Lesson on Thursday, December 21, 2017

Aim: How does the Constitution reflect and embody the principles of majoritarian or pluralist democracy?

Bell Ringer: Review Journal 17 (5 min)

Objectives:

3.7  Evaluate the extent to which the Constitution reflects and embodies the principles of majoritarian or pluralist democracy.

Agenda:

1. "The Constitution provided a judicious balance between order and freedom. It paid virtually no attention to equality." p. 79

2. Journal 18 - re: Which provisions of the U.S. Constitution have the most appeal in other countries? Which ones have the least appeal? What popular provisions lie outside the U.S. Constitution? Which provision has grown most in appeal in the period from 1946 to 2006? Only one provision has lost appeal. Which one? Speculate on the reasons for the growth and decline in these provisions?

3. Does the Constitution fit into a pluralist or majoritarian model? (discuss)

4. Chapter 3 Vocab Quiz

5. Concept Maps presentations (rest of class)

TERMS TO KNOW: social contract theory, republic, confederation, Articles of Confederation, Virginia Plan, James Madison, New Jersey Plan, The Great Compromise, electoral college, extraordinary majority, republicanism, federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, enumerated powers, necessary and proper clause, implied powers, judicial review, supremacy laws, Federalist No. 10, Federalist No. 51, Bill of Rights.

HOLIDAY BREAK ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Chapter 4 & 5 IDs due Monday, January 8, 2018 (for every day that an ID is late, your final grade for that assignment will be one whole grade less).

2. The Constitution Worksheet due Monday, January 8, 2018

3. Chapter 4 Vocabulary Quiz on Monday, January 8, 2018

4. Check blog for journals to complete for Chapter 4.

5. Unit 2 Exam: Tuesday, January 9, 2018 

Lesson on Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Aim: How was the Constitution ratified and how can it be amended? 

Bell Ringer: Journal 15 - Choose one and describe the concept in your own words: The Amending Process, The Supremacy Clause, or The Ratification Process. (10 min)

Objectives:

3.5  Describe the actions taken to ensure the ratification of the Constitution.

3.6  Explain the procedures required to amend the Constitution.

Agenda:

THE FEDERALIST PAPERS (slides 32-35)

1.  Federalist No. 10 - interest groups, political parties....FACTIONS. No 10 demonstrates that the proposed government was not likely to be dominated by any faction. Was Madison right?

2. Federalist No. 51 - Separation of Powers and Checks & Balances. No. 51 demonstrates that these two elements would control efforts at tyranny from any source. Was Madison right?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDt1cUibFEY 

3. Journal 16 - Choose one and describe it in your own words: Federalist No. 10 or Federalist No. 51. (10 min)

4. Why were the Bill of Rights included in the Constitution? 

CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE (slides 36-39)

5. Changes through judicial interpretation and political practice (political parties, cabinet) 

6. Proposal Stage (2/3 of both houses) / Ratification Stage (3/4 of state legislatures) 

7. The 21st Amendment was ratified in less than 10 months vs. The 14th Amendment, which guarantees citizenship, due process, and equal protection of the laws. 

TERMS TO KNOW: social contract theory, republic, confederation, Articles of Confederation, Virginia Plan, James Madison, New Jersey Plan, The Great Compromise, electoral college, extraordinary majority, republicanism, federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, enumerated powers, necessary and proper clause, implied powers, judicial review, supremacy laws, Federalist No. 10, Federalist No. 51, Bill of Rights.

Home Learning: 

1. Chapter 3 Concept Map: Create a concept map of one of the following:

A. Bill of Rights amendments (10 to choose from)

B. Amending Process (2 to choose from)

C. Remainder of Amendments (17 to choose from)

Be ready to present your concept map tomorrow (1-2 min presentation)

*note: use table 3.2, figure 3.3, and table 3.3 as a source. 

2. Journal 17 - Should the power to declare war be changed or extended to the presidency? Explain. re: p. 78 'Political Practice', paragraph 3. 

3. Study for tomorrow's Chapter 3 Vocab. Quiz 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Below you will find a list of Amendments that have been assigned to each student in Period 4 for the Concept Map assignment listed above. These concept maps are due on THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2017. I WILL NOT ACCEPT IT ON FRIDAY! If you are absent, I will need a doctor's note, NOT A PARENT'S NOTE. The concept map will be counted as TWO quiz grades. 

