U.S.+Government+Course+Outline


 * US Government **

Universal Question: What is the Role of US Government?

Learning Outcomes:

1. Understand the 3 Branches of Government.

2. Understand the interplay between government and daily life.

3. Understand the implications of the political processes.

4. Understand the concept of Americanism and how it is being exported abroad.

5. Understand how the different government models throughout history have affected the shape and form of our government.


 * __2 Exams __** : Students will be tasked to build an effective study guide for each of the following 2 projects. Exams will be 25 Questions, multiple-choice and 4 points per question. The best choice receives 4 points.


 * __ Project #1: __** We are going to **__jigsaw__** each of these documents in 5 groups of 4. You are going to be experts of each of these documents. You will present your research in a panel format, which we will practice throughout the semester.

Framing questions
 * 1) What does the Declaration of Independence mean today?
 * 2) Constitution: Why did we need one? What does it do? How did this document create our “checks and balances” style of government?
 * 3) Federalist Papers: Are they valid?
 * 4) What legal cases had a lasting affect on government policy? How and Why? (Top 4)
 * 5) What do political (Presidential) speeches demonstrate about the “historical climate” of the nation? (Pick 1 from each category: 1. Washington, John Adams, or Jefferson 2. Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson 3. Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR), Eisenhower, Kennedy 4. Reagan, Clinton, Bush, or Obama).

We will **SOAPSTone** each document below as a **CLASS!!** Then you will create a graphic booklet of your **SOAPSTone Notes**.

//The American Nation// textbooks are available to assist you in breaking down each source.
 * 1) Declaration of Independence
 * 2) http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence
 * 3) US Constitution
 * 4) http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/United_States_Constitution
 * 5) Federalist Papers
 * 6) http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Federalist_Papers
 * 7) Legal Cases
 * 8) http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Liliuokalani_v._The_United_States
 * 9) Political Speeches
 * 10) Produce a resource page on WIKISPACES that demonstrates your conceptualization of each document through annotating each source.
 * 1) Produce a resource page on WIKISPACES that demonstrates your conceptualization of each document through annotating each source.

Project #2: Working Government Models

1. Legalism: Compare and contrast ancient and modern societies that employ legalist parameters to govern themselves.

2. Meritocracy: What is the essential component of this style of government? Read your research thoroughly and you will find the answer.

3. Feudalism: Compare European, Asian, and Polynesian feudalism. What attributes are similar? What are some clear differences? Why was feudalism necessary in the societies in which they existed?

4. Democracy: Describe the origins of democracy. Why did the people in those societies decide to govern themselves? How did external forces give democratic government procedures their definition? Can democracy be anything other than a government model? Can it be a way of thinking, a culture? Give evidence to prove your yes/no answer.

5. Republic: What separates a republic from a democracy? What facets of republics allow them to become empire builders? Are republican forms of government the only forms of government in today’s world? List 3 countries that are considered to be republics then compare the republican style of governing to 3 non-republics. Measure their effectiveness by describing the happiness of their citizens. Be sure to explain //how// you have measured “citizen approval ratings” in your analysis of your findings.

6. Create a video or graphic representation depicting each. The work must be **__original__**. No splicing YouTube videos together and passing it off as yours. Essays (3) and Research Papers:

Each essay is 3-5 Pages long and answer the following questions. Pick **__2/3 essay__** questions that **__most__** interest you.

1. What is democracy? What are key components of democracy? How does your document reflect the values of democracy? Is it effective?

2. Has history had an affect on the shape of our government? How? Why is it important for history and government to interconnect?

3. (Topic) What kinds of government have existed throughout history? (Thesis) Is there an effective form of government? If so, which is the most effective and why? (Body 3) What purposes should government serve? (Conclusion) What kind of government model would you implement, why? (You can present this section as a short story if you wish.)

 ** Research paper: Take a position on a societal problem. Research what the government’s role is in that problem and determine if it is a positive or negative role. To create your __thesis__, ask yourself the question, “Who is responsible for this problem?” For your body paragraphs ask yourself: “How will this problem affect my future plans?” Conclude by stating how problems could be better or worse using the resources and research you have built throughout the course. **