Civics Assignments
- Instructor
- Mr. Paul Lopez
- Term
- 2018-2019
- Department
- History/Social Science
- Description
-
Course Description: Students in grade twelve pursue a deeper understanding of the institutions of American government. They compare systems of government in the world today and analyze the history and changing interpretations of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the current state of the legislative, executive, and judiciary branches of government. An emphasis is placed on analyzing the relationship among federal, state, and local governments, with particular attention paid to important historical documents such as the Federalist Papers. These standards represent the culmination of civic literacy as students prepare to vote, participate in community activities, and assume the responsibilities of citizenship.
During the course students will:
- Explain the fundamental principles and moral values of American democracy
- Evaluate and take and defend positions on the scope and limits of rights and obligations
- Evaluate and take and defend positions on what the fundamental values and principles of civil society
- Analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government
- Summarize landmark U.S. Supreme Court interpretations of the Constitution and its amendments.
- Evaluate issues regarding campaigns for national, state, and local elective offices.
- Analyze and compare the powers and procedures of the national, state, tribal, and local governments.
- Evaluate and take and defend positions on the influence of the media on American political life.
- Analyze the origins, characteristics, and development of different political systems across time
- Formulate questions about and defend their analyses of tensions within our constitutional democracy
Files
Upcoming Assignments
No upcoming assignments.
Past Assignments
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The Loving Story Sub Questions
(must answer in class and turn in the box by the end of the day)
- How did the Supreme Court rule? What were the effects of the ruling?
- Why do “ordinary people” become activists? What would motivate you to become an activist?
- What can you learn about today’s political debates about marriage from the Loving case?
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Assignment
Read and Respond to a Primary Document
George Washington's Farewell Address is a significant document that was read aloud annually in Congress until 1970.
http://www.ushistory.org/documents/farewelladdress.htm
Read the document and state the core political and ideological beliefs presented in it.
List the reasons Washington warns against the formation of political parties.
Finally, critique Washington's views on political parties. Do you believe Washington was correct and that political parties have had an overall negative effect on US government and society or if the opposite is true? Use evidence and examples to support your opinion. You may have to do some independent research to help you formulate your opinion and support it.
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7th June 1628: Petition of Right ratified by King Charles I:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opFnx8WuR9A
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Homework:
- The Declaration of Independence begins with the following statement: "When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."
Hypothesize According to the Declaration of Independence, to what rights do you think "the Laws of Nature and Nature's God" entitle people?
- In "Principles of Government" you read about the purposes of the United States government as expressed in its constitution. This government is a democracy. However, you also learned about other types of government, including dictatorships.
Hypothesize Do you think the purposes of a dictatorship would be different from the purposes of a democracy? Why or why not?