American Government Syllabus

2016 – 2017

• Students will complete a quarter project on the October local election and a quarter project on the November federal election.

• Students will attend one public meeting per quarter.

• Students will complete two hours of community service each quarter.

• Course Content:

What is government?

The State

Four Characteristics: Population, Land, Sovereignty, Government

Origin of the State

            Force Theory, Evolutionary Theory, Divine Right, Social Contract

The Purpose of Government

            Brainstorm

            U.S. Preamble

Forms of Government

            Who can participate?

                        Democracy

                        Dictatorship

            Geographic Distribution

                        Unitary Government

                        Federal Government

                        Confederate Government

Legislative and Executive Branches

            Presidential Government

            Parliamentary Democracy

Use the card activity to identify types of government

Look for a current event that exhibits life under a different government.

            What is the relation of the people to their government?

Empowered or powerless?

What is their condition, quality of life? Issues?

Foundations of Democracy

            Worth of the Individual

            Equality of Persons

            Majority Rule, Minority Rights

            Necessity of Compromise

            Individual Freedom

Duties and Responsibilities of Citizenship

Democracy and the Free Enterprise System

Basic Concepts of Government

            Ordered

            Limited

            Representative

Landmark English Documents

            The Magna Carta

            The Petition of Right

            The English Bill of Rights

            Chapter 2 Section 1 PPTX Foundations of Government

Characteristics of Government in the Thirteen Colonies (32-34)

PowerPoint: Meetings to the Constitutional Convention

The Declaration of Independence (Video)

The First State Constitutions

The Articles of Confederation

            Structure of Government

            Weaknesses

Creating the Constitution

Introduction: Play a game with no rules

            Framers

            Influences (Keynote) Philosophers Influenced the Founding Fathers PPTX

                        Locke

                        Montesquieu

                        Rousseau

                        Blackstone

            Plans and A Bundle of Compromises

                        Great Compromise

                        Three-Fifths Compromise

                        Commerce and Slave Trade

            Ratification

                        Federalists vs Anti-Federalists

Basic Principles of the Constitution

            Popular Sovereignty

            Limited Government

            Separation of Powers

            Checks and Balances

            Judicial Review

            Federalism

Amending the Constitution

            Formal Amendment Process

            Change by Other Means

                        Basic Legislation

                        Executive Action

                        Court Decisions

                        Party Practices

                        Custom and Usage

Federalism

Federalism – The Division of Power PPTX

            Federalism Defined

            Powers of the Federal Government (Chapter 11 Sections 1 and 2)

                        Expressed Powers

                        Implied Powers (Chapter 11 Section 3)

                        Inherent Powers

                        Nonlegislative Powers (Chapter 22 Section 4)

                                    Constitutional Amendments

                                    Electoral Duties

                                    Impeachment

                                    Appointments, treaty approval

                                    Investigate

            Powers Denied the Federal Government

            Powers Reserved to the States

            Powers Denied to the States

            Exclusive Powers

            Concurrent Powers

            Supremacy Clause

The National Government and the 50 States

            Process for Admitting New States

            Federal Grants

                        Grants-in-Aid

                                    Categorical Grants

                                    Block Grants

                                    Project Grants

            Other Forms of Federal Aid

            State Aid to the National Government

Interstate Relations

            Interstate Compacts

            Full Faith and Credit

            Extradition

            Privileges and Immunities

Legislative Branch

Chapter 11 Summary PPTX

            Structure of Congress

            House of Representatives

                        Qualifications for office (worksheet, want ad)

                        Size, terms

                        Reapportionment

            Senate

                        Qualifications for office (worksheet, want ad)

                        Size, terms, continuous body

            Personal and Political Background of Members

            Representatives of the People: Which is best?

                        Delegate

                        Trustee

                        Partisan

                        Politico

            Compensation

            How Congress is Organized

                        Convenes

                        Presiding Officers

                        Committee Structure

            Bills

                        Types of Bills and Resolutions

                        Path of a bill through Congress

                        Bills in the House

                                    Limited debate, calendars, rules, voting by electronic board

Bills in the Senate

            Filibuster, cloture, unlimited debate, voting by roll call

President signs, vetoes, become a law 10 days later with no action, or

pocket vetoes (Congress adjourns before 10 days is up so no

law)

            Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

President

            Nominating Process (redo podcast)

            Elections

Electoral College – Why? Still OK?

            Job Description 13:1

                        State of the Union Message

Qualifications: Formal and Informal

Presidential Succession 13:2

            Growth of Presidential Power 14:1

            Executive Powers

                        Ordinance Power (Executive Orders)

                        Appointment Power

                        Removal Power

                        Executive Privilege

            Diplomatic and Military Powers 14:3

            Legislative and Judicial Powers 14:4

            Watch the State of the Union Address

                        Bingo and analysis

The Federal Bureaucracy 15

            Executive Branch

            Executive Office of the President 15:2

            Cabinet 15:3

            Independent Agencies 15:4

Financing Government 16

            Taxes and Other Revenue 16:1

            Borrowing and Public Debt 16:2

            Spending and the Budget 16:3

            Fiscal and Monetary Policy

Foreign Affairs 17 (Cover through current events. U.S. responsibility or stay out?)

Political Labels

            Parties

            Liberals vs Conservatives (take a survey)

            Interest Groups

            Citizens United

            Campaign Finance Reform

Voting

            Legislation to improve voting opportunities

                        Minorities

                        Women

                        18-year-olds

            Voter ID

            Debussion: photo id requirement?

Judicial Branch

            Structure of the Federal Court System 18:1

                        Jurisdiction

            Judges: formal and informal qualifications

            How a judge decides, page 525

            U.S. Supreme Court

                        Jurisdiction

                        How cases reach the Court.

