GJHS Course Syllabus

Course Name:  American Government

Instructor:  Ms. Boltz

 

Phone:  533-5601 ext. 5101

E-mail:  jboltz@gjsd.net

Course Overview: 

American Government focuses on the foundations of the American political process from the early history of our nation and the documents produced in that time, through the growth and transformation of the government we know today.  Students will be able to explain the fundamental principles and moral values of American democracy as expressed in the U.S. Constitution and other essential documents of American Government.  They will determine the scope and limits of civil rights and obligations as democratic citizens, the relationships among them, and how they are secured.  They will be asked to evaluate the fundamental values and principles of civil society, their interdependence, the meaning and importance of those values and principles for a free society.  Students will analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution, summarize landmark U.S. Supreme Court interpretations, and the amendments.  The course will encourage students to debate issues regarding national, state and local elective offices,  compare and contrast the powers and procedures of the national, state, and local governments and assess the influence of the media on American political life.  Students will distinguish the origins, characteristics, and development of different political systems across time, with emphasis on the quest for political democracy, its advances, and its obstacles.  Students will formulate questions about and defend their positions regarding tensions with our constitutional democracy and the importance of maintaining a balance between the majority rule and the rights of the individual.

 

Course Objectives:

  The following National Standards for Civics and Government present a detailed composite of what students in grades 9-12 should know and be able to do by the time they finish the American Government course.

 

• Identify and explain the major arguments advanced for the necessity of government
• Analyze the sources, purposes and functions of law
• Analyze the principles and ideals that shape government
• Analyze the basic documents shaping the government  of the United States
•  Assess the rights of the people as listed in the Constitution of the United States
• Interpret the role of the United States Flag in civil disobedience and in patriotic activities
• Analyze the competing positions held by the framers of the basic documents of the U.S. government  
• Explain the essential characteristics of limited and unlimited governments
• Analyze historical examples of the importance of the rule of law explaining the sources, purposes and functions of law
• Explain how law protects individual rights and the common good
• Analyze United States court decisions that have affected principles and ideals of government in civic life
• Interpret the impact of significant political speeches  and writings
• Analyze citizens’ rights and responsibilities in local, state, and national government
• Interpret the causes of conflict in society and analyze techniques to resolve those conflicts
• Explain the importance  of the political process to competent and responsible participation in civic life
• Evaluate how individual rights may conflict with or support the common good
• Evaluate what makes a competent and responsible citizen
• Explain the structure, organization and operation of the local, state, and national governments including domestic and national  policy-making
• Compare the responsibilities and powers of the three branches within the national government
• Evaluate the process of how a bill becomes the law on a federal, state, and local levels
• Evaluate how independent government agencies create, amend, and enforce regulations
• Explain how citizens participate in choosing their leaders through political parties, campaigns, and elections
• Explain the elements of the election process
• Evaluate how the government protects or curtails individual rights and analyze the impact of supporting or opposing those rights
• Evaluate the impact of interest groups on the political process
• Analyze how and why government raises money to pay for its operation and services
• Evaluate the role of media in political life in the United States and explain the role of the media in setting the public agenda
• Analyze the impact of international economic, technological and cultural developments on the government of the United States
• Analyze the United States’ interaction with other nations and governmental groups in world events
• Compare how past and present United States’ policy interests have changed over time and analyze the impact on future international relationships
• Contrast how the three branches of federal government function in foreign policy

 

 

Classroom Rules:

• Attendance

 

Regular attendance is essential to being successful in this course.  A student will not be admitted back into class until he/she produces an UNEXCUSED/EXCUSED slip from his/her academy office.  The student has three school days to produce a legal excuse from the date of the absence.  If the student has an excused absence, they will be given full credit for participation on the date of the absence, and will be permitted to complete all make up assignments.  If the student has an unexcused absence, they will receive no credit for participation on the date of the absence, as well zeroes for all assignments missed.

