While people love to criticize political parties, the reality is that the modern political system could not exist without them. This chapter will explore why the party system may be the most important component of any true democracy. What are political parties? Why do they form, and why has the United States typically had only two? Why have political parties become so highly structured? Finally, why does it seem that parties today are more polarized than they have been in the past?

Zoom ID: 723 9635 0716

*as always, please see Teams for the password.

Weekly Objectives

-Topic 7 Political Parties-

Topic 7.1 What Are Parties and How Did They Form?

Objectives:

• Describe political parties and what they do.
• Differentiate political parties from interest groups.
• Explain how U.S. political parties formed.

Topic 7.2 The Two-Party System

Objectives:

• Describe the effects of winner-take-all elections.
• Compare plurality and proportional representation.
• Describe the institutional, legal, and social forces that limit the number of parties.
• Discuss the concepts of party alignment and realignment.

Assignment Due 5/17

1. Topic 7.1 What Are Parties and How Did They Form?
2. Topic 7.2 The Two-Party System

Late Assignments that Close 5/17

1. Topic 6.1 The Colorado Legislative Branch
2. 6.2 Who Represents Me?

What would our country be without a judicial system or a way of enforcing our laws? The courts see to it that our nation’s laws are justly applied. They also interpret the laws that protect the rights the Constitution guarantees. As you read this chapter, think about how the federal court system developed.

Zoom ID: 723 9635 0716

*as always, please see Teams for the password.

Weekly Objectives

-Topic 5 The Judicial Branch-

Topic 5.4 The Supreme Court at Work

Objectives: Understand the process the Supreme Court uses to make an unbiased decision. Determine what may influences the justices’ decisions. Discuss the impact of Plessy and how the Supreme Court can evolve as society changes.

5.5 You Be the Judge

Objectives: Identify and describe the steps the Supreme Court takes in deciding a case. Explain how constitutional provisions, laws, precedents, and attorneys’ briefs inform a Supreme Court decision. Apply the Supreme Court decision-making process to a set of facts in a simulated Supreme Court conference.

Assignment Due 5/3

1. Topic 5.4 The Supreme Court at Work
2. 5.5 You Be the Judge

Late Assignments that Close 5/3

1. Topic 5.2 How Federal Courts Are Organized
2. Topic 5.3 The Supreme Court

What would our country be without a judicial system or a way of enforcing our laws? The courts see to it that our nation’s laws are justly applied. They also interpret the laws that protect the rights the Constitution guarantees. As you read this chapter, think about how the federal court system developed.

Zoom ID: 723 9635 0716

*as always, please see Teams for the password.

Weekly Objectives

-Topic 5 The Judicial Branch-

Topic 5.2 How Federal Courts Are Organized

Objectives: Describe the three types of federal courts: district courts, courts of appeals, and the Supreme Court. Understand what makes the U.S. court system effective. Explain how the federal court system is organized.

Topic 5.3 The Supreme Court

Objectives: Describe the composition of the Supreme Court. Compare and contrast the qualifications a good Justice must have. Explain how the justices of the Supreme Court are selected.

Assignment Due 4/26

1. Topic 5.2 How Federal Courts Are Organized
2. Topic 5.3 The Supreme Court

Late Assignments that Close 4/26

1. Executive vs. Legislative Powers Packet Parts 1-8

The presidency is the most visible position in the U.S. government. During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates accepted the need to empower a relatively strong and vigorous chief executive. But they also wanted this chief executive to be bound by checks from the other branches of the federal government as well as by the Constitution itself. Over time, the power of the presidency has grown in response to circumstances and challenges. However, to this day, a president must still work with the other branches to be most effective. Unilateral actions, in which the president acts alone on important and consequential matters, such as President Barack Obama’s strategy on the Iran nuclear deal, are bound to be controversial and suggest potentially serious problems within the federal government. Effective presidents, especially in peacetime, are those who work with the other branches through persuasion and compromise to achieve policy objectives.

