January 20, 2009
Textbook Assignments from 2nd Quarter:
Chapter 14 sec. 2
Chapter 16, sec. 1
Chapter 8, sec. 1
Chapter 8, sec. 2
Chapter 18, sec. 1
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January 7, 2009
Learning Block 3 Review Questions
Directions: Complete the following questions
on a separate sheet of paper, to be attached to this sheet when completed. These
questions are due January 5 for B-Day and January 6 for A-day.
1. Political Parties, Campaigns, and Elections
A. What is the main goal of a Political Party? How do political parties work to reach
their main goal?
- The Main goal of political parties are to win elections.
- Parties choose candidates, campaign, raise $$$, placing ads on tv, radio, etc.
B. Why would you join a Third Party? What
challenges do third parties face that keep them from gaining political power in the United States?
- People join 3rd parties because
they believe in the message and goals of that party, even though they know their party will likely not win.
- Third parties lack money, the two party system is well established, and they often fail
to win the majority in a single member district.
C. Why would a candidate spend more money
on commercials in the last week of a campaign that he or she did in the beginning?
- To sway undecided voters and keep your message fresh in the minds of voters.
2. Interest Groups and Lobbying (Chapter 18)
A. How are interest groups different
from political parties?
- Interest groups organize to influence government policy and usually focus on only one
issue, whereas political parties work to win elections and have to focus on many issues.
B. You represent the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). You lobby for the interests of
African Americans. You support affirmative action in hiring and education. You also work to eliminate government policies
that may unfairly discriminate against African Americans. How would you work
within the government to reach your goals? How could you impact public opinion
on the issues you care about most?
- Interest groups can support candidates that agree with their beliefs, can meet with politicans,
propose legislation, and raise $$ for candidates.
- Interest groups can impact the public through running ads and educating the public.
C. What do lobbyists do? Who do they represent? How do they accomplish their goals?
- Lobbyists represent interest groups and work to persuade politicians to support that
groups ideas. Lobbyists can meet with politicians, write legislation, provide
information.
D. What is the artist’s message about
the impact lobbyists have on politicians?
3. The Census and Apportionment
A. What is the census?
- Every 10 years, the population is counted. Demographic
information on race, gender, jobs, and age are studied.
B. Which house of congress is impacted
the most by census data? Explain how the census is used to determine representation
in his house.
- The House of Representatives is most impacted by census data. If a state gains population more in relation other states, they may gain representatives. If they lose more than others states, they may lose representatives.
C. Read the graph below and answer the questions that follow.
- In which decade did the population of Prince
George’s County increase the most? - How does the
graph support this data?
- The greatest increase is between 1960 and 1970
- How might public government services have been impacted by this increase in population?
- More population means that there must be an increase in services – more trash to
be picked up, more healthcare, more cars on the road…more of everything.
- If the state of Maryland
had its population grow faster than other states in the region during this time, how might representation in the House change?
- Maryland would gain representatives in the House.
4. Political Participation and the Media
A. In order to vote you have to be 18 and registered.
Why might a state not allow you to register to vote on the same day as the election?
- In order to insure you are legally registered, you have to register before the election. Otherwise, states cannot ensure you are a legal voter.
- Which level of federal government would be the best to go to address this issue? (Local,
State, or National)
- The Local government is the best for this issue, because the local government has direct
control of local land use. You could become involved by writing representatives,
going to town meetings, and gathering supporters.
-
C. How does the Media influence government and politics?
Why might some call the media the “fourth branch of the government”?
- The media is a two way speaker…politicans can use it to get their message out,
and the people can use the media to impact what politicals care about.
D. Alaska
Governor Sarah Palin is a great example of how the media can influence a candidate.
How did the media attempt to portray Palin? How do you think this portrayal
of Palin impacted voters? Do you think this may have impacted McCain’s
chances of election? Why?
November 20, 2008
Unit
2 Review Questions
1.
Define the following terms in your own words: separation of Powers, checks and balances, federalism, judicial review, limited
government, eminent domain (Index and Glossary)
2. Explain
the ruling and significance of the following Court Cases: (Supreme court case guide at the back of the book)
a. McCulloch v. Maryland
b. Marbury v. Madison
3.
List each of the six government goals included in the Preamble to the Constitution and give an example of each. (pg.
775)
4. Explain
the rights protected in each of the following amendments from the Bill of Rights:
a. Amendment
I
b. Amendment
IV
c. Amendment
V
d. Amendment
VI
e. Amendment
VIII
5. In
what situations might the government restrict the rights guaranteed in the First Amendment? (pg. 366 – 370)
6.
What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and how did the Constitution improved on those weaknesses? (chapter
2, section 3)
|
Weakness
of the Articles |
Constitution’s
Solution |
|
Congress
could not levy (collect) taxes. |
Congress
gained the power to tax. |
|
Congress
could not regulate trade, meaning every state had their own money system and could deal separately with other nations. |
Congress
gained the power to regulate commerce between states and other nations, as well as borrow money. |
|
Congress
could not force anyone to obey the laws it passed. |
The laws
of the Federal government become supreme over state law. |
|
There
was no executive branch to carry out the laws passed. |
Creates
an executive branch, led by the President |
|
There
was no national court system |
Creates
the Supreme Court and allows congress to form lower federal courts. |
7. Not everyone agreed with the
passing of the constitution. What did opponents of the Constitution argue was wrong with the document? (chapter
2 sec. 3 and 4) – Anti federalists believed that the Constitution gave too much power to the Federal Government and
that they needed a Bill of Rights
8.
