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Ms. Parisi, Government

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Week 13 11/18-11/22

Hi People!
 
This week we will continue Topic 5: The Judicial Branch.
 
This week's assignments:
-Topic 5.3 How Federal Courts Are Organized
-Topic 5.4 The Supreme Court
-Landmark Decisions: The Power of the Judicial Branch Topic 5 Project
 
Objectives:
Topic 5.3 How Federal Courts Are Organized
  • Describe the three types of federal courts: district courts, courts of appeals, and the Supreme Court.
  • Understand what makes the U.S. court system effective.
  • Explain how the federal court system is organized.
Topic 5.4 The Supreme Court
  • Describe the composition of the Supreme Court.
  • Compare and contrast the qualifications a good Justice must have.
  • Explain how the justices of the Supreme Court are selected.
  • Understand the process the Supreme Court uses to make an unbiased decision.
  • Determine what may influences the justices’ decisions.
  • Discuss the impact of Plessy and how the Supreme Court can evolve as society changes.
Due:
Topic 5 packet due 11/22
Topic 5 homework due 11/22

Week 12 11/12-11/15

Hi People!
 
This week we will start Topic 5: The Judicial Branch
 
This week's assignments:
-Topic 5.1 Intro to the Judicial Branch
-Topic 5.2 The National Judiciary
 
Objectives:
Topic 5.1 Intro to the Judicial Branch
  • Identify and explain the structure, functions, and key roles of the Judicial Branch of the U.S. government, including the purpose of the Supreme Court and lower federal courts, and understand how judicial review ensures the Constitution is upheld.
  • Describe the process by which judges are selected and the principles of judicial independence and impartiality.
Topic 5.2 The National Judiciary
  • Understand how our federal system, the executive, legislative, and judicial branches share the responsibility of governing the nation.
  • Describe how the three levels of federal courts try to ensure that everyone in the United States receives equal justice under the law.
Due: 
-Topic 5 packet due 11/22
-Topic 5 homework due 11/22

Week 11 11/4-11/8

Hi People!
 
This week we will wrap up Topic 4: The Legislative Branch. 
 
This week's assignments: 
-Topic 4.3 Legislative Committees
-2024 Election Analysis
-Topic 4 Assessment
 
Objectives:
Topic 4.3 Legislative Committees
  • Describe how committee chairmen are chosen and explain their role in the legislative process.
  • Explain how standing committees functions.
  • Describe the responsibilities and duties of the House Rules Committees.
  • Describe the role of Select Committees.
  • Compare the functions of Joint and Conference Committees.
2024 Election Analysis
  • Analyze the 2024 presidential election by examining the electoral college process, focusing on how electoral votes are allocated, the role of swing states, and the impact of public opinion on electoral outcomes
Due:
-Topic 4 packet due 11/7
-Topic 4 homework 11/7
-Topic 4 Assessment on 11/7

Week 10 10/28-11/1

Hi People! 
 
This week we will begin Topic 4: The Legislative Branch.
 
This week's assignments: 
-Topic 4.1 Members of Congress
-Topic 4.2 Powers of Congress
-Topic 4.3 Legislative Committees
 
Objectives:
Topic 4.1 Members of Congress
  • List the responsibilities of lawmakers.
  • Describe the day of a member of Congress at work.
  • Explore the jobs of representatives and senators.
  • Identify the requirements, salaries, and benefits for being a representative or senator.
Topic 4.2 Powers of Congress
  • List and describe the powers given to Congress.
  • Identify limits on the powers given to Congress.
Topic 4.3 Legislative Committees
  • Describe how committee chairmen are chosen and explain their role in the legislative process.
  • Explain how standing committees function.
  • Describe the responsibilities and duties of the House Rules Committees.
  • Describe the role of Select Committees.
  • Compare the functions of Joint and Conference Committees.
Due:
-Topic 4 packet due 11/7
-Topic 4 homework due 11/7

Week 9 10/21-10/25

Hi People!
 
This week we will finish Topic 3: The Executive Branch. 
 
This week's assignments:
-Presidential Debate Analysis
-Topic 3.3 The Cabinet and Executive Agencies
-Issue Voting Essay
 
Objectives:
Presidential Debate Analysis
  • Analyze the presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, identifying and evaluating the candidates' positions on key issues such as the economy, healthcare, immigration, climate change, social justice, and foreign policy.
Topic 3.3 The Cabinet and Executive Agencies
  • Explain the roles and responsibilities of executive departments and the president’s cabinet.
  • Describe how executive departments and agencies enforce governmental policies.
  • Examine regulatory agencies and their social, economic, and political impact on the country.
Issue Voting Esay
  • Articulate personal voting priorities by identifying and analyzing three major issues that would influence their decision in the 2024 presidential election.
  • Demonstrate critical thinking skills by providing reasons for the significance of these issues, reflecting on how they align with their values and beliefs.
Due:
-Topic 3 packet due 10/24
-Topic 3 homework due 10/24
-Issue Voting Essay due 11/1

Week 8 10/14-10/18

Hi People! 
 
