Last Class

Teacher's note: Perhaps US Government and Politics = Snakes?

1. Debrief the AP Exam
2. Watch West Wing Episode
3. Debrief the Class
4. Take Class Picture
5. Close with a Prayer

AP Week - Class 4

#CitizenU2014 FOUNDATIONS reVIEW placemats. All U can eat @ http://t.co/Xnn3PhX20w Key principle separation of powers pic.twitter.com/8NU3QnKQSb
— Citizen U (@politicoolprep) May 4, 2014

#CitizenU2014 Public Opinion reVIEW placemat. All U you can eat @ http://t.co/Xnn3PhX20w Key principle LABELS pic.twitter.com/fMrJd0fpnH
— Citizen U (@politicoolprep) May 4, 2014

MOTHER'S MILK OF POLITICS Interest groups use cash but they also have a cache of protections like the 1st Amendment. pic.twitter.com/0C80jzM5NB
— Citizen U (@politicoolprep) May 1, 2014

#CitizenU2014 POLITICAL PARTIES reVIEW placemat. All U can eat @ http://t.co/Xnn3PhX20w Key principle WIN ELECTIONS pic.twitter.com/QH99u3G2NI
— Citizen U (@politicoolprep) May 4, 2014

#CitizenU2014 CAMPAIGNS reVIEW placemat. All U can eat @ http://t.co/Xnn3PhX20w Key principle BRANDING pic.twitter.com/CT80JQjgB3
— Citizen U (@politicoolprep) May 4, 2014

#CitizenU2014 CONGRESS reVIEW placemat. All U can eat @ http://t.co/Xnn3PhX20w Key principle INCUMBENCY/casework pic.twitter.com/y1PSlkBAQ3
— Citizen U (@politicoolprep) May 4, 2014

#CitizenU2014 PRESIDENT reVIEW placemat. All U can eat http://t.co/Xnn3PhX20w Key principle INSTITUTIONALIZED power pic.twitter.com/hU2h6L9OWW
— Citizen U (@politicoolprep) May 4, 2014

#CitizenU2014 COURTS reVIEW placemat. All U can eat @ http://t.co/Xnn3PhX20w Key principle JUD REVIEW Pol Thicket pic.twitter.com/5RrgdggUmw
— Citizen U (@politicoolprep) May 4, 2014

APGov rev site I made w/packets, prac test, @politicoolprep vids & objectives in one spot http://t.co/upSwhO7RO5 #hsgovchat
— Liz Ramos (@historytechie) April 28, 2014

Here is the online link to this morning's Cram for the Exam with @aconneen http://t.co/QGpaBCNFBI #hsgovchat #sschat
— Mr. Anderson (@MrAndersonGov) May 10, 2014

My #apgov students have decided ap gov teachers are the nerdiest of ap teachers after seeing me, #hsgovchat and #cspancramfortheexam. #truth
— Tara Becker-Utess (@t_becker10) May 10, 2014

AP Week - Class 3

We will look at a packet of past FRQs.

AP Week - Class 2

1. Case Study: E-Cigarettes 
• What AP Gov concepts are present in this case study?
• Law
• Federalism
• Public Opinion
• Media
• Interest Groups
• Federal Bureaucracy
• House Subcommittee & Senate Subcommittee
2. Review: "Cram for the Exam"
• What can we learn from this C-SPAN special?
• 2009

AP Week - Class 1

1. Review: Final Exam
• What do we need to review further after looking at your final exam?
• Walk-through
2. Current Events: White House Press Correspondents Dinner
• Do you understand the references?
• History
• 2014 (Start at 35:00) 

Unit IV and V Review & Test

1. Q & A: Unit IV
• Enduring Understanding
• Ch 12 - Legislative Branch
• Ch 13 - Executive Branch
• Ch 14 - Federal Bureaucracy
• Ch 15 - Judicial Branch
2. Q & A: Unit V
• Enduring Understanding
• Civil Liberties Court Cases
• Civil Rights Court Cases
3. Mastery Test: Unit IV & V
• Catlink (opened by teacher)

