Day 25

Learning Targets:

Students will be able to:

• Explain the relationship between key provisions of the Articles of Confederation and the debate over granting the federal government greater power formerly reserved to the states.

*Note:  All responses should be typed in your new interactive notebook (Google doc).

Both assignments (posted Monday and Wednesday) will be "collected" no later than Friday of each week, and graded by Sunday.  This gives you some flexibility and Friday to complete both.  

Opener: AoC Review

If states had been left "sovereign", as they were in the Articles of Confederation, how might national crises be handled differently than they are today?

Activity #1 - Expert ASAP

Below are a collection of excerpts from our original government system (Articles of Confederation).  Conduct a detailed ASAP of the excerpts below.  Here the "Setting" and "Purpose" are the important components.

Article I. The Stile of this Confederacy shall be “The United States of America”.

Article II. Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.

Article III. The said States hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist each other, against all force offered to, or attacks made upon them, or any of them, on account of religion, sovereignty, trade, or any other pretense whatever. . . .

Activity #2 - Scenario Creation

If the US had continued under the Articles of Confederation (without an executive, national court system, and each state behaving as an independent nation), which of our states today would have...

- Prospered and been powerful nations?

- Invaded and overtaken other states?

- Rejoined with England?

- Formed alliances with other states?

Close: You're own Federalist Papers

Looking back at both life under British rule, and the Articles of Confederation, how would you defend the US Constitution as the solution for a national government system?

Create an argument for why the federal system under the US Constitution (looking back at the branches, checks and balances, Bill of Rights) was the only real solution to governing the many diverse states of the United States.

Week 1 Wrap up

So this concludes our first week of the virtual classroom.  It has been impressive to watch how many of you have transitioned seamlessly to this format.  For those of you that have found it to be more challenging, here is what I would offer.

• Make sure that you are creating a daily routine to the best of your ability.  Not only will that help keep you from getting too far behind, but it can help keep you sane as well.  Admittedly, I'm just now finding my own rhythm.

• Do not hesitate to send an email if you have questions or concerns.  Turnaround is usually the day of, but within 24 hours in any case.

• Turn in everything in the "virtual notebook" that you have created via Google Docs.  There is no need to create a new document for each day.  Simply "push" everything down a few lines and start the new day at the top.

• Most of our focus will be on reviewing content from earlier in the year and trying to relate it back to more recent content or current political events.  New material will be introduced slowly and plainly so as to minimize confusion and frustration.

Feedback has/will be given as comments in your virtual notebook and on completed FRQs in AP Classroom.  Please take a look at these comments as we move forward.  Everyone should have feedback before we start the next week so that we all have an opportunity to improve our analytical skills and knowledge.

Have the best weekend possible!

When the constitution was created, it was created to solve problems that appeared after the enactment of the Articles of Confederation such as the inability to gather funds from the states as well as the division it created. This is how the federal system we have today came to be and one of the main reasons it divides the power between the Federal and State governments. This federalist design created decades ago has worked well at striking the balance that the Articles of Confederation were not able to. The two key things specifically that allowed the success of this federalist design was the Tenth Amendment and the creation of the Supreme Court.

The Tenth Amendment states that any power not specifically given to the federal government is reserved to the states. This amendment specifically is key to the success of the federal system due to how it provides power to the states but at the same time reserves some to the federal government and restricts the federal government. One of the biggest worries about this type of government that appeared during its ratification process through Brutus 1, a paper published against the Constitution's ratification was how the government would one day be above the people's power causing people to become as powerless as they were under the monarchy of Britain. This Tenth Amendment prevents this power creep from occurring by restricting the federal government to the abilities stated in the constitution. An example of this is if a state decided to allow homeowners to kill trespassers on their property, this particular example is a law many states have in the US. Even if it may seem harsh and unethical the federal government can not do anything about this as the power granted upon them in the Constitution says nothing about being able to change a state's law, however, they have the power to review such a law if it becomes troublesome. This reservation of powers, however, goes even further in more amendments such as protecting citizens' rights and forcing states to acknowledge the Bill of Rights under the 14th amendment. The states can create their own laws and still hold on to their freedom but the leash on them is still there, creating a successful balance between the federal and state governments.