                        How the Court operates

                        Special Courts 538-540

Each student will research and report on one court case.

Reading, watching, or listening to news is an integral part of the course. Choose reputable news sites and be prepared to discuss news events in class. Every Friday, there will be a current events quiz.

Work is due the day after it is assigned unless otherwise noted. If it is late, it must be accompanied by a late turn-in slip, or I will not accept it.

Street Law

Chapters 1-6

Civil vs criminal law

Legal terms

Adjudication, mediation, arbitration

Advocacy, lobbying

Voting laws

Steps in a trial

Jury duty

Hiring a lawyer

Chapter 7

Preventing and reporting crime

Chapter 8

Vocabulary

8.1 p. 102

8.2 p. 103

The Case of the Drowning Girl

8.3 p. 105

8.4 p. 106

Chapter 9

Vocabulary

You Be the Judge, p. 109

Homicide cases

Suicide?

Bullying

Rape

Problem 9.2 p. 114

Chapter 10 Crimes against Property

Vocabulary

10.1 Vandalism p. 116

Shoplifting/Concealment/larceny (incorporate issues, p. 118)

Problem 10.2 p. 117

Problem 10. 4 p. 121

Problem 10.5 p. 125

Identify Theft, p. 122. Write a PSA, wrap, song warning people about identify theft.            Identify your audience and/or concern you want to address

Chapter 11 Defenses

Vocabulary

Problem 11.1 on p. 128

Problem 11.2 on p. 131

(Breathalyzer presentation with school resource officer)

Chapter 12 Search and Seizure

(Search and seizure presentation with school resource officer; include Mike Rath to get en loco parentis aspect)

What to do if you’re arrested, p. 138

Discussion about employee drug testing

Chapter 18

Vocabulary

Review torts

Discuss pp. 214 and 215.

Do problem 18.1 together in class: a-c in class; d-g as homework

Evan and Martha case on p. 274

Strict Liability (TE p. 215)

Discuss Problem 18.2, p. 219

Discuss Problem 18.3, p. 220

Taking Your Case to Court pp. 221-225

            Compare the criminal and civil processes TE p. 217 – chart

Discuss who can be sued TE p. 217

Class Action Suits TE p. 218

Discuss Problem 18.4, p. 222 Liability of grocery story owners?

Discuss Problem 18.5, p. 224 service manager overlooked steering wheel problem; liability?

Discuss Problem 18.6. p. 225 Wrongful death in flight 103

Discuss Problem 18.9, p. 228 Liability related to a car accident – fault?

Discuss problem 28.10, p. 230 Who is responsible for medical expenses, etc.?

Problem 18.11, p. 231 Is the school negligent in the fall?

Pages 54-55

Chapter 19 Intentional Torts

Vocabulary

Discuss problem 19.1 p. 233 Can the neighbor sue Jeremy’s parents? Explain

Problem 19.2, p. 235 Torts that injure persons

Problem 19.3, p. 237 Infliction of Emotional Distress

Dealing with Antisocial Behavior in School (Bullying presentation with admin)

Discuss 19.4, 19.5, 19.6, 19.7, 19.8 in groups

Read and discuss problem 19.9 on page 249 and 19.10 on p. 252

Chapter 20 Negligence

Vocabulary

Discuss Elements of Negligence, p. 254

Define and explain duty and breaches

Discuss Problem 20.1 The Spilled Coffee

Discuss the Reasonable Person Standard, pp. 256-7 (TE pp. 240-1)

Discuss Problem 20.2

Review Causation, pp. 258-0 and complete Problem 20.4

Review Background- Defenses, TE pp. 246-7

Discuss Defenses to Negligence Suits, pp. 260-1

In groups of 4, discuss “Determining a Defense to Negligence,” p. 263

Chapter 21 Strict Liability

Vocabulary

Define strict liability: liability without fault

Problem 21.1, p. 265 Toxic Torts (A Civil Action)

Problem 21.2, p. 266 Animals: responsibility of owners

Problem 21.3, p. 267 Product Defects

Problem 21.4, p. 268 Defenses to Strict Liability

Problem 21.5, p. 269

Chapter 22 Torts and Public Policy

Vocabulary

Why would the business community support tort reform? Medical personnel?

Do Problem 22.1 together in class.

Do Problem 22.2 together in class

Chapter 23: Contracts

Vocabulary

Standards used in negligence cases involving minors.

In groups, complete Problem 23.1. Class discussion to review answers

Problem 23.2 Minors and contracts

Problem 23.3 Written and oral contracts

Problem 23.4 Illegal Contracts

Chapter 24: Warranties?

Vocabulary

What should you keep in mind when purchasing something?

Chapter 25: Financial Services

Guest speaker for overview

Bank Accounts, pp. 289-293.

Introduction to Credit, pp. 294-297

Responsible credit and establishing/maintain good credit; review dangers

In groups, make a list of recommendations for dealing with credit. Share with class.

Problem 25.1 The Lost Wallet, responsibility

Cost of Credit, pp. 300-1 Discuss Problem 25.4

Explain other charges, p. 302: Costly Credit Arrangements, p. 303, and Truth in Lending, p. 303.

The following topics will be considered if guest speakers are available: (Divorce and custody with Judge Stephens; foster parents for foster care and adoption; OCS rep?)

Ch. 31 Marriage

Ch. 32 Parents and Children

Ch. 33 Forster Care and Adoption

Ch. 34 Separation, Divorce, and Custody

Ch. 44 Rights and Responsibilities in the Workplace

(Employers in to talk about the liability they face, and why drug testing, i.e,. is essential-Alaska Airlines, Southeast Stevedoring?)