1. How did Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein react to President Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey?
"The Times claims Rosenstein told other officials that he might be able to persuade Attorney General Jeff Sessions and then-secretary of homeland security John Kelly to invoke the 25th Amendment."
2. What does Section 4 of the 25th Amendment give the Cabinet the power to do?  Why would they do this? 
It gives them the power to decide if the president is unfit and they may do this if the president is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.

3. What does Congress do if the Cabinet exercises this power?
Congress would need to decide if this can go through, if the president disputes it, and they vote needing a two thirds majority to keep the Vice President in charge. 
4. What happened to the presidency when James Garfield or Woodrow Wilson were unable to fulfill their duties as POTUS?
They "lingered on the presidency" and just let them ride it out since they were still breathing, just less capable.
5. What event finally got Congress to address the problems with presidential succession?
"The chaos and instability that followed John F. Kennedy’s assassination finally spurred Congress to move toward solving these problems. "

6. Besides the powers adressed in #2, what else is covered in the 25th Amendment?

"It provided, finally, for a simple way to fill a vacant vice presidency — the president nominates someone, and both Houses of Congress take a vote."

7. What would have to happen in order for VP Mike Pence to assume power right now?
'The vice president and eight Cabinet secretaries have to do is put in writing that the president is “unable” and send that message to the Speaker of the House and the Senate’s president pro term.'
8. What does "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office." mean?
There is not a definitive answer to what it means but " it could entail not just physical inability but a judgment call on mental health or even, conceivably, poor character or simple disagreement."

9. What could the president do if he disagrees with his Cabinet?
"If the president does this, he or she would get their powers back in four days — unless the vice president and at least eight Cabinet officials say, in writing, that he is still unable."
10. How does this article differentiate this action from a coup?
It says it can feel like one but it is technically not "because it’s indisputably legal and constitutional."

1. What does the "original Constitution" (Articles 1-7 only, no amendments) say about voting rights?

“Suffrage was treated as a privilege reserved exclusively for property-owning white men, but it was not enshrined as an inalienable right in the Constitution.” They did not guarantee the right to vote for anybody.

2. What does Lichtman mean when he says voting amendments are in "negative terms"?

He means that the amendments are defined by what states or the national government can not do, rather than what they can.

3. Why does he think that the Framers left the right to vote guarantee out of the Constitution?

“Because they knew that to get the Constitution established, three-quarters of the states at minimum had to ratify it” so they did not put the guarantee since at the time voting was really only open to white property-owning men.

4. Why does he say that we are now in a "period of backsliding" when it comes to voting rights?

“We don’t have the gross denials of the right to vote that we once did in this country. But we have newer and more obscure forms of voter disenfranchisement.”

5. What forms of voter suppression does he mention?

Voter ID laws, purges of voter rolls, and racial or political gerrymandering are some forms of voter suppression he mentions.

6. Why is it difficult to overturn laws that suppress voting rights?

Without that guarantee of voting in the Constitution, the states really do get to do whatever they like with voting because it has been left up to them for a long time.

7. Where does he expect to see the biggest changes in the protections of voting rights to come from?

He believes state courts are who have the ability and who will change voting rights.

8. What was strange about the way votes in Florida were counted in the 2000 elections?

180,000 votes were invalidated and the votes made the ratio for African American to White votes 1:5 (one out of every 10 blacks was equal to one out of 50 whites.)

9. How many states added photo ID laws for voters after Barack Obama's election in 2008?

Supposedly, 15 states have made their voter ID laws stricter.

10. What kinds of policies does Lichtman suggest that the US needs?

More anti-gerrymandering referendums and same day and automatic registration are some policies he recommends altering/adding.

1. What challenges do Democrats face in winning control of the Senate?

They must win all or most of 6 states and then also win Republican held seats in Nevada, Arizona, and Tennessee or Texas.

2. There are 33 Senate elections happening.  How many are classified as "competitive"?

10 elections look seriously competitive.

3. In North Dakota, why will it be challenging for Heidi Heitkamp to win reelection?

The opponent, Cramer, is close with Trump, who the state voted 63% for in the election.

4. What does polling in Missouri currently tell us about Senator Claire McCaskill?

She has a very good chance of winning even with 44% disapproval because teh polls show a .6 difference between the candidates.

5. In Nevada, what unique situation in Senator Dean Heller in?  How do Nevada voters feel about President Trump?

He is tied to Trump and has repealed things left and right since Trump and GOP money convinced him to do so, and in a state that voted Hillary, with a 51% disapproval rate of Trump, things are harder now for Heller.

6. Who are the two candidates in Tennessee?  How do Tennessee voters feel about President Trump?

Marsha Blackburn and Phil Bredesen; 56% approval of Trump and 40% disapproval

7. In Florida, what advantage does Rick Scott have over Bill Nelson?

Scott has a ton of money that he has no problem spending, whereas Nelson does not and it is putting him behind in the race.

8. In what way might the Florida governor race impact the Senate election?

Andrew Gillum is the first black Floridian to make the ballot for governor and this could boost the Democratic vote in the Senate.

9. What unique stance has Senator Jeff Flake taken in Arizona?

He bashes Trump and describes him as dangerous but votes for his agenda almost every time.

​10.  What has changed about the Texas Senate race since earlier in the summer?

Cruz was leading by double digits but now that has diminished to only a few points lead.

11. In Indiana, why does Joe Donnelly avoid associating himself with Democrats, even though he is a Democrat?

It allows him to appeal to both parties and come off as bipartisan.

12.  Why is it strange that a Democratic Senator represents West Virginia?

Democratic does not seem to fit with West Virginia because Trump won with 68% approval rate which was his highest margin in the country.

Brett Kavanaugh's Confirmation Hearings

Then, answer the following questions:

1. Who holds this meeting and how long is it expected to last?

The Senate Judiciary Committee holds the meeting and is expected to last all week

2. What is the purpose of these hearings?

It is mainly used to vet contenders for the high court.

3. Why are Democrats arguing that this judge may have a conflict of interest in the future?

They are worried due to “his willingness to preserve protections for those with preexisting health conditions, and his stance on gun control, among a slew of subjects.”

4. What do most people expect to be the result of these hearings?

Majority of people expect him to simply sail through the whole thing.

5. What did Brett Kavanaugh do before he was nominated to this post?

He was a DC Circuit Court of Appeals judge before this.

6. Why do you think his role in the Clinton investigation is important to some people?

Due to the fact that it was such a big case and what got his name out there, people would be worried of corruption or who his allies are in such a big scandal.

7. Which of Kavanaugh's political opinions seem the most important to Democrats?

They seem most focused on his views of abortion and health care.

8. Other than Kavanaugh, who else will be questioned in these hearings?

28 witnesses will testify on Friday alongside Kavanaugh.

9. What is the purpose of the Committee voting on Kavanaugh?

The Committee has the responsibility of deciding whether or not to recommend him to the full Senate.

10. How many votes are required to confirm him?  Do Republicans have enough votes now?

The requirement is majority of 51 votes is what is need. Republicans do have enough votes because in order for Democrats to stop his nomination, they would all have to vote the same and sway a couple Republicans.

11. What approach are Democrats taking before the Senate votes on his confirmation?

Activists are urging people to protest and call their Congressmen to pressure lawmakers who have responded to influence like that before.