AP COMP GOVT: WEEK #1 (January 2-10)

WELCOME TO A.P. COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT! 

Class Activities and Reading Schedule:

January 2 - Syllabus overview and book checkout

January 3 - Pretests, HW: Read Topic 1 p.12-17

January 6 - Discussion – Topic 1: Comparative Method,  HW: Read Topic 2: Sovereignty, Authority and Power p.17-34

January 7 – Discussion – Topic 2: Sovereignty Authority and Power, HW: Read Topic 3: Political and Economic Change p.35-44

January 8 – Discussion – Topic 3: Political and Economic Change, HW: Read Topic 4: Citizens, Society and State p.44-51

January 9 – Discussion – Topic 4: Citizens, Society and State, HW: Read Topic 5: Political Institutions p.51-73

January 10 – Discussion-Topic 5: Political Institutions, HW: Read Topic 6: Public Policy p.73-77

APGOV FINAL REVIEW VIDEO

Not only will this video be a helpful review, but MyCitizenU You Tube Channel has many review videos available for you to access.  See the link located at "Mr. Keller's Favorites" section on my blog.
Another option is to review your notes, summaries and notes. 

APGOV WK #'s 17-19 (December 6-19)

UNIT 4 TEST REVIEW GUIDE AND ESSAY QUESTIONS LINK

IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES:

Monday, December 2 -  Note Check Day, Living Room Candidate - Campaign Ads - In class, we will be looking at various campaign ads and how media can persuade voters during an election.

Living Room Candidate
Persuasive Media Techniques

HW: Watch videos on Buckley v. Valeo and PACS below:

Tuesday, December 3 -
Campaign Finance Activity

HW: Economic and Domestic Policy Summary


Wednesday, December 4 - Fiscal Policy 

Thursday, December 5 - Monetary Policy

Friday, December 6 - Domestic Policy

Monday, December 9 -Foreign Policy

Tuesday, December 10 - Review Day for Unit 4 Test

Wednesday, December 11 - Unit 4 Essay Test

Thursday, December 12 - Unit 4 M.C. Test

Friday, December 13 - Review for Final

Monday and Tuesday, December 16-17 - Review for Final

Wednesday and Thursday, December 18-19 - Finals

APGOV WK#16 (November 25-29)

IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES:

Monday, November 25 - Voter Turnout Activity
The Right to Vote
Voter ID Wars
Ballot Design
Voter Turnout by Race and Ethnicity

Tuesday, November 26 - Primaries and Caucuses Activity

Wednesday, November 27 - Sunday December 1 - FALL BREAK

HOMEWORK:
Read Chapter 10 and take notes (whatever method you prefer)


RESOURCES:
Ch.9 PPT
Ch.10 PPT
Cram for the Exam: Campaigns and Elections (Campaign Finance Review)

Podcasts from Citizen U 
These podcasts are short, sweet and to the point.  Choose any topic to listen and get a quick tutorial on from these teachers.  It is available, so use it.  Scroll to 3.7 or so, for voting and participation.

APGOV WK #15 (November 18-22)

IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES:

Monday, November 18 - Interest Group Summary Handout Discussion Groups, Test Return

Tuesday, November 19 - Interest Group I-pad Activity

Wednesday, November 20 - Political Parties - Read and take notes over chapter in book.

Thursday, November 21 - Political Parties Platform Comparison and Political Party Test 
Use the links above to complete the following assignment: Political Party Activity

Friday, November 22 - Political Parties and Interest Groups Objectives and Discussion Day


HOMEWORK:
1. Read Interest Group Summary and Political Party Ch.8
2. Notes over Political Parties due on Thursday, November 21st.

