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Ms. Parisi, Government

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Week 6 2/17-2/20

Hi people! This week we will conclude our Topic 2 Consumer Skills unit with our Topic 2 assessment: a campaign on ID theft. 
 
This week's assignments
-2.0 Launch and ID Theft Awareness Campaign
 
Objectives:
2.0 Launch and ID Theft Awareness Campaign
  • Launch a Public Awareness Campaign to help students at school learn about different types of ID theft and ways they can protect their information
  • Conduct research and create communication tools that they will use during the campaign
Due:
-Topic 2 assignments (2.1-2.4) due 2/20
-2.0 Launch an ID Theft Awareness Campaign

Week 14 12/1-12/5

Hi people! This week we will work on the Topic 5 Project- Landmark Decisions: The Power of the Judicial Branch.
 
This week's assignments: 
-Topic 5 Project- Landmark Decisions: The Power of the Judicial Branch.
 
Objectives:
  • Students will analyze one historic U.S. Supreme Court landmark case by examining its background, constitutional question, majority decision, and historical impact, and explain how the case shaped American law or society.
  • Students will analyze one case ruled on by Justice Gabriel by explaining the case background, the legal question, Justice Gabriel’s reasoning, and evaluating the impact of the decision on Colorado law or society.
  • Students will research a recent U.S. Supreme Court case (2005–2025) and create a visual presentation (poster, Canva design, or slide deck) that explains the case, the Court’s decision, and its impact on American society.
Due:
-Topic 5 Project- Landmark Decisions: The Power of the Judicial Branch due 12/16

Week 13 11/17-11/21

Hi people! This week we will begin our final topic, Topic 5 The Judicial Branch.
 
This week's assignments:
-Topic 5 The Judicial Branch
-The Fourth Amendment Activity
T-opic 5 Project
 
Objectives: 

  • Evaluate the role of the judicial system in protecting life, liberty, and property for all persons in the United States.

  • Understand the structure of the American judicial system, the process of judicial appointments and key court decisions, in both Colorado and the United States, that affect the system of checks and balances and interactions of the local, state, tribal, and federal systems.

Due:
 -1topic 5 assignments due 12/5
-Topic 5 Project due 12/16

Week 11 11/3-11/7

Hi people! This week we will begin Topic 4 The Legislative Branch. 
 
This week's assignments:
-Topic 4.1 The Legislative Branch
-Topic 4 Project
 
Objectives:
  • List the responsibilities of lawmakers.
  • Describe the day of a member of Congress at work.
  • Explore the jobs of representatives and senators.
  • Identify the requirements, salaries, and benefits for being a representative or senator
  • List and describe the powers given to Congress.
  • Identify limits on the powers given to Congress.
  • Describe how committee chairmen are chosen and explain their role in the legislative process.
  • Explain how standing committees functions.
  • Describe the responsibilities and duties of the House Rules Committees.
  • Describe the role of Select Committees.
  • Compare the functions of Joint and Conference Committees.
Due:
-Topic 4.1 due 11/14
-Topic 4 Project due 11/14
 
Past due but will still be accepted:
-Topic 3.1 due 10/24
-Topic 3.2 due 11/7

Week 10 10/27-10/31

Hi people. Since we did not have class last week due to the CU Boulder field trip. So, this week we will wrap up Topic 3 The Executive Branch.
 
This week's assignments: 
-3.2 The Executive Branch
 
Objectives: 
  • Identify the requirements, salary, and benefits for being the president.
  • Explore the roles of the president.
  • Identify the nature of the powers granted to the President in Article II of the Constitution.
  • List and define the powers of the President.
  • Explain the roles and responsibilities of executive departments and the president’s cabinet.
  • Describe how executive departments and agencies enforce governmental policies.
  • Examine regulatory agencies and their social, economic, and political impact on the country.
 
Due:
-Topic 3.2 The Executive Branch due 10/31
 
Past due but will still accept:
-Topic 3.1 The Executive Branch Presidential Analysis due 10/24

Week 9 10/20-10/24

Hi people, welcome back! This week, we will be covering the Executive Branch. 
 
This week's assignments: 
-3.2 The Executive Branch
 
Objectives: 
  • Identify the requirements, salary, and benefits for being the president.
  • Explore the roles of the president.
  • Identify the nature of the powers granted to the President in Article II of the Constitution.
  • List and define the powers of the President.
  • Explain the roles and responsibilities of executive departments and the president’s cabinet.
  • Describe how executive departments and agencies enforce governmental policies.
  • Examine regulatory agencies and their social, economic, and political impact on the country.
 
Due:
-Topic 3.2 The Executive Branch due 10/31
 
Past due but will still accept:
-Topic 3.1 The Executive Branch Presidential Analysis due 10/24

Week 8 9/29-10/2

Hi people! This week we do not have school on 10/3, so we do not have class this week. Here is the homework I gave to you on 9/26 to complete for 10/24.
 
Assignment:
-Topic 3: The Executive Branch Introduction
 
Objectives:

Topic 3.1 The Executive Branch Introduction

  • Identify the requirements, salary, and benefits for being the president.
  • Explore the roles of the president.
  • Identify the nature of the powers granted to the President in Article II of the Constitution.
  • List and define the powers of the President.
 
