WHAT IS GOVERNMENT? WHY DOES IT EXIST?

“If men were angels…”

Journal 1/9

What is government? What’s its purpose?

Choose one and defend:1)The government should provide for the

people2)The government should protect the people3)The government should provide ONLY what

private citizens can not.

Lets make a class list…

We are going to create a government; what questions do

we need to ask in order to do so?

Creating a government: With your group agree on the following…

1) What is the goal of your government?2) What kind of government will you have?3) Who are the citizens of your state?4) What are our laws (make 3-5)? 5) Who makes the laws?6) Who is the leader? How do they get there?

How long do they lead?7) Who enforces the laws?8) Who protects the people?9) What’s the responsibility of the citizen?

Journal 1/14

Take a look at the handout I gave you. If you are a colonist what are some issues you’re having with the laws England is making for you in the Americas?

If you are the English government, how do you defend these laws?

Journal 1/?

Most of us said the purpose of government was to do one of two things: establish and maintain order or protect the rights of the citizen. Sometimes these two things are at odds; explain why it is difficult for the government to promise both of these.

1) Unitary:

2) Confederation:

3) Federal: Direct Democracy: Republic:

1

3

2

Read the chart I’ve given you. Summarize the major problems the colonists had with English rule. Use this information, also, to explain what English rule of the colonies must have been like.

Journal 8/22 (6th)

Journal 8/22 (8th)

Turn to page 26. Find the cartoon there. This represents law by decree; based on the cartoon alone how would you define this term?

• • This cartoon represents the rule of law; compare it to the other cartoon. Define rule of law.

Journal 8/27

The year is 1781. The Revolutionary War is over. There are now 13 colonies and a few million people without a government. You are a representative of your state at a convention to create the first American government.

Describe the type of gov’t you will advocate for; where does the power originate? What must you avoid? What must you protect/ensure?

THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

“An Union of Friendship.”

Articles of ConfederationTurn to 786. Here you will find the Articles of

Confederation. Fold a blank piece of paper into thirds and thirds

again (3x3…so 9 squares)Label the squares with the Articles (use roman

numerals like the book does I-XIII)Label the remaining 5 Executive and judicial,

Legislative, military, taxes, OtherSummarize each article in the appropriate box.What does the document say about the three

branches, military and taxes? Summarize as you goWhat else do you have questions about? Anything

strike you as odd?

Journal 8/29

Look back at last night's homework; what were some of the weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation?

Why do you think the writers of the Articles made the central government so small and weak?

Would you say the writers of the Articles were overly sensitive to the rights/liberties of the 13 colonies at the expense of the ability of a strong central gov’t to maintain order in those colonies? Explain.

State's GovernmentsStates knew they

wanted ________of powers. Three branches of ______ Term limits for_________ Elected officials held

more:Their new gov’t was

called a ___________; that is a government ruled by the ‘consent of the ________’ w/:

filling some rolesThis type of gov’t had

________been attempted.

Strengths (at least 3)Strengths (at least 3) WeaknessesWeaknesses

Strengths v Weaknesses of the AofCs (48-50)

CREATING THE CONSTITUTION

A Work of Compromise

FederalistsFederalists Anti-FederalistsAnti-Federalists

Main fear:Main Focus at CC:

Strong: will unify the__________

Constitution will strongly define:

Main fear:Main Focus at CC:

Clearly________powers of the_______

A _____of_______to tell the citizens SPECIFICALLY:

The first political parties

Big State Plan

3 branches of gov’t

Bicameral Leg.

Ppl vote on 1 house and that house chooses the other

Rep. Based on pop.

Small State Plan

Unicameral legislature

equal representation

Executive appoints supreme court

Bicameral leg. One house based on pop.

One house equal rep. Separation of power

One executive chosen by ppl.

Journal 9/5

Turn to page 56. read about and explain the 3/5s Compromise and the Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise…

Journal 9/9

Look back at your homework from this weekend (Constitution preamble and Art I). What powers of the congress are you confused about?

Are there any powers that are denied to them you think shouldn’t be? Are there any EXPRESSED to them you think shouldn’t be? Explain.

Your first progress report is due tomorrow. For this reason I am going to speak to each of you about your current grades in class.

Until that time please work on the following to get prepared for you quiz tomorrow:

Page 26: questions 1, 3a, 5, 7a&b, 8a, 10 a-cPage 64: 1a&b, 4, 5b, 6, 7, 8b, 9, 10, 11b

Page 90: 1a, 2b, 3a&b, 4b

Pictions 94-102

On your own paper Make 4 vertical (up and down) lines on your paper as evenly spaced as possible

Create pictions for the following words:

Federalism

Journal 9/19

What is Federalism?

Why did the framers of the Constitution choose this form of

gov’t?

Why Federalism?

The Revolutionary War got rid of a____form of gov’t No____control No________body for the ppl Unitary=:

The AofCs were: Very________central gov’t Independent______: Confederation=:

Federalism is a:

What is Federalism?

A Compromise The____central gov’t has powers

over: The_____state gov’ts have powers

over:

A Constitution spells out: Exclusive Powers: Reserved Powers: Concurrent Powers:

A Promise that the Constitution: Supremacy Clause (6.2): If a conflict btw the_____& the

_______gov’t:

How do we change the Constitution?