Unit III Test

1. Mastery Test: Unit III
• Catlink (opened by teacher)

Unit III Review

1. Q & A: Unit III
• Enduring Understanding
• Ch 08 - Political Parties
• Ch 09 - Campaigns & Elections
• Ch 10 - Interest Groups
• Ch 11 - Media

Unit II Review & Test

1. Q & A: Unit II
• Enduring Understanding
• Ch 06 - Beliefs & Behaviors
• Ch 07 - Public Opinion & Polling
2. Mastery Test: Unit II
• Catlink (opened by teacher)
3. Analyze: Comedy
• What AP Gov concepts do you recognize in these clips?
• Barack Obama
• Jeb Bush
• Matt Bevin

Unit I Review & Test

1. Q & A: Unit I
• Enduring Understanding
• Ch 03 - Convention & Ratification
• Ch 04 - Constitution
• Ch 05 - Federalism
2. Mastery Test: Unit I
• Catlink (opened by teacher)

Fiscal Policy & Monetary Policy

1. Who oversees fiscal policy?

2. Who oversees monetary policy?

1. Summarize: Fiscal Policy
• What did we learn from watching Shutdown?
• Who proposes the federal budget?
• Who passes the federal budget?
• Who signs/vetoes the federal budget?
• What are the sources of revenue (types of taxes)?  What are the sources of spending (entitlements, defense, etc)?
• President's 2014 Budget (Washington Post)
• How would you fix the budget?
• Budget Puzzle (NY Times)
2. Summarize: Monetary Policy
• Who regulates monetary policy?  How?
3. Review: AP Exam
• What is our schedule?
• When is the final?
• When is our AP Exam?

West Wing (Kairos)

1. Analyze: Accuracy of the West Wing
• What is politically accurate about these two episodes?
• Homework for Monday
2. Mastery: Unit Tests
• How can you demonstrate mastery for Unit IV (if scored below B-)?
• Unit IV Vocabulary

Unit V Review

1. Review: Unit V 
• What questions do we have?
2. Test: Unit V
• How well do we understand civil liberties and civil rights?

Civil Rights - Class 3

3. How has suffrage expanded for different demographic groups in American history?

1. Summarize: Voting Rights
• What are the key amendments we should know?
• 15th Amendment (1870)
• 17th Amendment (1913)
• 19th Amendment (1920)
• 23th Amendment (1961)
• 24th Amendment (1964)
• 26th Amendment (1971)
2. 3-2-1 Blog Post: Same Sex Marriage
• What did we learn about strategy behind the civil rights movement for same-sex marriage?
• The Marriage Plot (Atlantic)
• What did the Supreme Court rule?
• Timeline (Oyez)
• Hollingsworth v. Perry (Oyez)
• U.S. v. Windsor (Oyez)
• Impact (New Yorker)

Civil Rights - Class 2

1. How does the Supreme Court have the constitutional power 

to make civil rights policy?

2. How do Congress and the President have the constitutional power 

to make civil rights policy?

1. Recap: Selective Incorporation
• How have civil liberties (the Bill of Rights) been selectively incorporated?
• "... nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without DUE PROCESS of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
• Gitlow v. New York
• How have civil rights been granted by the Supreme Court?
• "... nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the EQUAL PROTECTION of the laws."
• Brown v. Board of Education
2. 3-2-1 Blog Post: Segregation
• What is the difference between De Jure Segregation and De Facto Segregation?
• What did you learn from segregation today?
• 'Why don't we have any white kids?' (NY Times)
3. Create: Oral Arguments
• How has the Supreme Court ruled on affirmative action?
• UC Regents v. Bakke
• Gratz v. Bollinger
• Grutter v. Bollinger
• Fisher v. University of Texas

Civil Rights - Class 1

1. How does the Supreme Court have the constitutional power 

to make civil rights policy?

2. How do Congress and the President have the constitutional power 

to make civil rights policy?

1. Summarize: Policymaking Institutions & Civil Rights 
• How did the Supreme Court make policy with Brown v. Board of Education (1954)?
• 14th Amendment
• How did Congress and the President make policy with the Civil Rights Act (1964)?
• Article I, Section 8
2. Case Study: Ex Parte Endo
• What was James Purcell's background? Mitsuye Endo? How did they connect?
• What was the question, path, and outcome of the Endo case?
• Summary
• Mr. Purcell's Brief
• Article I, Section 9
• What else can we learn from Mr. Purcell's life as a civil rights lawyer?

