Unit Name: HP Components Weeks 1, 2, 3 Introduction of Comparative Politics Short Descriptive Overview The student will understand the broad fundamental concepts and tools used to study the processes and outcomes of politics in a variety of country settings. Concepts Political systems Political process Political policy Generalizations/Enduring Understandings The Comparative Method Understanding interdependency in this world depends upon a grasp of conceptual differences between and similarities among types of political systems. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power Sovereignty and legitimacy can be affected by internal divisions over power and its distribution. Political culture and other such values are often organized in specific ideologies that influence the direction of power. Political and Economic Change A stable democracy s economic preconditions and effects can be useful in the study of countries facing political upheavals. Citizens, Society, and the State A country s political patterns are influenced by certain kinds of cleavages such as religion, ethnicity, and class systems. A political system may be supported or undermined by such factors as the media and political participation. Political Institutions
How a country determines its levels and branches of government can be related to its political environment. The relationship between the original definition of a nation s constitution and the exercise of its real political power sometimes do not correspond. A nation s political role is influenced by its traditions and identities of its bureaucracy. Public Policy Public policy, both domestic and foreign, can be influenced by a broad range of formal and informal institutions Guiding/Essential Questions The Comparative Method How do political scientists study politics? Why is it important for us to learn about politics abroad? How do we compare countries? Sovereignty, Authority, and Power How is political legitimacy determined? What is a state? How can we compare regimes? How does political culture shape political ideologies? Political and Economic Change What kind of profound political and economic changes have occurred in the last two centuries? How do certain political attitudes promote economic change? How does democratization and the move towards market economies show a shared feature among nations? Why has fragmentation become increasingly important in world politics? Citizens, Society, and the State What mix of social classes, ethnic and racial groups, religions, languages does a country have?\ How are the cleavages expressed in the political system? Do political elites usually come from one group or another? Do citizens trust their governments?
How do citizens learn about politics in their country? Do citizens in the country have regular elections and if so are the elections competitive? How do the important cleavages in a country make a difference in citizens political beliefs and behaviors? Political Institutions How is a particular country s political system structured? Which styles or forms of government are preferred by certain countries? How are certain countries affected by supranational organizations? How are each of the branches of government organized and which branch is considered the most powerful? How are bureaucracies an integral part of each government? How much influence do linkage institutions have in a country s government? How are electoral systems and political recruitment handled up in each country? Public Policy How does a country ensure successful economic performance where poverty is widespread? How does a country provide for the social welfare of its citizens? How does a country extend and protect individual liberties and freedoms? How does a country protect its environment and works with other nations in protecting the earth s environment? TEKS: History TEKS: Geography TEKS: Economics TEKS: Government TEKS: Science, Technology & Society
TEKS: Culture (with emphasis on Dallas/Texas culture) TEKS: Citizenship TEKS: Social Studies Skills **Disclaimer** Strand 8 TEKS are in each unit. Skills are to be applied to lessons in a continous and ongoing manner. Direct teaching of the skills is applied when necessary. (c) Knowledge and skills. (1) The student will investigate, independently or collaboratively, a problem, issue, or concern within a selected profession or discipline. The student is expected to: (A) analyze the relationship between his or her interests and career/discipline; (B) review literature from varied sources from the selected career or discipline; (C) identify a problem, issue, or concern; (D) survey and/or interview professionals to determine the appropriateness of a project; and (E) develop a proposal that includes well-defined questions, goals and objectives, rationale, and procedures for the project. (2) The student will demonstrate understanding of the research methods and/or technologies used in a selected profession or discipline. The student is expected to: (A) develop an understanding of the requirements and practices of the profession in the selected career or discipline through observation;