What are the powers, opportunities, and limitations of the presidency? How does the chief executive lead in our contemporary political system? What guides his or her actions, including unilateral actions? If it is most effective to work with others to get things done, how does the president do so? What can get in the way of this goal? This chapter answers these and other questions about the nation’s most visible leader.

Zoom ID: 723 9635 0716

*as always, please see Teams for the password.

Weekly Objectives

-Topic 4 The Executive Branch-

Executive vs. Legislative Powers Project

This lesson focuses on the war-making powers of the Presidency, with a specific focus on the Vietnam War. Students will first review the President’s Commander in Chief powers outlined in the Constitution. With that Constitutional authority as a foundation for their investigation, students will then consider the war-making power exercised by American presidents during the Vietnam War. Although there was never a Congressional declaration of war, American military advisors were in Vietnam since the 1950s. American intervention in Vietnam would not end until the fall of Saigon in 1975. In addition to the Constitution, students will review both the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and the War Powers Act to develop their own answer to the following focus question: How did the President’s war-making powers evolve over the course of the Vietnam War?

Assignment Due 4/12

1. Executive vs. Legislative Powers Packet Parts 4-5
2. Executive vs. Legislative Powers Packet Parts 6-8

Late Assignments that Close 4/12

1. Executive vs. Legislative Powers Packet Parts 1-3

The presidency is the most visible position in the U.S. government. During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates accepted the need to empower a relatively strong and vigorous chief executive. But they also wanted this chief executive to be bound by checks from the other branches of the federal government as well as by the Constitution itself. Over time, the power of the presidency has grown in response to circumstances and challenges. However, to this day, a president must still work with the other branches to be most effective. Unilateral actions, in which the president acts alone on important and consequential matters, such as President Barack Obama’s strategy on the Iran nuclear deal, are bound to be controversial and suggest potentially serious problems within the federal government. Effective presidents, especially in peacetime, are those who work with the other branches through persuasion and compromise to achieve policy objectives.

What are the powers, opportunities, and limitations of the presidency? How does the chief executive lead in our contemporary political system? What guides his or her actions, including unilateral actions? If it is most effective to work with others to get things done, how does the president do so? What can get in the way of this goal? This chapter answers these and other questions about the nation’s most visible leader.

Zoom ID: 723 9635 0716

*as always, please see Teams for the password.

Weekly Objectives

-Topic 4 The Executive Branch-

Executive vs. Legislative Powers Project

This lesson focuses on the war-making powers of the Presidency, with a specific focus on the Vietnam War. Students will first review the President’s Commander in Chief powers outlined in the Constitution. With that Constitutional authority as a foundation for their investigation, students will then consider the war-making power exercised by American presidents during the Vietnam War. Although there was never a Congressional declaration of war, American military advisors were in Vietnam since the 1950s. American intervention in Vietnam would not end until the fall of Saigon in 1975. In addition to the Constitution, students will review both the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and the War Powers Act to develop their own answer to the following focus question: How did the President’s war-making powers evolve over the course of the Vietnam War?

Assignment Due 4/5

1. Executive vs. Legislative Powers Packet - Parts 1-3

Late Assignments that Close 4/5

1. Executive Command Game
2. Win the White House Game

The presidency is the most visible position in the U.S. government. During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates accepted the need to empower a relatively strong and vigorous chief executive. But they also wanted this chief executive to be bound by checks from the other branches of the federal government as well as by the Constitution itself. Over time, the power of the presidency has grown in response to circumstances and challenges. However, to this day, a president must still work with the other branches to be most effective. Unilateral actions, in which the president acts alone on important and consequential matters, such as President Barack Obama’s strategy on the Iran nuclear deal, are bound to be controversial and suggest potentially serious problems within the federal government. Effective presidents, especially in peacetime, are those who work with the other branches through persuasion and compromise to achieve policy objectives.