Civil Liberties - Class 3

4. How has the Supreme Court interpreted the 1st Amendment?

1. Create: Oral Arguments
• How has the Supreme Court ruled on the establishment clause?
• Greece v. Galloway
• How has the Supreme Court ruled on the free exercise clause?
• Employment Division v. Smith
2. Summarize: 1st Amendment
• What rights do students have? 
• Tinker v. Des Moines
• Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier
• Morse v. Frederick
• What rights do protestors have?
• Schenck v. U.S.
• Texas v. Johnson
• Clark v. CCNV
• What is the "establishment" clause?
• Engel v. Vitale
• Zelman v. Simmons-Harris
• What is the "free exercise" clause?
• Reynolds v. U.S.
• Employment Division v. Smith
• What rights do news organizations have?
• NY Times v. Sullivan
• NY Times v. United States
• Hustler v. Falwell

Civil Liberties - Class 2

3. How has the Supreme Court interpreted the "right to privacy"?

1. Create: Oral Arguments
• How did the Supreme Court rule on the first "right to privacy" case?
• Griswold v. Connecticut 
2. Analyze: "Right to Privacy"
• How has the "right to privacy" evolved on the issue of abortion?
• Roe v. Wade 
• Planned Parenthood v. Casey 
• Stenberg v. Carhart & Gonzales v. Carhart 
3. Summarize: Current state of "Pro-Life" v. "Pro-Choice" Movements
• What did we learn from the HW?
• Why Abortion Rights Activists Have Been Losing the Battle Ever Since Roe v. Wade (TIME) 

Civil Liberties - Class 1

1. How does the Supreme Court use the due process clause of the 14th amendment to make policy?

2. How has the Supreme Court interpreted the rights of the accused? 

1. Analyze: Selective Incorporation
• How has the Supreme Court used the "due process" clause of the 14th Amendment to expand its power?
• Barron v. Baltimore (1833)
• Gitlow v. New York (1922)
2. Summarize: Rights of the Accused
• How has the Supreme Court interpreted the rights of the accused?
• Mapp v. Ohio (1960)
• Gideon v. Wainwright (1962)
• One Man Changes the Constitution (Annenberg) 
• How Americans Lost the Right to Counsel (The Atlantic)
• Miranda v. Arizona (1965)
3. Analyze: Documentary
• What can you learn about the current role of public defenders in the criminal justice system?
• Gideon's Army (HBO) NOTE: Start at 55:00

Unit IV Review

1. Return: Mid-Unit IV Test
2. Review: Unit IV
• Enduring Understanding
• Policy Making Institutions
• Essential Questions
• Congress
• President
• Federal Bureaucracy
• Federal Judiciary
3. Practice: Unit IV Vocabulary
• How well do you know the vocabulary?
• Unit IV Vocabulary Practice

Ch 14 - Federal Bureaucracy - Class 3

3. How is the federal bureaucracy checked by other institutions?

1. Analyze: Rules 
• What did you learn from He Who Makes the Rules?
• Why do bureaucracies have administrative discretion? 
• How do bureaucracies engage in rule-making?
• Case study: Implementation of Affordable Care Act & Update
2. Analyze: Checks 
• What are the formal checks and the informal checks on the federal bureaucracy?
• Case Study: SEC
• Case study: House Financial Services Committee
3. Create: Oral Arguments 
• DHHS v. Florida
• Oral Arguments
• NewHour
• Colbert Report
• Opinion
• NewsHour
• Colbert Report

Ch 14 - Federal Bureaucracy - Class 2

1. What are the different types of federal bureaucracies?

2. Why and how does the federal bureaucracy create rules?

1. Summarize: Types (EQ #1)
• What distinguishes a cabinet department, an independent regulatory commission, an independent agency, and a government corporation?
• Cabinet Department: Department of Defense and Department of State (not iPad-accessible)
• Independent Regulatory Commission: Federal Reserve (not iPad-accessible)
• Independent Agency: Environmental Protection Agency or National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Government Corporation: Federal Deposit Insurance Commission
2. Analyze: Rules (EQ #2)
• What did you learn from He Who Makes the Rules?
• Why do bureaucracies have administrative discretion? 
• How do bureaucracies engage in rule-making?
• Case study: Implementation of Affordable Care Act & Update
3. Analyze: Checks (EQ #3)
• What are the formal checks and the informal checks on the federal bureaucracy?
• Case Study: SEC
• Case study: House Financial Services Committee

Ch 14 - Federal Bureaucracy

Note: We will finish federal courts and then start the federal bureaucracy in the second class of the week.