(B) simulate the methods and/or technologies used in the research process particular to the selected field or discipline; and (C) review and revise the original proposal to reflect changes needed based upon preliminary research and practices. (3) The student will develop products that meet standards recognized by the selected profession or discipline. The student is expected to: (A) collaborate with the appropriate professionals to define the product; (B) develop a plan for product completion; (C) develop assessment criteria for successful completion of the project; (D) establish the appropriateness of the product for the intended audience; (E) implement the plan for product completion; and (F) maintain a journal to document all phases of the implementation of the plan and reflections on learning experiences and processes. (4) The student will demonstrate an understanding of the selected problem, issue, or concern by explaining or justifying findings to an appropriate audience for public comment or professional response. The student is expected to: (A) review and revise the plan to present the findings;
(B) make arrangements for the presentation of findings to an appropriate audience; (C) present findings, simulating the skills used by professionals; (D) consider feedback received from the audience; (E) reflect on the study and its potential for impact on the field; and (F) reflect on personal learning experiences of the study. AP Goals Students will successfully understand major comparative political concepts, themes, and generalizations. Students will have knowledge of important facts pertaining to the governments and politics of China, Great Britain, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, and Russia. Students will understand typical patterns of political processes and behavior and their consequences. Students will be able to compare and contrast political institutions and processes across countries and to derive generalizations. Students will be able to analyze and interpret basic data relevant to comparative government and politics. Topics Defining government and politics Comparing political systems Political culture Political socialization Interest articulation Interest aggregation and Political parties Policymaking Public policy
Essential Facts Advanced democracies Authoritarian regime Bicameral Unicameral Bureaucracy Civil society Command economies Communism Competitive elections Confederal system Conservatism Constitutional courts Corporatism Coup d etat Direct democracy Electoral systems Elites Empirical data Fascism Federal system First-past-the-post Plurality Winner-take-all Fragmentation Freedom House ratings Globalization Government Head of government Head of state Illiberal democracies Indications of democratization Indirect democracy Informal politics Institutions
Judicial review Legitimacy Liberal democracies Liberalism as a political ideology Liberalism as an approach to economic and political change Linkage institutions Market economies Marketization Mixed economies Mixed electoral system Multi-member districts Single-member districts Nation Nationalism Normative questions Parliamentary system Patron-client system Political culture Political elites Political frameworks Political ideologies Political socialization Politicization of religion Presidential system Privatization Proportional representation Radicalism Reactionary beliefs Recruitment of elites Reform Regime Revolution Rule of law Samuel Huntington s clash of civilizations Social boundaries
Social cleavages Socialism Sovereignty State Succession third wave of democratization Third world Three-world approach Unitary systems Academic Vocabulary Authoritarian regime Bicameral Unicameral Bureaucracy Command economies Communism Confederal system Conservatism Coup d etat Direct democracy Electoral systems Fascism Federal system Plurality Winner-take-all Government Indirect democracy Institutions Judicial review Legitimacy Linkage institutions Market economies Mixed economies Single-member districts Nation
Conceptual Framework, Processes and Skills Applying comprehension strategies to expository texts Textbook, various outside primary and secondary sources Nationalism Parliamentary system Political ideologies Political socialization Presidential system Proportional representation Reform Regime Revolution Rule of law Socialism Sovereignty State Succession Third world Unitary systems Applying Critical Thinking Skills recognize classify interpret exemplify summarize infer differentiate organize produce Summarize in chunks synthesize paraphrase record main ideas reread and review interpret assess PRTR- preview,read,think,review
factual knowledge conceptual knowledge procedural knowledge Analyzing Primary Sources Analyzing Artifacts what, who, occasion, purpose, reflection of values, change of meaning over time, expanding knowledge about the time period. Applying Skills of Inquiry and Presentation Applying Problem-Solving/Decisionmaking Skills Making connections to Real World/Current Events Textbook Correlations Web and internet resources note-making Cornell, half-notes, Concept cards, outline discussion, question wall, projects artistic renderings Transfer information from one form to another background analysis making a decision action current events basic democratic values/responsibilities social issues democracy free enterprise Comparative Politics Today: A World View, 8 th edition, Almond, Dalton, Powell, & Strom: Pearson, Longman, 2006. Comparative Politics (5 th Edition), Hauss, Charles; Thomson Wadsworth, 2006. AP Comparative Government and Politics: A Study Guide (2 nd Edition), Ethel Wood; Woodyard Publications, 2005. Support Materials (SSCED, etc.) CollegeBoard AP Comparative Government and Politics Acorn Book