Fall 2003 Government Calendar

Wed 8/20

Total Recall
Introduction
Course Outline
Information Sheet
What is the California Recall?

HW: Read "The California Recall Process" and answer 3 questions at end.

Thurs 8/21

BQ1
Go over homework
What are the two sides to the Recall?
Qualifications for being California Governor

What is the role of the Governor? How should we measure success?

HW: Read "Only in California" and answer 3 questions.

Fri 8/22

BQ2
Go over homework
Current Events (sign ups)
Liberal vs. Conservative

HW: Read "Six Who Seek the Top Job" and "In Recall, A Wild Card..."
Mon 8/25

BQ3
Current Event:
  Clover Lee
Discuss "In Recall, A Wild Card..."
Should an elected official follow his/her conscience or stick to the will of the people?
Read "How to Run a Recall Election"
Tues 8/26-Wed 8/27

Current Event:  Brendan Crockett
In class: Read and discuss "State of Decline"
Brainstorm ideas for essay
Distribute books
School House Rock

HW: Essay, typed, double-spaced, 2-pages minimum: Will the people of California be better off after October 7?

In your answer, predict what you believe will happen in the recall/election. Use specific information from your packet to thoroughly explain both sides of the recall attempt.

Thurs 8/28-Fri 8/29

Balancing a Budget
Collect Essays
Chris Holleran - announcements for seniors
Current Event:  Alex Selig
Overhead: Budget Planning Memo from Nancy Wright
Overhead: The Federal Budget - Where $ Comes From & Where it Goes: US Debt
Meet in category groups
Get in project groups

Labor Day Tues 9/2-Wed 9/3

Current Event:
 David Angelo; Barbara Sherfey
BQ4
Distribute cuts chart
Make individual cuts
Overhead: Suggested Budget Cuts from Nancy Wright
Distribute Liberal and Conservative Information Sheet; Liberals, Moderates and Conservatives - Points of View
Make group cuts

Thurs 9/4-Fri 9/5

Current Event:
  John Taheny, Oscar Edwards
Distribute Memo from Nancy Wright: The Project
Library: Make PowerPoints (3rd: lab 2nd half)

Mon 9/8

1st period: Library
3rd period: Lab

HW:
Dead Man Walking Permission Slips 



Tues 9/9-Wed 9/10

Current Event: Lukman
First half: work on projects

Better Budget Presentations

HW:
Dead Man Walking Permission Slips
Thurs 9/11-Fri 9/12

The Death Penalty

Current Event:
 Neil, Andre
Film: Dead Man Walking
 
Tues 9/16

Current Event: Jimmy,
Morgan
Finish Dead Man Walking
Take a Stand
What do we know about the death penalty?

HW: Read "To Kill or Not to Kill" by Monday

Thurs 9/18

Current Event: Chloe; Alex
Notes: History of the death penalty

Lab: State by State Comparison
(1st period - 1st half, 3rd period - 2nd half)

HW: Finish "To Kill or Not to Kill" by Monday

Staff Development Day
Mon 9/22

Current Event: Savannah Kilner
Discuss "To Kill or Not to Kill"
Notes: Stages in a Capital Case


Tues 9/23

Current Event:  Raynie; Blaine
Film: The Hurricane
Thurs 9/25

Constitution Overview

Current Event:  Haley; Ayyub
Finish film
Explain Democracy Presentations

HW: Read Wasserman 2-8 (up to "Political Science & Microsoft") and 15-18 (up to "The Framers"
   

Mon 9/29

Current Event:  Rosa; David
Discuss homework reading: Articles of Confederation, motives behind the Constitution
Notes: Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, Federalism, Judicial Review

HW: Read "Liberia: Child Soldiers Back on the Front Line" and answer questions

Tues 9/30-Wed 10/1

Current Event: Suzanne
Introduce Project
2nd half lab: Comparative Poster Project research


HW: Read "Prejudice & Punishment: Blacks Unfairly Targeted In 'War on Drugs' " and answer questions

Thurs 10/2-Fri 10/3

Current Event:  Brooke; John
Bill of Rights
2nd half lab: Comparative Poster Project research

HW: Finish Comparative Poster Project
    
Mon 10/6

Current Event: Adam
Library
Tues 10/7-Wed 10/8

Current Event:  Sarah; Natalie
Comparative Poster Presentations
Thurs 10/9-Fri 10/10

Current Event: Sam, Emma
Notes: Different Forms of Government   
Mon 10/13

Current Event: Nicole
Quiz: Constitutional Principles, Bill of Rights, Different forms of government
Tues 10/14-Wed 10/15

