American Government: Day 7

Today we will discuss our duty in a civil democracy and why citizens have certain duties to their country. We will then delve into different economic theories and attempt to break them down into meaningful and understandable parts.

1. Civil Society:

What constitutes a civil society? What specific groups and organizations are involved in this?

Do we have free elections?

What is the media's role in our society?

How do the concepts of majority rule and individual rights create friction in our system?

Do we have a "social consensus," or general agreement on main societal principles in this country? If not, have we ever had it?

2. Economic Theories:

What is economics?

-The branch of knowledge concerned with the production, consumption, and transfer of wealth.

Why are economics important, especially today?

Do all economists agree, even within the same economic school?

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/jan-june11/insidejob_05-04.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlIoeTObmEk&edufilter=6ZTXQkm2XQimUMKt1E0_Hg

What is laissez-faire economics?

-I will put you into 5 groups

-Each group will be assigned an economic theory:

1= Pure Capitalist (Libertarianism)
2= Mixed Market
3= Command and Control (Fascist)
4= Socialist (or democratic socialist)
5= Communist

Task: (cell phones aloud for research purposes)

1.) Get large piece of butcher paper
2.) Define the economic theory
3.) Explain it's basic function
4.) Explain how it's different from others like it (ex: difference between socialism and democratic socialism or pure capitalism vs mixed market economy)
5.) Give several examples in history of each
6.) Give examples of issues within each system (think critically)
7.) Take notes on the findings of others
8.) Present your findings to the class