U.S. Government

American Government (US) (1^st Semester)

Instructor’s Name: Sandra Ball

Email: [email protected]

Title of Course: US Government

Date of Course: Fall 2016- Spring 2017

Prerequisites for Course: Students must have completed Global Studies, US History to take this course.

Textbooks and other materials required for course:

Other Materials:

iPad
Loose leaf binder w/subject dividers (Notebook)

Course Description

This course is a multidimensional program designed around Essential Questions. It helps students of all abilities gain an understanding of key concepts in government and recognizes the application of those concepts in the real world. In addition, it seeks to show that God orchestrated and continues to control the affairs of the world through its governments from creation to now.

Goals/Standards:

Provide clear expectations for students learning and accountability.
Provide an essential user-friendly tool for developing instruction.
Transform textbooks from curriculum guide to a resource for instruction.
Provide for a complete and uniform Adventist secondary curriculum.

Essential Questions/Course Objectives

What should be the goals of government?
In what ways should people participate in public affairs?
What makes a successful Congress?
What makes a good president?
What should be the role of the judicial branch?
How should a government meet the needs of its people?
What is the right balance of federal, State and local government?

Class Requirements

All students are required to:

Attend all class sessions and be on time
Complete all assigned homework, class work, quizzes, tests and term papers. Make-up work can be arranged under certain circumstances. If you have an excused absence, you will have as many days as you missed to complete all missed work without penalty. You may not make-up pop quizzes and Do Now. MAKE-UP WORK IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. Please get the phone number/e-mail address of TWO other class members from whom you can get the assignments if you miss a class so that you will be prepared when you return to class!
The late work policy is as follows:

Unexcused Late

Submission Penalty Other Conditions

1 day late 5% penalty Penalty is imposed on the student’s earned grade

2 days late 10% penalty .

3 days late 15% penalty After 3 days late, no final score can exceed 75%

4 days late 20% penalty

5 or more days 25% penalty

Keep a notebook/folder which will reflect all class work and notes.
Complete a Research Paper/US Government and Economics project in the second semester. This will be no fewer than three pages, and will be on a topic assigned by the teacher, or chosen by the student with the approval of the teacher. The project will reflect a well thought out thesis and historical insight on the subject.
Complete a Written and Oral Project. On display board, students will describe and illustrate the cultural, geographical, economical, political, and historical aspects of a specific region, country or era in world government. Each student will give an oral presentation to the class.
There will be a one-page reflection paper due every second and fourth Monday. This will be in keeping with the topic being studied, or current affairs that relate to World Government. Students may react to newspaper articles, Internet news sources etc. A copy of the article must be attached to the student’s TYPED.

Please note that Tests will be given at the end of each chapter and each unit. Quizzes on assigned reading, film and PowerPoint presentations may be given each day.

First Semester – US Government

Chapter 1: Principles of Government

Ø Government and the State

Ø Forms of Government

Ø Basic concepts of Democracy

Weeks 1 & 2

Chapter 2: Origins of American Government

Ø Our Political Beginnings

Ø The Coming of Independence

Ø The Critical Period

Ø Creating the Constitution

Ø Ratifying the Constitution

Weeks 3 & 4

Chapter 3: The Constitution

Ø Basic Principles

Ø Formal Amendment

Ø Change by other means

Weeks 5 & 6

Chapter 4: Federalism

Ø Federalism: Powers Divided

Ø The National Government and the 20 States

Ø Interstate Relations

Weeks 7 & 8

Chapter 5: Political Parties

Ø Parties and What They do

Ø Two-Party System in American History

Ø The Minor Parties

Ø Party Organization

Weeks 9 & 10

Chapter 6: Voters and Voter Behavior

Ø The Right to Vote

Ø Voter Qualifications

Ø Suffrage and Civil Rights

Ø Voter Behavior

Weeks 11 & 12

Chapter 7: The Electoral Process

Ø The Nominating Process

Ø Elections

Ø Money and Elections

Weeks 12 & 13

Chapter 10: Congress

Ø The National Legislature

Ø The House of Representative

Ø The Senate

Ø The Members of Congress

Week 14 & 15

Review and Final Exam

Final Exam

January 17-19, 2017

Homework:

Homework will be assigned on a regular basis. These assignments will reinforce lessons previously taught, as well as help students prepare for ensuing ones. Homework constitutes part of the student’s final grade. Assignments not completed by the due date will result in a zero grade.

Projects:

PowerPoint presentation: Political Cartoons. Due Date: Jan, 12-14, 2016

Assessment:

Students’ learning will be assessed on an ongoing basis, and grades assigned according to students’ performance on:

Tests
Quizzes

Homework assignments

Classwork
Research papers/projects

All tests will be announced. Quizzes may be announced or unannounced.

Grading:

Below is a percentage breakdown of your final grade:

Homework 10%

Tests 30%

Quizzes 20%

Class Work 15%

Projects/research papers 25%

Grading System:

The following grading system will be used for this course:

Letter	Percentage	Honor Points
A	93-100	4.00
A-	89-92	3.66
B+	86-88	3.33
B	83-85	3.00
B-	79-92	2.66
C+	76-78	2.33
C	73-75	2.00
C-	69-72	1.66
D+	66-68	1.33
D	63-65	1.00
F	62 or less	0.00