Resources:
Ch.8 PPT

Hippocampus Videos on Political Parties
Cram for the Exam Videos Below:

APGOV WEEK #14

IN CLASS ACTIVITIES:

Monday, November 11 - Unit 3 Essay Test

Tuesday, November 12 - Unit 3 M.C. Test

Wednesday, November 13 -Discuss end of year plan, read & annotate packet and group discussion over packet topics 

Thursday, November 14 - Political Socialization - Students read the polling data from Gallup in class: http://www.gallup.com/poll/14515/teens-stay-true-parents-political-perspectives.aspx We will also be looking at demographics and voter behavior.  How do factors such as education, income, religion, race and ethnicity, and gender impact voting?  Are there trends?

Friday, November 15 - Creating and using surveys and survey data

FYI - For this last unit, we will be using summaries and hippocampus videos instead of reading all of the chapters in our textbook.  This will eliminate an overload of heavy textbook reading assignments.  After the Unit 3 Test is completed, we will have one more unit test this semester.  This test will cover information from the following chapters/topics:

Ch.6 Public Opinion and Political Socialization - Summary and pages 181,182,183, 186 and 189.
Ch.7 Interest Groups - Summary
Ch.8 Political Parties - Read and take notes
Ch.9 Voting and Elections - Summary
Ch.10 Campaigning and Elections - Read and take notes
Ch.16 Economic Policy - Summary
Ch.17 Foreign Policy and National Security - Summary

Thank you for your hard work in APGOV!  Although we are not finished yet, I am pleased with the effort and interest for APGOV this semester.  Finish Strong!

APGOV WEEK #13 (November 4-8)

IN CLASS ACTIVITIES:

Monday, November 4 - Watch Thurgood Drama

Tuesday, November 5 - Watch Thurgood Drama

Wednesday, November 6 - Finish Thurgood and Civil Rights Packet Review

Thursday, November 7 - Discussion Day and Common Formative Assessment

Friday, November 8 - Review Day for Unit 3 Test

*TEST Dates: November 11-12

HOMEWORK ACTIVITY:

Wednesday, November 6: Watch the Lilly Ledbetter Video Due in class on Thursday, November 7.

Answer the following questions:
1. Why did Lilly Ledbetter go to court in the first place? Trace the path of her case through federal court.

2. Why did the Supreme Court decide to take Lilly Ledbetter’s case?

3. What question was the Supreme Court asked to decide?

4. Explain the difference between a statutory decision and a constitutional decision made by the Supreme Court.

5. Is a Supreme Court decision absolutely final? Explain.

6. Explain the significance of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s dissent and the means in which she delivered her remarks. To whom did she address her words?

7. Why didn’t the story end after the Supreme Court made its decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. (2007)?

8. Identify the types of workplace discrimination prevented by law. Which law? When was it passed?

9. Describe the wage gap that exists between men and women. Cite statistics used.

10. Why do you think the wage gap started and continues to this day?

11. List the governmental bodies/organizations that got involved because of Lilly Ledbetter.

Estimate the number of public servants whose crucial decisions played a role in the story. Show how you arrived at an answer.

12. Identify the protections and support Ledbetter had for her cause.

13. How did Ledbetter make her cause known?

14. Explain this metaphor as it relates to the story: “Lilly Ledbetter lost the battle but won the war.”

15. What principle was Ledbetter fighting for? Was the fight worth it? Explain.

RESOURCES:

Lilly Ledbetter on Colbert Report 

APGOV Week #12 (October 28-Nov 1)

IN CLASS ACTIVITIES:

Monday, October 28 -  Discussion Day and Formative Assessment over Ch.14

Tuesday, October 29 - Ch.4 Note Check, Interesting Question, Multiple Choice Question Development

Wednesday, October 30 - SCOTUS Case I-pad Activity

Thursday, October 31 - Selective Incorporation Lecture - Gitlow v. NY

Friday, November 1 - 1st Amendment - R.S.P.A.P.
SCOTUS Case Lecture (asterisk denotes discussion planned in class):

Marbury v. Madison

Reynolds v. U.S. - polygamy

Texas v. Johnson - flag burning

Brown v. Board of Topeka - We will learn about this more next week.

