AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND LAW CURRICULUM

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF COURSE 

 

This course is designed to provide an in-depth look at the American Political System, along with an overview of the American legal system.  Students are encouraged to participate in discussion and debate as we examine the founding documents, political culture and ideology, the role of the media, criminal and civil law, along with many other interesting and relevant topics.  Further, students will be exposed to the operation of state and local government with the object of making them more responsible participants in the political process.

 

GOALS OF THE COURSE

 

1.  To provide a framework for understanding the purposes, principles, and practices of American government and law as established by the Constitution of the United States.

 

2.  To help students understand their rights and responsibilities as citizens and how to exercise these rights and responsibilities in local, state, and national government.

 

3.  To provide a forum for informed political debate and discussion.

 

4.  Allow students to utilize critical thinking skills while analyzing primary source documents, news, and electronic media.

 

5.  To help students understand the legal system (both civil and criminal) and how it effects them as citizens in a democracy.

 

THEME QUESTIONS FOR AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND LAW

 

1.  What are the foundations of Government in the United States? (USG 2.1)*

·        Enlightenment influences

·        Colonial/Revolutionary Experience

·        Declaration of Independence

·        Massachusetts Constitution

·        United States Constitution

 

2.  What are the purposes, principles, and institutions of government in the United States? (USG 3.3)

·        Federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances

* Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Framework, August 2003

3.  What are the responsibilities of citizens in the United States? (USG 5.2)

·        Voting, volunteering, jury duty

 

4.  What is the nature, origin, and procedure of criminal and civil law in the United States? (USG 5.6)

·        History of Laws

 

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND LAW UNITS OF STUDY

 

·        mass media and politics

 

 
 
 
TEXTS AND OTHER SOURCES

 

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS TODAY, WADSWORTH

 

WE THE STUDENTS: SUPREME COURT CASES FOR AND ABOUT STUDENTS,

JAMIN B. RASKIN, CQ

 

SPIN CYCLE, HOWARD KURTZ

 

In addition to these texts, supplemental readings, primary sources are given to students as handouts.  These sources include written documents, photographs, and political cartoons.  Also, numerous Internet resources, readings and assignments can be accessed through the class web page, as well as links to a variety of news and government sites with resources and information.

 

 

ASSESSMENTS AND EVALUATION

Tests and Quizzes                     Term Papers

Video Presentations                  Class Discussion

 Projects                                   Self-Assessment

Peer Assessment                      Document Analysis

Debates                                    Mock Trial

Journals                                    Homework

Attendance                               MidYear and Final Exams

Presentations                            Open Essays

 

INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

Teacher Directed Questioning               Lecture                      

Student Simulation                                Research and Writing

Discussion                               Library Skills             

Photo/Cartoon Analysis                        Graph Interpretation

Student Presentations                            Cooperative Learning   

Media Analysis                                     Field Work

Guest Presenters                      Field Trips                 

Computer Learning                               Case briefing

 

 

UNIT OF STUDY: CONSTITUTIONAL UNDERPINNINGS OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT 

 

ESSENTIAL GUIDING QUESTIONS:

 

·        What contribution did the enlightenment make to the formation of our Constitution?

·        What impact did the Colonial experience have on the writing of the Constitution?

·        What early English/Colonial efforts contributed to the Constitution?

 

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

 

1.  Students will explain the impact of European political thought through the writings of Locke, Montesquieu, Hobbs, Rousseau, and Voltaire. (USG 2.3)

 

2.  Students will identify the reasons why the colonists favored a limited federal government. (USG 1.7)

 

3.  Students will explain the significance of the Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Mayflower Compact, and the Massachusetts State Constitution on the U.S. Constitution. (USG 1.9)

 

RESOURCES 

 

Why Government? Lesson

Locke / Jefferson Plagiarism lesson

Locke’s Second Treatise of Government

The Declaration of Independence

Federalist Papers #10 and #51

Massachusetts State Constitution

 

UNIT OF STUDY: POLITICAL BELIEFS AND BEHAVIORS OF INDIVIDUALS

 

ESSENTIAL GUIDING QUESTIONS:

 

·        What factors influence Public Opinion?

·        What factors influence one’s political ideology?

·        What trends have influenced voter participation in recent years?

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

 

1.  Students will understand the role of the family, religion, the gender gap, education, occupation, race, and region in determining public opinion on political issues. (USG 5.5)

 

2.  Students will approximate their own political ideology through a series of ideology tests discovering whether they tend to lean toward liberal, conservative, populist, or libertarian views. (USG 5.5)

 

3.  Students will understand the factors which have led to a decline in voter participation in recent years (Generational replacement, attack ads, voter apathy, length of campaigns etc.) (USG 5.8)

 

RESOURCES

 

Readings on Pluralism and The Power Elite

U.S. Citizenship Test

Political Ideology Handbook Project

World’s Smallest Political Quiz and other online ideology tests

Public Opinion and Ideology Chart

Questions from the National Council on Public Polls

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNIT OF STUDY: MASS MEDIA AND POLITICS

 

ESSENTIAL GUIDING QUESTIONS

 

·        What role does the media play in helping citizen become informed/misinformed consumers?

·        What has been the relationship between the White House, along with other government agencies and the media?

·        What role does the media have in influencing the outcome of elections?

