syllabus
TRANSCRIPT
US Government SyllabusMatthew FrostFree State High School, Room 249(785) [email protected]
Content: US Government is semester-long course required for graduation. You must past this course and your senior elective to meet the graduation requirements established by Lawrence Public Schools.
The course will include units on foundations of American government, political behavior: government by the people, the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government, comparative political and economic systems and participating in state and local government. Current events and discussions will be an important part of the class.
Course Objectives:
Students will identify their roles in civic life, politics and government. Students will identify the foundations of the American political system. Students will understand how the government established by the Constitution
embodies the purposes, values, and principles of American democracy. Students will understand the relationship of the United States to other nations and to
world affairs. Students will identify their roles in American democracy. Students will become familiar with current events at the local, state, national and
international levels as they relate to government and how it functions. Students will register to vote and participate in local elections.
Course Text: American Government, William A. McClenaghan
Required Materials: Please come to class prepared. You should have paper and pencil or pen every day. You should have your textbook and some type of notebook in which to keep lecture notes and handouts.
Grades: Your grade will be based on a weighted grading system. Tests, quizzes and projects will be worth 70%, participation and daily work will make up the remaining 30%. Daily points will be awarded for the following: videos, worksheets, journals, current events, and letters to elected officials, etc. Major projects may include the following: creating your ideal government, major decisions by the US Supreme Court, third party politics and special interest groups, presidential powers and current events. Posted assignments are subject to change at the teacher’s discretion as time and circumstances change.
The grading scale is as follows: A = 90%; B = 80%; C = 70%; D = 60%. This scale applies to all assignments in this class.
Study Guides: A study guide for each unit will be handed out before each test. This will help you focus your studying.
Quizzes: There will be quizzes given for certain chapters of each unit, these quizzes will be short answer and multiple choice.
Tests: There will be a test administered at the conclusion of every unit. Tests will be multiple choice questions with a choice of several essay questions. Tests will not be
considered complete and ready to be graded if you have not attempted to answer the essay question.
Make-up work: Missed assignments can be made up, but it is your responsibility to take care of that. If I have to ask you to leave the room due to inappropriate behavior you forfeit the opportunity to make up any assignment for that day.
Class discussions: Discussions of current events and other topics relevant to public policy will be regular occurrences in class. There will be natural differences of opinion that occur during discussions. Students MUST respect the discussion process and concede that people WILL disagree. If a student becomes combative or is verbally attacking another student during a class discussion, that student will be asked to leave class and will forfeit the opportunity to make up any assignment for that day.
Power Standards: The following standards have been established for this course.
Power Standards for U.S. Government:
Upon completion of U.S. Government, students will be able to:
1) Demonstrate the ability to interpret maps, charts, graphs, and diagrams.2) Demonstrate research skills (use of databases, evaluation of websites, and use of
primary documents).3) Demonstrate a working knowledge and understanding of the foundations of
American Government (political tradition, principles, and values; Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights).
4) Demonstrate a working knowledge and understanding of political behavior, civic responsibility, and the political landscape (political parties, voters and voter behavior, electoral process, media and public opinion, interest groups).
5) Demonstrate a working knowledge and understanding of the legislative branch (Congress, Expressed/Implied powers, committees, legislative process, and amendment process).
6) Demonstrate a working knowledge and understanding of the executive branch. 7) Demonstrate a working knowledge and understanding of the judicial branch.8) Demonstrate a working knowledge and understanding of contemporary politics.
Units 1-2 will be covered during the 1st quarter, with 3-5 covered during the 2nd quarter, but may be adjusted at time dictates to include units 6 & 7
Unit 1: Foundations of American Government, Chapters 1-4Objectives: the students will be able to identify the following
1. the relationship between government and the state, theories on the origins of the state, political philosophies that influenced US government and the goals, as expressed in our founding documents
2. different forms of government and how power is shared and/or distributed in each
3. basic concepts of democracy in the United States4. origins of the American system of government5. the six basic principles embedded in the US Constitution and the formal
and informal amendment process6. how federalism works in the United States and the relationship between
states and the national government and interstate relationshipsUnit 2: Political Behavior: Government By the People, Chapters 5-9
Objectives: the students will be able to identify the following1. political parties, what they do and how they are organized2. party systems and how the two-party system has worked in American
history3. minor parties in the United States4. historical voting patterns and/or behaviors5. voter qualifications6. the role of the suffrage and civil rights movements in expanding voting
rights in US history7. the electoral process from the nomination through election, including the
role of money in the process8. the role of the mass media and public opinion in the electoral process9. the role of interest groups in the political process
Unit 3: The Legislative Branch, Chapters 10-12Objectives: the students will be able to identify the following
1. the structure of the national legislature2. qualifications for the House of Representatives and Senate3. Congressional powers: expressed, implied and nonlegislative4. the committee process and how a bill becomes a law
Unit 4: The Executive Branch, Chapters 13-17Objectives: the students will be able to identify the following
1. presidential qualifications and the succession process2. the nomination and electoral process3. presidential powers and the growth in scope for the executive4. the role of the federal bureaucracy: presidential advisors, departments,
independent agencies and civil service5. how government is financed: tax and nontax revenues, borrowing and the
budgeting process6. the role of foreign affairs and national security in the political process:
agencies responsible for administering policies7. American foreign policy and the role of alliances
Unit 5: The Judicial Branch, Chapters 18-21Objectives: the students will be able to identify the following
1. the role of the national judiciary, including the structure and jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, inferior courts and special courts
2. civil liberties and the First Amendment freedoms: religion, press, assembly, petition
3. how civil liberties protect individual rights: due process, search & seizure, accused persons, and punishment
4. major Supreme Court cases dealing with civil liberties5. the modern and historic role of civil rights and equal justice 6. the role of Amendments and Civil Rights laws in providing equal protection7. how citizenship is granted and reasons why it can be taken away
Major assignments:1. Supreme Court case studies
Unit 6 & 7: Comparative Political & Economic Systems & Participating in State and Local Government, Chapters 22-25 (there will be a combined unit exam)
Objectives for unit 6: the students will be able to identify the following1. the political systems for the following countries: Great Britain, Japan,
Mexico, Russia, and China2. the differences between the following economic systems: capitalism,
socialism, and communismObjectives for unit 7: the students will be able to identify the following
1. the origins and structure of state constitutions2. the power and role of state legislatures3. the power and role of governors and other administrative offices at the
state level4. the structure and jurisdiction of state courts5. the power, structure and relationships between counties, towns and
townships6. the power, structure and relationships between cities and metropolitan
areas7. what services are provided and how those services are financed