Monday 3/23 pm: Getting set - up

Activity # 1:

Everyone, I will need you to go to google classroom and enroll in the College Government course I created. We are going to use this to turn assignments that are posted on blog into google classroom.

Here is the class code you will use: qsy76ky

This will be the first graded assignment - It will be labeled E-Learning Gmail Setup

Activity # 2:

Please click the on the word ZOOM, you will need to create an account.

Please use your First & Last name and your school email in this process. We are going to set up a time to do a video conference / class by the end of the week

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3/18 - 3/22: Spring Break Unit 4 Ideology Retake

I will take the higher of the 2 test scores. It is not mandatory that you complete this assignment if you are happy with your test score, however, it can't hurt you to try to do better.

Activity # 1:

Click on Unit 4 Re-take to take the Exam. 

Activity # 2:

Everyone, I will need you to go to google classroom and enroll in the College Government course I created. We are going to use this to turn assignments that are posted on blog into google classroom.

Here is the class code you will use: qsy76ky

This will be the first graded assignment - It will be labeled E-Learning Gmail Setup

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Wednesday 3/11 & Thursday 3/12: 5.5 3rd Parties

Lesson 5.5: Third Parties

Enduring Understanding:

Political parties, interest groups, and social movements provide opportunities for participation and influence how people relate to government and policy-makers.

Learning Objectives:

Explain how structural barriers impact third-party and independent candidate success.

Essential Knowledge:

In comparison to proportional systems, winner-take-all voting districts serve as a structural barrier to third-party and independent candidate success.

The incorporation of third-party agendas into platforms of major political parties serves as a barrier to third-party and independent candidate success.

Debrief 5.3: Unit One Review

In your notebooks, use ASAP (Author Setting Audience Purpose) to analyze the following excerpt...

Congress shall have the power to... regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; and to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

- Article 1 Section 8 of the US Constitution (abridged)

Then, answer the following question, How did the Supreme Court case of U.S. vs. Lopez change our understanding of this passage?

Activity #1: Crashing the Party: Third Party Politics...

At your groups, answer the following questions in your separate tables...

1. What is a Third Party, what are some examples of Third Parties?
2. What are some the Green and Libertarian Parties' major platform pieces?
3. What is the "winner take all system" and how does it act as a barrier for third-parties winning elections?
4. How do Third Parties impact Democrats and Republics (influencing platforms, playing the spoiler)

Group write...

Activity #2: Interest Groups

Interest groups may represent very specific or more general interests, and can educate voters and office holders, conduct lobbying, draft legislation, and mobilize membership to apply pressure on and work with legislators and government agencies.

In addition to working within party coalitions, interest groups exert influence through long-standing relationships with bureaucratic agencies, congressional committees, and other interest groups; such relationships are described as “iron triangles” and “issue networks,” and they help interest groups exert influence across political party coalitions.

Activity #3: Nifty Fifty Vocabulary:

Long Definition, Short Definition, Example...

1. Interest Group
2. Lobbying
3. Free Rider (as it relates to interest groups)
4. Iron Triangle

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3/9 Monday & 3/10 Tuesday: 5.3 Political Parties

Lesson 5.3: Political Parties

Enduring Understanding:

Political parties, interest groups, and social movements provide opportunities for participation and influence how people relate to government and policy-makers.

Learning Objectives:

Describe linkage institutions.

Explain the function and impact of political parties on the electorate and government.

Essential Knowledge:

Linkage institutions are channels that allow individuals to communicate their preferences to policy-makers: 

• Parties 
• Interest groups 
• Elections 
• Media

The functions and impact of political parties on the electorate and government are represented by:

• Mobilization and education of voters 
• Party platforms  
• Candidate recruitment 
• Campaign management, including fundraising and media strategy 
• The committee and party leadership systems in legislatures

Debrief 5.2: Unit One Review: Federalism

Activity #1: TIP-C: 

Activity #2: The Structure and Function of Political Parties Mini-Lecture

Activity #3: The Decline of Parties

Read one or both of the articles below to help understand some of the causes for the decline of parties over the last half century.