The creation of the Supreme Court may seem an odd thing to say contributed to the success of this federal system, but it is the most important point of the two. The Supreme Court is a court for the most controversial holdings made, unlike other courts however the end game of every preceding is to decide if a holding in a case was constitutional or not. This power came about after the case of Marbury v Madison allowing the Supreme Court to decide if something is constitutional or not and if not strike it down immediately. This power allows the federal government to overcome the restriction caused by the Tenth Amendment and creates a balance of power between the Federal and State fairly. Take Brown v Board of Education, for example, this specific case was used to declare "separate but equal" unconstitutional and end it as it was impossible to stop states from doing it any other way. Another example would also be Gideon v Wainwright or most any supreme court case, the biggest commonality of them all is each of them influenced a state law or what a state enacted in a fair manner.

In the end, this balance created by the Supreme Courts' power of Judicial Review and the Tenth Amendment is what makes the relationship between federal and state governments work so well. Without the Tenth Amendments, state governments would be powerless and it would affirm the worries expressed in Brutus 1. Without the power of judicial review, the states would become uncontrollable and it would become the Articles of Confederation all over again. This division of powers has ensured the balance between the needs of society on a larger scale and the interests of citizens at a local level that we experience today and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. I could not think of a better system to create the delicate balance the federalist design has.

AP Exam Review - Day 2

Welcome to the next installment of AP Exam Review lessons!  While this may not sound like the most intriguing of lessons, it is CERTAINLY the most critical to your success on the AP exam, and should be relatively painless.  

Exercise #2 - Free Response Question - Short Answers.

Each of you have been assigned a practice FRQs in AP Classroom.  I realize that it is not always the easiest website to navigate, but these are quality resources for us to use.  Once you can get logged in, look for "AP Exam Prep - Unit 1 - Part 2".  There are 3 short answer questions

• While these are "short answer" questions, rather than the essay format required on Day 1, they still require clear, complete, and concise responses.  Nobody likes "them".  "They" cause problems.  "Things" are problematic.  

• Remember to be authoritative.  There is a time for "I think" and "I feel", but that time is not during an AP Exam.  You are the smartest student in the room.  Write like you are explaining it to someone, not like you are holding a conversation.

Day 24

Learning Targets:

Students will be able to:

• Explain how democratic ideals are reflected in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
• Explain how models of representative democracy are visible in major institutions, policies, events, or debates in the U.S.

*Note:  All responses should be typed in your new interactive notebook (Google doc)

Opener: DoI Review
Looking back through this year's course content (foundations, branches, civil rights/liberties, elections), as well as your past studies of American history, to what extent have we lived up to the promises made in the Declaration of Independence?  How so?

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,

--That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government...

• Thomas Jefferson, 1776

https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript

Activity #1 - Expert ASAP

Take a quick look at one of the videos below regarding the Declaration and then write a detailed ASAP of the document.  This means it should be an expanded analysis that contains more than just a name and dates.  Think deeply about its author(s), the circumstances, and most of all, its purpose.

For all the smart kids....

For the smartest kid in the class....


Activity #2 - Final thoughts on the Declaration

Form an argumentative mini-essay around the question in the opener and site specific examples, scenarios, and terms in your response that support your argument.  Typically this should be around 2-3 paragraphs in length.

• The mini essay should include 
• A claim and line of reasoning
• Excerpts from the Declaration of Independence
• Examples, scenarios, N-50 terms, and even personal experiences as well as explaining "how" these examples illustrate your argument

Close: How might the Declaration influenced the founders to create Articles of Confederation with all of its weaknesses?

