Function of Government

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
In what ways can politicians and news sources be bias?
What are the perspectives on issues discussed in government today?
How does the Executive Branch function?
How does parliamentary procedure work?
How can the Constitution be interpreted in multiple ways?    
When you turn 18, every US citizen has the opportunity to register to vote.  Click below for a form then bring it to the town hall with two forms of ID:
  • A photo ID (school or drivers license)
  • Proof of citizenship (Birth Certificate or Passport) 
When you turn 18, all male US citizens are required to register for the Selective Service, or the draft.  Click below to sign up.  Consider, "Is this fair?" and "Should women be required to sign up too?"

Policy and Bias

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
In what ways can politicians and news sources be bias?
What are the perspectives on issues discussed in government today?  
LESSON: Lobbying
Watch the PBS video on Capitol Crimes and respond to the questions in the Graphic Organizer on lobbying.
LESSON: Political Bias
Take notes on Ms. Eckert's presentation.  Then complete the Evaluating Political Bias Activity in which you will evaluate quotes from politicians to determine their political leanings.

Make sure you understand the definition of bias.

Watch the video below.  

Newspapers can also have political bias.  Read three articles on the roll out of Obama Care and complete the Activity.
LESSON: Issues in Government
Making decisions in government are not easy.  What makes these decisions so complicated?  In class, we will discuss some of the most hotly debated issues in government.
LESSON: Relevant Governmental Terms
Study relevant vocabulary to utilize in debate and discussion related to political issues.

Legislation in Action

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
How does parliamentary procedure work?
MOCK SENATE: Robert Rules
In class we will examine current political issues.  Using parliamentary procedure we will vote on whether certain laws should go into effect.  We will use simplified Robert Rules established by Cornell University.  Prepare for the debates by reading the information in the provided Packet.

Executives in Action

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
How does the Executive Branch function?
EXECUTIVE BRANCH: Borrowed from Westport K-12.
Read the Executive Branch Article and complete the Executive Branch Graphic Organizer.  Research the various components of the executive branch – also known as the federal bureaucracy. For each agency you should summarize their major responsibilities or powers. Use the websites below for your research:

Court in Action

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
How can the Constitution be interpreted in multiple ways?   
MOCK TRIAL: Same Sex Marriage
In class we will examine case law and precedents set by the courts regarding same-sex marriage, and determine whether or not it is constitutional.
LESSON: Similarities and Differences
Is the gay rights issue the same thing as other civil rights issues?  
LESSON: Terms  
Complete this Activity using the links below.
Is homosexuality inalienable?
Is marriage a human right?  How do you define marriage?
Examine the Historical Timeline of homosexuality and respond to questions in a graphic organizer.

Use Procon.org to see what the arguments are on each side.  

Then watch this video.  Do we need to have a mother and a father to raise a child?  How do we reconcile this argument below with single-parent homes?
LESSON: Defense of Marriage Act
Complete this Activity using the links below.
Examine the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and its redefinition of marriage as between a "man and a woman."  Portions of DOMA were struck down in 2013 by the Supreme Court.
Democracy Now Article on the Striking Down of DOMA
June 6, 2013
In a historic day, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional and has paved the way for same-sex marriages to resume in California. In a 5-4 decision, the court has ruled the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act signed by President Clinton is unconstitutional. This means that legally married same-sex couples are entitled to claim the same federal benefits that are available to opposite-sex married couples. Minutes later the court announced supporters of the ban on same-sex marriage in California did not have standing to appeal a lower-court ruling that overturned the Proposition 8 ban. The court effectively gave the green light for at least some gay weddings to proceed in California because a federal judge’s original ruling that struck down the law will remain intact.

In his majority opinion in the DOMA case, Justice Kennedy writes: "The federal statute is invalid, for no legitimate purpose overcomes the purpose and effect to disparage and injure those whom the State, by its marriage laws, sought to protect in personhood and dignity. By seeking to displace this protection and treating those persons as living in marriages less respected than others, the federal statute is in violation of the Fifth Amendment.”

Competency

Essay: What are the two sides of the issue?
Local Government in Action:
See document below for information about the project.  For information on local events that you could go to for your project, check out these websites:
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