2013-14 Course Outline

1. Students should understand and describe the goals of American government through the interpretation of the Preamble of the United States Constitution

2. Students should be able to identify and understand the core systems of government and various types of government structures

3. Students should identify and relate the essential purposes of government to real life examples of government policy and action

Introductions and Expectations

Unit 1 Principles of Government- An Introduction

Power Point Presentation/Lecture/Discussion

Aristotle and the History of Government

Features of a State

Purpose of Government

Define: Government, Policy, Sovereignty, State, and Nation

Review Principles, Purposes, & Features

Theories of State Origin

Activity

Introduce Student Service Project (4 components)

Intro Government Systems

Government Systems-Unitary, Federal, and Confederacy

Constitution-Purpose, Sections, and Interpretations of framework

Define Politics

Interest Groups (Examples)

Review Systems, Constitutions, and Interest Groups

International Affairs (pg 16)

Activity

Types of Government

Characteristics of Democracy

Soils of Democracy

List, define, and relate examples

Activity

Economic Theories

Capitalism vs. Socialism

Democracy vs. Communism

Smith vs. Marx

Review

Activity

Review Democracy and Governments

Activity

Assessment

1. Students should identify and understand historical documents contributing to American constitutional government

2. Students should identify and understand colonial events leading the development of America’s constitutional government

3. Students should identify and understand events in American history that reflect other periods of government and Democracy in action

1. Students should understand and explain the characteristics of Democratic government

2. Students should understand and provide examples of constitutional principles including (Limited Government, Popular Sovereignty, Federalism, Separation of Powers, and Checks and Balances)

Introduce United States Government History

Portfolio with Primary Source Project

Timeline Activity/Pictorial History

13 Colonies Historical Perspective

Primary Source Project Work

Timeline Review

Reading Primary Sources

Activity

Primary Source Project Work

Primary Source Activity

Declaration of Independence Broken Down

Primary Source Project Presentations

Activity

Primary Source Project Presentations

Activity

Articles of Confederation

Review

Articles of Confederation Presentation

Structure, Powers, Weaknesses, and Achievements

Shays’s Rebellion and Need for Action

Review Sources and Timeline

Constitutional Convention Presentations

Constitutional Principles

Compromises

Federalist Papers

Review

Activity

Assessment

Service Project Due Date (Issues Paper)

Assessment and Review

Introduce US Constitution Unit

Structure and Outline

1. Students should identify and understand the framework (Outline/Structure) of the US and Indiana’s constitution

2. Students should understand and explain the relationship of the branches of government in terms of separation and powers and checks and balances

3. Students should understand role of State and Local government from the constitution

1. Students should identify and interpret current events that reflect and implement characteristics and principles of Democracy and the constitution

1. Students should identify, understand, and interpret the essential rights and protections given in the constitution’s first ten amendments

2. Students should identify and understand the amendment process to the US constitution

3. Student should identify and explain the procedural, suffrage and election amendments in the US constitution

Preamble Lesson and Activity

Principles of the Constitution (pg 65)

Introduce Checks and Balances

Reading the Constitution 101

Review Checks and Balances

Introduce 3 Branches of Government

Powers (Expressed, Implied, Concurrent)

Cooperative Activity (3 or 4 Groups)

Venn Diagram

Review Checks and Branches

Informal Amendments Power Point Presentation

Activity

Review

Formally Amending the Constitution

Activity (Understanding and Applying the Constitution)

The Bill of Rights (Smartboard Activity)

Portfolio Activities

Amendments 11-27 Broken Down

Activity

Review Principles

Parts of the Constitution

Branches of Government

Checks and Balances

Amendments

Constitution Portfolio Work

Review

Activity/Media

Constitution Assessment

1. Students should understand and summarize the evolution of political parties and ideas/positions/issues of these parties throughout history and presently

2. Students should identify and understand the role of interest groups and organizations that influence the political/election process and public policy

3. Students should understand and actively participate in the electoral process and contact with government officials

1. Students should understand their responsibilities, obligations, and power as citizens of their state and nation

2. Students should identify and understand ways to educate themselves by locating various media/information to create and support responsible decisions, positions, and opinions

Introduction to Political Parties and Interest Groups

Political Parties Power Point Presentation

Activity

Review Political Parties

Third/Minor Parties Presentation

Activity

Service Project Due Date (Letter Drafted for proofreading or finished)

