fandomhigh | US Government [Friday, February 2, 1st period]

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US Government [Friday, February 2, 1st period]

"As promised, today we have our first test of the semester," Josh said, then took huge gulps from his mug of coffee. "I'm sure you're all thrilled. If you're not, well, fake it."

He stood up from his desk and handed the test papers to ~~Donna~~ Pam to pass out.

1. The word "democracy" comes from two Greek words. What are they and what do they mean?
2. What year was the Magna Carta signed? Why is it important in terms of the American government?
3. What three things did John Locke believe we have a right to? Which one did Jefferson change?
4. If you had been King George, how would you have reacted to reading the Declaration of Independence?
5. How does the Declaration of Independence begin (initial phrase only: Jefferson loved the compound sentence)?

"Question or concerns that aren't 'what's the answer to number 4?' Ask away."

[OOC: Answer the questions IC or handwave what your grade would've been]

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Collapse like souffle!

Steerpike

Sam Winchester

Princess Irulan Corrino

Jim Halpert

Liz Sherman

JC Broots

Pam Beesly

Turtle Wexler

Cedric Diggory

Real answers, handwave-y, whichever.

Steerpike's answers were almost frighteningly accurate, nearly direct quotes from Josh and from the texts.

He isn't kidding when he says he's a quick study. He's very good at remembering these sorts of details.

Because of the strange happenings that day, Irulan decided to wear her best headdress to Government class. She was studying the questions and answered them all as accurately as she could dispensing the first two answers correctly and hesitating on the third. The fourth question, she answered in the only way a monarch of her time could answer the fourth question: let people believe they have a modicum of freedom, when in truth the monarch would still be holding the reins.

Deceit, after all, was a legitimate tool of statecraft.

The fifth Irulan, once again answered correctly.

She handed in her paper, feeling she's done well with one or two wrong answers. Her final grade though, she felt would largely depend if Professor Lyman agreed with her answer on the fourth question.

1. Democracy comes from the words "demos," which means people, and "kratia," which means authority or rule.

2. The Magna Carta was signed in 1215, and it was important because it laid the groundwork for future documents like the U.S. Constitution, and because it contained the then-unique idea that kings were not above the law, and could (and should) be held accountable for their actions.

3. John Locke said we have a right to life, liberty, and property. Thomas Jefferson, possibly not willing to fight over how to define "property," changed that last part to the even more vague "pursuit of happiness."

4. I'd like to think that if I was King George, I wouldn't have let things escalate to the point of receiving an official Declaration and having to involve my countrymen in a needless and bloody war. I probably would have read the Declaration and just written the colonies off - if they managed to survive without England's help, then they could end up being valuable trading partners later, and if not, at least I'd get the last laugh.

5. ~~We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are~~ When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for...something equally formal sounding.

Liz ~~handwavily~~ got really good marks on the test. She would have at least gotten an A.

Broots answers may have been a little hard to read.
1. Demo means people and kratia means to rule.
2. The Magna Carta was signed by King John in 1215. It was important because it laid out the ground work for our own government.
3. Liberty, property, and right of life. Jefferson took the vague property and changed it to the even vaguer pursuit of happiness.
4. Seeing as how King George was a little crazy? Probably gone to talk to a tree.
5. We hold these truths to be self-evident...

Jim would have gotten a solid B, but he had to write the following for #3:

3. Locke believed we had a right to life, liberty, and property. Jefferson changed property to throwing paper at my head.

He didn't know how that would influence the grading.

Pam's answers were, natch, mostly correct. She likely scored herself a shiny, solid A.

1. Demo means People and Krata means Rule, because people rule! Whooo! In ~~America~~ democracy.
2. 1215. It said that no man, not even a king, was above the law, and, without that, they could never have moved away from the power of the monarchy for a more democratic government. Even if it didn't really happen for another, like, 400 years or something.
3. Life, liberty...and the pursuit of wealth. Jefferson changed that last one to happiness. If you ask me, though, they're the same thing.
4. Oh, if I were king, I'd go for war, too. But mostly because I'd know they didn't have enough money for a proper negotioation.
5. "When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another..."