Explain the process that must be taken to amend, or change the Constitution. Why might some call the Constitution a
“Living Document”? (chapter 3 section 3) Living Document: Because
the constitution can grow with the needs of the nation through the Amendment process.
9. What
are the three branches of government? For each branch, explain its powers. (chapter 3 section 2)
Legislative
(Congress) creates/makes laws
Executive (President) enforces laws
Judicial(Supreme Court) interprets the laws
10.
What is the difference between expressed powers and implied powers? Chapter 4 section 1)
Expressed: Written directly in the Constitution
Implied: Powers that are assumed to be legal, because the Constitution implies that they are
legal through the Necessary and Proper Clause
11.
How did the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of
Confederation influence the creation of the Constitution? Include excerpts and principles from both documents that the
Constitution borrowed to support your answer.
Declaration of Independence: Gave us the core beliefs of Popular Sovereignty, consent of the governed
Articles of Confederation: Stressed the
importance of state power, which came back in the form of federalism. Also, the
weaknesses showed that certain issues needed to be fixed, creating a strong national government to go with the state governments.
2. Explain
the ruling and significance of the following Court Cases: (Supreme court case guide at the back of the book)
a. McCulloch v. Maryland: Interpreted the Necessary and Proper clause to give Congress more power than is expressly
written in the constitution
b. Marbury v. Madison: Established
the Supreme Court’s power of Judicial Review.
4. Explain
the rights protected in each of the following amendments from the Bill of Rights:
a. Amendment
I: Speech, Press, Assembly, Religion, Petition
b. Amendment
IV: Protection against search and seizure without a warrant.
c. Amendment
V: Protection against testifying against yourself and from double jeopardy (being
charged with the same crime twice)
d. Amendment
VI: Right to have a lawyer to represent you.
e. Amendment
VIII: Protection from excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment.
5. In
what situations might the government restrict the rights guaranteed in the First Amendment? (pg. 366 – 370) Rights
may be restricted when the right may restrict the freedom or safety of others or the security of the nation.
November 10, 2008
Bill of Rights Assignment
Directions: In a seperate window, log onto the following site: http://msde.mdk12online.org
Username: government
Password: student
Click on the 2008-2009 Government Course and begin Unit 2, Lesson 4 "The Bill of Rights.
The following Assignment is to be completed on a seperate sheet of paper!!!
Part 1:Complete the "Bill of Rights" Organizer using the webpage above.
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Amendment |
Description |
Draw
a picture to help you remember the right. |
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1 |
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2 |
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3 |
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4 |
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5 |
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Part 2: Landmark Court
Cases Case Studies:
1. Explain how the Bill of Rights applies
to the decision in New Jersey v. T.L.O.
2.
Explain how the Bill of Rights applies to the decision in Miranda v. Arizona.
3.
Explain how the Bill of Rights applies to the decision in Gideon v. Wainwright.
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Part 3: Which Right from the Bill of Rights was Violated in each of the following examples?
1. A road is proposed across two
counties in Maryland. Jose's property is in the way of the
proposed road. The government takes Jose's property to build the road but does not pay him.
Which Right was violated?
2. Sam is accused of shoplifting. When he appears before the judge, Sam asks for help preparing his defense. Sam is
too poor to afford a lawyer. The judge tells Sam that he will just have to prepare his own case, without any help.
Which right was violated?
3. The government lacked money to
support the nation's military forces. To save money, Colonel Mustard ordered that troops be placed in people's homes. Professor
Plum who lived near the military base was required to take in three soldiers.
Which right was violated?
4. Susan writes a letter to the
editor of the local newspaper about the treatment of juveniles in a local boot camp. Susan was arrested and placed in jail.
Which right was violated?
5. Kim was in his house watching a DVD and two policemen knock on his door. When Kim answers the door, the police
officers accused him of stealing computer equipment and proceeded to enter his home looking for the equipment. Kim asked the
police officers for a warrant but they just laughed at him.
Which right was violated?
6. Christina was accused and found
innocent of armed robbery. The next day Christina was arrested again and charged for the same armed robbery charge.
Which right was violated?
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Part 5:
1. How can the Constitution be changed?
2. Why is it important that the
Constitution can be changed?
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Part 4:
Read the information below then use it to answer the EXTENDED CONSTRUCTED RESPONSE below.
Review the list of
freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution:
freedom of religion
freedom of speech
freedom of the press
the right to peaceably assemble
the right to petition the government
Citizens of a newly independent country
are drafting a constitution. They have requested your help in selecting the two most important rights in the First Amendment
to the United States Constitution to include in their constitution.
Choose two First Amendment rights from the United States Constitution that you think should be
included in the new country's constitution.
Identify your choices and explain why you think they should be included.
Include details and examples to support your answer.
Respond
in the ECR document. This activity is worth 20 points.
