Unit IV FRQ Make-up Assignment

If you would like to make up your grade on the Unit IV FRQs, simply type a 3-5 page, double-spaced essay that answers the following question. Your font must be 12 point Times New Roman, and your margins should be one inch. Any sources used must be cited on a works cited page. Please print your essay and submit it in the appropriate tray at the back of my room.

The question you need to answer is this: How have the values and principles embodied in the Constitution shaped American institutions and practices?

You may use your notes, textbook, or the Internet, but remember to cite your sources.

This will be due by the late work deadline, which is 06/08/15 at 3:15pm.

Unit III FRQ Make-Up Assignment

If you would like to make up your grade on the FRQs, do the following:

Write a 3-5 page paper (typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman font, properly cited) that answers this question: How has the Constitution been changed to further the ideals contained in the Declaration of Independence?

This will be due May 1, 2015.

Obama and the Bully Pulpit

Here's the video I promised you of Barack Obama on Between Two Ferns. The YouTube channel Funny Or Die won't let me embed it on this site, so you'll have to check it out on YouTube here.

Just for fun, I thought I'd also share this gem. Enjoy!

Origins of the Word "President"

One of you asked where the word "president" came from.  This TED talk answers that question.

Constitution Song

Here are the lyrics to the Constitution song that I wrote for you. I also have embedded the music below so you can listen to the tune if you're trying to memorize it.

The Constitution’s as simple as can be.
It limits our dear government.
It’s why we remain free.
It’s such a lovely document
And soon you will agree:
We all need the Constitution
To preserve our liberty.

Verse #1:
The le-gislative
Makes all of the laws.
Article I tells us
Who and what
And for what cause.
Enumerated powers
Are the ones that are spelled out.
They’re all very specific
Only one gives us any doubt (elastic clause).

Chorus:
I will know.
I will understand.
I will know the structure of
The government of this land.
I will know.
I will understand
How the power is divided,
How it’s shared between each hand.
The power is divided
Between the leaders of this land.

Chant:
Le-gislative
Executive, Judicial
The power’s all divided
To keep tyranny away (HEY!)

Verse #2:
The President, the executive
Has a job to do -
Enforce the laws, make sure they’re kept -
We learn from Article II.
But you don’t vote very directly
When picking commander-in-chiefs.
Instead, call your elector,
He will vote on his beliefs.

The Constitution’s as simple as can be.
It limits our dear government.
It’s why we remain free.
It’s such a lovely document
And soon you will agree:
We all need the Constitution
To preserve our liberty.

Repeat Chorus & Chant

Verse #3:
Last, but not least
Is the judicial branch.
There’s not much written about it
But it makes me want to dance.
The Supreme Court is the highest court
And strikes down laws, you see.
It is our rights’ defender.
It’s our favorite referee!

The Constitution’s as simple as can be.
It limits our dear government.
It’s why we remain free.
It’s such a lovely document
And soon you will agree:
We all need the Constitution
To preserve our liberty.

Repeat Chorus & Chant

Unit I FRQ Study Guide

Below you will find the free-response questions that will be asked on the Unit I Test tomorrow. You will be expected to answer the questions quickly, but thoroughly. I highly recommend practicing answering them in writing at some point before you take the test tomorrow.

1. Classical Republicanism & Natural Rights Philosophy
• Define classical republicanism. Identify at least one element of classical republicanism that influenced the Founders’ view of government.
• Define natural rights philosophy. Identify at least one element of natural rights philosophy that influenced the Founders’ view of government.
• Describe how the views of Thomas Hobbes differed from those of John Locke.
2. Colonial Experience
• Explain what royal charters were. Differentiate between a royal proprietorship and a joint-stock company and explain how charters led to the Founders’ including rights in constitutions.
• Identify and describe at least two reasons why American colonists wanted to free themselves from Great Britain. Explain how those reasons led to the adoption of certain rights in state constitutions.

News Sources

Below are some links to great, fairly balanced political news sources:

PBS NewsHour: You are welcome to watch the full hour every day, but I just listen to the News Wrap, which usually only lasts 3-7 minutes.