 

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

 

1.  Students will identify ways in which advertising is used to influence the general public. (USG 3.13)

 

2.  Students will learn to examine all forms of media as critical, informed consumers. (USG 3.13)

 

3.  Students will identify ways in which the media (particularly television) has influenced the outcome of some elections (Kennedy/Nixon debates) (USG 3.13)

 

RESOURCES

 

Informed Consumer Activity

Political Landscape Map

Interest Group Study and Influence Activity

Film “Wag the Dog”

Book “Spin Cycle”

Video “Seeing is Believing” Media responsibility

Media Ethics lesson

Kennedy-Nixon Video vs. Radio tapes

 

UNIT OF STUDY: ELECTIONS AND CAMPAIGNS

 

ESSENTIAL GUIDING QUESTIONS

 

·        To what extent does money and interest groups affect the election process?

·        What role has elections played in party realignment throughout 19th and 20th century?

·        What efforts can be made to control the influence of money in elections?

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

 

1.  Students will explain the difference between hard money and soft money donations. (USG 5.3)

 

2.  Students will analyze the elections of 1800, 1828, 1860, 1896, and 1932 to show the effects of party realignment. (USG 3.7, USG 5.4)

 

3.  Students will cite examples of attempts to control campaign financing (Buckley v. Valeo, Campaign Finance Reform Act  2002). (USG 5.3)

 

RESOURCES

Campaign Finance Board Games (Project)

Opensecrets.org

The Bottom Line an where it came from (Handout)

Film “Primary Colors”

Video Documentary “Taking on the Kennedys”

Election/Campaign Role play

War Room Project

Election Term Paper

 

 

 

UNIT OF STUDY: INSTITUTIONS OF NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

 

ESSENTIAL GUIDING QUESTIONS

 

·        What are the purposes, organization, and functions of the institution of the national government?

·        What is the role of both the national and state governments in the federal system?

·        What is the place of law in the American constitutional system?

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

 

1.  Students should be able to describe the purpose, organization, and functions of the three branches of the federal government (legislative, executive, and judicial). (USG 3.3)

 

2.  Students should describe the limits of powers (Federal vs. State) as well as protections that the States have from the federal government (i.e. 10th Amendment). (USG 3.3)

 

3.  Students should give examples of how the rule of law protects the basic rights of citizens (life, liberty, property), and how it establishes limits on both those who govern and the governed. (USG 1.5)

 

 

RESOURCES

 

Online Congressional Committee assignment

Who’s Who in Congress (handout)

School House Rock Video

Write a letter to your Rep. or Senator (assignment)

CSPAN Presidential Leadership survey

JFK inaugural address

Presidential Crisis Leadership

Film clips  “13 Days”  “Nixon”  discussion questions

Text: We the Students: Supreme Court cases for and about students

Landmark Supreme Court Cases (RESEARCH PROJECT)

Supreme Court Justices (handout)

Video “Your court system and you”

 

 

 

UNIT OF STUDY:  STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

 

ESSENTIAL GUIDING QUESTIONS

 

·        What are the powers most commonly associated with State Governments?

·        What is the organization and responsibilities of the Massachusetts state government ?

·        What is the organization and the responsibilities of the local government?

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

 

1.   Students should identify and give examples of reserved powers as well as concurrent powers. (USG 3.2)

 

2.  Students should describe and analyze the powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches at the State and local levels. (USG 3.3)

 

3.  Students should be able to describe the powers and organization of the towns of Dover and Sherborn. (USG 3.8) (USG 3.10)

 

RESOURCES

State and local Maps

Massachusetts State Constitution

Town Charters (Dover and Sherborn)

Field Trip to State House

 

 

 

 

UNIT OF STUDY: CRIMINAL LAW

 

ESSENTIAL GUIDING QUESTIONS

 

·        How are individuals accused of crimes protected by due process of law?

·        How are your rights as students in a high school different from outside the school setting?

·        What is the nature and purpose of law?

·        What are the general legal proceedings in a criminal trial?

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

 

1.  Students should be able to identify and explain the significance of habeas corpus,

Presumption of innocence, trial by jury, right to counsel, right against self-incrimination, protection against double jeopardy, and the right of appeal. (USF 3.11)

 

2.  Students should understand the implications of important school-related cases such as New Jersey v. TLO, Tinker v. DeMoines, Abington Township v. Schempp, and others. (USG 3.11)

 

3.  Students will demonstrate an understanding of the nature and origin of laws as well as the criminal and trial process. (USG 3.4)

 

RESOURCES

You and the Law exercise

Case Briefing

Case simulations

Mock Arrest activity

Guest Lecture: Dover/Sherborn Police

Mock Trial Project/Competition

 

UNIT OF STUDY: CIVIL LAW

 

ESSENTIAL GUIDING QUESTIONS

 

1.  What are the major differences between the U.S. criminal system and Civil proceedings?

 

2.  What are your rights and responsibilities as a consumer/tenant in regard to civil law?

 

3.  What are the guiding principles of tort and contract law?

 

 

 

 

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

 

1.  Students will understand the concept and scope of negligent behavior (both intentional and non-intentional) (USG 3.4)

 

2.  Students will demonstrate an understanding of the law in regard to customer relations.

 

3.  Students will understand the rights of tenants and the responsibilities of property owners. (USG 3.4)

 

RESOURCES

Guest lecture by Attorneys

A guide to Consumer Relations

Real Estate Contracts

Case Studies in Civil Law

O.J. Simpson Case (Criminal vs. Civil)

Better Business Bureau of Massachusetts