The focus of this unit around the upcoming Presidential Primaries and next year’s Presidential election

UNIT II

Political Parties, Elections, Mass Media

The focus of this unit around the upcoming Presidential Election. We will also examine the various political aspects of campaigning, purpose of political parties, the election process, interest groups, money, and the role of the media. Finally, we will analyze current events and how they impact our lives.

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.) Simulation: Presidential Elections

4.) Class Presentations: Party Project; Proposing a New Election System

5.) Debates/Discussions: Mandatory Voting, How Powerful is the Media?

6.) Reading: Teacher handouts and sections of Chapters 5-9, parts of Chpt. 13 of Magruder’s American Government

7.) Student Led Presentations – CHEESIE, Continuing Current Events Reports

8.) Videos: Third Parties, Media Wars Part III, Recount

9.) Test: At the end of the Unit there will be a test incorporating parts of Chapters 5, 6, 7 ,9 and all of Chapter 8 and part of Chpt. 13 to test whether or not you are reading

and comprehending the material.

10.) Continued analysis of various current issues including: the upcoming Presidential elections along with the various debates, the economy and the budget, the continued war

in Afghanistan, and the ongoing aspects of Arab Spring

Overview:

Our unit will commence with an examination of America's Political Parties. We will examine their history, purpose, the nature of the two party system and ask the following questions regarding the party system today:

1.) Since political parties are so weak in the United States, what purpose do they continue to serve? Does money have an impact on elections? How are campaigns financed

and what are Super PACs? Would the nation be unable to run itself without political parties?

2.) What happened to bipartisanship and compromise by the parties?

3.) How much has the Republican Party’s control of the House affected White House goals? How will the Democrats address the surging conservative House and freshman

members?

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 Citizen’s United vs. FEC Supreme Court ruling regarding campaign financing?

Back to Unit I Table of Contents

DATE

IN CLASS ACTIVITY

HOMEWORK

MON.

1/30

INTRO CHEESIE (#24)

Start Political Parties Lecture (#25)

Also view brief history of the Tea Party

· Download Unit 2 Schedule (Yes, it’s this page you’re looking at right now!) (#23) and print out (places this right behind your Unit II divider- all numbers after this should go behind it)

· Read Chpt 5 section 2 (read Chpt 5 by weekend)

· Start to work on CHEESIE: Research party platforms

TUE/WED

1/31-2/1

Finish Political Parties Lecture (#25)

Also view brief history of the Tea Party

Voter Behavior Notes (#26)

Handout CHEESIE Chart (#27)

· Read Chpt 5 sect. 3 and 4

· Print and Do Giraffe W/S (#28)

· Print and get signed Recount Movie Permission Slip

THU/FRI

2/2-2/3

Finish Voter Behavior Notes (#26)

Start Electoral College Lecture (#29)

Go Over Unit I Test

· Chpt 6 sect. 4 and Read Chpt 13 Sect 4*

· Read State Primary Relevant (#31)

· Review “What is the Electoral College” (#32)

· Download and get signed Recount Movie Permission Slip- Turn in next class!

MON.

2/6

Electoral College Scaffle (#30)

· Read 7-2

· Bring materials to work on CHEESIE

TUE/WED

2/7-2/8

Recount (#33)

· Read Chpt 8 sect 3

· Prep CHEESIE (Tue.)

THU/FRI

2/9-2/10

Recount (#33)

Short time to work on CHEESIE

· Download and Read Article “Bush Still Wins Florida Newspaper Recount” (#34) and Time Magazine’s Article and “2000: A Nation Divided” (#35) Please be patient- it will take some time to load

· Prep CHEESIE (Tue.)

MON.

2/13

Start Political Ads (#36)

· Read and complete questions (#37) for False Ads: There Outta Be a Law (#37) homework due Thu/Fr

· Prep CHEESIE Presentations start next class

TUE/WED

2/14-2/15

Finish Political Ads

Start CHEESIE

· Period 1: Respond to the writing prompt at the end of your Ad Techniques video w/s. Write at least a paragraph response. (#36)

· Read and complete questions for False Ads: There Outta Be a Law (#37)homework due Thu/Fr

THU/FRI

2/16-2/17

Finish CHEESIE

· Period 2 and 4: Respond to the writing prompt at the end of your Ad Techniques video w/s. Write at least a paragraph response. (#36)

· Read Chpt. 8 sections 1 and 2

· Here is the Unit II studyguide

MON.-FRI.

2/20-2/24

Break

MON.

2/27

INTRO Presidential Simulation (#38)

· Read your Assigned Sim. Role Info sheet

· Here is a sample CR journal entry

· Here is the Communication Director and Candidate Strategist and VP (if you’re a VP candidate please use this fone) info sheets

· Download and do: Fairness in the Media W/S (#39)

· Read and Read: New York Times Article regarding John Stewart (#40)

· Print and read “The crisis of Consolidation in Bay Area News Media (#41)

TUE/WED

2/28-2/29

Mass Media Lecture (#42)

Election Sim. Q&A Day

· Read article Survey More Americans Get News from Internet” (#43)

· Prep Sim. Day #1: THU (practice Day)

· Print Simulation Schedule (#44)

· Print Campaign Finance: Super PACS Lecture Notes (#45)

THU/FRI

3/1-3/2

SIMULATION PRACTICE DAY #1

Campaign Finance (#45): Special Interest PACS, , McCain –Feingold, 527s, Super PACS

· Read Chpt 9

· Download. Print, and read very carefully and “Super PACS: It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s –Well, It’s Complicated” (#46) and “Comic’s PAC is No Gag” (#47)

· Here is the Unit II studyguide Test Fri. 3/9

· Here’s the VP Candidate Background Sheet

MON. 3/5

Finish Campaign Finance: Super PACS and 501 ( c ) 4 Shell Corporations

Short video on $ in politics

· Print and read “The Hands that prod, the wallets that feed” (#48) article.

· Read Super PAC articles packet (#49)

· Prep For Simulation Day #2

· Here is the Unit II studyguide (#50) Test Fri.

TUE/WED

3/6-3/7

SIM. DAY #2

Review for Unit II Test

· Prep for Unit II Test Fri.

· Here is the Unit II studyguide

THU/FRI

3/8-3/9

TEST: UNIT II- Political Parties, Mass Media, Elections, Special Interest Groups

Start Unit III

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

Start Presidential Powers Lecture (#52)

· Read Chpt 13 sect. 1

· Prepare for Simulation Day #3 (Mon.)

· Presidential Debate is on Thu/Fri

MON. 3/12

Presidential Simulation Day #3

· Prep for Simulation Day ½ day on Tue/Wed with Presidential Debate on Thu/Fri

· Read and complete Presidential Signing Statements (#53)

· Download New Unit III Schedule (#51) (should be ready by TUE/WED

TUE/WED

3/13-3/14

Sim Day #3 continued (~15-20 minutes)

Continue Presidential Powers Lecture (#52)

48 Years of Presidential Debates (#54)

· Presidential Debate on MON.

· Read Hail to the Chief and The Secrets of America’s Great Presidents and complete questions (in the brown Rankin the Presidents packet) (#55)

· Complete Reading Read Chpt.13 Sect 2 and Finish Reading Chpt 14 by Mon.

· Go To Unit III Schedule (and print the new schedule and place behind your Unit III divider) (#51)