All of you agree that you will create a democracy. What kind of democracy, though, is up to the settlers. What do you propose? Since the group must draft a constitution for the new nation, what do you recommend for the constitution? (Don’t write the text of it. Just explain what the structure and powers of government will be, according to your constitution.)
Also, what functions must your government perform, and what bureaucracy should be created to perform them? How should your government be structured to carry out those functions? What about politics? How will you choose leaders?
You may refer to the U.S. Constitution for guidance – it’s in the back of your textbook — but consider that a constitution written in 1787 for a new nation of 13 states and several million people might not be exactly appropriate in 2024 a for a tiny island nation of only 10,000 people. Maybe you want a state constitution as your model — or the constitution of another country. (An existing country with a similar size and population is the Republic of Nauru, near Australia.)
(Remember: You have limited human resources in a population of only 10,000, which includes children. Your new nation will grow slowly over time. Whatever government structure you create will obviously have to begin very small.)
CAUTION:
Resist the temptation to propose grandiose plans such as skyscrapers, jet airport, seaport, railroad, huge government buildings, factories, big army, navy, air force, et cetera. This is a tiny island with only the land area and population to match Key Biscayne – and it lacks the financial and economic resources that Key Biscayne has.
Also, do not invent fictional discussions among the settlers or predict what kind of life you will all have. Limit yourself to creating a system of governance that makes policies and implements them, as well as a system of politics that determines who will control that government.
Do not write the text of a new constitution. Just explain what you would include in a new constitution.
Do not quote the text of an existing constitution or law. If you adopt any part of an existing document, just summarize in your own words what it would do in the system you are creating.
Do not propose “amendments.” Amendments are changes to an existing document, but you are creating an original constitution that doesn’t exist yet, so there can’t be amendments. Everything you include is in your original constitution.
Essays found to have been plagiarized, entirely or partially, or generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) will receive a grade of F.
IN SUMMARY:
You and your companions at sea are organizing a new society. What do you need to do to ensure that the society functions well, under law? The knowledge you have gained about the structure, functions, issues and policies of American government should enable you to do some creative thinking about this.
Although the requirement is at least 600 words, you may write more than the minimum if that would result in a better essay. It’s fine if you have fun doing this and being creative. Just treat it seriously — this assignment is not a joke — and submit it in MDC email by 1 p.m. Sunday, April 21.
