US Government Senior Elective
Second Semester Students (2008) scroll down to the red lettering for the Second Semester assignments.
September 6; Introduction, expectations
Map exercise: the states of the US
world map information
We will add to your knowlegde as we go along, and you will be tested on this information.
No homework assigned
September 10: What is government? What are the origins of the US government?
John Locke and the social compact
The Mayflower Compact
US Mayflower Compact
HW assigned: CH 2, sections 1 and 2, study guide
September 12: Origins of the US government
The Critical Period
Creating the Constitution
Ratifiying the Constitution
HW assigned: CH 3, The Constitution, and study guide
September 14: The Constitution, part I
open note quiz on principles and purpose of government
outline of the Constitution
HW assigned: make sure study guide is complete for grading!
September 18: The Constitution, part II
"All tapped out on Civil Rights" writing and discussion
HW assigned: case study on the Whiskey Rebellion
September 20: The Constitution, part III
Comparing Shays' Rebellion 1786 with the Whiskey Rebellion 1794
Whiskey Rebellion.pdfDaniel Shays’s Rebellion.docShays - Whiskey Reb.doc
HW assigned: catch up day. Make sure the "rebellion analysis" is completed and finish all other work for grading!
September 24: review for first test and catch up on all materials
HW: study for test on Wednesday, September 26, covering CH 1,2,3 in text and all materials from class. This is not an open note event!
September 26: Test on Ch 1,2,3 and materials used in class
HW assigned: Bring in your plan for your children's book
Bring in the materials you need go work on your book.
Children's book due on Tuesday, October 9.
Children's Book on Constitution.pdf
September 28: This class will be given to work on the book.
HW assigned: work on your children's book.
Oct 2: Part one of Federalism: Understanding the division of Power in our federal system.
In class work: Federalism reading packet, using Article I of the Constitution, using the 10th and 14th Amendments
Federalism assignment.pdf
Oct 4: Part two of Federalism: McCulloch v Maryland: the elastic clause and federal power
Pay attention to what decisions were made at the national, state, and local levels
In class work: How was the integration of Little Rock Central Highschool an example of federalism?
HW: none. Constitution Children's Book due
Oct 9: Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, Judicial Review
In class: identify with graphic organizers: the checks and balances between the branches
the separate powers of the three branches
the legacy of John Marshall
Legacy of John Marshall.pdf
HW assigned: Summarize each of the first 10 Amendments (Bill of Rights) in your own words. Also summarize the 14th Amendment.
Oct 11: The Bill of Rights
In class: What is due process of law?
View video clips of important Constitutional Supreme Court cases (4).
HW assigned: Find a current event that involves the Bill of Rights or the 14th Amendment. Write a paragraph identifying the incident.
Oct 15: Citizenship: "When the Levees Broke" curriculum
What does it mean to be a citizen?
View portions of Spike Lee's film and assess citizen actions.
Citizenship When the Levees Broke.pdf
HW assigned: Answer questions on lesson plan about your view of citizenship and how you would react in a crisis situation.
Oct 17: Follow up on citizenship: "Little Things are Big"
HW assigned: Due Process of Law reading and study guide.
Oct 19: Search and seizure: the 4th Amendment, the right to privacy, and searches in schools.
In class: What is an issue and how is it expressed? How do you analyze an issue?
View "Students' Rights to Privacy: Drug Testing and the 4th Amendment"
HW assigned: Write one page about your opinion on the issue of school searches and the 4th Amendment supporting your opinion with evidence from the class
Oct 23: Capital Punishment and the 8th Amendment
In class: Read summaries of the arguments for and against capital punishment
View "Sentenced to DIe"
HW assigned: Prepare an argument for or against (or somewhere in between) capital punishment. This argument will be written on the test on the 27th.
Bring all study sheets and notes to class.
Oct 25: Review for test
In class: review notes and review for the test. Begin to prepare your positiion on capital punishment.
Oct 29: Write your opinion on capital punishment and take the test to conclude this unit.
HW assigned: none. Those who owe assignments should catch up fast for partial credit!
Oct 31: Finish test
In class: Begin unit on Civil Rights with review of prior knowledge about the history of civil rights.
HW assigned: Make sure the review notes are finished and complete. Use pages 312-319 of the Civil Rights packet
Nov 2: Begin Civil Rights examination through an analysis of the choices people made in Little Rock at Central High School crisis in 1957
HW assigned: read the primary source accounts of living with segregation and answer the questions.
Segregation primary source FHAO.pdf
Nov 4: "Eye of the Storm"
Reveiw 14th Amendment, "equal protection of the laws" and "resonable classification of citizens"
In class: Why Differences Matter
Differences Matter FHAO.pdf
Nov 6: Affirmative Action
HW assigned: Civil Rights and Current Events
Civil Rights Current Event assignment.pdf
Nov 8: The Little Rock 9 Activity
The First Day of School
HW assigned: Open Note Quiz on Monday
Civil Rights Current Event due
Nov 13: Open Note Quiz
Submit Civil Rights Current Event writing
introduce candidate research assignment and work in the library:
Researching Presidentia.doc
Introduce Unit on Political Parties, Elections and Campaigns
HW assigned: Read pages 60 - 68 in "Political Parties" and fill in the vocab sheet:
Vocab for Political Parties.pdf
Nov 15: Are you a Liberal or a Conservative?
in class: assess where you are on the political spectrum
library research on two Democrat and Republican candidates
HW assigned: watch the Democratic candidate debate
What are the principles of the Democrats and the Republicans? Find all the information on the two web sites.
