Review Day

Activity #1: Notes

Activity #2: PPC on AP Classroom

Activity #3: Benchmark on Illuminate

Lesson 2.9: Legitimacy of the Judicial Branch

Enduring Understanding:

The design of the judicial branch protects the Supreme Court’s independence as a branch of government, and the emergence and use of judicial review remains a powerful judicial practice.

Learning Objectives:

Explain how the exercise of judicial review in conjunction with life tenure can lead to debate about the legitimacy of the Supreme Court’s power.

Essential Knowledge:

Precedents and stare decisis play an important role in judicial decision making.

In your notebooks, finish the three Supreme Court Stations that you have left to complete.  Make sure to title the activity "Supreme Court Stations."  If you are absent, you can find the stations below.

Supreme Court Stations 

Activity #2: Nifty-Fifty Vocab:

Lesson 2.8: The Judicial Branch

Enduring Understanding:

The design of the judicial branch protects the Supreme Court’s independence as a branch of government, and the emergence and use of judicial review remains a powerful judicial practice.

Learning Objectives:

Explain the principle of judicial review and how it checks the power of other institutions and state governments.

Essential Knowledge:

The foundation for powers of the judicial branch and how its independence checks the power of other institutions and state governments are set forth in:

• Article III of the Constitution
• Federalist No. 78 
• Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Activity #3: Supreme Court Stations

NOTEBOOK CHECK!

Lesson 2.8: The Judicial Branch

Enduring Understanding:

The design of the judicial branch protects the Supreme Court’s independence as a branch of government, and the emergence and use of judicial review remains a powerful judicial practice.

Learning Objectives:

Explain the principle of judicial review and how it checks the power of other institutions and state governments.

Essential Knowledge:

The foundation for powers of the judicial branch and how its independence checks the power of other institutions and state governments are set forth in:

• Article III of the Constitution
• Federalist No. 78 
• Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Debrief 2.12:

Activity #1 Judicial Branch One Pager

Hey everyone.  Today we are completing test corrections for your last test over the Executive Branch and the Bureaucracy. 

First, if you have not taken the test, you need to take the test today!!! Here is the access code...

TEST

If you have already taken the test, it is time to do test corrections! 

TEST CORRECTIONS MUST BE TURNED IN TODAY IN ORDER FOR THEM TO CHANGE YOUR GRADE!

To do test corrections, make sure to take out a separate sheet of notebook paper.

Then, open up your results on the illuminate dashboard.  The Illuminate Dashboard can be found at the following link.

Once you can see your results, open the test booklet.

Then correct your wrong answers!  When you correct your test combine the answer and question to make a true statement and then provide an explanation or example...

Here is an example of how a correction would look....

1. When the framers of the Constitution created the office of president, they granted the president with all of the powers below EXCEPT…
1. Veto legislation
2. Pardon criminals
3. Appointing judges
4. Declaring war

Test Day!!!

Lesson 2.13: Bureaucratic Rule Making Authority

Enduring Understanding:

The federal bureaucracy is a powerful institution implementing federal policies with sometimes questionable accountability.

Learning Objectives:

Review Day!

Time to Review!!!

Activity #1: Powers of the President

Using the Chart we create in our notebooks, break the President's Powers into four categories...

• Legislative Powers
• Executive Powers
• Diplomatic/War Powers
• Judicial Powers

Activity #2: The President in Checks and Balances Stations

In each of the station rotation, discuss the impact that each item has on the power of the Executive Branch. In each station, you will see a document, cartoon, or article that discuss a check the Executive branch has on other branches, or that the other branches have on the president...

• Impeachment
• Court and Cabinet Nominees
• The War Powers Act
• The Budget

Activity #3: Kahoot Review

Lesson 2.12: The Bureaucracy

Enduring Understanding

The federal bureaucracy is a powerful institution implementing federal policies with sometimes questionable accountability.

