Issue 1: Sanctuary Cities

1. After looking at the Fox News article on which locations are sanctuary cities (link above), what do sanctuary cities have in common? Why do some places decide to become sanctuary cities?
2. Do you think city governments should always cooperate with state or federal governments? Why or why not?
3. What is a sanctuary city? Why do people support or oppose sanctuary cities? What is your stance?
4. Is Immigration an issue in your city or state? Why or why not?
5. What rights should illegal immigrants have in our country?

Issue 2: Congressional Term Limits

1. Should members of congress be subject to term limits? How many terms should they be allowed to run for?
2. Currently, the Constitution requires representatives to be at least 25 years old and senators to be at least 30. Some have suggested imposing a mandatory retirement age for members of Congress or a maximum age of election. Do you agree? Why or why not?
3. The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits the president from serving more than two four-year terms. Does it make sense to have term limits for the executive branch of government (the president and his or her administration) but not for the legislative branch (members of congress)? Why or why not?
4. Summarize the “for” and “against” arguments for setting congressional term limits. Which position do you agree with? Why?
5. Proponents of congressional term limits say longtime members of congress have an “incumbency advantage,” making them practically unbeatable and less likely to listen to their constituents. Do you think the incumbent advantage presents a problem for true representation in congress? Would term limits solve this problem? What other changes might make races more competitive?

Issue 2: National Privacy Law

1. Using the U.S. state privacy law tracker (link above), look up your state’s privacy law. How would you feel if a weaker national privacy law preempted your state’s privacy law?
2. Read the Tech Policy opinion piece by Vermont State Representative Monique Priestley (link above). Are you surprised by her stance? Why or why not?
3. Which is more important—having access to online content and social media sharing, or privacy? Is there a way to have both? Why or why not?
4. Digital privacy spans many areas of our lives, including government spying on U.S. citizens, parental monitoring of their children, and corporate tracking of consumers. Which of these types of spying is the most egregious? Why?
5. Over history, the federal government has expanded its powers at the expense of the states. Why do you think the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution has not protected state power more effectively from federal encroachment?