What are the powers, opportunities, and limitations of the presidency? How does the chief executive lead in our contemporary political system? What guides his or her actions, including unilateral actions? If it is most effective to work with others to get things done, how does the president do so? What can get in the way of this goal? This chapter answers these and other questions about the nation’s most visible leader.

Zoom ID: 723 9635 0716

*as always, please see Teams for the password.

Weekly Objectives

-Topic 4 The Executive Branch-

Executive Command Game Objectives: Propose an agenda to Congress. Sign bills into law. Delegate new laws to the appropriate federal agency. Handle international diplomacy. Command the military during times of war.

Win the White House Game Objectives: Building arguments to support timely issues that are relevant to them. Strategically raise funds to support their campaign. Keeping campaign momentum through targeted media campaigns and personal appearances. Polling local voters to see what issues resonate.

Assignment Due 3/15

1. Executive Command Game
2. Win the White House Game

Late Assignments that Close 3/15

1. Topic 4.1 Powers and Roles of the President
2. Topic 4.2 The Cabinet and Executive Agencies

The presidency is the most visible position in the U.S. government. During the Constitutional Convention of 1787, delegates accepted the need to empower a relatively strong and vigorous chief executive. But they also wanted this chief executive to be bound by checks from the other branches of the federal government as well as by the Constitution itself. Over time, the power of the presidency has grown in response to circumstances and challenges. However, to this day, a president must still work with the other branches to be most effective. Unilateral actions, in which the president acts alone on important and consequential matters, such as President Barack Obama’s strategy on the Iran nuclear deal, are bound to be controversial and suggest potentially serious problems within the federal government. Effective presidents, especially in peacetime, are those who work with the other branches through persuasion and compromise to achieve policy objectives.

What are the powers, opportunities, and limitations of the presidency? How does the chief executive lead in our contemporary political system? What guides his or her actions, including unilateral actions? If it is most effective to work with others to get things done, how does the president do so? What can get in the way of this goal? This chapter answers these and other questions about the nation’s most visible leader.

Zoom ID: 723 9635 0716

*as always, please see Teams for the password.

Weekly Objectives

-Topic 4 The Executive Branch-

Topic 4.1 Powers and Roles of the President

Objectives: List the powers of the President. Explore the roles of the president. Identify the requirements, salary, and benefits for being the president. Explain the line of presidential succession.

Topic 4.2 The Cabinet and Executive Agencies

Objectives: List the department heads and their roles. Understand the importance of federal departments.  Explain how policy is implemented through the federal bureaucracy.  

Assignment Due 3/15

1. Topic 4.1 Powers and Roles of the President
2. Topic 4.2 The Cabinet and Executive Agencies

Late Assignments that Close 3/15

1. Topic 3.2 The Powers of Congress
2. Topic 3.3 Legislative Committees

When U.S. citizens think of governmental power, they most likely think of the presidency. The framers of the Constitution, however, clearly intended that Congress would be the cornerstone of the new republic. After years of tyranny under a king, they had little interest in creating another system with an overly powerful single individual at the top. Instead, while recognizing the need for centralization in terms of a stronger national government with an elected executive wielding its own authority, those at the Constitutional Convention wanted a strong representative assembly at the national level that would use careful consideration, deliberate action, and constituent representation to carefully draft legislation to meet the needs of the new republic. Thus, Article I of the Constitution grants several key powers to Congress, which include overseeing the budget and all financial matters, introducing legislation, confirming or rejecting judicial and executive nominations, and even declaring war.

Zoom ID: 723 9635 0716

*as always, please see Teams for the password.

Weekly Objectives

-Topic 3 The Legislative Branch-

Topic 3.2 The Powers of Congress

Objectives: List and describe the powers given to Congress. Identify limits on the powers given to Congress.

Topic 3.3 Legislative Committees

Objectives: 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.

