Grant AP Government: 2014

Monday, December 15, 2014

Exams 1-4 for review

Unit 1 - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1agNHyOrzS0b5qdKN-MSFt376Foo3CVrjFNTlr07Yzro/pub

Unit 2 - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ltC-QUQRYAxTumPwqIk51-7vAdH7fIBUYWw8rBJbF8Y/pub

Unit 3 - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lC7p14jstrthecYhzHfK-WH9qqDY0keaFW4006g8ffM/pub

Unit 4 - https://docs.google.com/document/d/16FK5LUeAmhbRKPQNSpcX_tO7ogx5ZHVCIdMUpb2mGb0/pub

Friday, December 5, 2014

Date assigned
Friday, December 5

Assignment
In at least 400 words, argue for and against the system of lobbying that exists in the United States today. Post on the Google Group.

Due date
Monday, December 8

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Unit 5 study guide

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mBYmr4o8KhwraSyWWMvNylPmHwmG9CJY6SKMK7bMCtA/pub

Friday, November 21, 2014

Gerrymandering

Gerrymandering 101 can be found here.

5th period left off at 32:14.

7th period left off at 16:43.

Here's an article about Pennsylvania and Ohio: http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2012/11/07/how_ridiculous_gerrymanders_saved_the_house_republican_majority.html

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Primaries vs. Caucuses

Date assigned
Friday, November 21

Assignment
In at least 500 words, answer the three following questions:

1) What are the pros and cons of a closed primary election?
2) What are the pros and cons of an open primary election?
3) What are the pros and cons of a primary caucus?

Post on the Google Group.

Due date
Monday, November 24

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Summer opportunity at Yale

http://globalscholars.yale.edu/

Homework: Beth Bernard questions

Date assigned
Friday, Oct. 24

Assignment
Write 5 questions for campaign strategist Beth Bernard. Here is her professional bio:

She hails from the great state of South Dakota where she attended South Dakota State University, home of the jackrabbits. As the youngest of five children, she surprised her aging Catholic parents and graduated in 4 years with a degree in journalism and political science. As is the dream of every little girl from South Dakota, she packed her bags and moved to Washington, DC where she landed a job with newly elected US Senator Tom Daschle. While I am sure you are all impressed, the qualifications for landing this position were the applicant needed to be a native South Dakotan with a 4 year degree willing to live in DC—not a lot of competition or skills necessary. Bernard was a perfect fit!

After 2 ½ years slaving under the direction of Daschle Chief of Staff Pete Rouse, Bernard followed the popcorn and moved to Iowa as the in-state finance director for Senator Tom Harkin. Politics was now in her blood and there was no turning back. She worked for the Iowa Democratic Party and then jumped on the short lived, yet always entertaining, Harkin presidential bandwagon. With all the good political operatives working for Clinton, Bernard got the opportunity of a lifetime---especially for a 27 year old female--- to run a race for Congress---Lynn Schenk in San Diego. After a couple more congressional races under her belt: Elaine Baxter in Iowa and Barbara Shipnook in Monterey, Bernard moved back to DC to raise money for Senator Ted Kennedy.

Her political career culminated running two US Senate races: Ann Wynia in Minnesota (which is where she met then intern Lindsay Roitman) and Tom Bruggere in Oregon as well as raising national money for Senator Paul Wellstone and serving as Congresswoman Hooley’s District Director.

As ED of OTLA, Bernard has had the dubious distinction of being part of a team who defeated 3, yes count them 3, horrible ballot measures that would have severely limited Oregonians’ access to justice and made Texas look like a litigation utopia.

