“My son, if you wish, you can be taught,

            if you apply yourself, you will be shrewd.

If you are willing to listen, you will learn,

            if you give heed, you will be wise.”

     (Sirach)

Course description:

U.S. Government and Politics is a yearlong study of the American Governmental systems with emphasis on the Constitution, its roots and relationships, governmental structure at all levels of government and the political process.  This course is also a study of the more important political issues, which face our nation today.  Discussion and analysis of these issues will constitute an integral segment of the course.  The course will cover the AP curriculum and is assumed that the students are planning on taking the AP U.S. Government and Politics exam in the second semester. 

I firmly believe that the most important class you are taking at Moeller is your religion class.  The development of our personal faith life should be the number one area of emphasis in our lives.  One hundred years from now it won’t matter how well you understood American Government or American society.

The second most important class you are taking this year at Moeller is your AP  Government class.  The development of your understanding of this great nation’s government and society, how it developed, and where it is going will be the number one emphasis in this class.  For the next 50+ years it will matter how well you understand American Government so that you can be a responsible, contributing member of this great land.

Text/Materials:

Most of the day to day readings will be website locations and/or class handouts

Worth the Fighting For by John McCain

Worse than Watergate by John Dean

To America by Stephen Ambrose

Born Again by Charles Colson

A Call to Service by John Kerry

My Country vs. Me by Wen Ho Lee

Ronald Reagan in Private by Jim Kuhn

Laptop Policy:

            Your laptop should be with you in class every day.  Material online or in my teacher folder will be a regular part of the class.    Often there will be activities where the laptop is not needed.  It should not be out then.   When the laptop is being used it should be used for activities related to this class only.   When in use, the laptop screen should always be facing the rear of the classroom or the middle of the classroom.  If there is ever any question as to whether your laptop was being used appropriately I will take it down to the help center and allow them to be the impartial judge of what is or is not appropriate.  

Grading policy:

A.   70% of your quarter grade will come from tests, quizzes, and exams.  The number of each will vary per class.  Unit tests will be comprised of 50-75 multiple choice/T/F questions and at least one Free Response Essay.  (5-10 questions will come from current events articles and issues assigned or discussed in class.)  The use of maps, graphs and charts will be an integral part of each test as well and the students will be expected to analyze and interpret the material presented in these formats.

B.    30% of your quarter grade will come from homework and class participation.  The research paper will be considered part of the homework grade.  Many of the homework grades will be quizzes on the reading assignments.

C.    Make-up work: Any assignment missed because of an excused absence must be turned in the first day back to school.  Any work not made-up on schedule will result in a zero for that assignment.  Make-up quizzes and tests will not be taken in class.  The student is responsible to find the teacher during homeroom, lunch, study hall, or after school to take any make-up quizzes.  Exceptions will be made for extended illnesses if arrangements are made with the teacher.

D.   Late assignments will not be accepted for credit.  Term papers will have due dates that cannot be changed:  the paper will be due on that date whether the student is in school or not.

E.    Academic detentions:  The teacher reserves the right to demand that any student that fails to turn in an assignment or in any way violates classroom policy will serve some time in detention for the teacher.

F.     Guide your actions by the following words:

Respect     Cooperation    Consistency     Promptness     Discipline     Honesty      Integrity     Preparedness     Organization     Efficiency 

G.   It is assumed that the student will pay attention, take notes and put forth his best effort in this class.  Other class work will not be going on during this class. 

H.   Cell phones:  “Don’t ask, don’t tell.”  If I never see it or hear it then it is not an issue.  If any cell phone activity is observed the phone will be confiscated and returned at the end of the day and a detention will be given. 

I.      No ‘S’ words!!!!!!!!

Units of Study:

I.  Background and Introduction to the Constitution (4 weeks)

            A. Explore the roots and relationships of the U.S. constitution to that of a

                 variety of influences including English, and other Enlightenment works, 

                Renaissance, Roman, and Greek influences as well.

            B. Discuss the colonial influence on shaping the U.S. Government.

            C. Explain the principles behind the American constitution such as “checks

     and balances”, “separation of powers”, “popular sovereignty”, and others.

            D. Explain the difference between Politics and Government.

            E. Discuss and explain the different articles of the constitution.

            F. Explain the system of federalism.

II. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties: (4 weeks)

A.    Discuss the Bill of Rights, and the remaining 17 amendments. 

B.     Trace the evolution of the civil rights and liberties through our country’s history.

C.    Identify and explore the landmark court cases that have affected the interpretation of the Constitution.

III. Legislative Branch (4 weeks)

A.    Study Article I of the Constitution and how it established the congress.

B.     Explain the evolution of the congress as the rules of procedure were developed and the 2-party system influenced the development of Congress.

C.    Understand the process of how a bill becomes a law.

IV. Executive Branch (4 weeks)

A.    Study Article II of the Constitution and how it established the presidency.

B.     Explain the evolution of the presidency from 1788 through current times.

C.    Emphasize the growth of the executive branch and the expansion of power and influence gained by the executive branch.

V. Judicial Branch (3 weeks)

A.    Study Article III of the Constitution and how it established the federal

judiciary system.

B.     Explain the evolution of the judicial branch throughout our country’s history. 

VI. American Politics (4 weeks)

A.    Students will learn about the evolution of the government bureaucracy

and research the history and policy impact of several government     departments  or agencies.

B. Explain the role of the party system in the nomination, campaign, and

election process.

C.    Explain the role and influence the party system has on the operations of

government at the federal, state, and local level.

D.    Understand the role that PAC’s, the media, individual citizens, and other

special interest groups play in the governmental process.

E.     Study the process of establishing public policy in modern times emphasizing how the branches of government, the federal and state bureaucracies, and political processes work together to set our national agenda.  This section will stress the growth of the government bureaucracy and its interaction with the political system evolving in this country.

VII. Watergate and Post-Watergate: (3 weeks)

A.    Students will learn how Watergate reflects the balance of powers within our government. 

B.     Lessons of Watergate will be discussed using events occurring after 1974.

VIII. State and Local Government (2 weeks)

            A. Have an understanding regarding the workings of state and local

     government.

B. Understand how the system of federalism affects state and local

      government.

IX. E-congress, Research Paper, Free Response Essay writing, current events

            classes/quizzes, and multiple book tests.  These activities will occur

            throughout the school year between Units I-VIII.  The total class time will

            approximate 3 weeks. 

X. AP Exam Review (1 week)