Political Science Course Syllabus

Transcription

1 Instructor: Mr. Steven Murphy Room: Political Science Course Syllabus Course Overview The United States is a diverse population in the places we live and how we live. Many Americans share the belief that freedom, justice, and equality forms the adhesive that holds our contrasting nation together. Family, education, religion, education and the economy are five basic institutions that teach Americans these shared values. In this course, we will try to encourage a foundation that will lead students to become active citizens. Through the year, students will explore the rights, duties, and responsibilities of American citizenship. The students will also create an understanding of the roots of our nation s government, and how an unhappy America deleted the Articles of Confederation for our current Constitution. Over time, pupils will also dive into the basic protections they have found in our Bill of Rights. Students will be able to explore the work of the federal government and how the three branches of government work together as an effective team. Government class would not be complete without the knowledge of our local and state government as those levels are the closest to the heart of each American. Finally, the American government course would not be complete without three basic issues that impact our daily lives in the United States: the economy, the court system, and political parties. Course Content: Students will: - Analyze America s political heritage from the Colonial Experience to the movement toward nationhood. - Create an understanding of the U. S. Constitution from the Constitutional Convention to the document we know as the Supreme Law of the Land. - Explore the Bill of Rights from they Protections that are there to be able to interpret the meaning of the Bill of Rights. - Explain how the Constitution continues to change, and be flexible to an everchanging nation. - Compare and Contrast the three Branches of the Federal Government, and how each keeps an eye on the others. - Understand the impact state and local governments have on their daily lives. - Describe the foundations of American citizenship, society s values, and the meaning of being an American citizen. - Analyze the American Economic system, and how it compares to the economies of other nations around the world. - Discuss the American legal system, and how justice is achieved through the American court system. - Explore how people make a difference in our democracy with an emphasis on voting and political parties.

2 Textbook and Supplemental Materials: The textbook used for this class will be Civics: Government and Economics in Action. Students may bring these books home from time to time to complete course work. An emphasis on primary and secondary source documents will also be included to develop a richer understanding of course material. Websites and current event publications will enhance the learning of the content of this course as well. Grading Policy: A 90% and above B 80 89% C 70 79% D 60 69% F 59% and below Course Policies 1. Be Proactive a. Take responsibility for your life. b. I am the force, and the driver of my own destiny, not just a passenger. 2. Begin with the End in Mind a. Define your mission and goals in life. b. Control your own destiny or someone else will. 3. Put First things First a. Prioritize, and do the most important things first. b. Learn to overcome your fears and being strong during hard moments. 4. Think Win-Win a. Have an everyone-can-win attitude. b. This attitude toward life says I can win, and so can you. 5. Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood a. Listen to people sincerely. b. Learn to see things from another s point of view before sharing your own. 6. Synergize a. Work together to achieve more. b. Be open-minded and celebrate differences. 7. Sharpen the Saw a. Renew yourself regularly. b. Strengthen your body, brain, heart, and soul

3 Activities: Writing assignments (from open-response to reactive writing) Reading assignments with questions Current Events Discussions Quizzes and Exams Individual and/or group projects Bell Ringers Exit Slips Mid-Terms Semester Final Exams There will be little opportunity for extra credit Program of Study: I. Creating a Lasting Government a. America s Political Heritage i. The Colonial Experience ii. Roots of American Government iii. Moving Toward Nationhood b. Creating the Constitution i. The Constitutional Convention ii. The Struggle for Ratification iii. The Supreme Law of the Land c. The Bill of Rights i. Adding the Bill of Rights ii. Protections in the Bill of Rights iii. Interpreting the Bill of Rights d. Our Enduring Constitution i. Changing the Law of the Land ii. A Flexible Framework II. The Federal Government a. The Legislative Branch i. The Members of Congress ii. The Powers of Congress iii. How Congress is Organized iv. Following a Bill in Congress b. The Executive Branch i. The Roles of the President ii. The Organization of the Executive Branch iii. Presidents and Power c. The Judicial Branch i. The Role of the Federal Courts ii. The Organization of the Federal Courts iii. The Supreme Court

4 III. IV. State and Local Government a. State Government i. Federalism: One Nation and Fifty States ii. State Legislatures iii. The State Executive Branch iv. State Courts b. Local Government i. Types of Local Government ii. Local Government Services and Revenue iii. Conflict and Cooperation Between Governments Foundations of Citizenship a. A Portrait of Americans i. Who Americans Are ii. America: A Cultural Mosaic iii. The Values That Unite Us b. American Society and Its Values i. Groups and Institutions ii. Society s Training Grounds iii. The Economy iv. Government: Meeting Society s Needs c. The Meaning of Citizenship i. What it means to be a Citizen ii. Rights, Duties, and Responsibilities iii. Citizenship and Our Other Roles in Society V. Foundations of Economics a. What is an Economy? i. Why Societies have Economics ii. Basic Economic Decisions iii. Three Types of Economics b. Basics of Our Economic System i. The Principles of Our Market Economy ii. The Role of Business in the American Economy iii. Labor in the American Economy c. Our Economy and You i. Managing Your Money ii. Spending and Saving iii. Careers: Planning for the Future VI. Government and the Economy a. Government s Role in Our Economy i. Government Intervention in the Economy ii. Government Efforts to Solve Economic Problems iii. Managing the Economy b. Money and Banking i. Money

5 VII. ii. Our Banking System iii. The Federal Reserve System c. Public Finance i. Government and Economic Goals ii. Paying for Government iii. Government Policy and Spending The American Legal System a. Laws and Our Society i. Why We Have Laws ii. Where our Laws Come From iii. Kinds of Laws b. Criminal and Juvenile Justice i. Crime in American Society ii. The Criminal Justice System iii. The Juvenile Justice System c. Civil Justice i. The Role of Civil Law ii. Civil Procedure iii. Choices in Civil Justice VIII. People Make a Difference a. Political Parties in Our Democracy i. The Role of Political Parties ii. Our Two-Party System iii. Choosing Candidates b. Voting and Elections i. Being a Voter ii. Influencing Your Vote iii. Campaigning for Office

6 I have read Coach Murph s Government Syllabus and do understand it. If you do not sign, you can Coach Murph at steven.murphy@glasgow.kyschools.us to let him know you have read it. Parent s Name (Please Print): Signature: Student s Name (Please Print): Signature: