Summer Government Assignments

Borderline grade appeal.  Deadline is Monday, June 25 at 8:00 am.

 

Course Evaluation:

 

Download Supreme Court powers slides and read article on supreme court and same sex marriage (http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/26/politics/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-ruling/)

 

 

 

 

Submit assignment to [email protected] by 8 am.
On the subject line, please write, "Period, Last Name, First Name, Assignment Title"
This assignment title is "Supreme Court Justices".

Visit the web site (http://www.ontheissues.org/court/court.htm) . In addition, there is an attached article that might help you.

For each judge, identify them as either liberal or conservative and give a reason of justification of your assessment.

Samuel Alito

Stephen Breyer

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Elena Kagan

Anthony Kennedy

John Roberts

Sonia Sotomayor

Clarence Thomas

 

Neil Gorsuch (not listed on site, but you can google him)

 

Video on the confirmation process from Mr. Paccone:

http://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-do-us-supreme-court-justices-get-appointed-peter-paccone

 

Also read article on the most recent Supreme Court nominee

 

http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/31/politics/donald-trump-supreme-court-nominee/ 

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/28/us/politics/post-filibuster-obama-faces-new-anger-over-judicial-choices.html)

 

Good article on Justice Kennedy:

https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/17/politics/anthony-kennedy-might-stay/index.html

You will have time to prepare your presentations in class. We will present them on Thursday or Friday depending on time. 

Download the Kahoot app and enter the code: 0330045

You may wish to watch the four youtube videos by MyCitizenU on bureaucracy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSLF6c7QrEg&list=PL07510DF0D2AA627E). Also read this web site on the executive order by President Obama on immigration reform. (http://www.uscis.gov/immigrationaction)  Y

Another way to view immigration reform from Saturday Night Live

 

Another example of executive orders by President Trump:

 

 

 

A video making fun of his executive order on SNL:

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/trump-peoples-court/3468894?snl=1 

Submit assignment to [email protected] by 8 am. 

On the subject line, please write, "Period, Last Name, First Name, Assignment Title"
This assignment title is "Iron Triangle".

 

 

Visit the following website: https://www.einvestigator.com/federal-regulatory-agencies/ and pick one of the independent regulatory agencies. Answer the following questions:

1. What agency did you pick?

2. What does this agency do?

3. What Congressional committees do they work with? Explain how they work with these committees. (you may need to visit the house web site (http://www.house.gov/committees/) / senate web site (http://www.senate.gov/committees/committees_home.htm)for a list of committees)

 4. What industries does this agency work with? Explain how they work with these industries.

Fun quiz on the supreme court

 

Download slides on bureaucracy. Read article on net neutrality (https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/27/democrats-fcc-reverse-net-neutrality-426641), the Pendleton Act (http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=48), and Trump's Cabinet members making questionable purchases (https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/09/politics/cabinet-secretaries-ethical-behavior/index.html).   Also download chart on bureaucratic organizations. By Friday, complete chart on bureaucratic organizations.

Download slides on President. Read articles on Vice President (http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/05/30/how_to_pick_a_veep_eight_historical_criteria_114311.html)
.

Download slides on President's advisers.  Also read the article on the chief of staff 

 

 and the article on the president's press secretary 

 

 

SNL skits making fun of former press secretary Sean Spicer:

 

 

 

Download the kahoots app and enter the following code: 0601798

Look at website (http://bensguide.gpo.gov/how-laws-are-made) which summarizes how laws are made. Also video on how bills become laws (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyeJ55o3El0). You may wish to download the slides as well.  

Download slides on Congressional leadership. Also download article on Jeffords (http://articles.latimes.com/2001/may/24/news/mn-2050).

 

Members of Congress voting records:

Read article on Senate filibuster (http://articles.latimes.com/2003/nov/12/nation/na-senate12). Also download quiz on the difference between the House and the Senate. Video on filibustering:

Submit assignment to [email protected] by 8 am.
On the subject line, please write, "Period, Last Name, First Name, Assignment Title"
This assignment title is "Congressional Committees."