NPR's Hourly Summary: This one updates every hour, so you can stay up to date with what's going on. I usually only listen to it once or twice a day.

PBS NewsHour is viewed by many political scientists as the most unbiased news program out there. It's also great because it goes in depth into stories instead of simply reviewing the day's events.

You can also check out the following radio stations:

90.1 - KUER
102.7 - KSL
105.7 - KNRS

Or any major newspaper (Salt Lake Tribune, NY Times, Washington Post, etc.)

These are also great:
cnn.com
cbsnews.com
abcnews.com
msnbc.com
Google News
Yahoo News
BBC
Fox News
The Associated Press
The Guardian
NPR

And if you are looking for a more comedic approach to the news, check out Politico Playback, which features the best of last night's late night TV talk show hosts sharing the news and making fun of it.

Cornell Note-Taking

Today we talked about taking Cornell Notes.  We watched the following video:

For more information about Cornell Note-Taking, be sure to click on the Assignments and Resources tab above. There are some handouts regarding Cornell Note-Taking in the Resources folder.

Unit V FRQ Study Guide

Good news. There will not be FRQs on the Unit V Test.

I would spend your time tonight carefully reviewing your notes and the "Reviewing and Using this Lesson" section at the end of Lessons 27-32.

Have fun!

Unit IV FRQ Study Guide

The Unit IV Test will consist of 25 multiple choice questions from Lessons 21-26.

The FRQs will ask about the following:

Congressional Powers

1. Enumerated, implied, enforcement, and inherent powers
2. The location of Congressional powers. Be prepared to explain why they're located where they are.

The Expansion of Presidential Powers

1. Be prepared to explain how presidential powers have expanded and why.
2. Executive orders
3. Checks & balances against the president

Unit III FRQ Study Guide

Be sure to understand the following:

Amending the Constitution - Formally/Informally

• Judicial review
• Proposing amendments
• Ratifying amendments

The Fourteenth Amendment - Due Process & Equal Protection of the Laws

• Due process
• Procedural due process
• Substantive due process
• Incorporation
• Equality of opportunity
• Equality of condition

Project Citizen Research Collaboration Sheets

In an effort to encourage collaboration on Project Citizen research, I have created Google Sheets for 1st and 6th period, so that you as students can share links to important research that you have discovered.  If you find a website that contains great information about your research, click the link below and write the name of the website, copy and paste its URL, and write any notes you feel might be helpful.  You will need to be signed in to your apastudents.org account.  Please email Mr. Scott Stone if you have any questions about the apastudents.org account or if you need your password reset.  His email address is sstone@apamail.org.

1st Period click here.

6th Period click here.

Unit II FRQ Study Guide

Below are things you definitely want to be sure you understand in preparation for the free response question section of the Unit II Test on Monday.  Please see your textbook for more details.

Representation in Congress

• Virginia Plan
• New Jersey Plan
• Connecticut (Great) Compromise

Arguments For/Against the Constitution

• Anti-Federalists
• Strong central government
• Federalists
• Factions

Cornell Notes

In my government class, you will be required to take notes using Cornell formatting.  This video is a great introduction to Cornell notes, and will give you some practical instruction on how to do them.

Welcome to U.S. Government & Citizenship

Welcome to the 12th grade U.S. government and citizenship section of my website.  Here you will find important tools and resources that will help you be successful in this class, including the course calendar, and an online repository of any handouts or assignments that I give to you throughout the year.

The goal of this course is to foster informed, responsible participation in public life because knowing how to be a good citizen is essential to the preservation and improvement of United States democracy. Upon completion of this course, you should understand the major ideas, protections, privileges, structures, and economic systems that affect the life of a citizen in the United States political system.  It is an exciting subject and I am thrilled to be teaching it.

Feel free to explore the links on the right, my Twitter feed, and/or other pages on my website.  If you have any suggestions regarding how I can improve this site, please email me.  I'd love to hear from you!