State of the Union Speech 1962 by John F. Kennedy (excerpt)

Members of the Congress, the Constitution makes us not rivals for power but partners for progress. We are all trustees for the American people, custodians of the American heritage. It is my task to report the State of the Union--to improve it is the task of us all.

In the past year, I have traveled not only across our own land but to other lands-to the North and the South, and across the seas. And I have found--as I am sure you have, in your travels--that people everywhere, in spite of occasional disappointments, look to us--not to our wealth or power, but to the splendor of our ideals. For our Nation is commissioned by history to be either an observer of freedom's failure or the cause of its success. Our overriding obligation in the months ahead is to fulfill the world's hopes by fulfilling our own faith.

Select the correct answer.

Which statement best identifies the author’s purpose in the excerpt?

A.

to remind Congress about its history

B.

to motivate Congress to work together

C.

to report on the current condition

D.

to explain the goals of the administration

legislative branch:

one of the three branches of government divided between the senate and the house of representatives.

- creates or makes laws

- power to override a veto

executive branch:

one of the three branches of government, headed by the president.

- enforces or carries out laws

- power to veto a bill sent to it by congress

judicial branch:

one of the three branches of government, headed by the chief justice of the supreme court.

- interprets laws

- power to declare laws or actions by the government unconstitutional

atman means 'eternal self'. the atman refers to the real self beyond ego or false self. it is often referred to as 'spirit' or 'soul' and indicates our true self or essence which underlies our existence.

there are many interesting perspectives on the self in hinduism ranging from the self as eternal servant of god to the self as being identified with god. the understanding of the self as eternal supports the idea of reincarnation in that the same eternal being can inhabit temporary bodies.

the idea of atman entails the idea of the self as a spiritual rather than material being and thus there is a strong dimension of hinduism which emphasises detachment from the material world and promotes practices such as asceticism. thus it could be said that in this world, a spiritual being, the atman, has a human experience rather than a human being having a spiritual experience.

explanation:

basic principles: federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, judicial review, representative democracy, limited government, rule of law, individual rights and responsibilities, consent of the governed, majority rule, popular sovereignty, equal protection.