Government
“We the People, in order to form a more perfect union…”
So starts the preamble to our constitution. You are about to embark on an amazing journey. On this journey, you will learn how our country came to be, how we are governed and how it affects you. This is sometimes and hard journey and sometimes a circuitous journey. At the end I hope that you have a basic understanding of our government and will take part in it and make a difference. To quote Green TeenDanny Seo, ”If all of us start taking action, we could change the world.” Learn and make a difference!!!!
·
You are responsible for all of these assignments.
Your textbook is a good basic reference, but do not be afraid to use any other reference. ·
At the end of the course, I would expect you to have a sizeable bibliography. This bibliography will follow the MLA form.
It will be part of your final grade.
Please complete all assignments on the computer and attach them to an email with you name on them and identify the assignment. Please send them to me at [email protected]. Also, in the subject line put your name, the subject and the assignment name or number.
Assignment 1
The United States has a very unique Constitution and form of government. Other countries have tried to imitate this form. When the constitution was first written and ratified, many predicted it would not last. Our democracy was founded in 1789 and is based on other documents such as the Magna Carta and English Bill of
Rights. Not only were the principles taken from these documents, but also from philosophers of the times. This era of history is known as the Age of Enlightenment. Not only were our founding fathers considered part of this era, but also other such as Thomas Hobbs, John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau and Voltaire. Their writings were very influential and that influence can be found though out the Declaration of Independence and Constitution as well as various other
documents.
Create a brochure which will include information about these philosophers
It will include the following information:
§ Picture
§ Life dates
§ Summary of philosophy
§ Where are these ideas found in the Constitution, Declaration of Independence or other primary documents associated with our government
Assignment 2
Our government was founded on the following principles.
§ Recognition of the worth of the individual
§ A respect for the equality of all people
§ A faith in majority rule and an insistence upon minority rights
§ An acceptance of the necessity of compromise
§ An insistence upon the widest possible degree of individual freedom
Using chapter one in the textbook:
Define these principles,
Indicate where in the constitution they can be found
(Hint: a chart works really well for this)
Assignment 3
The United States Constitution is the base upon which our government stands. It has, throughout history been a blueprint for many other democracies. Create a PowerPoint that will cover the following information.
§ The purpose of the constitution
§ List of framers and the chief writer
§ Explanation of the first ten amendments (Bill of Rights) and their ratification date (be sure to illustrate these amendments)
§ Choose five of the 11 - 27 amendments to the Constitution that you think are very important to others to understand.
Explain why you think they are important, illustrate them and list their ratification dates.
§ Would you add other amendments and why?
Assignment 4
A
The Constitution provides for three branches of government. It defines the executive, legislative and the judicial branches. Use not only the textbook, but also other resources to create a project that explains and defines each branch. use power point
Be sure to include:
§ Philosophy behind multi branch government and separation of powers
§ The name of the branch, head of the branch and any organizations or bodies that are considered part of that branch
§ Specific duties given to that branch by the constitution.
§ Power shared with the other branches
§ Would you change this system? Explain your answer and support your answer.
Assignment 5
Our form of government is known as a representative democracy. There are many other forms of government some of them are based in democracy and some are not. Some of those forms are:
§ Communism
§ Parliamentary democracy
§ Theocracy
§ Monarchy
§ Representative democracy
§ Tyranny
Make a chart
Define each one of these types of government
Similarities and differences to our government
Example of this form of government
Assignment 6
Each discipline has it own vocabulary that is unique to it. Not only is the definition important, but also its use.
Again, make a chart.
Define the words
Classify the words according to the following headings: they may fall under several categories.
§ A) Rights and duties of a citizen
§ B) Rights and responsibilities of the government
§ C) Organization of government
§ D) Rule of law ·
The words:
suffrage federalism bicameral lobbying mandate popular sovereignty
rule of law impeach political party veto election bureaucracy
civil rights foreign policy treason ambassador Miranda rule citizenship
United Nations Jus soli jurisdiction Jus Sanguinis defendant civil liberties
plaintiff
Assignment 7
You Become the Expert - Federal Assistance Programs (entitlement programs)
Select one of the entitlement programs that the federal government supports.
