Using NewsHour Extra Feature Stories

Overview: NewsHour Extra features stories can help students identify and interpret key issues in current events. This activity anticipates one class period, but the follow-up essay might be assigned as homework, or in another period.

Warm Up: Use initiating questions to introduce the topic and find out how much your students know.

Main Activity: Have students read NewsHour Extra's feature story and answer the questions on the reading comprehension handout.

Discussion: Use discussion questions to encourage students to think about how the issues outlined in the story affect their lives and express and debate different opinions.

Follow-up: Students can write an 500-word editorial on the topic expressing their views and send it to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org] for possible publication.

Evaluation: Students are graded on their answers to reading comprehension questions and/or their editorial.

Story: Afghan's Gather to Debate and Adopt a New Constitution: 12/10/03
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec03/afghan_12-10.html

Initiating Questions:

1. What is a constitution?

2. Why is the Constitution of the United States important?

3. Afghanistan is currently drafting a constitution for the first time. What difficulties might that country face?

Reading Comprehension Questions: (click here for printout)

1. What is happening in Afghanistan this week?

Hundreds of tribal elders are gathering in the Afghan capital, Kabul, to debate and adopt a new constitution in a traditional assembly called the loya jirga.

The 500 participants in the meeting were selected during secret ballot elections in 32 provinces over the past few weeks.

2. What happens after the loya jirga adopts a new constitution?

After the loya jirga adopts a constitution -- debate is expected to continue over the next few weeks -- the next step will be presidential and parliamentary elections next year, according a political process outlined by the United Nations.

3. Describe the role of religion in the draft constitution.

The draft starts by declaring that "Afghanistan is an Islamic Republic." Followers of other faiths are free to perform their religious ceremonies as long as these do not undermine Islam, according to the document. In addition, "no law can be contrary to the sacred religion of Islam and the values of this constitution."

4. What kind of presidency is outlined in the draft constitution?

The draft constitution envisions a strong presidency, elected directly by the people, with five-year terms and a limit of two terms.

5. Why was the position of prime minister eliminated in the final version?

It was thought that a prime minister could become a political and military rival to a president.

6. Why do some Afghans want a prime minister?

Critics like Ranjbar disagree and believe that Afghanistan needs a parlimentary system with both a president and prime minister. "A presidential system is dangerous after decades of totalitarian regimes, it is more likely that giving so much authority to a president will eventually lead to another dictatorship," he said.

7. Name three other criticisms of the draft constitution?

Human rights groups have said the draft constitution does not adequately protect women's rights, or create an independent court system. Student groups have protested that it does not guarantee the right to free higher education.

8. What is "Operation Avalanche"?

Thousands of U.S. and Afghan soldiers are conducting raids on Taliban strongholds throughout the country. Military officials say "Operation Avalanche" is the largest operation in Afghanistan since the end of the war to overthrow the Taliban two years ago. So far, the military says the mission has had success, although two military blunders have caused the deaths of 15 children and several adult civilians.

Discussion Questions (more research might be needed):

1. How is the situation in Afghanistan similar to when the United States drafted its constitution in the 1780s? How is it different?

2. Do you think Afghanistan can be an "Islamic republic" and a democracy at the same time? Why or why not?

3. If you were part of the loya jirga, what would you fight to be in the new constitution? What would you oppose?

Send your answers, in essay form, to extra@newshour.org for possible publication!