UNIT VI & VII

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH/ PUBLIC POLICY

 

 

The focus of this unit will be an analysis of the development, purpose, and sections of the Legislative Branch within the United States of America. We will examine the newly seated 115th Congress and some of the issues it will face. We will also emphasize current issues dealing with American government.

 

Unit Activities:

1.) HW:

a.) Teacher Worksheets:

b.) Current Events Group Presentations

c.) research assignment for Senate Simulation

 

2.) Lectures/Discussions: On the history, development, and duties of the Legislative Branch, and problems in initiating reform.

 

3.) Senate Simulation: To try and analyze the bill making process by which the Congress initiates and creates a law. Each member of the class will fill the role of a senator trying to adopt legislation. The President elected in our earlier the Presidential Simulation will fill the role of the President while the Vice-President will fill the shoes as President of the Senate.

 

4.) Debates - Term Limits; and other controversial issues facing the nation. (if time permits)

 

5.) Reading/Research: Teacher handouts and sections of Chapter 11 of Government in America. Of their own volition, students must know the procedure of senators and options open to them during debates prior to the initiation of the Senate Simulation.

 

6.) Videos: Frontline; I'm Just a Bill; Term Limits, 60 Minutes bios on Congressional Leaders; others

 

7.) Quizzes: Pop quizzes may be given to make sure students are keeping up with the readings

 

 

Back to Last Unit                                           Table of Contents

 

WED.

3/22

TEST: Judicial Branch

 

Senate Sim Info (#67)

·         Read the topic article (the title of your topic should be linked) Print and read TWO other articles based on the topic you chose for the Senate Sim. Highlight and take notes in the margins and write a thorough summary of each of the two articles. Be ready to contribute to a discussion regarding the topic. Here is the Senate Simulation topics Page with the links. If a link doesn’t work, you can research and find another source and article (it must be a credible source) (make this #67.5)

 

·         Print the Unit VI/VII Schedule (this page) (#66) and place it behind your Unit V divider in your binder

FRI.

3/24

Start Congress Lecture (#68)- including How a bill becomes a law diagram

 

Bill Writing Committees- start writing bills- assign stances for expert paper/visual (Periods 4 and 6; 2nd period will be assigned on Tue.

 

Start Writing Bills w/Sample Bill Format (#69)

 

 

·         Print and place in Gov’t binder Unit VI Schedule (this page) (#66)

 

·         Read pgs. 358-369

·         Start looking up information about the topic you will be an expert on. You can use the Senate Topics link above or use credible outside sources. Paper and Visual due on Wed. April 12

 

TUE.

3/28

Continue Lecture (#68) Senate Caucus: class split into Rep. and Dem.; assign committees, assign leadership roles, (15 minutes)

Finish Writing Bills (20 minutes)

Assign Party Affiliation and State (10 minutes)

Party Caucus (30 minutes)

Senate Simulation Reflection (#70) (10 minutes)

 

For the simulation:

·         Refer to this page. Look for the 6 issues we are covering in class and write down how your state stands on each of those issues on your Senate Reflection Packet.  You can also go to this page and hit the appropriate link (“how each state stands on the issue” link) for each topic to find the info. *Please note for the topics on Corporate Tax Reduction and the electoral College- just fill in the percentage as follows:

a.) 55%-45% in favor for Corporate Tax Reduction for Republican states and flip it for Democratic states 45-55%)

b.) 55%-45% in favor for Reforming the Electoral College in Democratic states and flip it for Republican states 45-55%)

 

·         Work on your Expert Paper and Visual: get started early! Look at your Senate info sheet (#67) for more info as well as the links (you can use links outside of this page too) posted. Due: Wed. 4/12

THU.

3/30

Go Over Judicial Branch Test (15minutes)

 

Party Caucus (35 minutes)

Presidential Speech

 

Continue Lecture Congress (#68) 30 minutes

Video: Speaker of the House, Partisanship in Congress

·         Read pgs. Read Chpt 11 by Mon.

·         Work on Expert Paper and Visual due Wed. 4/12

MON.-FRI.

4/3-4/7

Spring Break- No School!

·         See above

MON.

4/10

Finish Congress Lecture (#)

Video: The Pledge

 

Time to meet in Committees and discuss questions

 

**Time to work on Expert Paper and Visual (if time permits)

 

 

 

·         Expert Paper and Visual due next class

·         Read Chpt 11

·         Here are the Simulation Setups by period:

Period 2

Period 4

Period 6

 

****Important Note- for citation of your sources- you can use MLA format****

WED.