Gitlow v. New York - speech - first incorporated case

NY Times v. Sullivan - press

Roe V. Wade - privacy rights abortion

Gideon v. Wainwright - rights of the accused informa pauperis

Brandenburg v. Ohio - speech

Lee v. Weisman - prayer at graduation

Miranda v. Arizona - rights of the accused

Plessy v. Ferguson - We will learn about this more next week.

Morse v. Frederick - student speech

Griswold v. Connecticut - privacy rights

Engle v. Vitale - school prayer

Lemon v. Kurtzman - establishment clause test

Westside v. Mergens - establishment clause and free exercise

*Tinker v. Des Moines - student speech

Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe - establishment clause

*Safford Unified School District v. Redding - student search and seizure

Schenck v. United States - speech

Snyder vs. Phelps- assembly

Lawrence v. Texas - privacy

Mapp v Ohio - Watch Video

*New Jersey v. T.L.O. - student search and seizure

HOMEWORK ACTIVITIES:
Monday, October 28 - Notes over Ch.4 due on Tuesday, October 29th.
Wednesday, October 30 - Watch video on Mapp v Ohio
Friday, November 1 - Notes over Ch.5 due on Monday, November 4th. 

RESOURCES:
 Ch.4 PPT Ch.5 PPT
Hippocampus Videos  on Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

APGOV Week #10 (October 21-25)

IN CLASS ACTIVITIES:
Monday, October 21st-No School

Tuesday, October 22nd-Test Return, Discussion Groups, Interesting Question, Annotation Check, Multiple Choice Question

Wednesday, October 23rd-Federalist #78 - Court Flow Chart Discussion and Correction - Original vs. Appellate Jurisdiction

Thursday, October 24th-Chief Justice John Roberts On the Origin, Nature, and Importance of the Supreme Court

Friday, October 25th-Judicial Interpretation-Judicial Activism, Loose and Strict Construction - Justices Stephen Breyer and Antonin Scalia DVD.

*Discussion Day and Formative Assessment over Ch.14 on Monday with Mr. Keller. 
*Ch.4 Notes over Civil Liberties due on Tuesday, October 29th.

Homework Activities:

Monday, October 21st-Annotations (notes) are due.  Students will compile interesting questions and discuss multiple choice questions

Tuesday, October 22nd-Complete the Court Graphic Organizer.  You may have a hard time finding answers in your book on the special courts.  The rest of the answers will be found in the book.  Once you fill in the blanks.  Take a look at the court documents and see if you can figure out which courts are being shown in those documents.

RESOURCES: 

Chief Justice John Roberts on the Origin, Nature and Importance of the Supreme Court
Judicial Interpretation: Justices Antonin Scalia and Stephen Breyer

Hippocampus Videos on the Legislative Branch

Ch.14 PPT

  

APGOV Week#9 (October 14-18)

IN CLASS ACTIVITIES:

Monday, October 14 - Unit #2 Essay Test
Tuesday, October 15 - Unit #2 Multiple Choice Test
Wednesday, October 16 - School Testing Day - Ch.14 Reading and Notes
Thursday, October 17 - Ch.14 Reading and Notes
Friday, October 18 - No School

RESOURCES:
Ch.14 PPT
Hippocampus Videos on the Judiciary

HOMEWORK:
Ch.14 Notes Due on Monday, Oct.21

APGOV WEEK #8 (October 7-11)

RESOURCES:
Ch.13 PPT
Hippocampus Videos on the Bureaucracy

IN CLASS ACTIVITIES:
Monday, October 7 - Hurricane Melissa Simulation Day 1-Organization of the Bureaucracy and Research
Tuesday, October 8 - Hurricane Melissa Simulation Day 2-Research Day

Wednesday, October 9 - Hurricane Melissa Simulation Day 3-Cabinet Meeting: MEMOS are DUE!

