US Citizenship Podcast: Executive Branch

Showing posts with label Executive Branch. Show all posts

Saturday, September 13, 2008

3: Countdown to Constitution Day

Today's Topic: The 27th Amendment

27th Amendment: Congress must limit when and how much its members are paid. 1992.

On January 9, 2008, many elected federal employess got a 2.5% COLA (cost of living) increase. Their last raise was in January 2006.

Congress members annual salaries were raised from $165,200 to $169,300.

Associate Supreme Court Justices annual salaries were raised from $203,000 to $208,100.

Chief Justice John Robert's annual salary was raised from $212,100 to $217,400.

Vice-President Dick Cheney's annual salary was raised from $215,700 to $221,100.

President George W. Bush did not get a raise. The president's annual salary $400,000.

The Fair Labor Standards Act sets the federal minimum wage. The federal minimum wage will be raised from $6.55/hr (05/27/07) to $7.25/hr (07/24/09).

Some cities and states passed laws to make their local businesses pay their employees a higher local minimum wage to match the living expenses in their area. For example:

Workers in California are paid a minimum of $8.00/hr.
Workers in San Francisco are paid a minimum of $9.36/hr.

However, a living wage is the hourly wage that a person must earn to support his- or her-self by working full-time (2080 hours per year). For example:

A single adult need to make $12.10/hr to live in San Francisco. The amount needed rapidly rises with the inclusion of dependents.

ESLPodcast 106 - High School Jobs
I started the day after my 16th birthday, qualifying me for a slightly higher minimum wage.

VOANews: On the Job, at Minimum Wage
About three percent of American workers who are paid by the hour earn the lowest rate permitted by law.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

5: Countdown to Constitution Day

President John Fitzgerald Kennedy

was suceeded by his Vice-President Lyndon Johnson

Today's Topic: The 25th Amendment

The 25th Amendment: If the president dies or cannot serve, the vice-president becomes president. If both die, the Speaker of the House becomes president. 1967.

Office of the President
Office of the Vice-president
Office of the Speaker of the House

VOANew: Making of a Nation: The Presidency of John Kennedy Begins With Great Energy, but Ends in Tragedy
He stood strong against the Soviet Union during the Cuban missile crisis, and proposed a law to guarantee equal treatment of blacks. Then came the gunshots in Dallas in November 22, 1963.

VOANEWS: Making of a Nation: Johnson Takes Over Presidency After Kennedy's Murder
Lyndon Johnson had a lot of political experience. He had been President Kennedy's vice president, and had served for many years in the Senate and House of Representatives.

Monday, September 8, 2008

8: Countdown to Constitution Day

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt

March 4, 1933 – April 12, 1945

Today's Topic: The 20th & 22nd Amendments

20th Amendment: The President used to be inaugurated in March. The inauguration was moved up to January, to stop "lame duck" government. FDR was the last president to be inaugurated in March. The 20th Amendment was added in 1933.

96:83. In what month is the new President inaugurated?

22nd Amendment: The President cannot serve for more than two terms. FDR was elected to four terms as president and died in office. The 22nd Amendment was added in 1951.

96:44. How many full terms can a President serve?
100:26. We elect a President for how many years?
100:80. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?

VOANews: 'Happy Days Are Here Again': FDR, One of America's Greatest PresidentsFranklin Delano Roosevelt served longer than any other U.S. president. With his New Deal, he led the nation through its worst economic crisis. And, until his death, he led America through World War Two.

English Test: Idioms--Cats, Dogs, and Ducks