It's a Balancing Act
A LibraryQuest for Grade 12 Virginia and United States Government
 

Introduction for Students

Photo of runner preparing to sprintOur fledging democracy started with the best intentions. A strong central government would do what was best for and desired by the public interest, while still protecting individual rights. When our Founding Fathers wrote the United States Constitution over two hundred years ago, they went head to head over the idea of creating a federal government which would provide for and protect the common good, and the need for securing individual citizens’ rights. Shortly after its ratification, a Bill of Rights was added to safeguard individual liberties and subsequent amendments have further spelled out our rights as Americans.

Preview Activity:

This intention is similar to some of the dynamics that often take place within families or organizations. Can you think of a time when you wanted to assert “your rights” and your parents or some other authority figure either supported you, or wished to protect you and do what was best for or demanded by the rest of the group? What were the circumstances? How did you feel? Why do you think they made the decisions they made?

Record your ideas in your journal or think about it individually, pair up with a partner, and then share with your partner and the rest of group.

The purpose of this LibraryQuest is to explore the delicate and often difficult balance between individual liberties and the public interest. How paramount or sacred are one’s civil rights? How does the public interest influence the liberties and rights of individuals? Should government regulate speech, gun ownership, and the use of one’s DNA if it will serve the common good? These are just a few examples of where these two ideas clash.

In this LibraryQuest, you will become Clerks to the Supreme Court, who will persuade and advise the venerable Justices on what you believe to be the appropriate balance between protecting individual liberties and the needs of the public interest.
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