Due:
Topic 3: The Executive Branch Introduction due 10/24 
 
Past due (but will still be accepted):
-Topic 2 The Constitution in Action project
-Please come to Academic Lab (on Monday or Tuesday) to complete presentation portion of Topic 2

Week 7 9/22-9/26

Hi people! We will be wrapping up Topic 2 this week. 
 
This week's assignments:
-The Constitution in Action: Topic 2 Project
 
Objectives:
The Constitution in Action: Topic 2 Project
  • Analyze how the Constitution applies to modern-day issues.
  • Understand how different groups interpret amendments differently.
  • Strengthen your research, critical thinking, and presentation skills.
  • Make connections between history, government, and your daily life.
 
Due Dates:
-Topic 2.2 The Enduring Constitution due 9/26
-The Constitution in Action: Topic 2 Project due 9/26

Week 6 9/15-9/19

Hi people! We will not have class this Friday, 9/19 due to the half day and Homecoming! 
 
This week's assignments:
-Topic 2.2 The Enduring Constitution
-The Constitution in Action: Topic 2 Project
 
Objectives:
The Constitution in Action: Topic 2 Project
  • Analyze how the Constitution applies to modern-day issues.
  • Understand how different groups interpret amendments differently.
  • Strengthen your research, critical thinking, and presentation skills.
  • Make connections between history, government, and your daily life.
 
Due Dates:
-Topic 2.2 The Enduring Constitution due 9/26
-The Constitution in Action: Topic 2 Project due 9/26

Week 5 9/8-9/12

Hi people! This week we will continue Topic 2: The Enduring Constitution. 
 
This week's assignments:
-Topic 2.2 The Enduring Constitution
-Topic 2 assessment
 
Objectives:
Topic 2.2 The Enduring Constitution
  • Understand the reasons leaders called for the Constitutional Convention.
  • Summarize the rival plans of government proposed at the convention.
  • Describe the compromises made in order to reach an agreement on the Constitution.  
  • Summarize the arguments for and against ratification of the Constitution.
  • Describe how the Constitution was ratified.
  • Understand the principals of the Constitution.
  • Explain the US Constitution’s longevity and why it endures.

Due:

-Topic 2 assignments due 9/1

-Topic 2 assessment due 9/19

Week 4 9/2-9/5

Hi People!

This week we will begin Topic 2: The Enduring Constitution.

 

This week’s assignments:

-Topic 2.1 Origins of American Democracy

-Topic 2.2 The Pre-Revolutionary Period

-Topic 2.3 The Articles of Confederation

 

Objectives:

Topic 2.1 Origins of American Democracy

  • Identify the origins of the core values in American political thought, including ideas regarding representational government.
  • Trace the history of Democracy from Ancient Greece to the founding of the United States.
  • Analyze Enlightenment thinker’s influences on the founding fathers.

Topic 2.2 The Pre-Revolutionary Period

  • Identify the origins of the core values in American political thought, including ideas regarding representational government
  • Explore how English traditions influenced the development of colonial governments.
  • Explain how the ideas of the Enlightenment shaped the colonist’s worldview.
  • Describe how the Great Awakening affected colonial society.

Topic 2.3 The Articles of Confederation

  • Describe the steps taken during and after the American Revolution to create a government
  • Identify the main features of the Articles of Confederation
  • Describe the crises resulting from key features of the Articles of Confederation 
 

Due:

-Topic 2 assignments due 9/19

-Homework: read slides before our next class

Week 3 8/25-8/29

Hi people! This week we will conclude Topic 1: American Government and Civic Engagement.
 
This week's assignments: 
-Topic 1 assessment
 
Objectives:

  • Historical Civic Engagement

    • Identify and analyze a historical example of how ordinary citizens used social capital to organize around a cause and successfully influence law or policy.

    • Evaluate the strategies and impact of this example to understand the relationship between community action and government response.

  • School Community Building

    • Investigate and describe current examples of community or connection within our school (e.g., clubs, events, traditions, shared spaces).

    • Design a realistic, inclusive plan (e.g., a new club, event, initiative) to increase a sense of community among students.

    • Explain how their plan addresses a specific need or gap in the school community.

  • Social Capital and Civic Engagement

    • Explain how their proposed initiative builds social capital—trust, relationships, and networks—that help individuals and groups take action together.

    • Connect their school-based plan to broader concepts of civic engagement, showing how community-building can empower students to participate more actively in civic life (e.g., voting, advocacy, leadership).

Due: 
-Topic 1 assessment due 9/5

Week 2 8/18-8/22

Hi People!

 

This week we will begin Topic 1: American Government and Civic Engagement

 

Objectives: 

Topic 1.1 What is Government?

Explain what government is and what it does.

Identify the type of government in the United States and compare it to other forms of government

 

Topic 1.2 Who Governs? Elitism, Pluralism, and Trade Offs

Describe the pluralism-elitism debate.

Explain the tradeoffs perspective on government.

 

This week's assignments:

  1. Topic 1.1 What is Government?
  2. Topic 1.2 Who Governs? Elitism, Pluralism, and Trade Offs

 

Due:

-Topic 1 assignments due 8/29

 

Week 1 8/11-8/15

Hi people! This week we will begin our Government class. 
 
This week's assignments:
-Signed Syllabus
-My Government Activity
 
Objectives: 
  • Students will identify and describe the key members and roles within the executive, legislative, and judicial branches at the local, state, and federal levels by completing a graphic organizer, demonstrating an understanding of how government functions across different levels.
Due:
-Signed Syllabus due 8/15
-My Government Activity due 8/8