Learning Objectives:

Explain how the bureaucracy carries out the responsibilities of the federal government.

Essential Knowledge:

Tasks performed by departments, agencies, commissions, and government corporations are represented by:

• Writing and enforcing regulations
• Issuing fines 
• Testifying before Congress \
• Issue networks and “iron triangles” 

Political patronage, civil service, and merit system reforms all impact the effectiveness of the bureaucracy by promoting professionalism, specialization, and neutrality.

Debrief 2.9:

Activity #4: Checks and Balances Diagram (Review)

Lesson 2.5: Checks on the Power of the President

Enduring Understanding:

The presidency has been enhanced beyond its expressed constitutional powers.

Learning Objectives:

Explain how the President’s agenda can create tension and frequent conflicts with Congress

Essential Knowledge:

The potential for conflict with the Senate depends upon the type of executive branch appointments, including:

• Cabinet members
• Ambassadors 
• White House staff

If the legislature was to make a law that made government responsible for overseeing internet service and social media as "guaranteed public services and utilities" (like electricity, water, gas, telephone, etc.), which one of the 15 executive departments would likely be assigned the agency to oversee their regulation? Explain why you chose that department.

Lesson 2.5: Checks on the Power of the President

Enduring Understanding:

The presidency has been enhanced beyond its expressed constitutional powers.

Learning Objectives:

Explain how the President’s agenda can create tension and frequent conflicts with Congress

Essential Knowledge:

The potential for conflict with the Senate depends upon the type of executive branch appointments, including:

• Cabinet members
• Ambassadors 
• White House staff

Activity #2: Roles of the President Check in Sheet:

Activity #3: Catch Up!!!

Hello,

Lesson 2.4: Roles and Powers of the President

Enduring Understanding:

The presidency has been enhanced beyond its expressed constitutional powers.

Learning Objectives:

Explain how the president can implement a policy agenda.

Essential Knowledge:

Presidents use powers and perform functions of the office to accomplish a policy agenda.

Formal and informal powers of the president include:

Lesson 2.4: Roles and Powers of the President

Enduring Understanding:

The presidency has been enhanced beyond its expressed constitutional powers.

Learning Objectives:

Explain how the president can implement a policy agenda.

Essential Knowledge:

Presidents use powers and perform functions of the office to accomplish a policy agenda.

Formal and informal powers of the president include:

Lesson 2.4: Roles and Powers of the President

Enduring Understanding:

The presidency has been enhanced beyond its expressed constitutional powers.

Learning Objectives:

Explain how the president can implement a policy agenda.

Essential Knowledge:

Presidents use powers and perform functions of the office to accomplish a policy agenda.

Formal and informal powers of the president include:

Unit Two Part Two: The Executive Branch

The expressed powers of the president are set forth in Article II of the Constitution. The president has a significant degree of informal power, which has grown over time. Under the Constitution, Congress checks the power of the president, and this leads to tension between the two branches over both foreign and domestic affairs. The president and Congress have several interrelated powers. For example, while Congress passes legislation, the president must sign it into law. The president appoints judges and members of the cabinet, who must be confirmed by the Senate. The president also oversees most of the bureaucracy. Technology has impacted the president’s use of the “bully pulpit” to influence public opinion. In addition to reaching out to the public through televised press conferences and the State of the Union message, the president is increasingly making use of social media to communicate views to a vast audience.

Lesson 2.4: Roles and Powers of the President

Enduring Understanding:

The presidency has been enhanced beyond its expressed constitutional powers.

Learning Objectives:

Explain how the president can implement a policy agenda.

Essential Knowledge:

Presidents use powers and perform functions of the office to accomplish a policy agenda.

Formal and informal powers of the president include:

Activity #1: Executive Branch One Pager:

TEST DAY!!!  

REVIEW DAY!!!

Activity #1:

Lesson 2.2: The Structures, Powers, and Functions of Congress

Enduring Understanding:

The republican ideal in the U.S. is manifested in the structure and operation of the legislative branch.