Current Event: Alexis
Detective Jackie Graff (MVPD)
Thurs 10/16-Fri 10/17

The Executive Branch

Current Event: Adrienne, Andrew
Distribute Presidency Packet

Group discussion: If you were voting in a presidential election, what issues, goals, or principles would be most important in deciding for whom you would vote? Aside from these issues, what personal qualities might you find in your ideal candidate?
Article II: Presidential powers

HW: Read "Democrats Split on Pushing..." and answer questions (at end of article)
Tues 10/21

Current Event:  Paul; Gus
Collect HW
Notes: Presidential Powers, Life in the White House
Introduce Election 2004 Project
2nd half: Library

HW: Read "What Makes Ralph (and Pat) Run" and answer questions (at end of article)
Thurs 10/23

Current Event:  Joaquin; Jake
Notes: Roles of the President
2nd half: library (1st)/lab (3rd)

HW: Read "Trashing the Environment" and write a reflection (see prompt at end of article)
Instructional Improvement Day
Mon 10/27

Current Event:  Alana; Carly
Lab
Tues 10/28-Wed 10/29

Current Event: Seth, Anne
Presentations (6). Take notes on the Positives and Negatives of each candidate
2004 Candidate Debate

Thurs 10/30-Fri 10/31

Current Event: Raynie (2), Oscar
Presentations (5)
Finish 2004 Candidate Debate
Write reflection on who you would support and why. Use specifics from the presentations as well as the taped debate.

Mon 11/3

Current Event:  Gardenia
Notes: Who Votes

HW: Study for Quiz on Tuesday
Tues 11/4-Wed 11/5

Current Event:  Christine
Quiz: The Executive Branch - Presidential Powers, Roles of the President, Who Votes
Film (40 min)
Thurs 11/6-Fri 11/7

Current Event: Alex, Sasha
Finish film (55 min)

 
Mon 11/10-Wed 11/12

Issue Study: Affirmative Action

Current Event:  Jimmy (2), Chloe
Distribute packet
What is the controversy? Read “Not Just Black and White” and discuss.
2nd half - Lab: History of Affirmative Action

HW: Read "What's at Stake" and complete question sheet
 

Thurs 11/13-Fri 11/14

Current Event:  Adrienne (2)
Check HW
Discuss “What’s at Stake” and the 2003 Supreme Court Decision
Alternatives: A matter of economics over race? Read “What Merit Really Means”
Library: Pros and Cons

Additional Resources:
Washington Post Links
UCSB Affirmative Action Links
University of Michigan Reacts to Supreme Court Decision

HW: Read and highlight "Next Step on Affirmative Action" and "What Merit Really Means" from packet.



Mon 11/17

Video

Tues 11/18-Wed 11/19
(3rd period Observation)

Current Event:  Alana (2), Gus (2)
Socratic Seminar (100 points!)
Admissions game


Thurs 11/20-Fri 11/21

Current Event:  Sarah
Guest Lecture: Bob Kustel (Harvey Milk / George Moscone)
Mon 11/24

Current Event:  Haley, Nick, Jessica, Gus
Educational Video: Dave
Tues 11/25-Wed 11/26

Current Event:  Vance
3rd - David: Internship Presentation
Educational Video: Dave 
Thanksgiving Holiday

Mon 12/1

Congress
Current Event: Nolan
Jigsaw: 8 Important Points about...
1- Who are the Legislators? (77-80)
2-Malapportionment, Reapportionment & Gerrymandering (80-81)

3-How are the House and Senate organized? (81-84)
4-How a bill becomes a law? (84-86)
5-The Committee System (86-90)
6-Floor Debate & the Veto (90-93)
7-Interest Groups & Lobbying (186-190)


Tues 12/2-Wed 12/3

1st: Library (first half)
3rd: Lab (first half)
Jigsaw: Group Presentations
Quiz (Open note): The Legislative Branch







Thurs 12/4-Fri 12/5

Final Project: Debates
Finish presentations, take quiz
Introduce debate topics and teams
2nd half: lab

HW: Each person must have three articles on your debate topic in class on Monday and bring in government book if you haven't already...

Mon 12/8

Check for three articles
Annotate articles, share info with group
Discuss debate format
In groups, decide on roles

What information do you still need?

Tues 12/9-Wed 12/10

Pass out role descriptions
First half: Lab
Second half: Work on flowchart

HW: Finish flowchart (one per person) and bring in government book

Thurs 12/11-Fri 12/12

First half: Lab (Work on individual roles)
Second half: check flowcharts

HW: Finish individual role and bring in government book

Mon 12/15

Come to class with your section prepared
3rd Period: Debate (1)

HW: Prepare for debates and bring in government book
Tues 12/16

Debates (1)

Wed 12/17-Thurs 12/18

Debates (3)