Term 2 assignments
Congress.gov legislation exploration
- Go to Congress.gov
- Use the search function to find an interesting piece of legislation sponsored by:
- Sen. Mike Lee, Sen. Mitt Romney, Rep. Rob Bishop, Reb. Ben McAdams, Rep. Christ Stewart, and Rep. John Curtis
- Write down the legislation name & number + a 1-2 sentence summary of the legislation
3rd party quickwrite
Voting for a 3rd party candidate is (almost always) a useless exercise. Even so, what reasons might you have to vote for a third party candidate? What reasons might you have for NOT voting for a third party candidate? Is a vote for a 3rd party candidate really a vote for Hillary or Trump because it essentially erases your vote? If it is, is it still worth it? What do you think about 3rd party voting?
Voting for a 3rd party candidate is (almost always) a useless exercise. Even so, what reasons might you have to vote for a third party candidate? What reasons might you have for NOT voting for a third party candidate? Is a vote for a 3rd party candidate really a vote for Hillary or Trump because it essentially erases your vote? If it is, is it still worth it? What do you think about 3rd party voting?
Gerrymandering
After doing some quick research using Google and other sources, write a brief paragraph explaining what Gerrymandering is and why it is considered controversial in America. Then, complete 5 rounds of gerrymandering using THIS LINK so you can see what it looks like in real life
After doing some quick research using Google and other sources, write a brief paragraph explaining what Gerrymandering is and why it is considered controversial in America. Then, complete 5 rounds of gerrymandering using THIS LINK so you can see what it looks like in real life
Supreme Court quiz
Take your best guess on each of these questions! It's okay if you don't get them right, but common sense and a recognition of the names of famous Supreme Court cases will help you along the way (i.e., who runs school districts?, what do company names look like?, etc.)
1. You wake up in the morning, get dressed, and download some music to your phone from the Internet before heading off to school. Which 2005 Supreme Court case affects the way you download music to your phone?
A. Korematsu v. United States
B. MGM v. Grokster
C. New York v. Miln
D. United States v. Fordice
2. When you get to school, you head to homeroom. During the morning announcements, you stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance. Two of your classmates choose not to say the Pledge, but they don't get into any trouble. Which Supreme Court case influenced whether or not you have to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America in your classroom?
A. Roe v. Wade
B. Clinton v. Goldsmith
C. Gottschalk v. Benson
D. West Virginia v. Barnette
3. At lunch, you eat lunch in the school cafeteria with your friend Kevin, who is African American, and your friend Lee, who is Asian American. Which Supreme Court case ruled that students of different races and ethnic backgrounds should attend the same public schools in the United States?
A. United States v. Nixon
B. Mapp v. Ohio
C. Brown v. Board of Education
D. Montana v. Egelhoff
4. After lunch, your principal announces that due to some suspicious activity in your school, the faculty will be searching students' backpacks. Some students object that the search is illegal, but that isn't true. Which Supreme Court case determined that your property can be searched by your school's principal?
A. New Jersey v. T.L.O.
B. Brown v. Payton
C. Bibb v. Navajo Freight Lines
D. Marbury v. Madison
5. Several of your classmates are wearing colored armbands, to protest a government policy with which they do not agree. You expect that your teachers will ask them to remove the armbands, but they do not. What Supreme Court case allows students to make a symbolic protest in public schools?
A. Engel v. Vitale
B. Bush v. Gore
C. Tinker v. Des Moines School District
D. Schenk v. United States
6. After class, you work on your school newspaper. The teacher supervising the newspaper informs you that a story that you've written is inappropriate, and will not run in the paper. Which Supreme Court case influences the content that students can include in their school newspapers?
A. Miranda v. Arizona
B. Luther v. Borden
C. Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier
D. Hernandez v. Texas
7. After working on the newspaper, you head to basketball practice. Your coach informs your team that you will have to take random drug tests during the season. Which Supreme Court case established that students participating in athletics or other extracurricular activities may be required to submit to random drug testing?
A. New Jersey v. New York
B. Vernonia v. Acton and Board of Education v. Earls
C. NAACP v. Alabama
D. Gibbons v. Ogden
8. After school you go to the library to do some homework. You are upset to find that some of the Web sites you want to look at on the library's computer are blocked, and you can't get to them. Which Supreme Court case requires libraries to install Internet filters on the computers used by their visitors?
A. Plessy v. Ferguson
B. Porter v. Nussle
C. Calderon v. Thompson
D. United States v. American Library Association
9. In the evening, you go to your job at a store in the mall. You'd like to sign up for an additional weekend shift, but your manager tells you that you can't, because you've already hit your maximum number of hours for the week. Which Supreme Court case helped determine how many hours a teen under the age of 18 can work?
