Test and Project

hello all-
I'm moving the ECON test to Thursday and Friday.  I think we need a little more time.  We'll review tomorrow and Wednesday.

Also, I'm giving you an extension on your group project (THE MARKET) until March 29 and March 30.  If you're already done, let me know and I will give you some bonus.

Mr. Knight

Instructions for Stock Game

fr

žGo to smartstocks.com

žClick “Play Now” (on the right)

žClick “Don’t have an account” and create one

žLogout and go back to “Play Now”

žClick “Join Group” on group menu (on left). Find the group (below). The name is “FDHS ECON 2012”. Password is “FDHS.”  Now start trading stocks!

žThis is for a grade and you must make at least two trades per week until March 26 to pass the assignment.  Winners get free lunch.

ee lunch.

HW

—  Drawing on what you’ve learned today (about the President) and recently (about Congress) which of the two branches are more powerful?  Or are they equally powerful in different ways?  Explain using evidence from your notes about the President and Congress.

—  I would say you can do this effectively in 2-3 paragraphs (please make a claim and clarify your claim)

Extra Credit Due 1/24 and 1/25

Task: Create a primer (i.e. fancy word for guide) to the 2012 United States Election, focusing on the Presidential portion of the election.  The primer should be in the form of a magazine or a brochure and should preferably be created using Microsoft Word, Microsoft Publisher, or some other comparable type of software. The primer should be written in an accessible, entertaining and non-academic way that would appeal to the average American reader, not just the average American college professor.

Components: The primer must include a number of required sections, and may include any additional sections you choose to add on your own.  The list below represents the required sections.

1. Guide to the Candidates-For each of the required candidates, give a brief biographical sketch of their political or professional history, and then discuss their specific ideas and beliefs on major issues.  Include at least one picture of the candidate with the description.  Required candidates: Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Michelle Bachman, Rick Perry, and three non-Republicans and Democrats of your choice.
This website is a good starting point for research: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2012/campaign-issues.html
The following website will help you greatly: http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/primaries/candidates
This one will as well: http://uselectionnews.org/category/candidate-spotlight/
In addition, I would recommend going to all of the candidates official websites for any additional information.

2. Guide to the Issues-What will the major issues of the 2012 Presidential Campaign be?  Which of these issues will be most important.  Research these questions and present what you find in the second part of your primer.
Again, the CNN Election page is pretty useful on this topic: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2012/campaign-issues.html

3. Guide to Money!: Which candidates have raised the most money (pick the top five)?  What major sources (i.e.States) has their money come from?  How do the fundraising accomplishments of these candidates compare with past Presidential candidates?
This site is key completing this: http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/campaign-finance?hp&ref=politics#canda=barack-obama&candb=rick-perry

4. Your Endorsement: What candidate do you most support?  Why?  What is it about this candidate that you think will make them the best pick to lead our country?

5. Your Prediction: Who do think will actually win, and why?

Primer should be accessible, informative, textually-rich, and graphically-rich.  Please provide a list of all resources used on the last page of your primer.

All Retake Questions So Far

Retake Questions for Test 1

1. Define and explain (i.e. give specific and realistic examples that relate to specific parts of our government) of each of the following: separation of powers, checks and balances and federalism.
2. What rights are guaranteed by the Bill of Rights?  Explain the main points of each of the first ten amendments.

Retake Questions for Test 2

1. Identify and full explain the effect of 5 factors that influence how a person is politically socialized.
2. Originally, the Constitution left most of the decisions over elections and how they should be handled to the states.  Gradually, voting rights and the conduct of elections were taken over to a greater extent by the federal government.  Explain in detail how the composition of the American electorate has expanded by fully explaining, in order, each of the following: the 15th amendment, the 17th amendment, the outlawing of the grandfather clause, the 19th amendment, the outlawing of white primaries, the 23rd amendment, the 24th amendment, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the 26th amendment.
3. Differentiate between liberals and conservatives by referring to and explaining their respective beliefs on 5 different issues such as abortion, gay marriage and the economy.

Retake Questions for Test 3

1. Interest Groups and Political Parties are both important in their role of influencing and connecting citizens to government, but are different in many ways.  Explain the major differences between Interest Groups and Political Parties by identifying and explaining their main purpose, as well as the many methods they use to achieve those purposes.
2. Describe the importance of each of the following steps of an election: Primaries, Nominating Conventions (aka Party Conventions), General Election (Election Day), and Electoral College.
3. Discuss the the way in which corporate control of media and the fact that media outlets (newspapers and television) have to make profits to stay in business affects the ways in which political news is presented by the media.
   

I'm Just a Bill Holiday Project

Assignment: 

Write your own bill to be submitted in our Congress.  Must be typed in the following format.  Due the day we return from break.  We will use the bills in a mock Congress that will count for the equivalent of a test grade. (Make sure to email Mr. Knight to find out if you are a Democrat or a Republican.

Format it must follow:

Title: Ex: The Soda-Regulation Act

Introduction/Rationale (4-6 sentences): Explains your reasons for writing this bill and explains the positive effects you feel it will have on our country.

Ex: Sugary sodas consumed by American citizens are one of the chief contributors to many health problems in America.  Sodas are consumed at an alarming rate in America.  One can only imagine the medical bills that would not exist if sodas were regulated in a better way.  My bill will lead to a more physically and economically fit America.  My bill will encourage healthy diets and save the government huge amounts of money that might otherwise be spent on health care.

Section 1 (one sentence): Explains what exactly your bill will do.

Ex: Hereby, all soda consumption in the United States of America, will be subject to a 20% tax.  Specifically, consumers will be 20% tax each time they purchase soda.

Section 2 (one sentence): Gives further information about what your bill will do.

Ex: Soda beverages are defined as any drink with a 20% carbonation count that provides at least 16g of sugar in a serving.

Section 3 (one sentence): Gives further information about what your bill will do.

Ex:  Revenue from the taxing of soda beverages will be directed and given to the US Department of Health for use at their discretion.

Section 4 (one sentence): Adds “pork” to your bill.

Ex: $50,000 in funds to research the effects on literacy levels of watching rodeos will be directed the state of Tennessee.

Political Parties

—Create a blueprint for a new political party created by YOU.  Include the following: a symbol, 10 key principles (in sentence form) your party is based on (Ex: Small government), and a party platform (where you describe, in at least two paragraphs, your plan for how your party will improve America).

—HW: Research ONE of the following FIVE parties and find and write about 5 key principles (Ex: Pro-Life) they stand for: Republican Party, Democrat Party, Green Party, Reform Party, Tea Party