This week we will begin a new topic, Topic 3 The Executive Branch. 
 
This week's assignments:
-Hamilton Analysis
-Topic 3.1 Qualifications and Roles of the President
-Topic 3.2 Presidential Powers
-Presidential Debate Analysis
 
Objectives:
-Hamilton Analysis
  • Analyze the song "Aaron Burr, Sir" from Hamilton: An American Musical, identifying and interpreting themes such as collaboration, disagreement, and democracy; the relationship between stories and history; ambition and mortality; immigration and diversity of influence; and the concept of honor.
  • Express insights through a group discussion or written response, demonstrating an understanding of how these themes relate to both the historical context of the musical and contemporary societal issues.
-Topic 3.1 Qualifications and Roles of the President
  • Identify the requirements, salary, and benefits for being the president.
  • Explore the roles of the president.
-Topic 3.2 Presidential Powers
  • Identify the nature of the powers granted to the President in Article II of the Constitution.
  • List and define the powers of the President.
-Presidential Debate Analysis
  • Analyze the presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, identifying and evaluating the candidates' positions on key issues such as the economy, healthcare, immigration, climate change, social justice, and foreign policy.
Due:
-Hamilton Analysis due 10/24
-Topic 3 packet due 10/24
-Topic 3 Homework due 10/24
-Presidential Debate Analysis due 10/24
 

Week 7 9/23-9/26

Hi People! 
 
This week we will finish Topic 2: The Enduring Constitution.
 
This week's assignments: 
-Topic 2.6 The Constitution Part 2
-Topic 2 Assessment
 
Objectives:

Topic 2.1 Origins of American Democracy

  • Identify the origins of the core values in American political thought, including ideas regarding representational government.
  • Trace the history of Democracy from Ancient Greece to the founding of the United States.
  • Analyze Enlightenment thinker’s influences on the founding fathers.

Topic 2.2 The Pre-Revolutionary Period

  • Identify the origins of the core values in American political thought, including ideas regarding representational government
  • Explore how English traditions influenced the development of colonial governments.
  • Explain how the ideas of the Enlightenment shaped the colonist’s worldview.
  • Describe how the Great Awakening affected colonial society.

Topic 2.3 The Articles of Confederation

  • Describe the steps taken during and after the American Revolution to create a government
  • Identify the main features of the Articles of Confederation
  • Describe the crises resulting from key features of the Articles of Confederation 

Topic 2.4 The Constitutional Convention

  • Understand the reasons leaders called for the Constitutional Convention. 
  • Summarize the rival plans of government proposed at the convention. 
  • Describe the compromises made in order to reach agreement on the Constitution.   

Topic 2.5 The Enduring Constitution Part 1

  • Summarize the arguments for and against ratification of the Constitution. 
  • Describe how the Constitution was ratified.
Topic 2.6 The Enduring Constitution Part 2
  • Understand the principals of the Constitution.
  • Explain the longevity of the US Constitution and why it endures.
Due:
-Topic 2 packet due 9/25
-Topic 2 homework due 9/25
-Topic 2 Assessment due 9/26

Week 6 9/16-9/20

Hi People!

This week we will wrap up our learning about 9/11/01. We will also continue with Topic 2: The Enduring Constitution.

This week’s assignments:

  1. Government Policy Post 9/11
  2. Review Topic 2.2 The Pre-Revolutionary Period and Topic 2.3 The Articles of Confederation
  3. Topic 2.4 The Constitutional Convention
  4. Topic 2.5 The Enduring Constitution Part 1

Objectives:

Topic 2.2 The Pre-Revolutionary Period

  • Identify the origins of the core values in American political thought, including ideas regarding representational government
  • Explore how English traditions influenced the development of colonial governments.
  • Explain how the ideas of the Enlightenment shaped the colonist’s worldview.
  • Describe how the Great Awakening affected colonial society.

Topic 2.3 The Articles of Confederation

  • Describe the steps taken during and after the American Revolution to create a government
  • Identify the main features of the Articles of Confederation
  • Describe the crises resulting from key features of the Articles of Confederation 

Topic 2.4 The Constitutional Convention

  • Understand the reasons leaders called for the Constitutional Convention. 
  • Summarize the rival plans of government proposed at the convention. 
  • Describe the compromises made in order to reach agreement on the Constitution.   

