Monday, October 26, 2009

Voting in America

We The People…
An Exercise in Democracy

America has long prided itself on being a democracy guided by the rule of law. This emphasis on being a democracy governed by the “rule of law” has long been foundational to the notion that this country is and always has been based on equality giving all people the same rights. This project is designed to examine one aspect of this impression: Voting. Students need to research each of the legal actions below - a progression of actions in the history of the United States. Make sure you include statements about all of the significant elements of these actions, what each part did to or for people’s rights, why this action was justified or needed, how people reacted to it/what problems remained unresolved after the passage of the action.

We will be in the Media Lab 3 days. Students may work individually or in groups of up to three. No further class-time will be provided to complete this assignment.

Research/study/learn the following items:

Preamble to the Constitution
The Dred Scott Decision
14th Amendment
15th Amendment
17th Amendment
19th Amendment
Indian Citizenship Act of 1924
24th Amendment
26th Amendment

In groups students need to:
•Research and describe each item including all of the significant elements of these actions, what each part did to or for people’s rights, why this action was justified or needed, how people reacted to it/what problems remained unresolved after the passage of the action.

Individually students need to:
•Create a time-line that includes all of these events. Make sure that it is accurate and neat and with the events placed on the timeline correctly.
•Write a paragraph that compares/juxtaposes the timeline of these events with the first three words of the Preamble to the US Constitution.
•The first sentence of your essay must be the topic sentence for your paragraph.
•Instead of an essay, students may create a cartoon that captures your thoughts on this theme – you must include a caption for the cartoon that helps explain things.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Ch 4 - The Constitution

Ch 4 - The United States Constitution
Essential Question: How and why did the framers distribute power in the Constitution?


PREVIEW
Examine the outline of the Constitution as seen in your textbook chapter 4. Then answer these questions on a separate piece of paper and turn in:

1. What observations can you make about the way the framers organized the Constitution?
2. Which branch of government did the framers give the greatest number of specific (expressed) powers to? What might be some reasons for that?
3. What inferences can you make about how the framers intended to distribute power within the federal government?

Terms
Read the definitions in the book and then rewrite the definitions in your own words. Make sure you capture the essence of the texts definitions in your definition.

due process republican government
checks and balances federalism
independent judiciary strict construction
loose construction judicial review

Sections 4.2 and 4.3
Read Sections 4.2 and 4.3. Then do the following:

1. Create a diagram (table) that explains the purpose of each of the three main parts of the Constitution. Then list an example from the Constitution that illustrates the purpose of each part.

Below is an example of the elements that need to be included.

Constitution (this is the tables name)
Preamble Articles Amendments

Purpose: Purpose: Purpose:

Example: Example: Example:

2. Explain the difference between enumerated and implied powers and describe how the Constitution establishes both.
3. Discuss why each branch of government has a different set of responsibilities and powers. List at least two powers of each branch.
4. Create a simple flowchart that illustrates the most common method of amending the Constitution.

What new information did this section address with regard to our Essential Question: How and why did the framers distribute power in the Constitution?


Section 4.4
1. After reading this section of your textbook, create a table that includes the following things. 5 principles found with-in the content of the constitution and list the principles in the left column. Complete the second and third columns by creating a simple illustration to represent that principal, and then a brief explanation of your symbol in your own words.

Below is an example of the elements that need to be included.

Guiding Principles of the Constitution (this is the tables name)
Principle Symbol or illustration Brief Explanation Example from the Constitution


2. Again after reading Section 4.4, you now need to identify at least one place in the Constitution that illustrates each principle. This information gets listed in the fourth column of your table. Give the exact location in the Constitution as well as the exact text that exemplifies each principle.

What new information did this section address with regard to our Essential Question: How and why did the framers distribute power in the Constitution?