Visit one of the websites listed below and answer the following questions:

 

a. Pick a Senate or House standing committee.
b. Who is the chairperson?
c. What is the membership breakdown? (Democrats v. Republicans)
d. Click on one of the articles on the website and summarize it.
e. Find a bill that the committee is discussing and summarize it.
f.  Visit the following link and find the bill mentioned in e.

https://www.govtrack.us/, click on browse, click bills and resolution, 

 

 

Download review sheet on Institutions of the National Government. Also, a couple of review videos on the Executive (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPBi_rNhh30) and legislative branches (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-YKvx3vH7c).

Download presentation on gerrymandering.  A humorous video on gerrymandering (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mky11UJb9AY).

Article on the worse gerrymandered areas:

• http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/05/15/americas-most-gerrymandered-congressional-districts/

 

Submit assignment to [email protected] by 8 am.
On the subject line, please write, "Period, Last Name, First Name, Assignment Title"
This assignment title is "Interest groups."

This assignment requires you to research an interest group that influences our government. You are asked to find out the following information on the group:

1. What is the name of the organization?
2. What purpose are they trying to serve?
3. What techniques do they use to accomplish their goals?
4. What impact have they had on politics?
5. What ideas do they have that you agree or disagree with? Explain your reasoning?
6. What internet source did you use to get this information?

A good interactive site to show you how to donate legally (http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/guide-to-political-donations).  

Download slides on financing elections.  Article on superpacs:

https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2010/0202/Supreme-Court-s-campaign-finance-ruling-just the-facts

Video on superpacs:

Download slides on fundraising for presidential candidates.  Public presidential funds article:

http://articles.latimes.com/2007/jan/22/nation/na-publicfinance22

 

Download the kahoots app and enter the game code:0765917

 

Read both articles in regards to the 2000 election and the electoral college system (http://articles.latimes.com/2000/nov/09/news/mn-49505) & (http://articles.latimes.com/2000/oct/26/news/mn-42334). Also, read article on proposal to change system (http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jan/26/nation/la-na-republicans-elections-20130127). And a final article on another proposal (http://www.latimes.com/local/politics/la-me-cap-elections-20150122-column.html)

Download slides on interest groups. Also read articles on Drug Kingpin (http://articles.latimes.com/2001/feb/11/news/mn-24045) and the power of the NRA (http://articles.latimes.com/2003/feb/09/opinion/op-price9) .  Also video on interest groups (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDeBuhIQdYk).

Each group will email me the answers to the following three questions.  Only one email per group.  

Download the Kahoots app and enter the password. 

 

0503051

Submit assignment to [email protected] by 8 am.
On the subject line, please write, "Period, Last Name, First Name, Assignment Title" 
This assignment title is "Conservative v Liberal quiz." 

1. What was your identification? Do you agree with the identification? Why or why not? 

 

 

 

Download review sheet on Political Parties, Interest groups, and Media. Read article on Nader Pins Democrats Woes on Gore (http://articles.latimes.com/2000/nov/09/news/mn-49504).  Video on political parties (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXJcmFeIZBY)

You may wish to download power point on electoral colleges. You may also read the articles on primaries (http://www.kcet.org/news/ballotbrief/election-law/californias-new-top-two-open-primaries-explained.html) and (http://articles.latimes.com/2007/jan/20/local/me-primary20). The article on superdelegates may also help. (http://people.howstuffworks.com/superdelegate.htm).  Video on elections. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcd67HgIYzU).  Another video on electoral colleges. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUS9mM8Xbbw&list=SPqs5ohhass_QZtSkX06DmWOaEaadwmw_D)

You may wish to read the article on the Iowa caucus system (http://people.howstuffworks.com/iowa-caucus.htm). You may also look at the primary calendar (http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/us/elections/primary-calendar-and-results.html).  Additional video on superdelegates:

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUL5TgyUrC0). An additional video on political conventions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfAcyBzyek4. Iowa caucus video:

http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-prez-iowa-caucus-how-it-works-20160201-premiumvideo.html  A final video which recaps the whole nomination process (primary election)

Test retake procedure. 

 

An article on millennials

 

 

Visit the 2016 president exit poll: 

 

and 2012 presidential exit poll:

and 2004 http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/US/P/00/epolls.0.html. 

A link to some good litmus tests issues.

 Also read article on Conservatives view on poverty.  

In class assignment, I will divide you into groups.  Each group will submit one of these form. 

 

Separation of power / Checks and Balances handout.