Learning Objectives:

Explain how the structure, powers, and functions of both houses of Congress affect the policymaking process.

Essential Knowledge:

By design, the different structures, powers, and functions of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives affect the policy-making process.

Though both chambers rely on committees to conduct hearings and debate bills under consideration, different constitutional responsibilities of the House and Senate affect the policy-making process.

• Chamber-specific procedures, rules, and roles that impact the policy-making process include:
• Number of chamber and debate rules that set the bar high for building majority support .
• Roles of Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, party leadership, and committee leadership in both chambers 
• Filibuster and cloture 
• Holds and unanimous consent in the Senate 
• Role of Rules Committee, Committee of the Whole, and discharge petitions in the House
• Treaty ratification and confirmation role of the Senate 

Congress must generate a budget that addresses both discretionary and mandatory spending, and as entitlement costs grow, discretionary spending opportunities will decrease unless tax revenues increase or the budget deficit increases.

Pork barrel legislation and logrolling affect lawmaking in both chambers

Debrief 2.3

Activity #1: How The Budget Basics...

Activity #3: Free Response Question:

• Identify a change in Federal Spending from 1970 to 2023 as represented in the charts above.
• Explain a reason why this change has occurred.
• Explain why making changes to the budget is often difficult for elected officials.

Lesson 2.2: The Structures, Powers, and Functions of Congress

Enduring Understanding:

The republican ideal in the U.S. is manifested in the structure and operation of the legislative branch.

Learning Objectives:

Explain how the structure, powers, and functions of both houses of Congress affect the policymaking process.

Essential Knowledge:

By design, the different structures, powers, and functions of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives affect the policy-making process.

Though both chambers rely on committees to conduct hearings and debate bills under consideration, different constitutional responsibilities of the House and Senate affect the policy-making process.

• Chamber-specific procedures, rules, and roles that impact the policy-making process include:
• Number of chamber and debate rules that set the bar high for building majority support .
• Roles of Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, party leadership, and committee leadership in both chambers 
• Filibuster and cloture 
• Holds and unanimous consent in the Senate 
• Role of Rules Committee, Committee of the Whole, and discharge petitions in the House
• Treaty ratification and confirmation role of the Senate 

Congress must generate a budget that addresses both discretionary and mandatory spending, and as entitlement costs grow, discretionary spending opportunities will decrease unless tax revenues increase or the budget deficit increases.

Pork barrel legislation and logrolling affect lawmaking in both chambers

Hey everyone, I am sorry I am gone today.  We will finish the legislative branch simulation when I get back on Monday.  For today we have one item to work on...

Activity 1: Finish Primer

Lesson 2.2: The Structures, Powers, and Functions of Congress

Enduring Understanding:

The republican ideal in the U.S. is manifested in the structure and operation of the legislative branch.

Learning Objectives:

Explain how the structure, powers, and functions of both houses of Congress affect the policymaking process.

Essential Knowledge:

By design, the different structures, powers, and functions of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives affect the policy-making process.

Though both chambers rely on committees to conduct hearings and debate bills under consideration, different constitutional responsibilities of the House and Senate affect the policy-making process.

• Chamber-specific procedures, rules, and roles that impact the policy-making process include:
• Number of chamber and debate rules that set the bar high for building majority support .
• Roles of Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, party leadership, and committee leadership in both chambers 
• Filibuster and cloture 
• Holds and unanimous consent in the Senate 
• Role of Rules Committee, Committee of the Whole, and discharge petitions in the House
• Treaty ratification and confirmation role of the Senate 

Congress must generate a budget that addresses both discretionary and mandatory spending, and as entitlement costs grow, discretionary spending opportunities will decrease unless tax revenues increase or the budget deficit increases.

Pork barrel legislation and logrolling affect lawmaking in both chambers.