Thursday, October 10 - Hurricane Melissa Simulation Day 4-Speech Preperation

Friday, October 11 - Presidential Speech - Discussion Day

*UNIT II Test Scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, October 14 and 15
Pt.1 - Essay on Monday, October 14
Pt.2 - M.C. on Tuesday, October 15

TERMS and ESSAYS will be handed out in class on Wednesday, October 9th.
 

AP GOV WEEK #7 (Sept.30-Oct.4)

RESOURCES
Ch.12 PPT
Hippocampus Videos

Qualifications and Qualities

Rules and Contingencies

Express Roles

Traditional Roles and Special Powers Approval Ratings and Public Perception

In Class Activities:

Monday, September 30 - Interesting Question, Formative Question Formation and Note Check over Ch.12

Tuesday, October 1 - Presidential Powers and Roles Activity

Wednesday, October 2 - Electoral College, Presidential Approval and Simulation Presidential Selection

Thursday, October 3 - Impeachment, Succession and Disability - (Discussion Day)

Friday, October 4 - Ch.12 Formative Quiz and Simulation Explanation

Homework:

Wednesday, October 2 - Read "What if Washington Blows Up" article by Yale Professor Bruce Ackerman and be ready to discuss on Thursday, October 3.

AP GOV Week #5 and #6 (September 16-27)

Resources:
Ch.11 reading in book over Congress
Ch.11 PPT
Hippocampus Videos on the Legislative Branch

Composition of the House

Committees and the Iron Triangle

Composition of the Senate

Power, Committees, and Debates

Route of a Bill through Congress

Veto Power and Judicial Review

E-Learning Modules from the Center on Congress at Indiana University
The Redistricting Game
Bill Website

In Class Activities

Monday, September 16 - Who's in Congress?

Tuesday, September 17 - Tentative Test Return, Ch.11 Interesting Question and M.C. Question Development

Wednesday, September 18 - House Simulation - Organizing the House

Thursday, September 19 - House Simulation - Bill Introduction and Committee Work

Friday, September 20 - House Simulation - Committee Work

Monday, September 23 - House Simulation - Committee Work

Tuesday, September 24 - House Simulation - House Floor Debate and Vote

Wednesday, September 25 - Gerrymandering Game

Thursday, September 26 -Discussion Day and Ch.12 Notes Workday

Friday, September 27 -No School Teacher Inservice
Homework

DUE Sept 17 - Read Ch.11 and take Cornell notes.
DUE Sept 18 - Complete the Dynamic Legislative Process E-Learning Module in the Resources Section.
DUE Sept 26 - If possible, take the Textbook Online Quiz for Ch.11 on Sept.25 and bring results to class on the 26th.
DUE Sept 25 - Using Bill Website in the Resources Section, Analyze H.R. 1911 from the 113th Congress and answer the following questions:

• Who are the authors of the bill?
• What is the purpose and intent of the bill?
• Where did the bill originate? 
• What are the major congressional actions the bill went through?
• Which interest groups have a stake in the outcome of this bill and why?
• Which committee or committees heard the bill in the House of Representatives?
• Is support for the bill divided along political party lines, and if so, why?
• What type of rules were attached to the bill? What does this tell us about who supports the bill in the House of Representatives?
• Who is the chairperson of the committee and who is the ranking member of the minority party on the committee(s) which will hear the bill?
• How many members does each committee have, and how are they divided amongst the two political parties?
• What were the differences between the Senate and House Actions on this bill?
• What was the final vote in each chamber?
• What was the final result of the bill?

DUE Sept 30 - Read Ch.12 and take notes (mixture of bullets and definitions).