With your group you are going to create a graphic which illustrates the Amendment process. Please include:

All possible methods of formal amendment The book mentions one criticism of

ratification via state legislatures…what is it? What’s the response to this argument?

As a group agree upon which method is most federally sound in you mind.

Journal 9/24

Turn to pages 85-87.

How do the Legislative, Executive and Judicial branches informally

change the laws of the US?

AMENDMENT #:

Text of the Amendment in plain English:

“An Important Quote From the Amendment…”

Picture

When was it ratified…?

Important court case

having to do with

Amendment…explain

Political Political Parties Parties

What are Political Parties?

A group of ppl who seek:

Goal is to control______ by winning__________

Parties drive_____ _______b/c they cue ppl on how:

Political Spectrum

A polarized line indicating how________ or ____________a person or party is.

In the US it looks like this…

Liberal v Conservative…v Libertarian?

Conservatism Small gov’t on economic matters Large gov’t on moral matters

Liberalism Large gov’t on economic (social)

matters Small gov’t on moral matters

Libertarianism Gov’t is ALWAYS small

So what does it look like…?

Where do you stand?

Political Party QuizPolitical Party QuizHow do you compare with your people most like How do you compare with your people most like

you?you?

Political Party Quiz #2Political Party Quiz #2• What did you discover about yourself from What did you discover about yourself from

these quizzes?these quizzes?• Was anything shocking or surprising to you?Was anything shocking or surprising to you?

If you dare…Political CompassIf you dare…Political Compass

Journal 3/11

Create a new party. Give them one major issue to focus on that you think is not getting enough attention from the major parties.

What is your goal with this issue? What will your candidate stand for? What Americans do you think will support you the most?

VotingVoting

Limitations on State Power

The power to set_____________for suffrage has been left to the_____; there are some limitations:

Art. 1 Sec 2 Clause 1:15th Amendment:19th Amendment:24th Amendment:26th Amendment:

5 Expansions of Suffrage

1. 1800s; provisions about___________are removed

2. 1870s Civil War_________1. 13th:2. 14th:3. 15th:

3. 1919/20: KS gives women the “____ ____” in 19__

5 Expansions of Suffrage

4. Civil Rights Voting Rights Act ‘65:

Preclearance: 24th Amendment

5. Vietnam War Era:

Homework (156) 3/24

Chapter 6.2 outlines the “Universal Requirements” for voting; what are they? Explain each requirement and the specific laws as they apply to Kansas…for example:

I. Universal requirements:I. Citizenship: One qualification of voting is that a voter

must be a citizen of the US. Before 1926 about a fourth of the states allowed: Did KS ever allow this? If so, when?

II. Residency:

Use this website for help on KS laws

Journal 10/22

Many people vote what’s referred to as “Straight Ticket” meaning they vote for their party and only their party in every election. Is there a fundamental problem with this? If no, why not? If yes, explain.

Voter Behavior: Why people vote as they do

Political Socialization:

Rank the following in order of the most influential to the least influential agent of political socialization.

PeersFamilySchoolMediaPolitical leadersGroup Identity

Journal 10/28

How do you think the following people vote (Republican or Democrat). You can be stereotypical…

People 18-29People 50 and upCollege GraduatesThe richThe PoorMinoritiesWhites

Voter Behavior: Group Identity

Income is difficult because: Higher SES: Lower SES:

Education is a better indicator: College grads have traditionally: This changed in 2012 where voting based on education:

The Gender Gap: is usually insignificant unless:

Younger people tend to vote_______while older people tend to vote_________

Voter Behavior: Group Identity

The______minortiy groups in the US lean________ 1) 2)

Geography Urban (city) dwellers tend to vote________

Lower_____ More_______population

South/West and Midwest tend to vote_________ Higher income______ Civil War legacy in the South:

Watch the Blue (democrat) and Red (GOP) on the map through the years…you’ll notice that in some regions the color never changes

Voter Behavior: Why People Don’t Vote (6.4)

Nonvoters Cannot Voters

•Voting Nonvoters:

•Off-Year Elections:

•Ballot Fatigue:

•What else:

“legitimate” reasons people don’t vote…

Voter Behavior: Why People Don’t Vote (6.4)

Nonvoters Apathy

Low political efficacy: Some believe the gov’t is ______:

Confusion/lack of education about the process:

“Cannot” Voters are voters who: Felons Illness Culture Laws

How can we fix this? Take a look at a few ideas

Elections

The Feds and Elections

Constitutionally the power to regulate elections are given to_____ ______ but there are federal laws: _______has the power to

determine_______,_______, _______of voting in national elections

The date for voting is 1st____________following the 1st________of November on even numbered years except in:

Congress also requires________ballots

The Absentee Ballot

A Ballot is:An absentee ballot is:Law was started to aid

: : :But now almost:

Campaign Finance

Read “Campaign Spending” from 201-202:1)Why do candidates spend money in elections?2)What election is the most expensive?3)Look at the chart on 202; 3 create a line/bar

graphs: spending over the last 20 years, spending per voter over the last 20 years and voter turnout over the last 20 years. Do you notice any patterns?

Campaign Finance

Read “Federal Election Commission” 204:1)What is the FEC?2)What 4 areas does the FEC cover (in your own

words)? 3)Is regulating campaign finance important?

Explain.

Journal 11/12

Why does the gov’t regulate money for campaigns? Isn’t this an example of the gov’t overstepping it’s powers? Isn’t who and how and why I give my money up to me?