4/12

Committee Hearings

-committee caucus

-start hearings

**EXPERT PAPERS AND VISUALS DUE**

Complete Senate Hearing Notes (#)

·         Work on Senate Reflection Packet (#70) (make sure you keep current- you should have filled out the section regarding the Standing Committee vote)

·         Read Chpt 16

·         Here is the Congress PowerPoint- Quest on Thu

FRI.

4/14

Finish Hearings

-mark-ups

-review debate procedures

Start Debate

·         Work on Senate Reflection Packet (#)

·         Quest Thu.

·         Print and Read “The Case for Congress” and answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper: (#71)

 

1.) What are some of the things that members of Congress were permitted to do thirty years ago, which are no longer acceptable in today’s ethical climate?

 

2.) What is the role of special interest groups in Congress. According to Lee Hamilton?

 

3.) What are the benefits of a slow-moving legislative process?

 

4.) How can campaign finance reform address the influence of money in politics?

TUE.

4/18

Finish Debate

Senate Reflection Due (#70)

·         Study for Quest here is the studyguide (#71.5)

·         Purple reflection packet if you didn’t finish it in class (plus turn in Senate gradesheet and committee notes (brown) )

THU.

4/20

Quest

The Bureaucracy Notes (#72)

AP Review

 

 

 

·         Chpt 14

·         Study for AP

MON

4/24

Finish Bureaucracy Notes (#72)

AP Review

·         REVIEW FOR AP

·         Read Chpt 17

WED.

4/26

Public Policy Notes (#73)

Go Over Quest

AP Review

·         REVIEW FOR AP

FRI.

4/28

Public Policy Notes

SS FRQ (#74)

AP Review

·         REVIEW FOR AP

·         Read Chpt. 18

·         Review for Final

TUE.

5/2

AP Review

·         REVIEW FOR AP

·         Review for Final

THU.

5/4

AP US GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS TEST!

 

In class: Video: Erin Brockovich

·         REVIEW FOR AP

·         Review for Final

·         Prep Binders- due ** 6/2

·         Quiz- Bureaucracy and Public Policy on. 6/2

MON.

5/8

Finish Video

Start Stock Market Notes (#75)

·         Prep Binders- due 6/2

·         Quiz- Bureaucracy and Public Policy on  6/2

·         PLEASE BRING YOUR GOV’T TEXTBOOK TO CLASS (as well as your econ green textbook)

WED.

5/10

Finish Stock Market Notes (#75)

Use this link to register: http://www.howthemarketworks.com/register/93305 
Then, you should search the class: Abe Econ and type in the Password: pinlosgatos

Stock Quotes (#76)

My Stock Choices (#77)

Start The Founder

 

·         Stock Market Work

·         Prep Binders- due ** 6/2

·         Quiz- Bureaucracy and Public Policy on  6/2

·         24

·         PLEASE BRING YOUR GOV’T TEXTBOOK TO CLASS (as well as your econ green textbook)

FRI.

5/12

The Founder

Stock Market work

·         Prep Binders- due ** 6/2

·         Quiz- Bureaucracy and Public Policy on 6/2

TUE.

5/16

Junior Achievement

·         Prep Binders- due** 6/2

·         Keep up with Stocks- continue to update your stock market sheet. If you buy or sell stock please use this form to add on to your previous form and list the stocks sold/bought.

Here is the form

·         Quiz- Bureaucracy and Public Policy on Fri. June 2

THU.

5/18

Junior Achievement

·         Prep Binders- due** 6/2

·         Quiz- Bureaucracy and Public Policy on Fri. June 2

·         Here is the studyguide

MON.

5/22

Finish Video: the Founder

 

4th period start Double Jeopardy

 

 

Investment/Savings Terms (#78)

·         Prep Binders- due** 6/2

·         Quiz- Bureaucracy and Public Policy on Fri. June 2

·         Here is the studyguide

WED.

5/24

4th Period finish Double Jeopardy

Video: Philadelphia/Trading Places

·         Study for quiz/prep binders

·         Here is the studyguide

·         Here are the powerpoints for:

Bureaucracy

Public Policy

FRI.

5/26

Finish video

Stock Mrkt Sim.

·         Study for quiz/prep binders

·         Here is the studyguide

·         Here are the powerpoints for:

Bureaucracy

Public Policy

WED.

5/31

Stock Mrkt Sim.

·         Study for quiz/prep binders

·         Here is the studyguide

·         Here are the powerpoints for:

Bureaucracy

Public Policy

FRI.

6/2

Final Stock Market Day

Quiz: Bureaucracy/Public Policy

·          

MON

6/5

SENIOR DAY

·          

TUE

6/6

Senior Beach Day

·          

WED.

6/7

 

·          

THU

6/7

GRADUATION-CONGRATS!

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