Turtle smirked at that last one. Trick question. Sam Westing would be proud of her (too bad he was dead).

Cedric took the test and did fairly well considering this government was still very new to him.

Pass notes, fall asleep, whatever.

He's a nice guy.

Irulan approached Josh after the class, taking off her ~~best hat~~ headdress so as not to intimidate him. "Professor, may I speak with you?"

"Of course," Josh said. "What can I help you with?"

"It is no secret that we have differing views in government," Irulan began, trying not to show how nervous she was, "But I think you have mentioned you worked for you government, a very high position one at that and you do very well at your job." She paused. "I come to you now for advice, as future ruler of an empire, what activities do you suggest I join to help me train as a monarch?"

Josh, to his credit, took the question seriously. "You'll have people who will teach you protocol and all of the pointless trappings of power. To be an effective leader, you need to understand how things work. All things. Understand agriculture, and trade negotiations, and how countries--or planets, I suppose in your case--interact. Learn how to think critically, so that advisors can't pull a fast one on you. Understand laws, and how the military thinks." He ran a hand through his hair. "For activities, I steered towards student government and the newspaper. Understanding how power is wielded on smaller levels leads to being effective at it on the grander scale."

Irulan nodded, taking careful note of everything he said but repeated what he said that struck her the most. "I should understand how the smaller levels wield their power, this would help?" She paused and looked around, trying to make sure no one would hear. Paranoia for sure, since anyone who would care to listen was in a universe far, far away. "But what if I consider changing a policy that's been implemented for thousands of years -- such as my people's policy's on machines? Did your people find it hard to change a set of rules that's been established by your founding fathers?"

"We'll talk about amendments soon," Josh said, leaning in and lowering his voice, "but generally speaking, it's very difficult to amend the Constitution. That's not to say it hasn't been done. We've amended the document in a way that we believe to be the spirit of the original. The Founders two hundred years ago had no idea what we would be facing today, so they left us a way to change things."

She wished she had the same leeway, her ancestors were pretty clear on their policy against thinking machines. Still... there must be *some* loop holes.

"I'll look forward to that class, you have given me a lot to think about, Professor. Thank you."

"Any time," Josh said with a small smile.

Jim raised his hand. "What's the answer to number three?"

Josh threw a wadded up piece of paper at Jim's head.

Jim picked up the paper and checked if the answer to number three was on it. Nope. Not number four either.

He'd just have to do the work on his own.

Dawn was about half-solid, but she was there, in class, in about half of Sam's wardrobe. Still tired and shivering and weak, but there. She did have a problem, however.

She raised her hand and tried to ignore that she could see through it. "Professor Lyman? Um...I can't hold a pen."

Josh glanced up, then stared.

"Holy crap."

He took another gulp from his coffee. Nope, she was still...kind of see-through.

"Don't worry about the test," he said promptly. "We can schedule a make-up when you're not all..." his hand flailed uselessly. "It's not permanent, right?"

"I hope not?" Dawn frowned, trying not to think about the alternative. "And, um, okay."

"Want some coffee?" Josh asked. "You look kind of cold."

"Thanks, but I can't hold the mug," she said ruefully, having already tried that this morning.

"Would you like a cup of coffee that's warm and sits on your desk, then?" Josh asked.

She shook her head, wincing as it made her neck ache. "No, thank you."

Josh made a face. "Let me know if you need anything. Trip to the clinic, maybe?"

That made her smile. "As in, 'Hi, I forgot to get my anti-invisibility booster'?"

"Around here, they might have one," Josh said, grinning back.

"Which makes it something it would have been good to know about before yesterday," Dawn decided.

"I see a strongly worded letter to the editor in your future," Josh said, nodding.

Dawn grinned. She really liked Professor Lyman. Kinda like Xander if he'd decided to become a lawyer and work for the government. "Just as soon as I can find someone to take dictation."

Because you cannot write a post without one.

Yes, I signed in while at work just to use that joke as quickly as possible.

*sighs at self*

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US Government [Friday, February 2, 1st period]

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Take the test

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Non testing commentary

Talk to Josh

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OOC

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