• No single executive
• No means to collect taxes from the states
• No federal cour system
• No means to borrow money

AP Exam Review - Day 1

Welcome to the first of several AP Exam Review lessons!  While this may not sound like the most intriguing of lessons, it is CERTAINLY the most critical to your success on the AP exam, and should be relatively painless.  

AP Exam update from the College Board:

What this means to us:

1. We will focus specifically on the 4 free-response question formats.
2. Our review will be heavily centered on the Units 1-3 (Foundations, Branches, CR/CL).
3. We must be ready to go within the next 2 weeks.

Exercise #1 - Free Response Question - Argumentative Essay

Each of you have been assigned a practice FRQ in AP Classroom.  I realize that it is not always the easiest website to navigate, but these are quality resources for us to use.  Once you can get logged in, look for "Unit 1 FRQ Part B".  It will allow you 40 minutes to complete.

• Make sure to answer all parts of the question.
• Write your response in a manner as if your reader knows ONLY WHAT YOU TELL THEM.
• Stay away from vague language and overuse of "it", "they", "them"

PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.

YOU ARE THE SMARTEST STUDENT IN THE CLASS SO ACT ACCORDINGLY!!!

Day 23

Learning Targets:

• Explain how democratic ideals are reflected in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. 

Opener: Your NEW interactive notebook.

If you don't have an existing google/gmail account, create one.

• Create a new Google Doc to serve as your "notebook".  This is done from your google drive.

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• Use your full name in the title of the document.

• Share this document with me: fnulnu35d@gmail.com
• I need to be able to edit and/or comment.
• Record each day's assignments using the same format as usual.

1. Opener
2. Activity #1
3. Activity #2
4. Close

Example/Template Here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xmetw7rv7jaUMPw_VWIucgTa4n0_SB33hJYbY4Iy_vA/edit?usp=sharing

These will be reviewed and graded weekly.

1. Openers and Close will continue to be the means of earning participation grade.
2. Activities will be the bulk of point available.
3. Expect comments and feedback from me within the document.

Activity #1: Check-in

Address each of the following in your interactive notebook (Google doc) that you have just created

1.  What are your greatest concerns or questions in moving toward the virtual classroom/online learning?

2.  What might be good, or even better, in transitioning to the virtual classroom?

Activity #2: Constitutional Principles Review

Below are the 8 principles captured in the US Constitution

A.Judicial Review

B.Limited Government

C.Majority Rule/Minority Rights

D.Civil Rights/Civil Liberties

E.Separation of Powers

F.Representative Democracy

G.Checks and Balances

H.Federalism

Instructions:

Using any or all of the websites below, find a headline that best matches each constitutional principle listed above and record it in your notebook.  

Example:

 A.  Ohio Supreme Court denies challenge to state primary delay https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/487983-ohio-supreme-court-denies-challenge-to-state-primary-delay

Websites for headlines:

https://www.foxnews.com/politics

https://www.cnn.com/politics

https://www.reuters.com/politics

https://www.politico.com/

https://thehill.com/

Close: Claim and Reasoning

Address the prompt below by creating an argument and line of reasoning.

Prompt:  To what extent is the federal government justified in using wartime powers to address other national crises (natural disasters, disease, riots, etc.)?

Example:  During a national crisis, Congress/President has the responsibility to………….  Therefore, to meet these challenges…...

EoC and Document Review

Learning Targets:  Students will be able to....

• Explain how the U.S. Constitution establishes a system of checks and balances among branches of government and allocates power between federal and state governments. This system is based on the rule of law and the balance majority rule and minority rights. 
• Describe how governmental laws and policies balancing order and liberty are based on the U.S. Constitution and have been interpreted differently over time.
• Understand why popular sovereignty, individualism, and republicanism are important considerations of U.S. laws and policy making and assume citizens will engage and participate. 