Debrief 2.1:

Lesson 2.1: Congress: The Senate and the House of Representatives 

Enduring Understanding: 

The republican ideal in the U.S. is manifested in the structure and operation of the legislative branch.

Learning Objectives: 

Describe the different structures, powers, and functions of each house of Congress.

Essential Knowledge: 

The Senate is designed to represent states equally, while the House is designed to represent the population.

Different chamber sizes and constituencies influence formality of debate.

Coalitions in Congress are affected by term-length differences.

The enumerated and implied powers in the Constitution allow the creation of public policy by Congress, which includes:

• Passing a federal budget, raising revenue, and coining money 
• Declaring war and maintaining the armed forces 
• Enacting legislation that addresses a wide range of economic, environmental, and social issues based on the Necessary and Proper Clause

Debrief 2.1: CNN 10

Activity 1: Chapter Unit Two Part One Notes

Click Here to access the notes

Activity 2: Use OSAM to Analyze the Political Cartoon

Unit Two: Interactions Among Branches of Government 

Enduring Understanding: 

The republican ideal in the U.S. is manifested in the structure and operation of the legislative branch.

Learning Objectives: 

Describe the different structures, powers, and functions of each house of Congress.

Essential Knowledge: 

The Senate is designed to represent states equally, while the House is designed to represent the population.

Different chamber sizes and constituencies influence formality of debate.

Coalitions in Congress are affected by term-length differences.

The enumerated and implied powers in the Constitution allow the creation of public policy by Congress, which includes:

• Passing a federal budget, raising revenue, and coining money 
• Declaring war and maintaining the armed forces 
• Enacting legislation that addresses a wide range of economic, environmental, and social issues based on the Necessary and Proper Clause

Debrief 2.1: Impeachment!

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took the extraordinary step Tuesday of initiating impeachment proceedings against President Trump, accusing him of violating the Constitution in seeking help from a foreign leader to damage a political opponent. 

Pelosi’s move came after Trump acknowledged that he urged the Ukrainian president to investigate former vice president Joe Biden, a contender for the Democratic presidential nomination who holds a wide lead over Trump, polls show, in a potential general election matchup. The revelation prompted a rush of moderate House Democrats to call for an impeachment inquiry into Trump, a step they had resisted for months. On Tuesday, Pelosi (D-Calif.) relented as well. 

Congress has launched impeachment proceedings against a president only four times in the nation’s history. Pelosi’s move all but ensures that the House will vote on articles charging Trump with “high crimes and misdemeanors” in a matter of weeks, according to senior Democratic lawmakers and top leadership aides, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations.

~By Rachael Bade, Mike DeBonis and Karoun Demirjian from the Washington Post. September 24th 2019. Full Article Text

September 24 at 5:24 PM
1.  Explain how this article represents the principle of checks and balances.

2.  Once the House of Representatives votes on articles to charge President Trump, research what would happen next write down the next steps in the impeachment process.

Activity #1: Congress One Pager

Test Recap and Re-teaching...

Activity #2: Test Corrections:

Activity #3: Turn in your notebook with vocab

Test Day!

Review Day!

Today, we will be getting ready for your unit one test.  In order to do this, we have two tasks for today.

Activity #1: Unit One PPC

Activity #2: Unit One Review

Once you have finished with the Unite One PPC on AP Classroom, please continue to complete your Unit One review.

NOTEBOOK CHECK NEXT CLASS!!!

Lesson 1.3: Government Power and Individual Rights 

Enduring Understanding: 

The Constitution emerged from the debate about the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation as a blueprint for limited government.

Learning Objectives: 

Explain how Federalist and Anti- Federalist views on central government and democracy are reflected in U.S. foundational documents.

Essential Knowledge: 

Madison’s arguments in Federalist No. 10 focused on the superiority of a large republic in controlling the “mischiefs of faction,” delegating authority to elected representatives and dispersing power between the states and national government.

