In the following questions, you cannot only answer “yes” or “no.” You need to give your reasons.

Note:

In the following questions, you cannot only answer “yes” or “no.” You need to give your reasons.

(1) A few years ago, Kansas State Board of Education adopted a resolution, which stated that it was not mandatory for public schools to teach the theory of evolution. The Board of Education, dominated by individuals with a conservative point of view, though did not say that schools should teach theory of creation, i.e. God created the world, it did not like the theory of evolution.

Question: Can the federal government pass a law to require all public schools in the country to teach the theory of evolution?

(2) Suppose that the New York City Police Department cannot effectively deal with street robbery and residential burglary in the city.

Question: Can the federal government pass a law to make street robbery and residential burglary federal crimes so that federal law enforcement agencies can get involved in cracking down on street crimes in New York City?

Note: The question is not whether NYPD can ask for federal assistance. The question is whether the federal government can pass a law to make street crimes in NYC federal crimes.

(3) A person goes to Florida and purchases 10 pounds of cocaine. He brings the drugs back to New York City and sells them on the streets.

Question: Can the federal government pass a law to make this kind of drug trafficking a federal crime?

(4) A homeless person on New York City streets is murdered.

Question: Can this be a federal crime?

(5) A postal worker is assaulted while working in a post office in New York City.

Question: Can this be a federal crime?

(6) You are a member of an ethnic minority group. Suppose you apply for a State University and it rejects your application based on the policy that the University admits only white students. This is a clear case of racial discrimination.

Question: On what legal ground can the federal government pass a law to make the practice illegal?

(7) You are a member of an ethnic minority group. You travel to a southern state from New York. You come to a small town and want to stay in a hotel. The hotel owner refuses to accommodate you because you are from an ethnic minority group. This is a clear case of racial discrimination.

Question: On what legal ground can the federal government pass a law to make the practice illegal?