Assignment Due 3/8

1. Topic 3.2 The Powers of Congress
2. Topic 3.3 Legislative Committees

Late Assignments that Close 3/8

1. Topic 3.1 The Members of Congress

When U.S. citizens think of governmental power, they most likely think of the presidency. The framers of the Constitution, however, clearly intended that Congress would be the cornerstone of the new republic. After years of tyranny under a king, they had little interest in creating another system with an overly powerful single individual at the top. Instead, while recognizing the need for centralization in terms of a stronger national government with an elected executive wielding its own authority, those at the Constitutional Convention wanted a strong representative assembly at the national level that would use careful consideration, deliberate action, and constituent representation to carefully draft legislation to meet the needs of the new republic. Thus, Article I of the Constitution grants several key powers to Congress, which include overseeing the budget and all financial matters, introducing legislation, confirming or rejecting judicial and executive nominations, and even declaring war.

Zoom ID: 723 9635 0716

*as always, please see Teams for the password.

Weekly Objectives

-Topic 3 The Legislative Branch-

Topic 3.1 The Members of Congress 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.

Topic 3.2 The Powers of Congress Objectives: List and describe the powers given to Congress. Identify limits on the powers given to Congress.

Assignment Due 3/1

1. Topic 3.1 The Members of Congress
2. Topic 3.2 The Powers of Congress

Late Assignments that Close 3/1

1. 2.7 Bill of Rights Analysis

Hey Folks! This week we will continue Topic 2 by discussing the compromises of the Constitution. We will look at the concept of apportionment and dig a bit deeper into conversations that the framers had when creating the Constitution.

Here’s what you need to know:

Zoom ID: 723 9635 0716

*as always, please see Teams for the password.

Weekly Objectives

- Topic 2 The Constitution and Its Origins -

• Identify the conflicts present and the compromises reached in drafting the Constitution
• Summarize the core features of the structure of U.S. government under the Constitution

Assignment Due 2/15

1. 2.5 Major Clash? Compromise Part 2
2. 2.6 Major Clash? Compromise Part 3

Late Assignments that Close 2/15

1. 2.3 Articles of Confederation Strengths and Weaknesses Assignment
2. 2.4 Major Clash? Compromise Part 1

Hey Folks! This week we will continue Topic 2 by discussing the Articles of Confederation and how we went from that form of government to the Constitution that we use to this day.  

Here’s what you need to know:

Zoom ID: 723 9635 0716

*as always, please see Teams for the password.

Weekly Objectives

- Topic 2 The Constitution and Its Origins -

• Identify the main features of the Articles of Confederation
• Describe the crises resulting from key features of the Articles of Confederation
• Identify the conflicts present and the compromises reached in drafting the Constitution
• Summarize the core features of the structure of U.S. government under the Constitution

Assignment Due 2/8

1. Topic 2.2 Articles of Confederation Assignment
2. Topic 2.3 Creating the Constitution Assignment

Late Assignments that Close 2/8

1. Enlightenment Thinkers Group Project
2. Declaration of Independence Analysis
3. Figures of the Enlightenment Research Assignment

Hey Folks! This week we will begin Topic 2 be discussing the roots of American democracy. We will talk about Enlightenment thinkers that have influenced the founding fathers and set the stage for the democracy we enjoy.

Here’s what you need to know:

Classes: Monday/Wednesday, 9:45 – 10:30 AM

Zoom ID: 723 9635 0716

*as always, please see Teams for the password.

Weekly Objectives

- Topic 2 The Constitution and Its Origins -

Topic 2.1 The Pre-Revolutionary Period and the Roots of the American Political Tradition

Identify the origins of the core values in American political thought, including ideas regarding representational government.

Compare and contrast Enlightenment thinkers that influenced the founding fathers and the documents that define our rights.

Assignment Due 1/25

1. Enlightenment Thinkers Group Project

Late Assignments that Close 1/25

1. Topic 1.1 What is Government?
   2. Topic 1.2 Who Governs? Elitism, Pluralism, and Tradeoffs
2. Topic 1.3 Engagement in a Democracy
3. 1. Virtues/Reasonability’s of a Good Citizen Essay