ASSIGNMENT: This assignment combines the understanding of the powers of the Legislature from Article 1, Section 8, Paragraph 18 of the Constitution with the research regarding Political Cartoons, their meaning and their elements.

Students will be creating a POLITICAL CARTOON that reflects the purpose, meaning and/or problems with the ELASTIC CLAUSE, as outlined in Article I, Section 8, Paragraph 18 of the Constitution.

THE CARTOON:  Students must create an ORIGINAL Political Cartoon (or, possibly, a meme) regarding the Elastic Clause.  Students must understand the purpose and operation of the Elastic Clause based upon research or classroom discussion. They must also understand the meaning and formats of political cartoons to be considered for credit on this assignment. 

THE THEME: Your cartoon should have a theme of "The Elastic Clause." As an example of the "Elastic Clause," please review the short video at the following website: "The Elastic Clause of the Constitution, A Definition and an Example." This video may give you some ideas for your cartoon/meme. You have some options for your cartoon/meme, that could include such ideas as:

• How the "Elastic Clause" allows the Constitution of 200+ years ago to cover such issues as the Internet, that were not dreamed of in 1787.
• How the "Elastic Clause" allows Congress to make laws regarding almost any topic, as the 18 delegated powers of Article 1, Section 8 can be stretched to fit almost any situation, even if this was not the intention of the Framers.

A WORD ABOUT MEMES: Please refer to this article from the online news/editorial website The Conversation, entitled "Political cartoonists are out of touch – it’s time to make way for memes." Given the information in this article, students MAY elect to create an "Internet Meme" regarding the ELASTIC CLAUSE.

EXECUTION: If you are creating a cartoon, it should be presented on an 8 1/2 by 11 inch format.  It may be hand-drawn or computer created.  Cartoons should look as professional as possible when completed. If you are creating a computer based cartoon, you can use clip art images, cut out paintings or photographs, or any other media that helps make your point. I would like these cartoons to be more sophisticated than "stick figure" drawings, please!

If you are completing a Political Meme, you must use original photographs (meaning that you cannot use the standard meme building websites or apps that are out there, you need to create your own from an image that you have selected.) and come up with original text. It must be VERY CLEAR that you are discussing the ELASTIC CLAUSE in your meme. If I cannot tell how your meme relates to the ELASTIC CLAUSE, you will fail this project. Although the rules for MEMES are not really identified or structured, as are those for Political Cartoons, you should still be attempting to meet one of the elements of Political Cartoons in your work (satire, caricature, etc.).

ELEMENTS OF POLITICAL CARTOONS: If you are completing a political cartoon, you are required to include AT LEAST ONE of the elements of Political Cartoons into your work from the "Interpreting Political Cartoons" Lecture.

GRADING:  Grading for this assignment will be done on the political content of the cartoon or meme, as well as the professional look of the final product. This will be a 50 point graded assignment!

A WORD OF WARNING: Any political cartoons or memes that blatantly steal ideas, images or messages of pre-existing political cartoons or memes will be automatically rejected for plagiarism.

REWARD FOR THE BEST POLITICAL CARTOON: The student that creates the best POLITICAL CARTOON that follows all of the rules and cleverly comments on the Elastic Clause, will receive an AUTOMATIC 100 PERCENT ON THE NEXT CIVIL GOVERNMENT EXAM. If there are no quality Political Cartoon entrants for this project, this reward will be void.