Section 4.5
Read Section 4.5 and then do the following:
1. Explain the difference between strict and loose construction of the Constitution.
2. On a piece of paper that you can turn in, complete a write-up of the three landmark cases discussed in the section.
• Enter the case’s name and the year it was decided.
• List two or three main facts of the case.
• Write a brief summary of the Supreme Court’s decision. (4 or 5 sentences)
• Describe the significance of the decision in terms of its effects on the government and on the interpretation of the Constitution.


What new information did this section address with regard to our Essential Question: How and why did the framers distribute power in the Constitution?


Higher Order Thinking

The framers developed the U.S. Constitution more than 200 years ago with the hope that it would remain relevant and effective for future generations. One way they sought to accomplish that was through the provisions of Article V, which spell out how the Constitution can be changed.

In recent years, Congress has fielded many proposals for changes to the Constitution, including the following:
• Requiring the federal government to balance the national budget
• Restricting the amount of money that can be spent during national electoral campaigns
• Abolishing the Electoral College and having the president and vice president elected by popular vote
• Lowering the age restriction for public offices such as senator and representative
• Repealing the Twenty-second Amendment, which sets presidential term limits
• Guaranteeing all citizens access to quality health care
If you had the opportunity to change the Constitution in one way in order to improve it, what would you propose? In a short paragraph, explain your proposal and discuss why you think the Constitution will be a stronger, better document with this change.

Summative Assignment
Write a one-paragraph essay addressing our Essential Question: How and why did the framers distribute power in the Constitution?

Monday, October 12, 2009

CH 3 - Assignments

Ch 3 – Gov – Objectives

Consider the new content from this section as it pertains to our Chapter 3 essential question: What ideas gave birth to the worldʼs first modern democracy?


Section 3.2 – Ideas that Shaped Colonial Views of Government
Consider the new content from this section as it pertains to our Chapter 3 essential question: What ideas gave birth to the worldʼs first modern democracy? What new information does this section add to your understanding of the ideas that gave birth to the American Democracy.

List two ideas that shaped colonial views on government for each of the following 4 influences: Religious and classical roots, English roots, English enlightenment, French Enlightenment.


Section 3.3 – From Ideas to Independence: American Revolution
Consider the new content from this section as it pertains to our Chapter 3 essential question: What ideas gave birth to the worldʼs first modern democracy? What new information does this section add to your understanding of the ideas that gave birth to the American Democracy.

Create a time-line that extends from 1619 to 1776. Plot the following events:

Mayflower Compact
Virginia House of Burgesses
French and Indian War
Stamp Act
Battles at Lexington and Concord
Declaration of Independence

Section 3.4 – Putting Ideas to Work: Framing New Constitutions
Consider the new content from this section as it pertains to our Chapter 3 essential question: What ideas gave birth to the worldʼs first modern democracy? What new information does this section add to your understanding of the ideas that gave birth to the American Democracy.

After reading the section, answer these questions:
1. How did state constitutions lay the groundwork for the U.S. Constitution?

2. What were the main weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? What did these weaknesses mean for the national government?

3. What were three of the major challenges that the Constitutional Convention delegates faced, and how was each resolved.

Sections 3.5 - Ratifying the Constitution and 3.6 – Adding the Bill of Rights
Consider the new content from this section as it pertains to our Chapter 3 essential question: What ideas gave birth to the worldʼs first modern democracy? What new information does this section add to your understanding of the ideas that gave birth to the American Democracy.

Create a T-chart to compare the main arguments of the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. Identify at least three arguments for each side. Then answer this question: How was the debate over the ratification of the Constitution resolved?

Chapter 3 - Overall Application of Content and Understanding

Higher Order Thinking
Write three journal entries from the perspective of a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. Date each entry. Address each of these topics in one or more of your entries:

• Which ideas from outside America most influenced you in the development of the Constitution? Where did these ideas come from?

• What were the greatest challenges in developing the Constitution? How were these challenges resolved?

• Do you think the states should ratify the Constitution? Why or why not?

Final Assessment
Using information from each of this chapters sections, write an essay that addresses our essential question: What ideas gave birth to America, the worldʼs first modern democracy?

Be prepared for a test of this information!!!