Supreme Court Cases

Each group is responsible for finding the following information on their case:
    1.  Explaining the events that led to trial
    2.  Opinion of the court of original jurisdiction
    3.  The appeal (on what grounds was the case appealed to a higher court?
    4.  Map out how the case moved through the court system
    5.  Opinion(s) of the high court - explain majority, concurring, dissenting.
    6.  Impact the ruling has on us (society) today
    7.  Extra credit (if time) click on teaching tab.  Scroll down and select cartoon analysis.  Select one
         the available cartoons and answers the questions.


Go to following link(s): Street law should have most of what you need
Cornell law
Street law

6 degrees of Government Terms

Link the following terms together.  It is not necessary to define every term if the definition is obvious in your explanation.

State
Nation
Sovereignty
Democracy
Federal System
Constitution
Industrialized Nation
Autocracy
Republic
Capitalism
Free Market
Communism
Command Economy

Due in class Thursday 12/6

Characteristics of Democracy 1-3

A true democracy has characteristics that allow the people to truly rule.

Those include:
     1.  Individual liberties (First amendments - list some)
     2.  Majority rule with minority rights (Civil Rights - Japanese internment)
     3.  Free, fair, competitive, and frequent elections

     Why are each of these important to Democracy?
     Put another way...what happens when you remove one characteristic?

Democracy is more likely to succeed under the right conditions

Those include:
     1.  Active participation (becoming informed, voting, campaigns for office)
     2.  Free Enterprise (economy with strong middle class and opportunity)
     3.  Education (literacy and informed electorate)
     4.  Civil Society (groups that protect rights, inform, improve community)
                    Red Cross, Humane society, NRA
     5.  Social Consensus ( common values about government and limits)

Why are these conditions important?

Chp 1 sec 2 vocab

Answer questions 1,2,4 page 17

Chp1 sec1 Quiz

6 questions over Chp 1 sec1in class Wednesday

Foundations of Government

Link to Power Point and assignment

In class starting on Monday 11/26

Should we change the electoral college?

Time to enter the debate!

Use the following template to answer the question:

The electoral college ________(works, should be modified, done away with) because,...

    *List at least 3 arguments

As a solution to the problems raised about the college I propose... Your solution needs to mirror your arguments.

Go HERE for a brief list of arguments and potential solutions

Congressional Committees

Choose a committee to research from the list on page 143

Power point

            1) Provide a brief 1 paragraph description of the types of bills (issues) that

                  your committee deals with.

            2) Provide a 1 paragraph explanation of recent legislation this committee helped create

            3) Which states are most of the members from?
                Go to: committee list
                      a) select your committee
                      b) scroll down to see who the members are and where they are from
                      c) click on the committees official website link under the "track Committee button"
                      d) click on the "about" tab to read about the bills and issues the committee deals with

Due on Wednesday Nov 7th

Ballot Debate

We are having a series of debates in class on Tuesday the 30th.  Students have chosen a ballot measure to represent, either for or against.  If you have not been in class this week you need to look over the measures and email me with one you would like to debate.  Every student needs to be repaired to turn in a list of arguments representing their side of the debate.  They may be in bullet point form.  You are graded on your arguments (quantity and quality) as well as performance in the debate.

On-line voter's pamphlet

go to: voter's pamphlet

Ballot Measure 9-86

Click on 2012 General Election
From the pamphlet page you can use the headings in the left margin to navigate the measures and candidates.

Non-Legislative Powers

Make a T chart with House of Reps on one side and Senate on the other.  Down the side of your paper write "Power to Choose a President", "Removal Power", "Confirmation Power" , " Ratification Power" , "Amendment Power" , leaving several line spaces between each.  Read pages 163-165 and take notes in the appropriate columns.

2nd Debate

Watch the following: NPR
Which issue is the most important to undecided voters?  Which candidate did the better job of representing his position?

Branches of Government

Which branch has the most power?

To answer this question begin by outlining the expressed powers of each branch outlined in chapter 3 section 2 (Use the handout in class).  Next, using page 66, identify how the branches work together to maintain a balance of power (use the back of the handout)

Using the information from your handout, compare the branches in terms of overall influence on policy and independence from the other branches.  Justify which branch has the most power...the least.

Keep the handout for future discussions
Turn in 1/2 page justification.

Opinion Polling

You are going to conduct your own opinion polls

Read Chapter 18-4 "Measuring Opinion"  Using the information on pages 520 - 521 (scientific polling), do the following:

1.  Outline your sample : include a definition of who is your "universe"
2.  Outline how you will conduct your survey:  Include your plan for random sampling and eliminating error.  Be specific about time and place.
3.  Develop your polls:
       a.  Decide which (5) issues you think are most important
       b.  For each issue write two (2) questions.  One as unbiased as you can, another written in an attempt to influence the response (be creative)
       c.  pass out your survey and present your data accordingly

Trouble Shooting the Debate

After watching the debates we often have more questions than answers.  Using the worksheet from class, write down 5 questions you have about the responses the candidates gave during the debate.

Here are a few websites to help you with fact checking:

Factcheck.org

Politifact.com

usdebtclock.org

Interest Groups (in class on Tuesday)

With a partner choose an interest group from the chapter.  Research the interest group and analyze it's mission, goals, and main concerns.  Plan a publicity strategy including 1 of the following: writing a letter to a government official, create a flyer to publicize concerns, or design a community brochure / bumper sticker to raise awareness.  Each partnership will present their interest group to the class.  Hand the teacher a copy of your info with your names on it prior to your presentation.

Graded on performance by teacher

17 Test (in-class) Friday

Bring your book to class...you're going to need it!

pg 500
-reviewing the terms 1-6
-recalling facts 1-5
-understanding concepts 1-2
-critical thinking 1

Polling Data...

Go to following website:
Map

1.  Choose which campaign (Obama or Romney) you are managing

2.  As campaign manager consider the following when making your decisions:

Electoral College numbers (strength or value of each state)
State Demographics (young, old, hispanic, etc)
Single-issue vs multiple issues
Where we are in the polls now

Decide which five states you will focus your campaign on:

3.  List each of the five states
4.  For each state- justify why the state is important
5.  What is your plan for winning the state (On which issue(s) do you try and persuade voters?

17 1-2 quiz

10 pt quiz last Friday...makeup ASAP

Chapter 17 Terms

Section 1
Electoral Votes (number needed to win)
Campaign manager
Image
Political Action Committee
Soft Money

Section 2
Suffrage
Grandfather Clause
Poll Tax
Voting Rights Act 1965
15th & 26th Amendments

Section 3
Cross-pressured voter
Straight Party Ticket
Propaganda (techniques)
Profiles of voters (regular vs nonvoters)

Chapter 16 quiz (Monday)

Link to Speeches

Paul Ryan

Bill Clinton

Dem or Rep? Take the quiz

Go to Quiz

Quiz on section 1 & 2 terms

Bring notes if you have them!

Citizens United Debate

Read "Should There Be Limits On Campaign Spending?" page 463

Listen to NPR from Montana

Familiarize yourself with the arguments on both sides of the debate.

We will begin this project in class on TBD.

Chapter 16 terms

Vocabulary Terms - you will be tested on these terms either at the end of each sections and/or at the conclusion of each chapter.

Section1
Political Parties
Theocracy
Ideologies
Coalition governments
Third party
Single-member district
Proportional representation

Section2
Independent
Precinct
Ward
State Central Committee
Patronage
Spoils system
Campaign (financing)

Section 3
Caucus
nominating convention
boss
direct primary
open vs closed primary
plurality
runoff primary
ticket
platform
planks
running mate