Opener: End of Year Preparation

So here we are, coming up on testing season.  US Constitution Test at the end of April, AP Exam the first week of May, and then the EoC.  However, below you will find the nuts and bolts of each, and where these three exams intersect.  

Activity #1:  EoY Prep

N-50+ list (revised)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1x_ifxT5k_JiXNzRD9VvFiIq-2zGX2iUGMuyt5kLZVYw/edit?usp=sharing

Activity #2: - Matching

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1X4lpcf3HkYAxBgtjdJmWd2cC9qcVOIhO9u3DJHhwu2g/edit?usp=sharing

Close - AP Exam Prep - The essays

Choose ONE of each type of short answer question to complete.  Argumentative Essays are for review only (you've already written them both).

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_c0AdccYdEQhEBGawnoJgRE6TJ7YPkcch4X_6puz1Ok/edit?usp=sharing

Day 21 - $$$....Elections....PACS

Day 21 - $$$....Elections....PACS

Learning Targets:

Students will be able to explain why and how...

• Explain how campaign organizations and strategies affect the election process.

Opener:  Opener: What is all of this?  Ballot analysis

Quickly look at your N-50 definition of "Federalism".  How does this idea apply to elections?

Hint:  Look at the ballot linked below.

https://www.casscounty.com/DocumentCenter/View/1398/2016-General-Election-Sample-Ballot?bidId=

Activity #1: -  Gerrymandering PERPetrators 

Baker v Carr 

Problem
Events 
Ruling
Precedent

Shaw v Reno

Problem
Events 
Ruling
Precedent

Citizens United v FEC
Problem
Events 
Ruling
Precedent

Activity #2:  PAC's - N-50

LD - organization that pools campaign contributions from members and donates those funds to campaigns for or against candidates, ballot initiatives, or legislation.  Unlike individual candidates, or parties, Super Pacs have no limit on accepting donations.

SD -

Examples - Committee to Reelect the President (CREEP), Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), Citizens for Eisenhower

Non-Examples - Interest Groups, Political Parties

Related Terms - Lobbyist, Voting Behavior, Incumbents

Activity #3 - ASAP PAC Ads

Using the link below, examine at least 3 campaign ads sponsored by Political Action Committees and analyze them using ASAP.  Generally, those with stars in the upper right hand corner are considered the "classics".

http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1952

Close - To what extent are PACs and interest groups increasing the public's attention on political issues?

Day 20 - Take an interest and join a faction!

Day 20 - Take an interest and join a faction!

Learning Targets:

Students will be able to explain why and how...

• Explain the benefits and potential problems of interest-group influence on elections and policy making.
• Interest groups may represent very specific or more general interests, and can educate voters and office holders, draft legislation, and mobilize membership to apply pressure on and work with legislators and government agencies. 
• In addition to working within party coalitions, interest groups exert influence through long-standing relationships with bureaucratic agencies, congressional committees, and other interest groups; such relationships are described as “iron triangles” and issue networks and they help interest groups exert influence across political party coalitions.

Opener: Interest Group Inventory

What do you want to be when you grow up?  Chances are, there is an interest group that represents that profession.

Task:  Find at least 2 professional organizations/interest groups that are associated with the job or career field that you are planning on joining after you finish school.  Additionally, find at least one interest group that you might be interested in that is NOT tied to a profession or industry, but rather a social or political issue.

https://votesmart.org/interest-groups#.XLCv8FZKg_U

Activity #1: -  Interest Groups and PACs 

Working alone, or with a partner, answer the following questions in your notebook.  

1.  Which interest groups would you argue have the most influence in Congress? 

2.  Which groups spend the most money on campaigns/PACs?

3.  How do the interest groups that you found in the class opener compare to the groups you listed in questions 1 and 2?

https://hbl.gcc.libguides.com/c.php?g=339640&p=2285591

Activity #2:  Interest Groups - N-50

LD - an organization of people who share a common interest and mobilize to protect and promote that interest by influencing both elected and bureaucratic members of the government.