 

• Behavior

 

Be on time.

Be prepared.

Be attentive.

Be quiet while others are speaking.

Try your best at all times.

 

Coats, book bags, food/candy, drink, visible/audible cell phones, headphones/ear buds, ipods, etc. are not permitted in the classroom.

 

Students are excused from class to go to the nurse, guidance office, etc. with an admit, and must produce the admit upon their return  to the classroom.  Students have only four opportunities to use the restroom during class in each nine week quarter.  Getting a drink at the water fountain counts as a restroom break.

 

• Tardies

 

Students arriving in the classroom after the bell has rung without an admit  will be considered tardy.  The student’s participation grade automatically becomes a 67%=D, and three lates result in a teacher detention.  The fourth late to class will be a Level 2 offense, a disciplinary log will be turned into the academy principal, and an office detention will be issued.  Students who are late 10 minutes or more will be written up for a class cut which is a Level 2 offense. 

Course Materials:

The students will be provided with a pocket folder, composition notebook, and a textbook.  All materials will remain in the classroom, unless the teacher gives special permission. In the event the student does not have a writing implement, he/she may borrow one from the teacher  by signing one out at the teacher’s desk.  At the end of class, the student should return the pen/penci l and cross off his/her name from the sign out sheet.

Course Text & Readings:

Magruder’s American Government is the required text for this course.  Other readings will come from various newspaper and magazine publications as well as on line sources.

 

 

Grading Policy & Procedures:

• Grading Scale

 

A=100%-93%

B=92%-82%

C=81%-70%

D=69%-60%

F=59%-0%

 

The grade earned by the student for this course is determined by assessment in the following areas:  participation, independent class work assignments, partner/group assignments, quizzes, tests, and in some cases extra credit.

 

Participation     0-3 points/day

Students are expected to be in the classroom on time, access their materials, and be attentive.  They are encouraged to actively participate by raising their hands to ask/answer a question, take notes, complete all assignments in a timely manner, and volunteer to orally read selected passages from the text of follow along silently. Students should follow directions and maintain eye contact with teacher.  They will earn 3/3points, which is 100% or an A+ daily when all of the above are fulfilled.  If any of the criteria is not met, the grade for participation will be affected greatly:  2/3 points=67% or a D; 1/3 points=33% and is an F, as is 0/3=0%.

 

Independent Class Work Assignments     15-35 points

Student assignments will include guided reading questions on each section and writing prompts.  Responses to writing prompts will be scored according to the PSSA rubric.

 

Partner/Group Assignments     5-15 points

Assignments will include analyzing political cartoons, interpreting and creating maps, posters, diagrams, timelines, charts,  Supreme Court decisions, and oral presentations.

 

Quizzes     10 points

Ten point quizzes will be given at the end of each section at least once a week.

 

Chapter Tests     25-35 points

 Tests will be administered after the completion of four and sometimes five sections within each chapter.  These will occur about every three weeks.

 

Extra Credit     Point values vary

Attendance by the student or someone of their behalf at Open House will earn the student five extra credit points.  Also, by the beginning of the ninth week of each marking period, students who are one percentage point away from a higher letter grade will have the option of writing a report about a significant figure  or event in United States History.

 

Deficiencies will be sent to the parent/guardian of students having a D or F in the course (69% or lower).  They will be turned in to the academy offices at the mid-point of the marking period; every four and a half weeks.

 

• Academic Dishonesty

 

If a student is caught cheating on any assignment, quiz or test they will receive a zero for the assessment grade and a zero for participation as well.  The student’s parent or guardian will be notified, and a discipline log will be turned in to the academy principal.

Course Outline:

 

The main concepts  we will cover in this course include the following:

Origins of American Government

The Constitution

Political Parties

Voters and Voter  Behavior

The Electoral Process

Mass Media and Public Opinion

Interest Groups

Congress

The Presidency

The Federal Court System