AP GOV Week #3 and #4 (September 3-13)

MODULE #3 (September 3-13)

Resources
Ch.3 Reading in book on Federalism
Ch.3 PPT
Hippocampus Video - Click on AP Government and watch the following videos:

1. Defining Federalism
2. Separation of State and National Governments
3. Cooperative Federalism 
4. Fiscal Federalism

Facts of Congress Video Below

In-Class Activities

Tuesday, September 3 - Interesting Question Discussion, Multiple Choice Questions Formation based on Objectives.

Wednesday, September 4 - Powers of Government (Expressed or Enumerated, Concurrent and Reserved) Cases: Marbury v. Madison, McCulloch v. Maryland

Thursday, September 5 - Civil Rights vs. Lopez Case

Friday, September 6 - Eras of Federalism with emphasis on Grants and Mandates

Monday, September 9 - Discussion Day

Tuesday, September 10 - Ch.3 Assessment

Wednesday, September 11 - Review for Unit Test #1

Thursday, September 12 - UNIT TEST #1 - ESSAY DAY (Essay Questions will be given in advance)

Friday, September 13 - UNIT TEST #1 - M.C. TEST DAY

AP GOV Week #2 (August 26-30)

Module #2 (August 26-30)

Resources
Hippocampus Videos - watch Articles of Confederation, U.S. Constitution, Structure of the Constitution and Principles of the Constitution.
Ch.2 PPT
Thomas Jefferson Video

In-Class Activities
Monday, August 26 - Ch.2 Note Check, Interesting Question Discussion, Multiple Choice Questions Formation based on Objectives

Tuesday, August 27 - George Washington and James Madison: Articles of Confederation to the Constitutional Convention.

Wednesday, August 28 -  Federalist 10 and 51

Thursday, August 29 - Card Sort Review - Discussion Day

Friday, August 30 - Ch.2 Formative Assessment

Module #2 (August 26-30) - Assignments
Monday, August 26 - Chapter 2 Notes are due, Interesting Question due.  Watch excerpt from Ken Burns Series on Thomas Jefferson starting at 27:33.  Watch throughout the formation of the Declaration of Independence. 

Tuesday, August 27 - Constitutional Card Sort bring to class finished on Thursday.

Wednesday, August 28 - Prepare for Discussion Day and Formative Test

APGOV Week #1 (August 14-23)

Welcome to Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics!

I will post your week at a glance and assignments here every week! 

MODULE #1 (August 14-23) - IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES

Wednesday, August 14 - Syllabus, Book Checkout and Get to Know You
Thursday, August 15 - Seating Chart, Module Expectations, Good Questions vs. Bad Questions, Cornell Notes, Work Time 
Friday, August 16 - Pre-Test, Work Time

Monday, August 19 - Pre-Test Results, Note Check, Interesting Questions, Multiple Choice Questions by Objective
Tuesday, August 20 - Political Culture Activity
Wednesday, August 21 - Political Ideology Test - Ideology Paper Due (see below for details)
Thursday, August 22 - Discussion Day
Friday, August 23 - Formative Quiz over Ch.1, Work Time for Module #2

MODULE #1 (August 14-23) - ASSIGNMENTS
*Assignments 1-4 DUE on Monday, August 18th.
*Assignment 5 Due on Thursday, August 22nd.

1. Watch Cornell note video posted above as a reminder of what you are required to do for this first week. 
2. Read and take Cornell Notes over Ch.1 of Schmidt (1-28)
3. View the PPT for Ch.1
4. Watch and take Cornell Notes over the Hippocampus video on Theories of Democracy 
5. Write a 1st person, two page, 12 font, double spaced paper answering the following items: 
1. Describe the results of your test? Please explain what a person in your ideology typically believes.
2. How does the test result fit with what you think generally about politics?
3. Describe your family interaction in regards to politics. Is it a common discussion topic or do you barely discuss politics?  Is there general agreement or disagreement?  Do you come from a politically divided home? 
4. How does your ideology fit with your perceptions of your parent's or friends political beliefs?
5. Upload your paper to http://www.dropitto.me/rkeller89 Your password is: titans