lesson.