Create a power point that covers that program
Be sure to include:
So starts the preamble to our constitution. You are about to embark on an amazing journey. On this journey, you will learn how our country came to be, how we are governed and how it affects you. This is sometimes and hard journey and sometimes a circuitous journey. At the end I hope that you have a basic understanding of our government and will take part in it and make a difference. To quote Green TeenDanny Seo, ”If all of us start taking action, we could change the world.” Learn and make a difference!!!!
·
You are responsible for all of these assignments.
Your textbook is a good basic reference, but do not be afraid to use any other reference. ·
At the end of the course, I would expect you to have a sizeable bibliography. This bibliography will follow the MLA form.
It will be part of your final grade.
Please complete all assignments on the computer and attach them to an email with you name on them and identify the assignment. Please send them to me at [email protected]. Also, in the subject line put your name, the subject and the assignment name or number.
Assignment 1
The United States has a very unique Constitution and form of government. Other countries have tried to imitate this form. When the constitution was first written and ratified, many predicted it would not last. Our democracy was founded in 1789 and is based on other documents such as the Magna Carta and English Bill of
Rights. Not only were the principles taken from these documents, but also from philosophers of the times. This era of history is known as the Age of Enlightenment. Not only were our founding fathers considered part of this era, but also other such as Thomas Hobbs, John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau and Voltaire. Their writings were very influential and that influence can be found though out the Declaration of Independence and Constitution as well as various other
documents.
Create a brochure which will include information about these philosophers
It will include the following information:
§ Picture
§ Life dates
§ Summary of philosophy
§ Where are these ideas found in the Constitution, Declaration of Independence or other primary documents associated with our government
Assignment 2
Our government was founded on the following principles.
§ Recognition of the worth of the individual
§ A respect for the equality of all people
§ A faith in majority rule and an insistence upon minority rights
§ An acceptance of the necessity of compromise
§ An insistence upon the widest possible degree of individual freedom
Using chapter one in the textbook:
Define these principles,
Indicate where in the constitution they can be found
(Hint: a chart works really well for this)
Assignment 3
The United States Constitution is the base upon which our government stands. It has, throughout history been a blueprint for many other democracies. Create a PowerPoint that will cover the following information.
§ The purpose of the constitution
§ List of framers and the chief writer
§ Explanation of the first ten amendments (Bill of Rights) and their ratification date (be sure to illustrate these amendments)
§ Choose five of the 11 - 27 amendments to the Constitution that you think are very important to others to understand.
Explain why you think they are important, illustrate them and list their ratification dates.
§ Would you add other amendments and why?
Assignment 4
A
The Constitution provides for three branches of government. It defines the executive, legislative and the judicial branches. Use not only the textbook, but also other resources to create a project that explains and defines each branch. use power point
Be sure to include:
§ Philosophy behind multi branch government and separation of powers
§ The name of the branch, head of the branch and any organizations or bodies that are considered part of that branch
§ Specific duties given to that branch by the constitution.
§ Power shared with the other branches
§ Would you change this system? Explain your answer and support your answer.
Assignment 5
Our form of government is known as a representative democracy. There are many other forms of government some of them are based in democracy and some are not. Some of those forms are:
§ Communism
§ Parliamentary democracy
§ Theocracy
§ Monarchy
§ Representative democracy
§ Tyranny
Make a chart
Define each one of these types of government
Similarities and differences to our government
Example of this form of government
Assignment 6
Each discipline has it own vocabulary that is unique to it. Not only is the definition important, but also its use.
Again, make a chart.
Define the words
Classify the words according to the following headings: they may fall under several categories.
§ A) Rights and duties of a citizen
§ B) Rights and responsibilities of the government
§ C) Organization of government
§ D) Rule of law ·
The words:
suffrage federalism bicameral lobbying mandate popular sovereignty
rule of law impeach political party veto election bureaucracy
civil rights foreign policy treason ambassador Miranda rule citizenship
United Nations Jus soli jurisdiction Jus Sanguinis defendant civil liberties
plaintiff
Assignment 7
You Become the Expert - Federal Assistance Programs (entitlement programs)
Select one of the entitlement programs that the federal government supports.
Create a power point that covers that program
Be sure to include:
- History of the program?
- What is the purpose of the program/
- Who administers the program?
- Whom is it designed to help?
- What is the cost of the program?
- Where does the money come from?
- Is it still viable?
- Is it doing the job it was set up to do?
- If you were on the committee of Congress looking at keeping or removing the program, what would you do and why? ·
- snap
- wic
- crop subsidy
- organic certification
- child nutrition program