Ch 15: Judicial Branch

1. What is the organizational structure of federal courts and state courts?

2. How has the U.S. Supreme Court used selective incorporation to expand its power?

3. How has the nomination and confirmation process for federal judges evolved over time?

(Compare to this picture of 2010 Supreme Court)

1. Quiz: Ch 14 - Federal Bureaucracy
2. Summarize: Federal & State Courts 
• What are the structures of the federal courts and the state courts?
• Website: Federal Courts & Map
• Website: CA State Courts
• How does a case reach the Supreme Court?
• Diagram: Paths to SCOTUS
• Example #1: Boy Scouts v. Dale
• Example #2: Morse v. Frederick
• How did the Affordable Care Act reach the Supreme Court?
• Writ of Certiori Petition (example)
• Petitioner/Respondent Briefs (example) or Amicus Curiae Briefs (Example)
• Oral Arguments (picture & example)
• Conference (picture)
• Majority/Concurring/Dissenting Opinions by Justices (and their Clerks) (example)
3. Analyze: 14th Amendment and Selective Incorporation
• How does the text of the 14th Amendment allow the Supreme Court to get involved in state activities (such as public K-12 education in Brown v. Board of Education)?
• 14th Amendment
4. Analyze: Confirmation Politics 
• How is a federal judge (District, Circuit, or Supreme Court) nominated and confirmed?
• President weighs a variety of factors and nominates an individual from a short list prepared by White House staff (example)
• Senate Judiciary Committee holds hearings and forwards nomination to the Senate floor (example and example)
• Senate votes as a whole to confirm the nominee, unless blocked by filibuster (example) 
• Why has the confirmation process become so politicized?
• Clarence Thomas confirmation (60 Minutes) NOTE: Start at 18:25
• Is there a correlation between the party affiliation of the president and the voting habits of his appointees?
• Politicians in Robes? (NY Times)
• Justice Statistics (Washington Post)
• How Affirmative Action Divides Two Judges (60 Minutes)

Ch 15 - Judicial Branch - Class 1 & 2

Dear students,

I am on a WASC visit to another school Monday-Wednesday. Please welcome and support the proctor by staying on-task. In preparation for next week's look at the federal court system... Enjoy watching this excellent example of how a case reaches the Supreme Court... 

Thank you, 

Dr. Christensen

1. What is the organizational structure of federal courts and state courts?
1. 2. How has the U.S. Supreme Court used selective incorporation to expand its power?

1. Quiz: Ch 15 - Judicial Branch
2. Film: Brown v. Board of Education
• What can we learn from Simple Justice?
• Trace the path of the case as it reaches the Supreme Court
• Listen carefully to the legal debate over whether the Supreme Court should impose social change 
3. What is your homework for Thursday?
1. Paragraph: Summarize the path of how the case reached the Supreme Court... What lower courts did Thurgood Marshall and his colleagues have to go through first?
2. Paragraph: Summarize the legal debate about how social change should occur... What arguments does Marshall make?  What arguments do the opposing lawyers make?
3. Your post should meet the expectations for social media (Picture or video, hyperlinks for all quality sources of information, quality writing...)

