UNIT III/IV (Presidency)
Special Interest Groups, Campaign Finance, and the Mass Media

http://radioviceonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/square-union-special-interest-groups.jpeg  http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/120528044642_campaign-finance-generic-640x360-16x9.jpgpolitical_parties.png mass-media.jpg

Our unit will commence with an examination of special interest groups and campaign finance and determine their effects on the political system and elections. We will then move to examine political parties and the two party system. We will look at the history and examine the history, purpose, the nature of the two party system. Finally we will examine the effects the mass media plays on public and the U.S. political system.

 

Unit Activities:

 

1.) HW:

a.) Teacher Worksheets and Readings

b.) Project research and presentations

 

2.) Lectures/Discussions: On the history and development, and purpose of America's Political Parties, aspects of the election process

    (including money, voter behavior, interest groups etc.), and the mass media.

3.) Class Presentations: CHEESIE

4.) Debates/Discussions: Does Money Buy Elections? How Powerful is the Media?

5.) Reading: Teacher handouts and Chapters 7, 8, 9.3, and 10.

6.) Videos: Campaign Finance, Political Ads and Propaganda Techniques, Media, Third Parties,

7.) Test: At the end of the Unit

8.) Continued analysis of various current issues including: the economy and the budget and an international look at the emerging issues involving the Middle East and Asia

 

Unit Questions:

 

1.) Since political parties are so weak in the United States, what purpose do they continue to serve? Since candidates raise most of their own 

     campaign funds, do they even need party affiliation? Would the nation be unable to run itself without political parties?

2.) Can the pledges from both parties to be more civil translate to more bipartisanship and compromise?  

3.) How much will the Republican Party’s control of the House and Senate affect White House goals in President Obama’s second half of his second 

     term? How will the Democrats address the conservative House and the newer Tea Party members for this term? 

4.) Does a strong party system, as exists in most European countries, make government more accountable since voters know whom to blame for

     failed policies? For this reason should Congress regulate political parties?

5.) Why is the media considered the fourth branch of government? How can we best decipher and analyze the huge amounts of information that we

      receive? Who controls whom? Do we control the issues that should be covered by the media or does the media tell us what we should be

     concerned with? How is the media so vital in the election process? How does the media impact the outcome of an election? Can it have too much

     of an impact?

6.) How has money become so important in the election process? How is political influence gained and what does money have to do with it? Is the

     current election system in need of serious repair due to the Supreme Court’s recent decision regarding campaign financing? (Citizen’s United v.

     FEC) How are Super PACS and 501 c4s affecting the campaigns?

 

Back to Unit II                                     Table of Contents

DATE

IN CLASS ACTIVITY

HOMEWORK

TUE.

9/27

Finish Political Party Lecture

Start Special Interest Group Lecture

Intro Presidential Simulation

·        Read pgs. 307-323

THU.

9/29

Finish Political Parties Lecture (#36)

Sim Info (#38)

 

 

Start Special Interest Groups, PACS, and Campaign Finance (#39) Lecture (25 minutes)

· Print UNIT III SCHEDULE (this page) and place it behind your Unit III divider in your binder. (#35)

 

· Read 328-341

 

· Work on CHEESIE – presentations on 1/19-1/20 Bring in materials for tomorrow

 

·  For Period 2- Here is the CR info sheet

 

· Here are the 15 issues (candidates need to address these in your background form) :

1.) abortion                             

2.) civil rights (gay marriage,

     affirm. Act.)                                  

3.) Income Gap                      

4.) social security/elderly

5.) unemployment/poverty    

6.) crime (death penalty/ gun

      control)

7.) Civil Liberties (policing)

8.) Medicare/Health care 

9.) Energy  (nuclear power, drilling)

10.) Environment

11.) taxes (increase on rich? Tax breaks?)

12.) Immigration (terrorism)   

13.) Economy

14.) Foreign Policy (ISIS; iso vs.intervent.) 

15.) Education

 

·      Here is Powerpoint for  Political Parties

 

TUE.

10/4

Continue Special Interest Group Lecture (#39)  (40 minutes)

    Colbert Videos

 

Practice Sim. Day (25 minutes)

 

 

 

 

· Read 342-354

 

· Start prepping for simulation: Campaigns  Check out this website to get some starting ideas for the campaign. It would be really smart to produce your first commercial this weekend.

 

· Financial Manager and FEC must print multiple copies of this form and bring it to class.

 

· VP Debate tonight at 6pm!

 

THU.

10/6

Simulation Day #1(45 minutes)

 

Ad Techniques video (45 minutes) (#40)

 

 

· Read and complete the Qs for Secrets of America’s Great Presidents and Hail to the Chief (#41)

·  

· Read pgs 301-306

 

· Be prepared for Day #2 of the simulation on Monday. 1/2 Media should have a video prepared and the other should have a written (one page) newspaper report or blog, 

 

· Work on Simulation (for  Mon.): CRs please feel free to use this format for your journals if you are having trouble with them. You should should have journals with poll changes and explanation of their PAC complete, and campaigns should be prepared where to travel and have media and fundraisers ready.