Lourdes - Amendments 1 & 20

Denilson – Amendment 2

Julieta – Amendments 3 & 21

Uriel- Amendment 4

Nusbaldo – Amendment 5

Sammy – Amendments 6 & 22

Kellek – Amendment 7

Fernando – Amendment 8

Thalia – Amendments 9 & 23

Adriana – Amendments 10

Ashley – Amendments 11 & 25

Andrea – Amendment 12

Denise – Amendment 13

Amy – Amendments 14 & 24

Valery – Amendments 15 & 25

Gloria – Amendments 16 & 26

Brian – Amendments 17 & 27

Sandy – Amendments 18 & Proposal

Douglas – Amendment 19 & Ratification

note: EACH absence in AP GOV will bring down the next UNIT EXAM grade by ONE WHOLE GRADE. 

Lesson on Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Aim: What were the causes of the Mexican War, and in what ways did it bring about a grown sectional crisis during the 1850s?

Bell Ringer: Review Journal 13 (5 min)

Objectives:

3.4  Explain the contribution of the Constitution to the American political tradition and the principles it establishes.

Agenda: (slides 17-31)

THE FINAL PRODUCT

1. Republicanism, Federalism, Separation of Powers, Checks & Balances. (slides 24-28)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bf3CwYCxXw (9 min)

2. Journal 14 - Explain how Separation of Powers and Checks & Balances limit the powers of the federal government. (10 min)

2. Powers of the government: enumerated powers (delegated powers), concurrent powers, reserved powers. 

(slides 29-31)

3. Article IV: requires that the judicial acts and criminal warrants of each state be honored in all other states; new states; protection from the national government. 

4. Article V: The Amending Process https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_wbxHmSQKc (4 min)

5. Article VI: The Supremacy Clause; the oath, religious affiliation or belief

6. Article VII: The Ratification Process

7. The 3/5th Compromise

GRADE JOURNALS 1-10

TERMS TO KNOW: social contract theory, republic, confederation, Articles of Confederation, Virginia Plan, James Madison, New Jersey Plan, The Great Compromise, electoral college, extraordinary majority, republicanism, federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, enumerated powers, necessary and proper clause, implied powers, judicial review, supremacy laws, 

Home Learning: 

1. The Supremacy Clause: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR3ocW8apto (2 min)

2.  The Ratification Process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw7NpBCuLco (8 min) (skip to 4:30)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ4T-C3RM7E (optional)

3. The 3/5th Compromise:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsIz1t43Uww (5 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95Q8gdOp3j4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SOgweDRoL4 (12 min)

Lesson on Monday, December 18, 2017

Aim: What caused the American Revolution?

Bell Ringer: Review UNIT 1 EXAM (15 min)

Objectives:

3.1  Explain the reasons for the colonies’ declaration of independence from British rule.

3.2  Identify the factors that led to the failure of the Confederation.

3.3  Explain the major points of contention in the writing of the Constitution.

Agenda:

THE REVOLUTIONARY ROOTS OF THE CONSTITUTION (slides 4-14)

1. Written in 1787 for an agricultural society huddled along the coast of a wild new land, now guides the political life of a massive urban society in the postnuclear age.

2. 18th Century freedom, in comparison... / Uniquely American Protest (slide 5)
John Adams: Tarred and feathered scene:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDiDFAdaMRg (4 min)

3. Road to Revolution (slides 6-10)

4. Articles of Confederation (slides 11-14) origins and weaknesses (power to tax, no independent leadership position, power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, amending process)

FROM CONFEDERATION TO CONSTITUTION (slides 15-22)

5. Shays' Rebellion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ImIEcsTEVo (6 min)
Journal 12 - What is the significance of Shays' Rebellion? (10 min)

6. Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, The Great Compromise (rest of class)

TERMS TO KNOW: social contract theory, republic, confederation, Articles of Confederation, Virginia Plan, James Madison, New Jersey Plan, The Great Compromise, electoral college, extraordinary majority,

Home Learning:

1. Complete Chapter 3 IDs, due tomorrow Tuesday, December 19, 2017

2. Journal 13 - Describe how the Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan, and Great Compromise helped shape the Constitution.