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-0202-goldberg-party-paper-tigers-20160202-column.html

https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/11/modern-political-parties-weak-and-ineffective/

After you have finished reading, describe in your notebook how each of the following contributed to to this decline:

1. The role of the media
2. The rise of interest groups
3. Political reforms like primaries and the Australian ballot
4. Money and candidate-centered campaigns

However, not everyone believes the rise of independent voters and the decline of political parties is real. Read this article and summarize the author's argument.

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3/5 Thursday & 3/6 Friday: 5.1 and 2: Voting Behavior and Turnout

Lesson 5.1 and 2: Voting Behavior and Turnout

Enduring Understanding:

Factors associated with political ideology, efficacy, structural barriers, and demographics influence the nature and degree of political participation.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the voting rights protections in the Constitution and in legislation.

Describe different models of voting behavior

Explain the roles that individual choice and state laws play in voter turnout in elections.

Essential Knowledge:

Legal protections found in federal legislation and the Fifteenth, Seventeenth, Nineteenth, Twenty-Fourth, and Twenty-Sixth Amendments relate to the expansion of opportunities for political participation.

Examples of political models explaining voting behavior include:

• Rational-choice voting–Voting based on what is perceived to be in the citizen’s individual interest
• Retrospective voting–Voting to decide whether the party or candidate in power should be re-elected based on the recent past 
• Prospective voting–Voting based on predictions of how a party or candidate will perform in the future 
• Party-line voting–Supporting a party by voting for candidates from one political party for all public offices across the ballot

In addition to the impact that demographics and political efficacy can have on voter choice and turnout, structural barriers and type of election also affect voter turnout in the US, as represented by: 

• State voter registration laws
• Procedures on how, when, and where to vote 
• Mid-term (congressional) or general presidential elections 

Demographic characteristics and political efficacy or engagement are used to predict the likelihood of whether an individual will vote. 

Factors influencing voter choice include:

• Party identification and ideological orientation
• Candidate characteristics 
• Contemporary political issues 
• Religious beliefs or affiliation, gender, race and ethnicity, and other demographic characteristics

Debrief 4.5: 

Prompt: List 3 possible causes for low voter turnout. How could we increase voter turnout in the US? What would be the advantages and disadvantages of a higher turnout?

Activity #1: TIP-C

Takeaways for our notebooks

Election laws generally fall into seven different categories that can influence turnout:

• voter-registration deadlines
• restrictions on registrations and registration drives
• preregistration laws that allow people under 18 to register in advance of their first elections
• laws governing ease of voting (like early and absentee voting)
• voter ID requirements and
• polling hours.

OSAM



ASAP

In 1992, the most treasured voter was a voter that would sort of swing back and forth, one that might vote for Republican for president, Democrat for governor. The voter that didn't have that strong of a partisan ID. These were the voters that we targeted.

- James Carville, Campaign Strategist for Bill Clinton

Activity #2: 

Identity Politics (Straight Ticket)
Rational Choice
Prospective vs Retrospective 

Down-Ballot Issues

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Tuesday 3/3 & Wednesday 3/4: Test Day

Today is Unit 4 Test Day. You can use your printed out Review, but no cell phones or using your computer. The test will be in the lockdown browser today. You may have the first 15 minutes to review, then Mr. Stout will begin the test. 

Unit 4 Test Link

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Friday 2/28 & Monday 3/2

Well since almost all of 2A didn't complete the Ed Puzzles from Wednesday, I thought that I would re-post them..

Activity # 1:

Ed Puzzle Video # 1 



Ed Puzzle Video # 2


Activity # 2: 

Test Review Document - It says you can use this document on the test, however, the jury is still out on that.. Please complete questions and answers in your notebook.

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