The Government Gurus

Welcome back! After tumultuous year due to COVID we are back with our first episode in a year! Today I speak with Ryan Werenka, a Social studies teacher in Troy Michigan. Today we discuss one of the AP foundational documents Letter from a Birmingham Jail and its impacts on the Civil Rights Movement.

When somebody's the President of the United States, the authority is total, and that's the way it's got to be," Trump then said: "The authority of the President of the United States having to do with the subject we're talking about is total." And after speaking about local governments, he said, "They can't do anything without the approval of the President of the United States."In this weeks episode I speak with Dr. Patrick Hickey a professor with West Virginia University about Presidential Emergency Powers and what the president is constitutional actions the president is authorized to take.

In this episode I interview Dr. Lindsay Chervinksy, author of a new book called "The Cabinet" George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution. In this episode we dig into the purpose, framework and history of the closest of advisers to the president.

We're back! After a long layoff I discuss upcoming cases in the Supreme Court dealing with LGBTQ rights and Suspect Classification. After the Obergefell v. Hodges case, there has been a surge in business and employers refusing service and firing their employees based on their sexual orientation. In this episode, Gurus founder Alex Bennett discuss the complicated questions that need to be answered by the court.

In this episode, I have the distinct honor of speaking with Mary Beth Tinker who brought a constitutional challenge to the Supreme Court and challenged the idea of free speech in public schools. Welcome to the Government Gurus

In this episode, we welcome back Andrew McBurney who discusses an assignment using the Twilight Zone. Together we discuss the process of Due process and what the courts generally recognize as your legal rights vs. your fundamental rights that are not listed in the Constitution. Welcome to the Government Gurus.

In this episode, I speak with Carolyn Homer, a First Amendment lawyer who works with the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington D.C. Today we discuss the two important clauses within the First Amendment, the Free Exercise Clause, and the Establishment Clause. We also look at two important cases required by the College Board. This is the Government Gurus.

In this episode, Tom Richey and I discuss Brutus I, the Anti-Federalists refutation of the Constitution and Federalist Papers. What issues and concerns did Brutus have about the Constitution? What powers granted to the new federal government frightened them? We tackle the rather difficult yet essential writings of Brutus I, this is the Government Gurus.If you loved hearing Tom, check out his podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and the Google Play App. Search Tom Richey!

In this episode, I speak with Lata Nott, who is the Executive Director, First Amendment Center at the Freedom Forum Institute. She is also the host of The First Five, a podcast dedicated to the five First Amendment freedoms. In this episode, we discuss the First Amendments purpose and free speech; the protections afforded and the limitations of our most important freedom.

In this episode, I speak with Linda Monk, a world-renowned constitutional scholar about her new book "A Bill of Rights: A Users Guide." We also discuss the history and purpose of the Bill of Rights and its importance it has in achieving full protections of civil liberties and civil rights for all.

We're back! After a long break, we are ready to continue to record! In this episode, Andrew McBurney and I discuss Political Ideology how these beliefs form and evolve over time. We will also discuss how ideology and core values influence policy-making.

In this episode, the Gurus analyze Federalist No. 78, written by Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton must defend the idea of an "insulated" judiciary and try to convince Anti Federalists that the Judiciary Branch is by far the weakest and least dangerous of the three branches. This is the Government Gurus.Please visit our new store! Each purchase provides a donation to our podcast! www.cafepress.com/thegovernmentgurusJenifer Hitchcock: Ms. Hitchcock is a James Madison Fellow who teaches AP Government is Fairfax County VA. She is also the author of Lovgov, a blog dedicated to her experiences as a teacher.

In this episode, the Gurus analyze the reasoning behind a unitary executive. In this paper, Alexander Hamilton discuss what an "energetic" president could do for an executive and the reasoning the Constitution and the newly formed Republic would need a single executive. With me again, is Jenifer Hitchcock, an AP Government teacher from Fairfax, VA, this is the Government Gurus.

In this episode, the Gurus tackle Federalist Paper 10. James Madison's first paper in the series of essays. In this paper Madison argues that one of the strongest arguments for a new Constitution was the fact that it establishes a government capable of controlling the violence and damage caused by factions. Madison defines factions as groups of people who gather together to protect and promote their special economic interests and political opinions. Although these factions are at odds with each other, they frequently work against the public interest, and infringe upon the rights of others.This episode is hosted by Alex Bennett and Kate Woddail.

On this long awaited episode, I speak with Julie Silverbrook from ConSource. Its mission is to increase the understanding, of the U.S. Constitution by connecting students, teachers and others with the documented history of the Constitution. Today Ms. Silverbrook takes us on a journey about the development of the Federalist Papers and their significance.

The Gurus are back!!! Hosts Alex Bennett and Jenifer Hitchcock examine the how the Founding Fathers responded to the Constitutional Crisis created by the Articles of Confederation.The Gurus examine how James Madison, the Father of our Constitution completely changed the goal of the Convention and revolutionized the structure of our government, creating the framework which has lasted 228 years. Please join us as we continue our exciting adventure!

This week, the Gurus assess the impact of the first Constitution that our country ratified. Major themes of this episode include a review of the Declaration and Social Contract theory, the structure & weaknesses of the Articles and the events that led America to a Constitutional crisis. This podcast is hosted by Alex Bennett & Kate Woddail.

In this podcast the Government Gurus look at the Declaration of Independence and the impact it had on the development of democratic ideals and how they influenced the Constitution. This episodes hosts are Alex Bennett and Jenifer Hitchcock.

This is the pilot episode for Government Gurus! A podcast developed by AP Government teachers that covers the new College Board Curriculum. This episode is hosted by Alex Bennett and Jenifer Hitchcock who outline the purpose and objectives of the new podcast.