Due date

Wednesday, Oct. 29

Friday, October 24, 2014

Oct. 24 links

Opinion polling
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2013/01/congress-somewhere-below-cockroaches-traffic-jams-and-nickleback-in-americans-esteem.html

http://www.gallup.com/poll/165281/congress-job-approval-falls-amid-gov-shutdown.aspx

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/28/science/strong-support-for-labeling-modified-foods.html?_r=2&

http://www.gallup.com/poll/165539/first-time-americans-favor-legalizing-marijuana.aspx

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/background-check-support-strong-but-lower-a-year-after-newtown/

Push polling
http://rumorswiki.org/images/6/6e/McCainFamily.jpg

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13516.html

2012 election demographics
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1IYtYP1ahgG2wfLFV-gmMQ-zHJmHd2GlneV1B7RrF4B0/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000#slide=id.p13

http://www.ropercenter.uconn.edu/elections/how_groups_voted/voted_12.html

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/11/08/us/politics/obama-was-not-as-strong-as-in-2008-but-strong-enough.html?_r=0

http://www.nationaljournal.com/thenextamerica/politics/10-amazing-demographic-percentages-of-the-2012-election-20121109

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/11/07/the-2012-election-in-charts/

Scandals ending in -gate
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_scandals_with_%22-gate%22_suffix

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Unit 3 non-textbook readings

Oct. 24
Killing Civilians is More Popular Than You'd Think - http://www.fair.org/blog/2013/05/03/killing-civilians-is-a-more-popular-than-youd-think-especially-among-pundits/

Americans Down on Congress, OK With Own Representative - http://www.gallup.com/poll/162362/americans-down-congress-own-representative.aspx

Oct. 26
Reporter's Case Poses Dilemma for Justice Dept. - http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/28/us/case-of-james-risen-times-reporter-poses-dilemma-for-justice-department.html?_r=0

Oct. 28
The Death of Dog-Whistle Politics - http://prospect.org/article/death-dog-whistle-politics

Why Bush Opposes Dred Scott - http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/chatterbox/2004/10/why_bush_opposes_dred_scott.html

Oct. 30
Goodbye to the Age of Newspapers (Hello to a New Age of Corruption) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1RBtym50fACTkJZeVA1d0UtYms/view?usp=sharing

Nov. 1
"Go ahead, Jeff": Talon News "reporter" Jeff Gannon is McClellan's lifeline during briefings - http://mediamatters.org/research/2005/02/02/go-ahead-jeff-talon-news-reporter-jeff-gannon-i/132676

Gannongate: It's worse than you think - http://www.salon.com/2005/02/23/more_gannon/

Nov. 3
Three P's to Protect Free Speech for Student Media - http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2014/02/three-ps-to-protect-free-speech-for-student-media/

How student speech is protected in Neshaminy's "R" word case - http://www.philly.com/philly/education/How_student_speech_is_protected_in_Neshaminy_case.html?c=r

Nov. 4
The military-industrial-media complex - http://fair.org/extra-online-articles/the-military-industrial-media-complex/

On NBC, the missing story about parent company General Electric - http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/on-nbc-the-missing-story-about-parent-company-general-electric/2011/03/29/AFpRYJyB_story.html

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Oct. 22 links

Why women vote more D than R (aka the Gender Gap)
Todd Akin's "legitimate rape" comment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKa5CY-KOHc&safe=active

Rush Limbaugh says women who want birth control are sluts: http://gawker.com/5889676/rush-limbaugh-women-who-want-birth-control-are-sluts and http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/54xqzx/extremely-loud---incredibly-gross

Political culture in pop culture
Stand up comedy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDM_96X40BU&safe=active

HBO's The Newsroom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTjMqda19wk&safe=active

Conservative values in Twilight: http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Hollywood/2011/11/26/Breaking-Dawn----Provides-a-Conservative-Role-Model-for-Young-Women

Progressive values in Harry Potter: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Harry_Potter#Progressive_values_and_diversity

Thursday, October 9, 2014

ANNOUNCEMENT

JUNIORS & SENIORS:

If you are a junior or senior and do not want your name and address released to the military, please inform the school office no later than Tuesday, October 28^th . Forms are available in the main office.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Friday no-class homework, library for class on Wednesday 10/15

Since we have no class on Friday 10/10, read these two articles about civil forfeiture:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/tim-walberg-an-end-to-the-abuse-of-civil-forfeiture/2014/09/04/e7b9d07a-3395-11e4-9e92-0899b306bbea_story.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/investigative/2014/09/06/stop-and-seize/

Also, make sure you come to the Hollywood Library on Wednesday 10/15 for our review class on PSAT day.

