American Government
Class
Charles Parnell
About
DESCRIPTION OF COURSE: Students will study foundations of the United States political system, the development of that governmental system, and analyze the purpose and political and economic phiiosophy of the systems. All students will participate in decision making and nurture respect for self and others, support the rules and laws of one's school, community, state, and nation. They will also be subjected to democratic beliefs and personal responsibility and apply appropriate social studies skills. Units to be covered include the following:
Citizenship--Duties, responsibilities, qualifications and rights
Historical overview of documents leading to creation of present form of government
In depth study of major documents with analysis and applications
Declaration of Independence
Constitution of 1787
Bill of rights and other amendments
Major Supreme Court Cases that interpreted individual and personal rights
www.oyez.org
Article 1---Creation of the legislative branch
Congress, its make-up, qualifications, extraneous information and personnel
Historical legislation and present implications
Historical overview of districting, membership, and officers
www.house.gov/leadership/
www.senate.gov
Article 2--Creation of the Executive branch
The Presidency
Past and present members
Support staff and Cabinet
Duties, powers, and custom usage
Electoral college and its present day history and decisions
www.whitehouse.gov/administration/cabinet
Article 3-- The Supreme Court and its makeup
Political Parties
Their history and impact upon American government
In depth comparison of political ideaologies and their beliefs
Voter participation and trends along political ideaologies
State government overview with emphasis on present day Texas
GRADING PROCEDURES:
Daily work/Assignm 50%
Tests/Major projects-- 30%
Quizzes/In class work 10%
Class participation/activities 10%
NOTE: All Major projects count as a test grade