H. Principles of American Democracy (Period 5) Assignments
- Instructors
- Term
- Fall 2015-16 SY
- Department
- Social Studies
- Description
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Honors Prin. of Am. Dem. will educate students about the Constitutions, civil liberties, civil rights and the institutions of the government of the Unites States. As well, students will learn about our political system: the election process and policy process. The goal is for our students to be well informed, critical, effective citizens able to participate in the political system.
Upcoming Assignments
No upcoming assignments.
Past Assignments
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Presentations of the Opinion Poll Project begin Friday, 12/15 and continue on the day of the finals. Remember, your group is responsible for a written report as well as the oral presentation. (See the sample projects)
The sign up sheet for presentations will be available on THURSDAY, 12/10. FRIDAY SLOTS MUST BE FILLED BEFORE FINALS DAY SLOTS BECOME AVAILABLE.
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New Unit: Congress, policy formation and the passage of bills.
1. Read: Wilson -- Ch. 11, The Congress
Magruder's -- Ch. 11 & 12
Pay particular attention as to the process of how a bill becomes a law.
2. Complete the two research exercises you were given: Congressional leadership and party membership in Congress. BE VERY CAREFUL. The 2014 elections changed the membership in Congress. There has been a recent major change in the leadership of Congress. Refer to the websites of the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Presidency for information.
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Opinion Poll Project:
1. Complete the ten opinion questions fro your groups poll. Add them to your categorical questions and turn in a completed survey instrument.
2. Create a plan for the administration of your poll. Specifically, the audiences you will survey, when, and where.
Due at the rend of the period.
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"The Candidate" Answers to the prompts and the essay question are due.
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Begin "The Candidate." Take notes during the presentation to address the prompt sheet.
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A. Find and read two NEWS articles on the Tea Party movement (as part of the Republican Party).
B. Look for AND take notes of how the Tea Party meets (or does not meet) the characteristics of a political party. See: Magruder's, pp.116-118
C. Look for and take notes on to what extent the Tea Party resembles (or does not resemble) an minor party. See: Magruder's. pp. 132-134
Come to class on Monday prepared to write an essay in response to the prompt on the board. You may use your notes, articles, and the textbook as references.
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Quiz -- Ch.6 in Wilson and Magruder's. See your study guide.
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Opinion Poll Project: determine the population to be surveyed. Begin to develop the survey instrument -- categorical questions.
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Find an in-depth article, one with background information, about the Kim Davis affair. (Not an article that is only a headline and one paragraph.) Sources you might consider are the L.A. Times, U.S. News and World Report, Newsweek, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, etc.; in print or on line. If a print article, cut it out; if an on-line article, print it. Bring the article to class.
Find the name of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that motivated Kim Davis to take the actions she did. Attach the case name to your article.
We will use the article in group and class discussion and use it to produce a written response.
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The Evolution of the Constitution Project is due at the beginning of the period, today. It must be complete when handed in.
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Action plan: an organizational plan for your Evolution of the Constitution Project. Delineate who will gather data on which segment of the project and who has which responsibility for the logistics of the graphic part of the project.
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Beginning a group project. Research, in both textbooks, about the evolution of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches from the Articles of Confederation, to the Virginia Plan, to the New Jersey Plan, to the Constitution.
Wilson, Chapter 2,
Magruder's, Chapter 2.
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Continue reading Chapter 2 in this unit. Pay particular attention to the evolution of the Constitution (notice, I capitalized Constitution); that is, the Virginia Plan, the New Jersey Plan, and the Great Compromise (the Constitution).
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Read ch 1. (Wilson/Diiulio) Be prepared for a quiz on the following concepts:
Power, Authority, Legitimacy, Direct and Representative Democracy, the four theories of the distribution of power. Marxist, Elite, Bureaucratic, and Pluralist.