Nov 26: Democrats and Republicans
Who is a Rep? Who is a Dem?.pdf
Due Nov 30: Chart comparing one Dem and one Rep candidates' stands on 10 issues.
Due Dec 3: Two page typed essay on the candidate of your choice. See rubric distributed and above.
Nov 28: Elections and Campaigns
In class: read the packet and answer the first part of the study guide in anticipation of analysis of hsitoric elections.
HW: work on the candidate paper
Nov 30: The Electoral College
Why did the Founding Fathers create this method of electing a president?
Analysis of the elections of 1800, 1824, 2000
Whata is the relationship between the popular vote and the electoral vote?
Dec 4: Candidate position paper due.
Review of the study guides for elections and campaigns.
HW assigned: Politics and Mass Media
Dec 6: Mass Media and Polling
Take a straw poll on line to find out what candidate you should be supporting.
HW assigned: Find two examples in the print media of how the media shapes public opinion
Dec 10: Mass Media and Public Opinion
Evaluate the Boston Globe Op/Ed pages.
In groups, do the "Role of the Media" exercise and report back to the class with your findings.
HW assigned: none
Dec 12: The Legislative Branch
Read in class the first section of "Congress and the Legislative Branch."
Outline the bicameral legislature and compare the two houses of Congress.
In the library, investigate reapportionment and one committee of the House.
HW assigned: "How a Bill Becomes a Law" Know the vocabulary in the reading.
Dec 14: How a Bill Becomes a Law
In class review the process on the board. Introduce How a Bill Becomes a Law game creation
Dec 18: Work on game in class
Dec 20: A Christmas Story!
Jan 2: Finish game due at end of the class.
Jan 4: The Executive Branch reading and note taking
Jan 8: The Executive Branch:
The roles of the President handout
The powers or the President
Annenberg Modern Presidency.pdf
Jan 10: The Judicial Branch: Introduction to the Judicial Branch
The federalism of the court system: outline of the three branches including the state and federal courts
Jan 14: The Judicial Branch:
Jan 16: Exam Review
Second Semester Assignments (2008)
1) Read "Hey, Young Americans, Here's a Text For You"
Class discussion about involvement of young Americans.
Vocab: democracy, direct democracy, indirect democracy, republic, sovereignty
2) "Always cruel and unusual" Read and express your opinion on capital punishment
3) Begin the unit Elections, Campaigns, and Political Parties.
Read "Elections and Campaigns" Fill in the vocabulary study sheet
4) "Are You and Liberal or a Conservative?" Defining these terms
"Who's a Republican? Who's a Democrat?" Researching past elections to see voting patterns
5) Follow the primary/caucus results. Understand the role of the superdelegate and the unbound delegate.
6) The electoral process. Make a diagram to illustrate the electoral process from declaring candidacy to becoming the President.
Electoral Process diagram .doc
7) Go to <SelectSmart.com> and fill in answers to the questionnaire to find out how you align with the issues. It will tell you which candidate is most closely aligned with your views on the issues. The results may surprise you!
8) Read "Political Parties" and fill in answers on the vocab study sheet.
10) Write a position paper (typed) on the candidate you will (or would if you could vote) support in the general election in November.
Due Friday, Feb 22
candidate position paper.doc
11) Quiz on Elections and Campaigns and Political Parties
Friday, Feb 15
12) The Principles and Purposes of Government
Principles of Gov.doc
13) Finish Principles and Purposes of Government
View Annenberg video on the development of the Constitution
14) Begin the Children's Constitution Book assignment. Usse this class to do your research and planning using Chapter 3 of your textbook.
GOV Children book project .doc
HW assigned: work on Children's book design and research
15) Ratification, the Federalists and the Anti Federalists.
Introduction of Federalism
16) Explore the principles of the Constitution. Memorize the Preamble:
Powers:
delegated, implied, concurrent, denied, national, state
separation of powers, checks and balances
powers venn diagram.pdfMemorize the Preamble.pdf
17) The legacy of John Marshall: judicial review
McCulloch v Maryland
Marbury v Madison
Gibbons v Ogden
18) The Legislative Branch: reading packet and study questions
19) How a Bill Becomes a Law: Annenberg video on the congressional process
Assignment: Chart the process of a bill becoming a law using the vocabulary distributed in class.
20) The Executive Branch: Annenberg video on the use of Executive power: Johnson and the Legislature
Investigate a president.doc
21) Assignment: Choose one:
Write a 4 - 5 page paper on a president of your choice (from the list provided in class) OR prepare a 5 - 8 minute presentation to the class. Two periods are planned in the library for research. Note the research requirements in the rubric below:
Investigate a president.doc
Know the answers to the questions on the study sheet.
23) View "Twelve Angry Men"
24) Test on the three branches of government. Use this study sheet to prepare. All questions will stem from this sheet:
Study Guide 3 Branches.doc
Also study the federalism graphic developed in class and copied for notes.
24) Analysis of the Supreme Court