Political parties

Where do you fit in?

Take the quiz

Quiz #1
Quiz #2

Campaign Finance

Watch the following frontline video: "Big Sky, Big Money"

Take notes for an in class discussion

How has campaign finance changed?
How have the changes affected Montana"s elections?

Chapter 11-12 TEST (Tuesday)

We will review for the test on Friday.  You will need to define all the terms on the study guide as well as review the Brown v. Board case.

Mock Trial

Here is a link to the story on-line. Make the necessary adaptations since the stories don't match perfectly...we'll sync them in class. Reading of Pigs Version

Wolf's version

Build a case for both sides

Create a witness list for both sides

Decide what evidence you will need to gather

What are the charges?

What is the Defense?

Will there be a plea?

Supreme Court at Work 12-1 Worksheet (in class)

Wednesday you received a worksheet in class on the supreme court.  Complete for Thursday.

Due process (14th Amendment)

Go to the following website BROWN CASE
Answer the following questions:

How does the Brown case demonstrate the power of the 14th amendment?
What was Chief Justice Warren's basis for his decision?

Judiciary (TEST on TUESDAY 5/28)

We're going to spend a few days discussing the judiciary.

Why are the courts important?
How do the courts work?
What are some important cases in US history?

Why are federal courts necessary?
Why are precedents important?
How does Due Process extend the power of the national government (constitution)?
How do the Plessy and Brown cases demonstrate the courts changing nature?

You will be responsible for the answering the questions above as well specific vocabulary. The following is the list of vocab you will be responsible for ... I may continue to add to the list so keep checking.

11 -1

John Marshall
jurisdiction
     concurrent
     original
     appellate
     Precedent
     litigants
     Marbury v madison
     Judicial Review
     Gibbons v Ogden
     Due Process
     Brown v. Board of ed.

11-2

Grand Jury

Indictment

District (94) vs Circuit courts (12)

Senatorial Courtesy

12-1

You are responsible for anything on the 12-1 worksheet handed back in class

Supreme Court schedule
How most cases reach the court? (on appeals)
Number of cases that reach the court (appealed and heard)
Writ of Certiorari
Appeal
Solicitor general
How a case is selected
Brief
Amicus Curiae
Oral Arguments
conference
Opinions (know the types; concurring, majority, dissenting)

You also need to know the steps in the trial process (from our class mock trial)

Quiz: American Government

Matching (1 point):

a. constituents, b. caucus, c. filibuster, d. majority leader, e. census

1.) The leader of the party in congress with the most congressional seats.
2.) A group of Congressman and Senators from a specific political party.
3.) The voters within a public servant's district.
4.) A tally of the total number of persons living in the United states that is done every ten years.
5.) A legislative tool used to stall debate and kill legislation. Traditionally it involved talking and standing until you no longer could.

a. gerrymandering, b. censure, c. incumbent, d. President Pro-tempore, e. bicameral legislature

6.) A politician who has previously won an election and is running for re-election.
7.) A governing body that makes laws and is divided into two separate, yet powerful, parts.
8.) Redistricting or redrawing congressional district borders for political gain.
9.) The majority leader of the Senate.
10.) When Congress decides to discipline one of its members for ethical or legal reasons.

Short Answer:

11.) What is the fiscal cliff? Why was it created? How does the fiscal cliff represent congressional gridlock? (6 points)
12.) How effective is congress? Give an argument for and against its effectiveness. (4 points)

American Government: Study guide for quiz on Thursday

Be able to identify each term, apply each term appropriately, and answer each question for the quiz tomorrow.

1.) Constituents, caucus, Whips, majority leader, bill, Speaker of the House, President Pro-tempore, filibuster, committee, Congressman, Senator, bicameral legislature, census, redistricting, gerrymandering, censure, incumbent.

2.) How often do members of Congress get re-elected to their seats? Why?

3.) What is the fiscal cliff? Why was it created? How does the fiscal cliff represent congressional gridlock?

4.) What is a budget? How does the United States produce a budget?

5.) Is funding a bill and passing a bill done at the same time? Why or why not?

6.) What paradox exists in Congressional (as a whole) approval ratings and individual congressman's approval ratings?

7.) What are the qualifications for Congressman and Senators to hold office?

8.) How effective is Congress? Give examples of an argument for and against the effectiveness of Congress.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4aoR8zXZab7RFhZN2Fqd3N2THc/edit?usp=sharing

American Government: Congress and budgets

Today you will be balancing the local budget for Bend much the same way that you did for the federal budget yesterday. You may work with a partner to complete you budget. Each person/group of two (Yes, two is the cutoff) should e-mail me a copy of their budget proposal that they can copy and paste into a word document. I would also like you to answer the following questions in a few short paragraphs:

What cuts did you make? Why?

What positive and negative affect do you think those cuts will have? Why?

What revenues did you increase? Why?

What positive and negative affect do you think those revenues will have? Why

Take a look at the "Needs" section and read the justifications and stipulations for each category. Are there any other needs that you can come up with that for the city of Bend, or additions you would like to see?

Budgets "Power of the Purse"

You will be attempting to balance the national and local budgets.

Use the following websites during this project:

Federal Budget Link

Local Budget Link