ABOUT COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS: Community Connections is a lesson collection designed for adult learners and community colleges, with the goal of inspiring student civic action. This might be respectful debate or conversation about a local issue, planning a community event, or a creative project that helps connect local, national and global issues.
To use this lesson: First, watch the video and answer the questions below as a warm up. Next, choose one or more of the activities under "Take Action" that best fits your classroom. Or, use the segment above to inspire your own original classroom activities — the spirit of these lessons is to connect current events to actions that make your community a better place for everyone!
SUMMARY
President Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota as tensions rise over two shootings involving federal immigration agents. The 1807 Insurrection Act allows a president to deploy the military to enforce the law, particularly in cases of rebellion or civil unrest.
News alternative: Check out recent segments from the News Hour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
WARM-UP QUESTIONS
- Where is the Trump administration considering invoking the Insurrection Act?
- When was the Insurrection Act originally passed?
- What does the Insurrection Act allow presidents to do that they wouldn't otherwise be able to do?
- Why do presidents use the Insurrection Act?
- How has the Act been used by recent presidents?
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
- Based on what you know about what is happening in Minnesota, why do you think Trump is threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act?
- Why do you think the president doesn't have the power to take actions such as ordering the military into cities without the act?
Media literacy: What else would you like to know to better understand how and why the Insurrection Act is used?
TAKE ACTION
How is protest protected by the First Amendment, and what are the potential legal risks for protesters?
Classrooms can use this activity to explore the ways the First Amendment protects the right to protest.
Usethis activity to compare immigration protests to other recent civic actions and protest.
You can also use this activity to set up a class debate about what you think are the best ways for protesters to exercise their civic rights.
For a fuller explanation of the Insurrection Act and what it might mean for the people of Minneapolis, watch the following segment. Then as a class, discuss —
- How might the Insurrection Act change the federal government's law enforcement or military presence in Minneapolis?
- Why do you think the president has not used this power yet this term, despite taking an aggressive approach to deploying federal agents in cities?
Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter with Daily News Lessons and community events.
To provide feedback on News Hour Classroom's resources, including this lesson, click here.
