1. CQ Press Lecture Spark
February 1, 2018
Connecting current events to your American Government classroom

2. Government Shutdown 2018
On January 20, due to the lack of funding, a government shutdown occurred. Federal workers were furloughed and national parks closed.
The government reopened on January 23.
What were the events that led to a shutdown this year?
Video is from CBS News on January 19, 2018 and offers a brief summary of the events leading to a shutdown in January.
The following will help answer the questions: What is a shutdown and, objectively, why did it happened?
“US government shutdown: How did we get here?”
BBC News: US and Canada 22 January 2018
“This Is What Happens During a US Government Shutdown” By Daniella Diaz
CNN Sat January 20, 2018

3. Government Shutdown 2018
This ABC News clip, How does a government shutdown affect Americans offers a brief look at the impacts of shutdowns.
How do you think a government shutdown might impact you and your family?
There have been 19 since 1976
Shutdowns might be viewed as a byproduct of a system of Separation of powers
Two of the longest occurred when one party controlled the Congress and Presidency: Jimmy Carter and The Democrats in the late 1970s
“The History Of Government Shutdowns In The U.S.” Ron Elving NPR: Heard on All Things Considered January 18, 2018, 4:16 PM ET

4. Key Concepts
A government shutdown is a political decision, so parties get the blame or the credit for their actions.
Republicans control all three branches of government
60 votes are still needed to overcome a filibuster in the Senate - GOP only has 51 votes
Short-term spending bill passed
Some found fault in Democrats for not agreeing to a short-term deal that also extended CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program).
Some Democrats viewed their leadership’s willingness to fund a wall to be a breach of the party’s priorities.
The Republicans still needed minority party support to overcome a Democratic filibuster and Senate Dems did not provide enough votes for the initial spending bill. This triggered the shutdown.
The vote demonstrates the power a minority party can have in the Senate versus the lack of power in the House. A minority party in the Senate can, among other things, vote to shut down the government to try to get a better deal at a later day. A minority in the House has no such power.
This isn’t the first time a shutdown occurred during an era of one-party government. Though the shutdowns during the Clinton and Obama years were, in part, due to divided government, the government shut down during the era of Jimmy Carter when Democrats controlled the White House and both houses of Congress.
General negative response to Schumer deal:
“Democrats' shutdown deal looks worse and worse” Chris Cillizza, Editor-at-large
CNN Updated 1:15 PM ET, Tue January 23, 2018
Mixed (but mostly negative) liberal responses to Schumer deal:
“Liberals livid after deal to end shutdown” By Elana Schor
POLITICO
01/22/2018
Trump and GOP are to blame for shutdown:
“Poll: More voters blamed Trump and GOP for shutdown than Democrats” By Steven Shepard
Trump and Democrats are to blame: “Poll: Democrats, Trump to blame for government shutdown” By STEPHANIE PERRY and JOHN LAPINSKI
NBC News
JAN
Republican response to Schumer deal to end shutdown:
Newt Gingrich: “Schumer Shutdown turns into Schumer Surrender” Newt Gingrich
Fox News
24 January 2018

5. Assessment
Writing: Should Congress end filibusters when it comes to short-term spending plans, making government shutdowns less likely?
Debate: Government shutdowns are a robust sign of democracy because, sometimes, parties have differences of opinions that cannot easily be overcome.
Poll: Who do you blame for the shutdown: Republicans, Democrats, or both?
Short Answer: Given that the 2018 shutdown only lasted 3 days, why do you think there was so much media attention given to it?
Current events quiz:
1. T/F: No government shutdowns occurred during the presidency of Jimmy Carter
2. T/F: Many liberals were angry that Senate Minority Leader seemed to offer support for money to build the border wall as a concession during budget negotiations with the White House.
3. T/F: The 2018 shutdown was the first to occur with one party in control of the White House and both houses of Congress.
4. During a government shutdown:
National parks remain open
Congress does not get paid
Members of the military get furloughed
The White House shuts down
All of the above
None of the above
The longest government shutdown occurred during the presidency of
Jimmy Carter
Ronald Reagan
Bill Clinton
Barack Obama
Answers:
False
True F C