Ch 13 - Executive Branch - Class 3

3. How has the president recently clashed with Congress on the issue of war-powers?

4. How has the president recently clashed with Congress on the issue of fiscal policy?

1. Case Study: War Powers 
• What does the constitution say about Congress and war?
• Article I, Section 8 & Declarations of War
• Article I, Section 7 & War Powers Act
• What does the constitution say about Presidency and war?
• Article II, Section 2
• What does the constitution say about the U.S. action in Libya? 
• Obama Refutes War Powers Challenge over Libya (NewsHour)
• What does the constitution say about possible U.S. action in Syria?
• Background on Syria (Washington Post)
• Initial reports with video/images of alleged chemical weapons use in Syria (NY Times)
• Debate within White House (Washington Post)
• Obama in the Situation Room (White House)
• Obama calls Boehner (White House)
• White House press conference announcing the decision (Politico)
• Resolution proposed by the administration to be voted on by Congress (White House)
• Bush administration officials react to Obama's decision (Politico)
• John Kerry Gives Syria a Week to Hand Over Chemical Weapons (Guardian)
• Syria Welcomed Russian Proposal to Destroy its Chemical Weapons (ABC)
• What does the constitution say about the use of drones?
• America's New Airforce (60 Minutes)
• Secret 'Kill List' Tests Obama's Principles (NY Times)
• Drones: Tough Talk, Little Scrutiny (Politico)
• Rand Paul 13-Hour Filibuster (Politico)
2. Case Study: Fiscal Policy
• Who creates the budget?
• Office of Management and Budget
• Who passes the budget?
• Article I, Section 7 (House/Senate Budget Committees)
• Who appropriates the spending?
• Article I, Section 9 (House/Senate Appropriations Committees)

Ch 13 - Executive Branch - Class 2

2. How have the formal and informal powers of the president evolved since the founding of the country?

Related: DREAM Executive Order
Related: Obama Interrupted

1. 3-2-1 Blog: Obama's Way
• What did we discover, connect, or question after reading/listening to Michael Lewis?
2. Analyze: Formal and Informal Powers of the President (EQ #2)
• What are the formal and informal powers of the president, and what are the formal and informal checks on the president? 
• Complete this handout

Ch 13 - Executive Branch - Class 1

1. What are the goals and activities of the executive branch in American politics?

2. What is the difference between the Executive Office of the President and the Cabinet (i.e. membership and purpose)?

1. Quiz: Chapter 13 - The Executive Branch
2. Summarize: Goals of Executive Branch
• What are the many roles of the modern presidency?
3. Activities of Executive Branch 
• What is the membership and the purpose of Executive Office of the President?
• Overview
• Map: West Wing
• A Day in the Life: The White House
• Case Study: Chief of Staff
• Case Study: Situation Room
• Case Study: Press Secretary
• Case Study: Advance Team Part I & Part II 
• Case Study: Marine Sentries
• Case Study: Air Force One
• What is the membership and purpose of the Cabinet and the rest of the federal bureaucracy?
• Overview
• Map: Washington, DC
• Case Study: Robert Reich, Secretary of Labor for President Clinton
• Case Study: Cabinet Meetings with President Obama

Ch 12 - Legislative Branch - Class 6

1. How does a bill become a law in theory, and how does a bill become a law in practice?
2. What are the key differences between the Senate and the House?
3. What are the various purposes of committees in Congress?
4. What are common criticisms of Congress?

1. Reflect: Senate Simulation
• What did we learn?
• Read blog posts
• What actually happened?
• Gun Control Bill Hits Brick Wall in the Senate
2. Summarize: How a Bill Becomes a Law
• What is the pathway?
• Diagram
• How often does a bill become law?
• Sunlight Foundation
• What factors influence the vote of a Senator or Representative?
• Constituent Feedback
• Trustee (Conscience) v. Delegate (Public Opinion)
• Campaign Contributions
• House Leaders & Senate Leaders
• Logrolling with Earmarks (aka Pork)
3. Summarize: Key Differences Between House and Senate
• What are the key differences between the two chambers?
• Chart
• How old must you be to run for Congress?
• House
• Senate
• Where must revenue (tax) bills start?
• Read Article I, Section 7
• What can a Representative do if a bill is stuck in committee?
• Discharge petition
• Are the filibuster and cloture in the Constitution?
• Read Article I, Section 5
• How do the filibuster and cloture affect the operation of the Senate?
• Example
• 60 Minutes 
• "Nuclear Option"
4. Summarize: Various Purposes of Committees 
• What are the responsibilities of committees?
• Investigate to Propose Legislation
• Mark-up Legislation
• Oversight
• Vetting Nominees
• What are the key committees?
• House of Representatives
• House Ways and Means Comm
• House Rules Comm
• House Budget Comm
• House Appropriations Comm 
• Senate
• Senate Budget Comm
• Senate Appropriations Comm
• Senate Judiciary Committee
• How does one become a committee chair?
• Majority Party
• Seniority on Committee
5. Summarize: Criticisms of Congress
• Why do Americans have such a low opinion of Congress?
• Criticisms of Congress
6. Satire: Legally Blonde 2
• What is surprisingly accurate about this film?