Lesson on Friday, December 15, 2017

AP GOVERNMENT UNIT 1 EXAM

GOOD LUCK! 

AP GOVERNMENT UNIT 1 EXAM STUDY GUIDE

Hi!

Tomorrow's exam is a 50 multiple choice question assessment. Questions 1-27 are on Chapter 1. Questions 28-50 are on Chapter 2.

Topics to review:

• globalization, what is it? What is globalization a threat to
• What is the purpose of government? 
• Thomas Hobbes ideology of government
• John Locke's views on government and its purpose
• Be familiar with the concept of communism
• Examples of nations that have deep ties to communism but are currently moving in the direction of capitalism
• What are public goods? 
• The modern objective of governments 
• American government culture, what are we more inclined to believe? 
• Know the difference between political equality and equality of opportunity
• Government's "original dilemma"
• Western Europe's experience with democratic socialism
• Know the difference between libertarianism and liberalism
• Know the difference between conservatives and liberals in America
• Procedural democracy
• Participatory democracy
• E-government
• Substantive democracy
• Responsiveness
• Referendum
• Initiative
• Weaknesses of the majoritarian democratic model
• Interest Groups
• Majoritarian vs. Pluralist models of democracy
• Elite theory
• Democratization

WOW! I doesn't feel like it, but we learned a lot of valuable information in the last two weeks. Don't kill yourselves cramming. Just read your IDs before going to bed and please DO NOT come to class with an empty stomach. GET REST. 

O 

Lesson on Thursday, December 14, 2017

AIM: Majoritarian or Pluralist Democracy? 

Bellringer: Review MC questions 6-15 (don't forget 16) (10 min)

Objectives:

2.3  Evaluate the challenges facing countries trying to move toward a democratic form of government.

Agenda:

1. Bellringer (10 min)
2. Discuss Global Trends Assignment, via Think-Pair-Share. (15 min)
3. Grade Global Trends Assignment (1CW)
4. Current Events (10 min)
5. Chapter 2 Vocab. Quiz (15/20 min)
6. UNIT 1 EXAM REVIEW

Home Learning: 

1. Study for UNIT 1 EXAM using M.C. questions 17-25 (below)
2. Begin reading Chapter 3, IDs due on Monday, December 18, 2017

17. What is the key to the success of a majoritarian democracy? 

a. popular participation. 

b. the presence of many organized groups. 

c. decentralized government. 

d. economic equality. 

e. low citizen involvement in civic affairs. 

18. According to the text, American democracy can best described as which of the following? 

a. elitist 

b. pluralist 

c. not yet a true democracy 

d. majoritarian 

e. substantive 

19. What do we call the fundamental idea that government responsiveness comes through mass political participation? 

a. substantive democracy 

b. majoritarian democracy 

c. minority rights 

d. pluralist democracy 

e. elitist theory 

20. The observed relationship between democracy and economic performance suggests that democratic nations are _____________________ 

a. no more or less prosperous than non-democratic nations. 

b. less prosperous than non-democratic nations. 

c. less likely to support free markets. 

d. more prosperous than non-democratic nations. 

e. retarding global economic growth. 

21. Roughly what percent of the American population “follows what's going on” in government “most of the time”? 

a. 12% 

b. 18%

c. 26% 

d. 39% 

e. 43% 

22. The United Nations has tracked the number of democracies around the world and noticed an increase from 1990 to 2003. What percent of increase did the world see in democracies between 1990 and 2003? 

a. 3% increase 

b. 7% increase 

c. 10% increase 

d. 13% increase 

e. 16% increase 

23. Democratic governments and processes 

a. guarantee correct decisions. 

b. are observed in nearly all contemporary nations. 

c. always protect minority rights. 

d. reject unlimited majority rule. 

e. may not necessarily result in desirable policies.

24. The principle of majority rule conflicts most directly with which of the following? 

a. popular sovereignty 

b. minority rights 

c. universal participation 

d. a sense of community identity 

e. governmental responsiveness 

25. According to the text, if governments were arrayed on a continuum, what type of government would one find at the opposite end from autocracy? 

a. oligarchy 

b. monarchy 

c. aristocracy 

d. democracy 

e. patriarchy

Lesson on Wednesday, December 13, 2017

AIM: How can we evaluate the challenges facing countries trying to move toward a democratic form of government? 