Friday, October 3, 2014

Homework: FRQ practice

Date assigned
Friday, October 3

Assignment
Answer the FRQ that you did NOT do on the Unit 1 exam. Post your answer to the Google Group.

1) The writers of the Constitution sought to establish a government strong enough to enforce national interests but not so strong that it would destroy liberty.

a. Identify and explain two ways the Constitution increased the powers of the national government.

b. Identify and explain two ways the Constitution limited the powers of the national government.

2) In the Federalist Paper #10, James Madison expressed concern over the possibility that both majority and

minority factions would have too much power over government, and he presented ways of minimizing that danger. The United States Constitution established a democratic government but also contained several provisions that limited majority rule.

a. Identify the part of the national government that was originally most closely tied to citizens and explain how

it was tied to citizens.

b. Explain two ways the United States Constitution limited majority rule.

Due date
Monday, October 6

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Scholarship opportunities

http://www.jfklibrary.org/Education/Profile-in-Courage-Essay-Contest.aspx

http://billofrightsinstitute.org/programs-events/students-programs-events/scholarship/

http://www.firstfreedom.org/for-the-classroom/first-freedom-student-competition/

http://www.tfaforms.com/348514

http://billofrightsinstitute.org/programs-events/students-programs-events/boyscout/

Friday, September 26, 2014

Homework: Unit 2 non-textbook readings

Sept. 29
Types of Federalism - https://docs.google.com/document/d/17FarI674UEHikEc95iEX5JSzuKRMfrsEZvgyVEhtsPA/pub

Oct. 3
Federal grant will boost Arizona unemployment insurance program - http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2013/09/27/federal-grant-will-boost-arizona.html

House passes food stamp bill that cuts $4B, allows new work requirements - http://newsone.com/2722982/food-stamp-bill-funding-cuts/

Oct. 5
Michigan house approves plan to cut off benefits for unemployed residents who fail drug tests - http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/09/unemployment_drug_test_michiga.html

Michigan rep: Drug testing for unemployment benefits? Then drug test state lawmakers, too - http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/09/michigan_rep_drug_testing_for.html

Oct. 7
Feds experiment with drugs, mellow out on state marijuana laws - http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/aug/29/obama-administration-oks-washington-colorado-marij/

The feds back off on marijuana - http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-08-30/opinion/chi-the-feds-and-marijuana-20130830_1_marijuana-decriminalization-marijuana-use-feds

Obama administration: States can have their pot, and smoke it too - http://bangordailynews.com/2013/08/30/opinion/obama-administration-states-can-have-their-pot-and-smoke-it-too/?ref=mostReadBoxOpinion

Oct. 10
DOT sued over delayed backup-camera mandate - http://www.autonews.com/article/20130925/OEM11/130929952/dot-sued-over-delayed-backup-camera-mandate#axzz2gPBJCK9B

Oct. 11
Did the federal drinking age save lives? - http://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/serials/files/regulation/2009/2/v32n1-1.pdf

Oct. 13
Millions of poor are left uncovered by health law: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/03/health/millions-of-poor-are-left-uncovered-by-health-law.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp&

Oct. 14
'Food insecurity' may be high, but states are still saying no to federal food-stamp support: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2013/09/04/food-insecurity-may-be-high-but-states-are-still-saying-no-to-federal-food-stamp-support/

Unit 2 study guide

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W8lpINc8yGrzMyhzSrPS7A7kI1iFz-iI4tNXyCZ3GDI/pub

