UNIT IV

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

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 new newly seated 113^th 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 Chapters 10-12 of Magruder’s American Government. 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, others

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

8.) Final Test: Set for the week of December 17(see below for exact times and periods)

Back to Last Unit Table of Contents

THU/FRI

3/27-3/28

Continue Explanation of Senate Simulation (#60)

Go over Simulation Gradesheet (#61)

Senate Sim (#) – Bill Writing

Start Congress Lecture (#62)

Print and do Chpt.10 W/S (#63)
Work on Expert Paper (see Senate Simulation #60)

MON.

3/31

Congress Lecture (#62)

Print and do Chpt.10 W/S (#64) Due Thu/Fri
Work on Expert Paper and Visual (print out articles that will help you prepare for the paper and visual)

TUE/WED

4/1-4/2

Senate Caucus: class split into Rep. and Dem.; assign committees, assign leadership roles, go over finished bills

Work on Senate Voting Reflection Packet (#65)

· Bring Materials (research articles, poster board, etc.) to work on for the Expert Paper and Visual. Teacher will check for this in class.

Chpt.10 W/S (#64) Due Thu/Fri

THU./FRI

4/3-4/4

Time to work on Expert Paper and Visual

Finish Caucus (1^st period)

· Work on Expert Paper and Visual

MON.-FRI.

4/7-4/11

SPRING BREAK- NO SCHOOL!

· None- unless you didn’t work on the Expert Paper and Visual already. If not please work on it.

MON.

4/14

Continue Congress Lecture (#62)

Video: Speaker of the House, Partisanship in Congress

** if time permits

· Expert Paper and Visual due tomorrow

TUE/WED

4/15-4/16

Finish Lecture

Committee Hearings

-committee caucus

-start hearings

Complete Senate Hearing Notes (#66)

· Read Chpt 11

· Chpt 11 studyguide (#67) -optional due Mon,.

THU/FRI

4/17-4/18

Finish Hearings

-mark-ups

-review debate procedures

Videos: partisanship in Congress

· Read Chpt 12 by Thu.

· Print and read “Why Congress is Divided and Won’t Change: It’s You” (#68)

MON.

4/21

Senate Debate

· Work on Senate Reflection Packet (#66)

TUE/WED

4/22-4/23

Finish Debate

Finish Senate Reflection Packet (#66)

· Finish Senate Reflection Packet

· Study for Unit IV Quest (Chpts 10-12) – be sure to review Congress notes

THU/FRI

4/24-4/25

Congress Quest

Video: The Pledge

Start Unit V- Judicial Branch

Lecture 1^st Amendment: Free Speech (#67)

Assign 3 Court Case Activity (#68)

Work on 3 Court Cases (#68)
Read Chpt. 18 sect. 1

· Prep binder- binder check soon!

UNIT V: THE JUDICIAL BRANCH

Homework/In-Class Assignments Schedule for Mr. Abe’s U.S. Government Class

seal supreme_court_side_view_medium_web_view 350px-Supreme_Court_US_2010

The focus of this unit will be an analysis of the judicial system, one of the three key branches of government. We will commence by examining how the Supreme Court gained its power of judicial review and analyze how this authority has affected our government. We will also examine the ongoing evolution of the Court and its make-up. Our focus will then shift to an investigation of the impact of the Bill of Rights on America’s past and present and the Court’s attempt to determine what may be the proper balance between police powers and the rights of the accused especially in light of the continued war on terrorism and wars abroad. An analysis of civil rights will conclude the unit as time permits. This unit (along with Unit IV) will be assessed via the course final exam.

THU./FRI.

4/24-4/25

Congress Quest

Video: The Pledge

Start Unit V- Judicial Branch

Lecture 1^st Amendment: Free Speech (#67)

Assign 3 Court Case Activity (#68)

Read Chpt. 18 sect. 1
Work on 3 Court Cases (#68)

· Prep binder- binder check soon!

MON. 4/28

3 Court Cases (#68)

Read and complete Hazelwood (#69)

Read Chpt 19-1 and 19-4
Please note: the Table of Contents has been updated! Work on getting your binders organized!

TUE./WED.

4/29-4/30

Finish 3 Court Cases (#68) (5 minutes)

Finish Free Speech

Bethel v. Fraser

Videos Frederick v. Morse and Snyder v. Phelps (15minutes)

Freedom of Press Lecture (#67) (15 minutes)

Start Video: People (#70)

Read Chpt 19 sect 2

THU/FRI.