Topic 2.5 The Enduring Constitution Part 1

  • Summarize the arguments for and against ratification of the Constitution. 
  • Describe how the Constitution was ratified

Due:

-Government Policy Post 9/11 due 9/17

-Topic 2 packet due 9/24

-Topic 2 homework due 9/25

Week 5 9/9-9/13

Hi People! 
 
This week we will pause on Topic 2: The Enduring Constitution. Instead, our focuses will be on current events, first specifically looking at gun violence in the US. After, we will focus on the events and attacks that unfolded on September 11th, 2001, specifically how government policy changed after 9/11. 
 
Objectives:
  • Examine how the attacks influenced American society, including changes in public perception, security policies, and the cultural responses.
  • Students will analyze the immediate and long-term impacts of the September 11 attacks on the United States and the world, including changes in national security policies, economic effects, and international relations.
  •  Students will discuss and write about specific changes such as the implementation of the Patriot Act, the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, and the onset of the War on Terror.
  • Students will explore the personal and societal responses to the attacks, including the reactions of first responders, the impact on affected families, and the collective national and global response.
This week's assignments: 
-Gun Violence in the US Free Response Question
-Government Policy Post 9/11 Activity
 
Due:
-Gun Violence in the US Free Response Question due 9/11
-Government Policy Post 9/11 Activity due 9/16

Week 4 9/3-9/6

Hi People! 
 
This week we will begin Topic 2: The Enduring Constitution.
 
Objectives: 
Topic 2.1 Origins of American Democracy
  • Identify the origins of the core values in American political thought, including ideas regarding representational government.
  • Trace the history of Democracy from Ancient Greece to the founding of the United States.
  • Analyze Enlightenment thinker’s influences on the founding fathers.
Topic 2.2 The Pre-Revolutionary Period and the Roots of the American Political Tradition
  • Identify the origins of the core values in American political thought, including ideas regarding representational government.
  • Explore how English traditions influenced the development of colonial governments.
  • Explain how the ideas of the Enlightenment shaped the colonist’s worldview.
  • Describe how the Great Awakening affected colonial society.
  • Explain how Thomas Paine’s Enlightenment ideas helped to influence American Independence.
This week's assignments: 
1. Topic 2.1 Origins of American Democracy
2. Topic 2.2 The Pre-Revolutionary Period and the Roots of the American Political Tradition
 
Due: 
-Topic 2 homework (30 points) due 9/24
-Topic 2 packet (60 points) due 9/24

Week 3 8/26-8/30

Hi People! 
 
This week we will finish Topic 1 American Government and Civic Engagement
 
Objectives: 
Defining Citizenship Activity:
  • Explore civic responsibilities: describe the rights and responsibilities of American citizens, including voting and civic participating.
  • Evaluate civic engagement: assess various forms of civic engagement, including volunteering, activism, and participating in community organizations.
Topic 1:
  • Explain what government is and what it does.
  • Identify the type of government in the United States and compare it to other forms of government. 
  • Describe the pluralism-elitism debate. Explain the tradeoffs perspective on government.
    Explain the importance of citizen engagement in a democracy.
    Describe the main ways Americans can influence and become engaged in government.
    Discuss factors that may affect people’s willingness to become engaged in government.
 
This week's assignments: 
1. Defining Citizenship Activity
2. Topic 1 test on 8/29
 
Homework:
-Topic 1 Homework (20 points) due 8/28
-Topic 1 packet (30 points, 10 points per lesson) due 8/28

Week 2 8/19-8/23

Hi People!
 
This week we will begin Topic 1: American Government and Civic Engagement
 
Objectives: 
Topic 1.1 What is Government?
Explain what government is and what it does.
Identify the type of government in the United States and compare it to other forms of government
 
Topic 1.2 Who Governs? Elitism, Pluralism, and Trade Offs
Describe the pluralism-elitism debate.
Explain the tradeoffs perspective on government.
 
Topic 1.3 Engagement in Democracy
Describe the main ways Americans can influence and become engaged in government.
Discuss factors that may affect people’s willingness to become engaged in government.
 
This week's assignments:
1. Topic 1.1 What is Government?
2. Topic 1.2 Who Governs? Elitism, Pluralism, and Trade Offs
3. Topic 1.3 Engagement in Democracy
 
Homework:
-Topic 1 Homework (20 points) due 8/28

Week 1 8/12-8/16

Hi People!
 
This week we will get to know each other as well as the course. 
 
This week's assignments:
1. First Day Get to Know You and Me
2. Syllabus 
3. Lunchroom Fight
4. My Government Activity
 
Homework:
-Signed Syllabus (10 points)
 
Events: 
-Field Trip to MSU on August 13th