Anti-Federalist writings, including Brutus No. 1, adhered to popular democratic theory that emphasized the benefits of a small decentralized republic while warning of the dangers to personal liberty from a large, centralized government.

Debrief 1.6: 

Activity #1: Edpuzzle on the Federalist vs. The Anti-Federalists

REVIEW TIME!!!

Lesson 1.8: Constitutional Interpretations of Federalism 

Enduring Understanding: 

Federalism reflects the dynamic distribution of power between national and state governments.

Learning Objectives: 

Explain how the appropriate balance of power between national and state governments has been interpreted differently over time.

Essential Knowledge: 

The interpretation of the Tenth and Fourteenth Amendments, the commerce clause, the necessary and proper clause, and other enumerated and implied powers is at the heart of the debate over the balance of power between the national and state governments.

The balance of power between the national and state governments has changed over time based on U.S. Supreme Court interpretation of such cases as:

• McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), which declared that Congress has implied powers necessary to implement its enumerated powers and established supremacy of the U.S. Constitution and federal laws over state laws 
• United States v. Lopez (1995), which ruled that Congress may not use the commerce clause to make possession of a gun in a school zone a federal crime, introducing a new phase of federalism

Debrief 1.5: Political Cartoon Analysis

Activity #1: Watch the EdPuzzle to Refresh on Federalism

Activity #2: Federalism FRQ

Take a look at the FRQ from the 2018 Gov Test.  Complete the FRQ essay on the sheet that I provide you using the strategies we discuss in class. 

Activity #3: Nifty Fifty Vocabulary

Lesson 1.7: Relationship between the States and the Federal Government 

Enduring Understanding: 

Federalism reflects the dynamic distribution of power between national and state governments.

Learning Objectives: 

Explain how societal needs affect the constitutional allocation of power between the national and state governments.

Essential Knowledge: 

The exclusive and concurrent powers of the national and state governments help explain the negotiations over the balance of power between the two levels.

The distribution of power between federal and state governments to meet the needs of society changes, as reflected by grants, incentives, and aid programs, including federal revenue sharing, mandates, categorical grants, and block grants.

Debrief 1:4:

Activity #1: Notes 

Activity #2: Federalism in Action

Activity #3: Federalism FRQ

Lesson 1.6: Principles of American Government 

Enduring Understanding: 

The Constitution created a competitive policy-making process to ensure the people’s will is represented and that freedom is preserved.

Learning Objectives: 

Explain the constitutional principles of separation of powers and checks and balances. Explain the implications of separation of powers and checks and balances for the U.S. political system.

Essential Knowledge: 

The powers allocated to Congress, the president, and the courts demonstrate the separation of powers and checks and balances features of the U.S. Constitution.

Federalist No. 51 explains how constitutional provisions of separation of powers and checks and balances control abuses by majorities.

Debrief 1.4:

"If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself." -James Madison

Think about what this quote means...  What does this quote have to do with checks and balances within our government?

Activity #1: Federalist 51 Drawings

Activity #2:

Activity #3:

Lesson 1.6: Principles of American Government 

Enduring Understanding: 

The Constitution created a competitive policy-making process to ensure the people’s will is represented and that freedom is preserved.

Learning Objectives: 

Explain the constitutional principles of separation of powers and checks and balances. Explain the implications of separation of powers and checks and balances for the U.S. political system.

Essential Knowledge: 

The powers allocated to Congress, the president, and the courts demonstrate the separation of powers and checks and balances features of the U.S. Constitution.

Federalist No. 51 explains how constitutional provisions of separation of powers and checks and balances control abuses by majorities.

Debrief 1.3:

Activity #1: Complete the EdPuzzle Assignment

Activity #2: Notes from Chapter Two 

Activity #3: Federalist 51

Download the Federalist 51 PDF.  Save the PDF to your AP Gov folder on your desktop (or wherever you made your folder) and complete the walkthrough on the PDF using Preview and save it in your folder.  Once you finish, move on to Activity #4

Activity #4: AP Classroom

Lesson 1.5: Ratification of the U.S. Constitution 

Enduring Understanding: 

The Constitution emerged from the debate about the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation as a blueprint for limited government.