Ch 12 - Legislative Branch - Class 5 (Floor Debate)

1. Create: Floor Debate
• What is the procedure for floor debate?
• Script

Ch 12 - Legislative Branch - Class 4 (Party Caucus)

1. Debrief: State of the Union
• What was the goal?
• How did it compare to the Republican response? The Tea Party response?
2. Create: Party Caucus
• Where does each Senator stand on this issue?
• Seeking re-election or retiring? 
• Close election or safe seat? (Kay Hagan / Mary Landrieu / Mark Begich)
• Moderate or liberal/conservative?  
• State's cultural view on guns?
• What is the public opinion?
• Polling
• What is your party's strategy for the floor debate?
• Dems need two Republicans to sign a cloture motion to end debate and have a final vote

Ch 12 - Legislative Branch - Class 3 (Committee Hearing)

1. Create: Senate Judiciary Committee
• How does a committee hearing work?
• 2013 Hearing
• Today's Script
2. Looking Ahead: Homework
• What do you need to do for Tuesday's State of the Union?
• Live-tweet your analysis, not your reactions... Analyze the significance of every line... Make connections to what we have studied... Represent yourself well on Twitter... Be political scientists, not voters...
• Use #hsgovchat and your class hashtag in all tweets
• What do you need to do for Wednesday's Party Caucus?
• Party leaders must be prepared to run the meetings

Ch 12 - Legislative Branch - Class 2

1. Twitter: #hsgovchat
• How can you participate in #hsgovchat on Sunday at 5 pm?
• Special Guest: @westwingreport
• Value of Twitter
• Use @westwingreport, #hsgovchat, and #APGovA1/#APGovA2 in every tweet
2. Simulation: Prep for Next Week
• What are we doing?
• Public Safety and Second Amendment Bill Rights Protect Act
• Vote on Cloture
• What do you need to do for next week?
• Assignments
• Homework
• How does a committee hearing work?
• Senate Judiciary Committee (C-SPAN)

Ch 12 - Legislative Branch - Class 1

1. How does a become law in theory, and how does a bill become law in practice?

1. Reading Quiz: Ch 12 - Legislative Branch
• How well can you read to learn?
• Catlink Quiz
2. Summarize: How a Bill Becomes a Law
• How does a bill become a law in theory?
• Blank Chart for Noteability
• Just a Bill (School House Rock)
• Textbook Legislative Process - 2nd Part (Center on Congress)
• How does a bill become a law in practice?
• Dynamic Legislative Process - 4th Part (Center on Congress)
3. Apply: Affordable Care Act
• What does the ACA reveal about how a bill becomes a law?
• Viewer's Guide
• Update since Obama's Deal aired: 2010 Midterm Elections & 2011-2013 House
4. Analyze: Parody
• What is accurate?  What is not accurate?

Case Study: Affordable Care Act (Kairos) - Class 1 & 2

1. How does a become law in theory, and how does a bill become law in practice?

1. Case Study: Affordable Care Act
• What does the ACA reveal about how a bill becomes a law?
• Take notes on this handout
• Complete E-Module: The Dynamic Legislative Process
• Watch Frontline: Obama's Deal

StudentCam - Documentary Film Festival

StudentCam - Finish Editing

1. StudentCam: Edit
• What do you need to do to finish creating a quality documentary?
• Rubric
2. StudentCam: Upload
• If you finish it today, what do you need to do?
• Log into Youtube with SI account
• Upload file
• State the purpose in the description (i.e. Submission for C-SPAN StudentCam competition)
• E-mail URL to teacher

Welcome Back

1. What were sources of consolation and desolation in AP Gov, SI, and life this past semester?

Teacher's note: Don't let this be you this semester!

1. Return: Final Exam
2. Discern: AP Gov, SI, and Life
3. Edit: StudentCam Documentary