Unit 1: The American system
Ch. 1: The Democratic Republic
Objectives:
Outside Activities:
Assignment:
Paper #1: Is strong government the solution to problems? Or does a strong government create problems?
Objectives:
- Define the terms politics & government.
- Explain some of the ways in which Americans interact with their government.
- State what is meant by the words order, liberty, authority, legitimacy.
- Distinguish the major features of direct and representative democracies.
- Describe majoritarianism, elite theory, and pluralism as theories of how democratic systems work.
- Summarize the conflicts that can occur between the principles of liberty and order, and those of liberty and equality.
- Discuss conservatism, liberalism, and other popular American ideological positions.
- Determine how the basic political principles addressed inthis chapter were reflected in recent elections.
Outside Activities:
- Articles: KKK, Supreme Court & Religion, Supreme Court & Voting Laws, WikiLeaks
- 2013 State of Minnesota New Laws - look at the laws passed in last session and be prepared to give your opinion
- Introductory Test from Mr. Wenzel, CLC Government Teacher - Download and take the test, then upload the document in the electronic submission form on the home page. I'll forward the answer key to you. After grading your test, discuss your results and thoughts in the D2L Discussion Forum. Test as Word Document: click here
Assignment:
Paper #1: Is strong government the solution to problems? Or does a strong government create problems?
- 2-4 pages, typed, DS, citations expected
- use examples to discuss your opinion on the question listed
- Due: Thurs, Sept. 12
Ch. 2: The Constitution
Objectives:
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Objectives:
- Explain how the colonial experience prepared Americans for independence.
- Describe how the Declaration of Independence influenced the future gov't of the United States.
- Detail the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation and how these weaknesses led to the current structure of government.
- Discuss the most important compromises reached at the Constitutional Convention and the basic structure of the resulting government.
- Summarize the arguments in favor of adopting the Constitution and the arguments against it.
- Explain how the Constitution came to be adopted and the influences behind its support.
- Explain how the Bill of Rights came to be adopted.
- Describe the process for amending the Constitution.
- Consider the informal ways in which the meaning of theConstitution has adjusted to modern circumstances.
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Ch. 3: Federalism
Objectives:
Objectives:
- Define the terms unitary system, confederal system, and federal system.
- Explain some of the benefits of the federal system for the United States.
- Describe how the various provisions of the U.S. Constitution provide a framework for federalism.
- Discuss how, in the early years of the republic, the U.S. Supreme Court confirmed the authority of the national government.
- Summarize the historical development of federalism from the Civil War through the Great Depression.
- Define cooperative federalism and discuss its impact on the states.
- Explain the accomplishments of national authority and the arguments for reemphasizing states' rights.
- Detail recent Supreme Court rulings that affect the distribution of power between the national government and the states.