Learning Objectives: 

Explain the ongoing impact of political negotiation and compromise at the Constitutional Convention on the development of the constitutional system

Essential Knowledge: 

Compromises deemed necessary for adoption and ratification of the Constitution are represented by:

• Great (Connecticut) Compromise 
• Electoral College 
• Three-Fifths Compromise 
• Compromise on the importation of slaves 

Debates about self-government during the drafting of the Constitution necessitated the drafting of an amendment process in Article V that entailed either a two-thirds vote in both houses or a proposal from two-thirds of the state legislatures, with final ratification determined by three-fourths of the states.

The compromises necessary to secure ratification of the Constitution left some matters unresolved that continue to generate discussion and debate today.

The debate over the role of the central government, the powers of state governments, and the rights of individuals remains at the heart of present-day constitutional issues about democracy and governmental power, as represented by: Debates about government surveillance resulting from the federal government’s response to the 9/11 attacks The debate about the role of the federal government in public school education

Debrief 1.3:

Activity #3: Complete the EdPuzzle Assignment

Activity #4: Nifty Fifty Vocabulary:

Lesson 1.3: The Challenges of the Articles of Confederation 

Enduring Understanding: The Constitution emerged from the debate about the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation as a blueprint for limited government. 

Learning Objectives: Explain the relationship between key provisions of the Articles of Confederation and the debate over granting the federal government greater power formerly reserved to the states. 

Essential Knowledge: Specific incidents and legal challenges that highlighted key weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation are represented by the: 

• Lack of centralized military power to address Shays’ Rebellion 
• Lack of tax-law enforcement power

Debrief 1.2:

Skim the following article about California's attempted secession by reading the title, picture captions, and the first line of each paragraph.  If any paragraph piques your interest, read those paragraphs.  Then answer the following questions in your notebook under the heading "Debrief 1.2:"

1. What is the Social Contract, and what does it have to do with California in this article?
2. How might the history of California and the United States impact how California might set up their new government?
3. In your opinion, how should the United States Federal Government respond to California if this movement progresses?

Activity #1: The Articles of Confederation:

Part One:  In your notebooks, create a 2 column by 3 row square table.  Label the left column, "Grievances against the King."  List three different issues that the colonist had against the English Government.

Part Two: Complete the Articles of Confederation Analytical Reading.  Make sure to complete the tasks on the PDF using Apple Preview.  

Part Three:  In the right column of the chart that you made in the notebooks, list how the new American Government in the Articles of Confederation responded to the grievance listed in the Declaration of Independence.  

Activity #2:  Weakness of the Articles of Confederation:

Travel to this link to learn about why the United States' first government, The Articles of Confederation, failed.  Once there, skim through the article to learn about the major weakness of our first government.  To skim...

1. Read the title, headings, and captions to pictures
2. Then, read the first sentence of each paragraph and only read the paragraphs that stand out to you.

Once you finish, respond to the following prompt in your notebook...

"Develop an argument that explains how Articles of Confederation failed to provide a stable foundation for the American Colonies after independence."

Activity #3:  Notes (If time allows) 

Benchmark Day!

Activity #1

I wanted to start off today by reviewing what we learned about last class, The Declaration of Independence.  To do this, please complete the assignment titled "Declaration of Independence" on EdPuzzle. 

Activity #2

Next, we have a district Benchmark.

Today we are going to complete our first check-in to see how much you already know about American Government!  The Benchmark will be on Illuminate Student.  To access the assessment:

Click Here

Activity #3

Once you finish, please complete the Nifty Fifty vocab terms using the sheets provided:

Representative Democracy
Social Contract
Popular Soveriengty
Natural Rights

Activity #4