1.  Define the following words as used in the article:
-retroactive (para. 1, 2, 6)
-disparity (para. 4)
-punitive (para. 4)

2. a) What is the U.S. Sentencing Commission?
b) What did the U.S. Sentencing Commission vote unanimously to give retroactive status to yesterday?

3.  Who will decide whether a person convicted on crack-cocaine charges will be eligible for a lower sentence?

4.  The vote by the Commission yesterday came after what ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court this week?

5.  Under federal law, what is the mandatory sentence for a crack cocaine conviction?

6.  List the five factors Commission spokesman Michael Courlander said they considered before voting to make the amendment retroactive.

7.  Why did U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey oppose retroactivity of the amendment?

8.  Sentencing guidelines are much more severe for crack cocaine than powder cocaine.  Statistics show that about 80 percent of the federal inmates behind bars for crack offenses are black.
Sentencing for crack cocaine is more severe because 20 years ago, when the sentencing was written into law, it was widely assumed that crack cocaine was more dangerous than powdered cocaine.
a) Do you support the amendment to the sentencing guidelines?
b) Do you think the amendment should be retroactive?
Explain your answers.