Mission Statement: American Government The Social Studies Department of Alton High School is committed to the following; assisting students in mastering and appreciating the principles of government, preparing students to become knowledgeable citizens who engage in democratic decision-making, while also providing them with an opportunity to develop a sense of patriotism for the United States. Essential Question for the Semester: What are the American principles of democracy and why is the understanding of government important? These essential skills prompts will be utilized to determine student mastery through use of conventional questions and advanced essay questions utilizing who, what, when where, and why. The following items are used as essential skills prompts: 1. Compare and Contrast the three branches of government and how each one functions. 2. Explain origins and principles of American Government. 3. Analyze how citizens daily lives are affected by the Constitution. 4. Explain the relevance between politics and our daily lives. 5. Compare and Contrast the different economic/political systems of the world.
Chapter 1 Foundations of American Government Government Public policy Legislative power Executive power Judicial power Constitution Dictatorship Democracy State Sovereign Autocracy Oligarchy unitary government federal government division of powers confederation presidential government parliamentary government compromise free enterprise system law of supply and demand mixed economy pg. 25, # 30 & 31: Analyzing Political Cartoons pg. 25, # 28: Drawing Inferences pg. 10, # 7: Explain how the language of the Preamble reflects the idea of the social contract.
Chapter 2 Origins of American Government limited government representative government Magna Carat Petition of Right English Bill of Rights charter bicameral proprietary unicameral confederation Albany Plan of Union delegate boycott repeal popular sovereignty Articles of Confederation ratification presiding officer Framers Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan Connecticut Compromise Three-Fifths Compromise Federalists Anti-Federalists quorum pg. 61, # 34 & 35: Analyzing Political Cartoons pg. 54, # 8: Drawing Conclusions pg. 58, #4: Why might the failure of New York and Virginia to ratify have doomed the Constitution?
Chapter 3 The Constitution Preamble articles constitutionalism rule of law separation of powers checks and balances veto judicial review unconstitutional federalism amendment formal amendment Bill of Rights informal amendment executive agreement treaty electoral college Cabinet senatorial courtesy pg. 85, # 30 & 31: Analyzing Political Cartoons pg. 85, # 28: Demonstrating Reasoned Judgment pg. 77, #5: Cite three events or controversies that led to amendments to the Constitution, and explain how each of these amendments settled a particular question.
Chapter 10 Congress term session adjourn prorogue special session apportion reapportion off-year-election single-member district at-large gerrymander continuous body constituency trustee partisan politico oversight function franking privilege pg. 287, # 28 & 29: Analyzing Political Cartoons pg. 287, #24: Face the Issues pg. 285: Explain why the Speech and Debate Clause is so important.
Chapter 11 Powers of Congress expressed powers implied powers inherent powers strict constructionist liberal constructionist consensus tax direct tax indirect tax deficit financing public debt commerce power legal tender bankruptcy naturalization copyright patent eminent domain appropriate Necessary and Proper Clause doctrine successor impeach acquit perjury censure subpoena Essential Skill: pg. 317, #36 & 37: Analyzing Political Cartoons pg. 317, #34: Expressing Problems Clearly pg. 316, # 26: Has the necessary and proper clause been used to expand or limit congressional power? Explain.
Chapter 12 - Congress in Action Speaker of the House president of the Senate president pro tempore party caucus floor leader whip committee chairman seniority rule standing committee select committee joint committee conference committee bill joint resolution concurrent resolution resolution rider discharge petition subcommittee Committee of the Whole quorum engrossed filibuster cloture veto pocket veto pg. 349, #28 & 29: Political Cartoons pg. 349, #25 Drawing Inferences pg. 346, # 4: Why do the Senate s rules allow individual senators much greater freedom to affect the lawmaking process than members of the House have?
Chapter 13 - The Presidency chief of state chief executive chief administrator chief diplomat commander in chief chief legislator chief of party chief citizen presidential succession Presidential Succession Act of 1947 balance the ticket presidential electors electoral votes electoral college presidential primary winner-take-all proportional representation national convention platform keynote address district plan proportional plan direct popular election electorate national popular vote plan pg. 387, #29 & 30: Political Cartoons pg. 387, #25: Applying the Chapter Skill pg. 387, # 27: Review the formal qualifications for President in Section 1. (a) Why do you think the framers chose these particular qualifications? (b) Do you think that any of these qualifications should be changed?
Chapter 18 - The Federal Court System inferior courts jurisdiction exclusive jurisdiction plaintiff defendant original jurisdiction appellate jurisdiction criminal case civil case concurrent jurisdiction docket writ of certiorari certificate majority opinion precedent concurring opinion dissenting opinion redress civilian tribunal court-martial pg. 529, #33 & 34: Political Cartoons pg. 529, #31: Drawing Inferences pg. 522, # 4: Why do you think the Supreme Court justices often write concurring and/or dissenting opinions in a case?
Chapter 23 Comparative Economic Systems factors of production capital capitalist entrepreneur free enterprise system laws of supply and demand monopoly trust laissez-faire theory socialism proletariat bourgeoisie welfare state market economy centrally planned economy communism five-year plan collectivization Gosplan privatization Great Leap Forward commune pg. 679, #30 & 31: Political Cartoons pg. 679, #28 Recognizing Propaganda pg. 678, # 22: Briefly describe Marx view of history and the labor theory of value.