Review

Party Organization and Action

Activity

Propaganda and Media

Viewing Campaign Ads

Identifying techniques of persuasion

Activity

Review

Activity

Film The Party’s Over

Reflection Paper from Film (1 page covering bias and thoughts on film)

Film The Party’s Over (1 page covering bias and thoughts on film)

Introduce Elections and Voting

Electoral College 101

Activity

Elections and Voting Power Point Presentation

Review Electoral College

Presentation

Activity

Interest Groups and Media

Media

Activity

Suffrage and Civil Rights Power Point Presentation

Activity

Electoral College Review

Propaganda Review

Mock Voting Activity

Review

Activity

Assessment of Political Science and Voting

1. Students should identify and understand the qualifications, terms, responsibilities, and powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches

2. Students should understand and describe/illustrate the law-making process

3. Students should identify and understand the various departments and agencies that carry out public policy

Introduction to the Legislative Branch (Ch.’s 5-7)

Characteristics of Congress (Demographics, profiles, and compensation)

History and Trends of Congress

View of IN district map

Activity

Begin locating and researching a legislative bill

Review Congress characteristics

Government by Committee (Examine Committees and work)

Media-C-Span or Video

Guided Reading-House of Representatives

The Senate Power Point Presentation (Lecture, Discussion, & Notes)

Begin Venn Diagram (House/Senate)

Activity

Venn Diagram (House/Senate)

“Dividing the Pot” budget activity Prep

Parliamentary Procedure

Budget Discussion

“Dividing the Pot” budget activity

Committee work, procedure, and outcome

Service Project Completion (All 4 Components Complete)

Review

Powers of Congress (Article 1, Section 8, Cl. 1-18)

Partner work (Define, describe with examples, and categorize powers)

Review Powers

Introduce Congressional Committees

Group Activity (Attach issues, problems, or legislation with appropriate committee in House or Senate)

Media

Review Powers and Committees

Activity

Media

“Thinking like a Representative” activity

Staff and Support Agencies Presentation

Review

Activity

How a bill becomes a law

I’m Just a Bill Click Here

Analyze Diagram (Legislative process)

Guided Reading activity

Discussion

Review how a bill becomes a law

Review powers and committees

Bill research (Computer lab)

Review

Riders, Lobbyists, and Misc. Issues

Activity

Review Unit

Complete Portfolio

Legislative Branch Assessment

Introduce Fiscal and Monetary Policy and Issues

Congressional Budget

Media

Debt Discussion

Priorities

Budget activity (Smart board)

Fiscal vs. Monetary policy

Federal Reserve

Students should identify and understand the various government actions and policies (Foreign & Domestic) that effect them and their communities

Students should identify and understand ways to educate themselves by locating various media/information to create and support responsible decisions, positions, and opinions

Portfolio Work

Past or Current Bill Study

Review

Activity

Discussion

Introduce Executive Branch

Resume project introduction (Secretary or Self)

Executive Branch (Ch.’s 8 & 9 and Article 2)

Brainstorm (Favorite President)

Qualifications

Compensation and perks

Powers and Duties

Executive Branch Power Point Presentation

Review Qualifications

Review Powers and Duties

Presidential Succession

Electing the President (Electoral College) and how it works

Media

Video

Review

Create Presidential Bracketology

Activity

Discussion

The Cabinet (The President’s Men and Women)

Profiles, job descriptions and titles

Executive Departments (What they do)

Media (Dept. chart and budgets)

Students select one department secretary and create a resume for them or one for themselves (choice)

Review the Cabinet

Executive Office Agencies

Federal Bureaucracy (Chapter 10 reference)

What the offices agencies do

Activity

Discussion

Review

Activity Discussion

Portfolio Completion

Executive Branch Assessment

Introduce Judicial Branch

Judicial Branch Supreme Court Short Film

American Law 101 Presentation

Judicial Branch (Ch.’s 11/12 & Article 3)

Lady Justice Interpretation

Selection of Supreme Court Case (Online Discussion and where to find them)

Source 1

Supreme Court Site

Media (Film on Court System)

Film continued if necessary

Review Court System

Marbury vs. Madison Case Study

Reading and Outlining activity

Types of Courts (Issues)

Definitions

Activity/Media

Supreme Court Case Discussion (Examples)

Review

Discussion

Completion

Activity

State and Local Government Presentation

Tying up loose ends

End of Course Project

Review

End of Course Assessment