A. United States v. Darby Lumber Co.
B. FCC v. League of Women Voters of California
C. Solem v. Helm
D. Dred Scott vs. Sandford
10. On the way home from work, you stop to pick up your little brother from his Boy Scout meeting. You hear that one of your brother's troop leaders was fired because he was gay. Which Supreme Court case allows the Boys Scouts program to fire the troop leader?
A. McCulloch v. Maryland
B. Hibbs v. Winn
C. James v. Illinois
D. Boy Scouts of America v. Dale
Take your best guess on each of these questions! It's okay if you don't get them right, but common sense and a recognition of the names of famous Supreme Court cases will help you along the way (i.e., who runs school districts?, what do company names look like?, etc.)
1. You wake up in the morning, get dressed, and download some music to your phone from the Internet before heading off to school. Which 2005 Supreme Court case affects the way you download music to your phone?
A. Korematsu v. United States
B. MGM v. Grokster
C. New York v. Miln
D. United States v. Fordice
2. When you get to school, you head to homeroom. During the morning announcements, you stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance. Two of your classmates choose not to say the Pledge, but they don't get into any trouble. Which Supreme Court case influenced whether or not you have to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America in your classroom?
A. Roe v. Wade
B. Clinton v. Goldsmith
C. Gottschalk v. Benson
D. West Virginia v. Barnette
3. At lunch, you eat lunch in the school cafeteria with your friend Kevin, who is African American, and your friend Lee, who is Asian American. Which Supreme Court case ruled that students of different races and ethnic backgrounds should attend the same public schools in the United States?
A. United States v. Nixon
B. Mapp v. Ohio
C. Brown v. Board of Education
D. Montana v. Egelhoff
4. After lunch, your principal announces that due to some suspicious activity in your school, the faculty will be searching students' backpacks. Some students object that the search is illegal, but that isn't true. Which Supreme Court case determined that your property can be searched by your school's principal?
A. New Jersey v. T.L.O.
B. Brown v. Payton
C. Bibb v. Navajo Freight Lines
D. Marbury v. Madison
5. Several of your classmates are wearing colored armbands, to protest a government policy with which they do not agree. You expect that your teachers will ask them to remove the armbands, but they do not. What Supreme Court case allows students to make a symbolic protest in public schools?
A. Engel v. Vitale
B. Bush v. Gore
C. Tinker v. Des Moines School District
D. Schenk v. United States
6. After class, you work on your school newspaper. The teacher supervising the newspaper informs you that a story that you've written is inappropriate, and will not run in the paper. Which Supreme Court case influences the content that students can include in their school newspapers?
A. Miranda v. Arizona
B. Luther v. Borden
C. Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier
D. Hernandez v. Texas
7. After working on the newspaper, you head to basketball practice. Your coach informs your team that you will have to take random drug tests during the season. Which Supreme Court case established that students participating in athletics or other extracurricular activities may be required to submit to random drug testing?
A. New Jersey v. New York
B. Vernonia v. Acton and Board of Education v. Earls
C. NAACP v. Alabama
D. Gibbons v. Ogden
8. After school you go to the library to do some homework. You are upset to find that some of the Web sites you want to look at on the library's computer are blocked, and you can't get to them. Which Supreme Court case requires libraries to install Internet filters on the computers used by their visitors?
A. Plessy v. Ferguson
B. Porter v. Nussle
C. Calderon v. Thompson
D. United States v. American Library Association
9. In the evening, you go to your job at a store in the mall. You'd like to sign up for an additional weekend shift, but your manager tells you that you can't, because you've already hit your maximum number of hours for the week. Which Supreme Court case helped determine how many hours a teen under the age of 18 can work?
A. United States v. Darby Lumber Co.
B. FCC v. League of Women Voters of California
C. Solem v. Helm
D. Dred Scott vs. Sandford
10. On the way home from work, you stop to pick up your little brother from his Boy Scout meeting. You hear that one of your brother's troop leaders was fired because he was gay. Which Supreme Court case allows the Boys Scouts program to fire the troop leader?
A. McCulloch v. Maryland
B. Hibbs v. Winn
C. James v. Illinois
D. Boy Scouts of America v. Dale
Court overview (quiz)
Do your best — you don't HAVE to know all of these quite yet...
1. What jobs/positions do people hold in a courtroom?
2. What is the lawyer for the person on trial called?
3. What is the lawyer called who PUTS someone on trial?
4. Who runs a courtroom?
5. What’s the first thing the defense and prosecution do to open a trial?
6. When someone testifies, what are they called?
7. What’s the 1st thing the (_____) from Question 6 does when they take the stand?
8. What is the final decision in a court trial called? (It starts with a V)
9. If you don’t like your final verdict, what can you do?
10. How many Supreme Court justices are there?
11. How many Supreme Courts are there?
12. What order do courts go in? (State, federal, district, Supreme, etc.)
Do your best — you don't HAVE to know all of these quite yet...
