Supreme Court

1. Why does Washington D.C. have the ability to allow homosexual marriage?
- it's legal there, and the supreme court has denied any challenges to the law.

2. What does it mean that the court will not hear the case?
- They will not change their ruling in favor of gay marriage.

3. What is the National Organization for Marriage an example of and what are they engaging in?

- A linkage institution. working for the rights of marriages.
4. What argument was the plaintiff in the case using?
- Gay marriage is bad.

5. How does Congress oversee the District of Columbia?
- Congress oversees the District of Columbia through the D.C. Home Rule Act.

6. What are the two ways in which D.C. laws allow homosexual marriages?
- the supreme court ruled that gay marriage is a-okay

7. In what ways are those related to Article 4 of the Constitution?
- Congress can amend the constitution to change the ruling.

8. What has happened to the number of license applications in the last 10 months in D.C.?
- The number doubled!

Pro Reforms

1. Why would Democrats want to end filibusters?

- to prevent any more time from being wasted.

2. How can the chamber's rules be changed, according to the Constitution?

- a simple majority

3. What is the Democrat plan for ensuring that these changes are discussed in the new session?
- somehow work the effort of change two ways, one: bring it to the floor. two: keep some other way open just in case talks get them nowhere

4. How are Republicans wording their attacks on this plan to make Democrats look bad?

- tell people that the democrats want to silence the people that are elected to represent them

5. Explain "motion to proceed". (You'll have to look these up)

- to bring a bill up for consideration, or to the floor.

6. Explain "hold".

- how a senator informs his floor leader that he does not want a particular measure to reach the floor.

7. Explain the how a "legislative day" works in the Senate.

- From the the day Senate opens to the day they adjourn