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

EQs so far...

1.       What is a “good” government and why?

2.       What are the main types of government and what are their strengths and weaknesses?

3.       What were the major contributions to political thought of the following political thinkers: Plato, Aristotle, Locke, Hobbes, and Machiavelli?

4.       What weaknesses existed in the Articles of Confederation and in what ways did the Constitution correct those weaknesses?

5.       How would you explain the essential components of the Constitution (separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism) and how do these components help create a more balanced government that protects the people?

6.       What are the major powers of the Federal and State governments (including their shared powers)?

7.       What major powers are given to each branch of government and how can these powers be stretched?

8.       What major rights are given in the Bill of Rights?

9.       How have the rights contained in the Bill of Rights been limited?

10.    What is public opinion and how is it measured?

11.    In what ways have you been politically socialized?

12.    What is political ideology and what is my political ideology?

13.    What are the major ways we participate in politics and what factors influence the degree to which we participate?

14.    What factors have led the federal government to expand the electorate and why do vote at the rates we vote?

Study Guide for Monday and Tuesday Test

Study Guide for Monday/Tuesday Test

1.       What is public opinion and how is it measured?

2.       What is political ideology, what are the major political ideologies, and what factors, through political socialization, lead to its development?

3.       What are the ways people participate in politics and what factors influence the degree to which they participate?

There will be between 30-40 regular questions on the test, and one short essay.

Benchmark I Retake (Thursday November 3) Retake Questions

The following are the questions for your retake Thursday.  Each should be answered in a full essay in order to get full credit.

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.

Test Next Week and Notebook Check

Folks:
Good day.  Our test will be next Monday and Tuesday.  The test will cover the material on Political Culture, Public Opinion, Political Ideology, Political Socialization and Political Participation from the notes.
Test format:
Multiple Choice, Matching, True/False, One Toulmin

I will also be checking your notebooks for the first time ever.  Below is the description of how it should be set up:


Notebook:  All students are required to maintain a course notebook.  The notebook must stay current and organized.  There will be periodic, unannounced, notebook checks and the notebook will be turned in at the end of both semesters.  This is designed to keep the students organized and can serve as a needed grade boost for the student.  The notebook MUST be organized as follows:  The first section includes your daily EQ log, to be updated on a daily basis.  The second section contains all vocabulary related work for each unit.  The third section contains all notes taken throughout the year, separated by unit. The fourth section lists all of the Supreme Court cases we have covered in class.  There could be a quiz on these cases at any point during the school year.  The fifth section should include any visual materials you are given or you produce (charts, graphs, brochures etc).  The sixth section should include all quizzes and tests.  The seventh section will include written responses to class discussions, debates and Socratic seminars.  The eighth section is the unit essay section.  In that section the student will store all unit essay practices, information, and responses.