1. What jobs/positions do people hold in a courtroom?
2. What is the lawyer for the person on trial called?
3. What is the lawyer called who PUTS someone on trial?
4. Who runs a courtroom?
5. What’s the first thing the defense and prosecution do to open a trial?
6. When someone testifies, what are they called?
7. What’s the 1st thing the (_____) from Question 6 does when they take the stand?
8. What is the final decision in a court trial called? (It starts with a V)
9. If you don’t like your final verdict, what can you do?
10. How many Supreme Court justices are there?
11. How many Supreme Courts are there?
12. What order do courts go in? (State, federal, district, Supreme, etc.)
Presidential simulation
Put yourself in the role of the president for the following situation, then answer the questions accordingly:
• Terrorists riding the subway during rush hour unleashed a deadly sarin nerve gas
• 5,000 people are dead so far, and 5,000 more are injured
• 5 terrorists have been arrested; none are American citizens and all are suspected of having ties to al Qaeda, which is based primarily in Yemen and Saudi Arabia
• The presidents of Yemen and Saudi Arabia say their countries were NOT involved in the attacks
What you KNOW:
1. America has been attacked
2. Thousands are dead or injured
3. Who probably carried out the attacks and where they probably are
4. That the leaders of both countries in #3 deny involvement
1. How/will should America respond at home and internationally?
- What do you do RIGHT NOW?
- What do you do in a day?
- What do you do in a week?
- What do you do in a month?
2. What are your military, political and, diplomatic policy options?
3. What are the likely consequences of each of these policy options?
4. How can you resolve this crisis without making matters worse BUT making America and our allies more secure?
Put yourself in the role of the president for the following situation, then answer the questions accordingly:
• Terrorists riding the subway during rush hour unleashed a deadly sarin nerve gas
• 5,000 people are dead so far, and 5,000 more are injured
• 5 terrorists have been arrested; none are American citizens and all are suspected of having ties to al Qaeda, which is based primarily in Yemen and Saudi Arabia
• The presidents of Yemen and Saudi Arabia say their countries were NOT involved in the attacks
What you KNOW:
1. America has been attacked
2. Thousands are dead or injured
3. Who probably carried out the attacks and where they probably are
4. That the leaders of both countries in #3 deny involvement
1. How/will should America respond at home and internationally?
- What do you do RIGHT NOW?
- What do you do in a day?
- What do you do in a week?
- What do you do in a month?
2. What are your military, political and, diplomatic policy options?
3. What are the likely consequences of each of these policy options?
4. How can you resolve this crisis without making matters worse BUT making America and our allies more secure?
Bill writing practice
If you were gone on this day, go to CSPAN.com, find a markup session, watch it for 20 minutes, and then write a few paragraphs on what you thought, heard, and felt watching your representatives in Washington, D.C., at work.
If you were gone on this day, go to CSPAN.com, find a markup session, watch it for 20 minutes, and then write a few paragraphs on what you thought, heard, and felt watching your representatives in Washington, D.C., at work.
Term 1 Assignments
Have you ever?
Come and see me — this one is easy
Come and see me — this one is easy
Island simulation
Put yourself in the following scenario and answer the questions below:
You and your classmates are on a plane along with 20 Itty-Bitty Bruins (preschool children). The plane crashes on a deserted island. Your goal is to keep everyone alive (YOU CAN'T KILL ANYONE).
* You only have the items in your school backpack *
Put yourself in the following scenario and answer the questions below:
You and your classmates are on a plane along with 20 Itty-Bitty Bruins (preschool children). The plane crashes on a deserted island. Your goal is to keep everyone alive (YOU CAN'T KILL ANYONE).
* You only have the items in your school backpack *
- How will you keep everyone alive?
- Is your goal rescue or survival, and how will you reach that goal?
- How will you run your new society?
- Who will rule your new society?
- How will you make decisions?
- What will you do to people who refuse to cooperate with your new society?
English documents
Find the rights of Englishmen listed in your document — annotate the document by underlining each right and then explaining each one in your own words. Use the margins, the back of the paper, or another paper.
Find the rights of Englishmen listed in your document — annotate the document by underlining each right and then explaining each one in your own words. Use the margins, the back of the paper, or another paper.
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Syllabus
![](http://www.weebly.com/weebly/images/file_icons/rtf.png)
Government syllabus | |
File Size: | 135 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Revolution quickwrite
Write a brief paragraph explaining why you would/would not support overthrowing the government during the American Revolution. What would push you over the edge? What personal right would you absolutely not allow to be stepped upon?