5/1-5/2

Finish Video People ~20 minutes

· Read Chpt. 19 sect 3

MON.

5/5

Start Freedom of Religion and Assembly

Watch videos and discuss cases:

Twitchel, Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye v. Hialeah, Employment Division v. Smith, Engle v. Vitale, Intelligent Design

· Read Chpt 18 Sections 2 and 3

TUE./WED.

5/6-5/7

Finish 1^st Amendment

5 Things You Need to Know About the Supreme Court (#71)

Federal Court System (#72)

Marbury v. Madison Video (#74)

Video Scalia/Thomas - if time permits

Start Rights of the Accused Lecture: (#75)

· The 4^th Amend. Today (do Activity One and Activity Two of lesson five- last page in packet) (#73)

· Here is the Studyguide (#) for the Final Remember to prep your binders . Textbooks to be turned into class on the day of your final

THU./FRI.

5/8-5/9

Rights of the Accused Lecture: (#75)

Habeaus Corpus, Bills of Attainder,

Due Process, Ex Post Facto, Speedy and Public Trial

Search and Seizure, Exclusionary Rule Miranda: Case study: Boston Bombing

Review 4^th Amend. Today (#73)

Work on Exclusionary Rule cases (#76)

· Read Chpt. 20 by Thu.

· Start the Exclusionary Rule Cases (#76) (Do only cases 1 and 2 (assume you’re a group to complete the 2 cases)

· Here is the Studyguide (#) for the Final (Remember to prep your binders . Textbooks to be turned into class on the day of your final

· Remember to prep your binders . Textbooks to be turned in on the day of the final.

MON.

5/12

Continue Rights of the Accused Lecture (#75)

· Do the New Jersey v. TLO and Katz v. United States in your Exclusionary Rule packet. Answer all of the questions for these two cases except the rectangle box.

TUE/WED

5/12-5/14

Continue Rights of the Accused Lecture (#75)

Case Study: Operation PRISM

Finish Review Exclusionary Rule cases (#76)

· Respond to the writing prompt on the last page of the Exclusionary Rule Cases. Do the last page entitled “Student Handout Student Opinion”. It should be 100-200 words and must include previous cases. (2^nd Period only) (#76)

· Read Chpt. 21 by THU

· Here is the Studyguide (#) for the Final Remember to prep your binders . Textbooks to be turned into class on the day of your final

THU/FRI

5/15-5/16

Finish PRISM Case Study: NSA Gathers Data on Social Connections of U.S. Citizens (#77)

Continue Rights of the Accused Lecture (#75) Grand Jury

Start Gideon Video (#78)

· Read Chpt. 21

· Here is the Studyguide (#) for the Final Remember to prep your binders . Textbooks to be turned into class on the day of your final

MON.

5/19

Finish Gideon Video (#78)

· Read Chpt. 21

· Here is the Studyguide (#) for the Final Remember to prep your binders . Textbooks to be turned into class on the day of your final

TUE/WED

5/20-5/21

2nd Amendment

Start Civil Rights:

Rational Basis vs. Strict Scrutiny (#)

13, 14, 15^th Amendments

· Study for Final (Unit V- Judicial Branch Chpts. 18-21). Here is the Studyguide for the Unit V the Final.

· Here is the Rights of the Accused powerpoint lecture in pdf

· **IMPORTANT**Remember to bring your TEXTBOOK and BINDER (remember that I’m recollecting them and holding on to them until the end of the year) on the day of the final. If you want to keep the physical binder - wrap the contents in 2 rubber bands and turn in on day of final.

THU/FRI

5/22-5/23

Finish Civil Rights Lecture

Affirmative Action Activity

· Study for Final (Unit V- Judicial Branch Chpts. 18-21). Here is the Studyguide for the Unit V the Final.

· Here is the Rights of the Accused powerpoint lecture in pdf

MON.

5/26

Memorial Day- No School!

· Study for Final (Unit V- Judicial Branch Chpts. 18-21). Here is the Studyguide for the Unit V the Final.

· Here is the Rights of the Accused powerpoint lecture in pdf

TUE/WED

5/27-5/28

Wrap up day

Review For Final

· Study for Final

THU/FRI

5/29-5/30

FINAL