Bellringer: Current Events (10 min)

Objectives:

2.3  Evaluate the challenges facing countries trying to move toward a democratic form of government.

Agenda:

1. Review multiple choice questions 1-5 (5 min)

2. Review Journal 10. (5 min)

THE GLOBAL TREND TOWARDS DEMOCRATIZATION (slides 26-27)

1. "Nations find it difficult to succeed economically in today’s world without establishing a market economy, and market economies (capitalism) give people substantial freedoms."

2. “The flaw in the pluralist heaven is that the heavenly chorus sings with a strong upper-class accent.”

3. Journal 11 - Offer an example of why democratization is difficult. (10 min)

4. How The Arab Spring Changed Europe Forever https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGGDfmhKoyk (5 min)

What is the Arab Spring? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z-rKjTivDs 

The Arab Spring - What is it? www.youtube.com CNN report on the Arab Spring

How The Arab Spring Changed Europe Forever www.youtube.com Since 2010, the Arab Spring has had an unprecedented impact across the Middle East, and now, with the recent migrant crisis, the rest of the world. Will it change ...

5. 2.3 GLOBAL TRENDS assignment:

In groups of three, discuss and answer the three questions on page 46. Group responses due tomorrow. 

Vocabulary Terms to Know: procedural democratic theory, universal participation, political equality, majority rule, participatory democracy, e-government, representative democracy, responsiveness, substantive democratic theory, minority rights, majoritarian model of democracy, interest group (lobby), pluralist model of democracy, elite theory, democratization. 

Home Learning: 

1. Study for tomorrow’s vocabulary quiz. 

2. Spring Forever. The Tragedy and The Causes of The Arab Spring https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxRqxIYuFS0 (25 min)

Spring Forever. The Tragedy And The Causes Of The Arab Spring www.youtube.com More films about the Arab Spring: https://rtd.rt.com/tags/arab-spring/ Revolution, riots and bloodshed are spreading throughout the Arab world. The area has become a ...

3. Journals 1-10 graded on Friday, December 15, 2017

4. Multiple Choice questions 6-15

6. What do we call the idea that certain principles must be incorporated into the policies of government? 

a. substantive theory of democracy 

b. procedural theory of democracy 

c. elite theory of democracy 

d. initiative and referenda 

e. None of the above 

7. How do Americans differ from the citizens of most other western democracies in their view of the government’s main responsibility? 

a. Americans feel strongly that their government must provide social services. 

b. Americans feel strongly that their government must ensure order. 

c. Americans feel strongly that their government must maintain law. 

d. Americans feel strongly that their government must reduce crime. 

e. Americans feel strongly that their government must combat terrorism. 

8. The majoritarian model of democratic government 

a. offers protection for minority rights. 

b. relies on a relatively passive citizenry. 

c. is organized around the activities of groups. 

d. expects citizens to have a high degree of knowledge. 

e. fits well with the behavior of voters in America. 

9. What form of democracy selects individuals to govern on the behalf of others called? 

a. minority rule 

b. indirect democracy 

c. participatory democracy 

d. procedural democracy 

e. representative democracy 

10. A society that is ruled by one person is called a(n) 

a. autocracy. 

b. monopoly. 

c. oligarchy. 

d. democracy. 

e. patriarchy. 

11. What is the primary mechanism for democratic government in the majoritarian model? 

a. universal participation 

b. popular election 

c. aristocracy 

d. elitism 

e. policy 

12. Which of the following is not among the watchwords associated with pluralist democracy? 

a. one person, one vote 

b. divided authority 

c. decentralization 

d. open access 

e. government by groups 

13. What do we call a special election to unseat an elected official? 

a. referendum 

b. recall 

c. procedural election 

d. initiative 

e. universal election 

14. How do most Americans feel about creating an electronic democracy? 

a. Almost all Americans support the idea. 

b. Almost two-thirds of all Americans support the idea. 

c. A small majority supports the idea. 

d. A small majority opposes the idea. 

e. Almost two-thirds of all Americans oppose the idea.. 

15. Elite theory appeals to people who believe 

a. the public should be actively engaged in politics. 

b. direct democracy is the only true democracy. 

c. in the principle of responsiveness. 

d. government should respond to the demands of many groups. 

e. wealth dominates politics.