SD -

Examples - NRA, AARP, MADD, https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/mems.php

Non-Examples - Bureaucracy (CDC, FDA, FEC, etc), Political Parties

Related Terms - PAC's (Political Action Committees), Lobbyist, Voting Behavior, Incumbents

Close - Exit Ticket - ASAP+

AMONG the numerous advantages promised by a well-constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction.  By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adversed to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.

- James Madison, 1788, Federalist #10

Faction=Interest Group?

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Day 19 - The Decline of Political Parties: Is the Party Over?

Day 19 - The Decline of Political Parties: Is the Party Over?

Learning Targets:

Students will be able to explain why and how...

• Political parties change and adapt.
• Parties have adapted to candidate-centered campaigns, and their role in nominating candidates has been weakened.
• Parties modify their policies and messaging to appeal to various demographic coalitions. 
• The structure of parties has been influenced by: 

• Critical elections and regional realignments
• Campaign finance law
• Changes in communication and data-management technology
• Parties use communication technology and voter-data management to disseminate, control, and clarify political messages and enhance outreach and mobilization efforts

Opener:  The Decline of Political Parties?

1.  Describe the overall trend and pattern in the chart above.

2.  Explain why this may be the case and what impact will it have on the political process?

Activity #1 - Read one or both of the articles below to help understand some of the causes for the decline of parties over the last half century.

• https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-0202-goldberg-party-paper-tigers-20160202-column.html
• https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/11/modern-political-parties-weak-and-ineffective/

After you have finished reading, describe in your notebook how each of the following contributed to to this decline:

1. The role of the media
2. The rise of interest groups
3. Political reforms like primaries and the Australian ballot
4. Money and candidate-centered campaigns
5. However, not everyone believes the rise of independent voters and the decline of political parties is real. Read this article and summarize the author's argument.

Activity #2 - State your claim and provide a line of reasoning to the prompt below:

To what extent would we be better off with a nonpartisan (non-party focused) system? 

Close:  Evaluate how have parties changed the way that they campaign.

1.  Will political parties continue to decline?
2.  Predict what this might mean for our Two-Party System

Day 18

Political Participation: Voter Turnout

Learning Targets:  Students will be able to....

• Explain the roles that individual choice and state laws play in voter turnout in elections.

Opener: Voter turnout in the US - Quickwrite

Prompt:  List 3 possible causes for low voter turnout.  How could we increase voter turnout in the US?  What would be the advantages and disadvantages of a higher turnout?

Activity #1: Voter Turnout Doc Analysis

TIP-C

Election laws generally fall into seven different categories that can influence turnout: 

1. voter-registration deadlines 
2. restrictions on registrations and registration drives
3. preregistration laws that allow people under 18 to register in advance of their first elections
4. laws governing ease of voting (like early and absentee voting)
5. voter ID requirements and 
6. polling hours.

TIP-C

OSAM

ASAP

In 1992, the most treasured voter was a voter that would sort of swing back and forth, one that might vote for Republican for president, Democrat for governor. The voter that didn't have that strong of a partisan ID. These were the voters that we targeted. 

- James Carville, Campaign Strategist for Bill Clinton

Activity #2: -  N-50 Voting Behavior

LD - a form of electoral behavior. Understanding voters' behavior can explain how and why decisions were made either by politicians or by the electorate. Involves both political science and psychology. Political psychology researchers study ways to motivate and educate voters to increase participation

SD - 

Examples - 
- Identity Politics - 
- Rational Choice -
- Prospective vs Retrospective -

Non Examples - N/A

Related Terms - Polling, Primaries, Suffrage

Close - Exit Ticket - Claim Revision - 5 minutes

Before you leave today, provide a 1-3 sentence response to the following prompt.  Your response should be a specific claim AND provide a line of reasoning.

Prompt:  What advantages does an incumbent  (a president or congressman that is seeking reelection) have over their competition that has to win primary elections*?