 

MON.

10/10

Discuss 2nd Presidential Debate

 

Finish Political Ads

 

Simulation Day #2 (45 minutes)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

· Read pgs. 224-237

· Do questions for  False Ads: There Outta Be a Law homework. (#43)

 

· Be prepared for Day #3 of the simulation. 1/2 Media should have a video prepared and the other should have a written (one page) newspaper report or blog, CRs should have journals with poll changes and explanation of their PAC complete, and campaigns should be prepared where to travel and have media and fundraisers ready. CRs please feel free to use this format for your journals if you are having trouble with them

 

· Check out this website to get some starting ideas for the campaign

 

WED.

10/12

 

Simulation Day #2 (continuation)

 

Lecture Media (#42)

 

 

 

 

·         Read pgs. 238-251

 

 

·         Work on Simulation: Media come prepared to run the debate, and film it. Presidents you will have the end of class to campaign in two states of your choice and there will be time for state Ads only (no national ads). Spin Doctors, be ready for the 5 minute Spin Off right after the debate

 

 

FRI.

10/14

Simulation Day #3: Presidential Debate – town hall format

 

Finish Lecture Media (#42)

 

 

 

 

             

 

 

·   Review Chpt. 8 (parties by the test)

 

·   Worjk on Sim. For Tue.

 

·   CRs’ SuperPac ads due Tue.

TUE.

10/18

 

Simulation Day #4

 

(UNIT IV)Lecture on the Presidency (#44)

 

 

·         Be prepared for mini-debate Thu. after we campaign on presidential authority. You do not have to do the essay but you DO have to write a page of bullet points on each side of the issue. (#45)

 

NEXT SIM. DAY IS MONDAY!

 

·   Download and print out the West Wing video guide.

http://www.getwellkathleen.us/amgov/unit3b/images.jpg

 

THU.

10/20

Finish Lecture on Presidency (#44)

Mini debate/Socratic Seminar: Is the President Too Powerful?

 

 

 

 

·         Read and do: Truth and Consequences (#46)

 

MON.

10/24

Sim Day #5

Lecture: Office of the White House (#47)

 

Welcome to the West Wing (#49)

 

Bureaucracy- the agencies

·         “There Are Really Two Americas: Republistan and Democravia” (#48) (if you haven’t already)

·         Read and complete Truth and Consequences (#46)

 

·         Make sure you check out the review:The Executive Branch/Presidency before the mid-term.

·         Here is UPDATED the studyguide for the Unit II and Unit III

WED.

10/26

 

West Wing Video (#50)

 

Proposition Summaries (#51)

 

Presidential Sim Day #6 (Last “full” Sim day

 

·         Study for Midterm(Unit II and  III Test)

·         ****TEST MOVED TO THU. NOV. 3***

 

·         CR's Make sure your polls/journals (hurray- last one!)  are ready for the last day (we will have an opportunity to switch them “in real time” during the 15 minutes of campaigning on Friday). If you are gone- make sure you give your journal to another CR to bring in AS WELL as email the teacher a copy.Campaigns: Finish your campaigning and spend all your money- you’ll have 15 minutes to show your last ads and campaign. Presidential candidates: prepare your concession/victory speeches. Mass Media: Prepare your last joint video. LASTLY- simulation reflection (1-2 pgs) due Fri.

·         Here is UPDATED the studyguide for the Unit II and Unit III (#52)

·         Here is the Powerpoint for Special Interest Groups/Campaign Fundraising

·         Mass Media Powerpoint

·         Powers of the President

·         Check the previous unit for the previous powerpoints

FRI.

10/28

Mock Election and Ads (only 15 minutes to show ads and campaign- CRs will be changing their polls “In Real Time”

 

Review For Unit II/III Test

·         ****TEST MOVED TO THU. NOV. 3***

·         Here is UPDATED the studyguide for the Unit II and Unit III (#52)

·         Reflections and Peer Evals due Tue if you didn’t turn it in on Fri.

 

        

TUE.

11/1

Review Propositions w/Proposition Summaries (#51)

 

Econ- Intro Activity

 

Start Scarcity Lecture (#54)

·         ****TEST MOVED TO THU. NOV. 3***

 

·         Here is UPDATED the studyguide for the Unit II and Unit III (#52)

THU.

11/3

Unit II/III Test

 

Get Econ textbooks and Student study Guides (SSG)

·         Go to UNIT I ECONOMICS SCHEDULE (#5) Print the schedule and place into your Economics binder.

·         Read Pgs. 5-14 and 21 in Econ Textbook

·         Complete pgs. 3-4 in SSG

·         Prep Gov’t Binders (due by Wed

·         Prep Econ binders (take out #14 from gov’t binder and place into Econ Binder.