Name: Malcolm Smith

Constitutional Issues Notetaker & Outline

Opposing Viewpoints

What is your issue? Does the constitution protect the decision

Pro-Con Issues

to end ones own life? Especially if they are pvs (Persistent

ABC-Clio

Vegetative state) or terminally ill.

Facts On File
American Civil Liberties

Is it a local, state or federal issue? This is a state issue because

Union

it would be up to each state if they want to pass the bill. But on

another level, this bill would also be a federal issue because if
passed it would directly affect the constitution. Therefore it would

Find a Law

affect all of America.

Find a Law - Washington State

Washington State Bill Search
Law for Kids

What bill (which hopefully will become a law) do you want

Immigration Laws

to create? I would like to create a bill that would allow a patient in a

Persistent Vegetative State, to have the right to use substitute

II. Background Information on Your Issue: What important people or recent events would
judgment, where a close relative makes important life decisions for

help person
you explain
issuethey
to someone
who
knows
nothing
a POV
based this
on what
would have
wanted,
to end
the about it?

Notes: (Evidence from your research can be paraphrased, quoted, or summarized.)

life of the patient (assisted suicide).

The Supreme Court first addressed the issue of the right to die in 1990 in the Cruzan vs. Missouri
Health Department.
Nancy Cruzan was a 27 year old pvs patient who was pulled from life support.

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Missouri Health Department. Saying that a patient has the
right to decide for their life what they see fit.
A quote by a terminally ill patient, Meg Greene. When you cant function, what is the use of living.
And when it comes down to it. Shouldnt a person in constant misery have the right to end their
life.-

Your Commentary:
MLA CITATION: (paste it here)
How did this source help you understand your issue better?

III. Stakeholders: Who are the current stakeholders in this issue? Who is involved in the

issue?
Notes: (Evidence from your research can be paraphrased, quoted, or summarized.)

Your Commentary:
MLA CITATION: (paste it here)
How did this source help you understand your issue better?

IV. Individual Rights and Common Good:

A. How does this issue impact the Individual Rights?
Individual Rights = The personal rights
Explain the Individual Rights of your bill in your own words. ( If you have a quote or research fact to
support what you are saying, you can include it here.)

Notes: (Evidence from your research can be paraphrased, quoted, or summarized.)

Your Commentary:
MLA CITATION: (paste it here)
How did this source help you understand your issue better?

IV. Individual Rights and Common Good:

B. How does this issue impact the Common Good?

Common Good = The general interests of the whole population

Explain the Common Good of your bill in your own words. ( If you have a quote or research fact to
support what you are saying, you can include it here.)

Notes: (Evidence from your research can be paraphrased, quoted, or summarized.)

Your Commentary:
MLA CITATION: (paste it here)
How did this source help you understand your issue better?

V. How does this issue connect to the Constitution?

Interactive Constitution

(Constitutional Principle, Amendments, etc.)

Notes: (Evidence from your research can be paraphrased, quoted,

The Constitution Simplified

Constitution Book

or summarized.)

Your Commentary:
MLA CITATION: (paste it here)
How did this source help you understand your issue better?

Proquest
Landmark Supreme Court
Cases
Search for current Supreme

VI. Court Case, Research Study or Other Evidence:

Court Cases
Oyez - Multimedia Archive

Notes: (Evidence from your research can be paraphrased, quoted,

of Supreme Court Cases

or summarized.)

United States Dept. of Justice

documents

Your Commentary:

MLA CITATION: (paste it here)

How did this source help you understand your issue better?
VII. Counter Reason Evidence: Address the people who would be against you. Show

flaws in their arguments.

Notes: (Evidence from your research can be paraphrased, quoted, or summarized.)
Your Commentary:
MLA CITATION: (paste it here)
How did this source help you understand your issue better?