Class Sessions

 

Text Reading | Topics | Text Discussion Questions

At the conclusion of this session please post your discussion questions for the text and  for the case study as a single set of responses under the heading DQ9.

 

Session 9: Rights & Constitutional Rights
 
Reading Assignments: 

Traer Text: Chapter 7 

Founding Documents: Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution

 

  Session Nine Topics:

Text Topics:  Humans & Animals, Human Rights Law, International Law, Human Rights Treaties, Regional Treaties, Environmental Rights, Sustainable Development, Right to a Healthy Environment, Regional Environmental Enforcement, Animal Rights, Humanitarian Law, Rights Claims, Inherent Value, Critical Arguments, Rights & Right, A Rights Strategy

Founding Documents Topics: Source of Rights and Liberties, Role of Governments in Society, Individual Rights, Rights of Nature, Legitimacy of Governmental Intervention into Environmental Issues.


  Text Discussion Questions

Please complete these text discussion questions. Be sure to research your answers and include APA citations and references

From Chapter 7: Answer questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11, & 12.

From Founding Documents Readings:

1.        From where do citizenship and constitutional rights emanate. Explain

2.        To what degree are "nature's" rights reflected in the founding documents. Once again, explain the rationale behind your answer.

3.        Read the article "Introducing the Constitution to Congress," and discuss whether the U.S. Congress and the President have any authority to legally regulate the environment.

4.        Some argue that the constitution is not "green enough" and should be amended to insure that every citizen has a right to a clean and healthy environment.  Would you favor such an amendment or oppose it? Explain your rationale.

5.        Currently do you believe the U.S. Constitution is a "living document" that must be reinterpreted in terms of new knowledge, values and from the perspective of other nation's laws and constitutions or do you believe it is a set of foundational principles that must be adhered to in their current format? Consider the position of the blogger who goes by the pseudonym Joe Btfspik in "Interpreting Our Constitution: Living Document or Original Intent" and tell me which of these two positions you favor and why.

6.        To what portions of the Constitution do lawmakers look to provide authority for environmental legislation and policies? Explain the rationale used to apply these sections of the constitution to environmental issues.

Please include the question in the text followed by your answers. Cite and reference all answers in APA format. For all textual citations include the page number where the cited information can be found.

 

Class Sessions