Write a brief paragraph explaining why you would/would not support overthrowing the government during the American Revolution. What would push you over the edge? What personal right would you absolutely not allow to be stepped upon?
Delegate profile sheet
If you have not been assigned a delegate, choose one of the men who attended the Constitutional Convention and research them. Fill out the worksheet linked below:
Handy-dandy Constitutional Convention links:
If you have not been assigned a delegate, choose one of the men who attended the Constitutional Convention and research them. Fill out the worksheet linked below:
Handy-dandy Constitutional Convention links:
- 1790 census
- Convention delegate biographies
- Even more delegate biographies
- Helpful (if slightly sketchy) info on the 13 colonies
![](http://www.weebly.com/weebly/images/file_icons/rtf.png)
Delegate worksheet | |
File Size: | 79 kb |
File Type: | docx |
1st Amendment quickwrite
Is it OK to punch Neo-Nazis in the face?
– Why would it be OK?
– Why would it not be OK?
– How does it benefit society?
– How does it harm society?
– Should all ideologies we disagree with be eligible for punches in the face?
Is it OK to punch Neo-Nazis in the face?
– Why would it be OK?
– Why would it not be OK?
– How does it benefit society?
– How does it harm society?
– Should all ideologies we disagree with be eligible for punches in the face?
8th Amendment quickwrite
Watch this short video clip and then, in half a page, answer the following questions:
Watch this short video clip and then, in half a page, answer the following questions:
- How would you define “cruel and unusual punishment”? What does that mean?
- Is it “cruel and unusual” to sentence someone to a Super-Max facility?
- Are there better alternatives the United States should possibly consider? (Check out Norway)
9th Amendment assignment
9th Amendment text: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
- List 10 things you have done today
- Identify which of those things are protected under the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th Amendment
- Identify how the 9th Amendment protects everything else on your list — explain in a sentence or two
9th Amendment text: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
14th Amendment quickwrite
What do you think about choosing segregation? Do you think it is a good idea or a bad idea? Why might it be helpful for society or individuals? Why might it harm society or individuals? What are the risks involved in choosing to segregate or not? What are some downsides or upsides? Give me half a page of writing
What do you think about choosing segregation? Do you think it is a good idea or a bad idea? Why might it be helpful for society or individuals? Why might it harm society or individuals? What are the risks involved in choosing to segregate or not? What are some downsides or upsides? Give me half a page of writing
Voting test
Come and see me — this is easy
Come and see me — this is easy
19th Amendment quickwrite
During the lengthy fight for women's right to vote, women took three different approaches: the moral approach, the state-by-state approach, and the radical action approach. Under the moral approach, women argued using the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the words of the Founding Fathers. If all men are created equal, all women should be treated equally. Under the state-by-state approach, the women worked with the political organizations of each state, getting women the right to vote in a slow but steady manner, state by state. Under the radical action approach, women marched and picketed, and some were even jailed and went on hunger strikes to garner headlines and support for their causes (See: Alice Paul). If you were fighting for women’s suffrage (or any other cause you believed in passionately), which method would you favor and why? What are that method’s strengths? What are that method’s weaknesses? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the other methods and why would you not choose them?
During the lengthy fight for women's right to vote, women took three different approaches: the moral approach, the state-by-state approach, and the radical action approach. Under the moral approach, women argued using the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the words of the Founding Fathers. If all men are created equal, all women should be treated equally. Under the state-by-state approach, the women worked with the political organizations of each state, getting women the right to vote in a slow but steady manner, state by state. Under the radical action approach, women marched and picketed, and some were even jailed and went on hunger strikes to garner headlines and support for their causes (See: Alice Paul). If you were fighting for women’s suffrage (or any other cause you believed in passionately), which method would you favor and why? What are that method’s strengths? What are that method’s weaknesses? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the other methods and why would you not choose them?
Poll tax quickwrite
The 24th Amendment makes it illegal to charge money to vote, or impede the voting process in any way (literacy tests, voter intimidation, blocking the polling places, etc.) Some states across the U.S. require voters to show a government-issued ID in order to vote. Is this a form of a poll tax? Watch the videos below to hear both sides of the argument, and then respond in at least 13 lines — is a voter ID requirement a different form of a poll tax?
The 24th Amendment makes it illegal to charge money to vote, or impede the voting process in any way (literacy tests, voter intimidation, blocking the polling places, etc.) Some states across the U.S. require voters to show a government-issued ID in order to vote. Is this a form of a poll tax? Watch the videos below to hear both sides of the argument, and then respond in at least 13 lines — is a voter ID requirement a different form of a poll tax?