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

How to write an FRQ

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lS_Fi-wccBVXeL0vroNxXITpi_A0sRGaQnRno7_e050/pub

Monday, September 15, 2014

Homework: Kate Brown and Ron Wyden questions

Date assigned
Wednesday, September 10

Assignment
Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown is coming to Grant during 2nd period on Tuesday, September 23. It's a weird schedule that day - classes are only 70 minutes long to accommodate an end-of-the-day activity - so the actual time she'll be here is 9:30-10:30. It will be in the library, and you have an excused absence from your 2nd period class to attend ("in school field trip" is the phrase to use if your teacher gives you any crap about it).

Your assignment is to research Brown's political career and beliefs and write 5 questions to ask her during the Q&A. You of course can also ask her questions about elections in general, campaigning in general, the Oregon initiative system, the Oregon mail-in ballot system, etc. Please post these 5 questions to the Google Group, but please also have them with you at the talk so that you don't forget them when the Q&A starts.

Do the exact same thing for US Senator Ron Wyden.

Due date
Tuesday, September 23, 9:30am

Friday, September 12, 2014

Homework: Federalist 10 questions

Date assigned
Friday, September 12

Assignment
While reading Federalist 10, use the following 11 questions as a reading guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uOoGEhGw9xEzPclc7qNNZX_XqijPvjEQ6fMBXB8MLTw/pub

Answer questions 1-4, 6-7, and 9, and post your answers on the Google Group: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/grant-ap-gov

Due date
Monday, September 15

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Homework: Connecticut Compromise

Date assigned
Wednesday, September 10

Assignment
Answer both sides of both of the following questions:

1) Who won the Connecticut Compromise?

2) Was the Connecticut Compromise democratic?

Post your answers on the Google Group and be prepared to debate in class on Friday.

Due date
Friday, September 12

Friday, September 5, 2014

Unit 1 study guide

https://docs.google.com/document/d/17PkcE7lw7MuZrUP0hUxTMF4ikNCa-0TS8n24vVzySe0/pub

Homework: Political Compass

Date assigned
Friday, September 5

Assignment
Take the test at politicalcompass.org and record your coordinates somewhere you won't lose them (probably your phone). Bring them to class on Monday.

Due date
Monday, September 8

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Pacing guide

	Monday - 44 minutes	Wednesday - 93 minutes	Friday - 93 minutes
Week 1 Sept 1-5	NO SCHOOL	INTRO - Course intro, syllabus, exam outline, pass rate, test focus, multiple choice, FRQs, news source list, JOHN LOCKE	Intro to Gov - Discuss Locke, get books, discuss pro- and anti-gov articles, citizenship test
Week 2 Sept 8-12	Intro to Gov - Review political systems, terminology, Political Compass results	Declaration of Independence - Review lead up to independence, Declaration itself, and demographic articles from Sunday	Constitution - Who won the Connecticut Compromise? Was it democratic?
Week 3 Sept 15-19	Constitution - Review Federalist papers	Constitution - In depth examination of Constitution	Constitution - Power grab, debate
Week 4 Sept 22-26	Constitution - Review Bill of Rights, judicial review, Marbury v. Madison	Constitution - Review unit	Unit 1 exam, types of federalism article
Week 5 Sept 29-Oct 3	Review Unit 1 exam and Federalism	Federalism	Federalism
Week 6 Oct 6-10	Federalism	Federalism	NO SCHOOL
Week 7 Oct 13-17	Federalism	Federalism	Unit 2 exam
Week 8 Oct 20-24	Unit 2 exam review	Political culture and media	Political culture and media
Week 9 Oct 27-31	Politcal culture and media	Political culture and media	NO SCHOOL
Week 10 Nov 3-7	Political culture and media	Political culture and media	Unit 3 exam
Week 11 Nov 10-14	NO SCHOOL	Elections	Elections
Week 12 Nov 17-21	Elections	Elections	Elections
Week 13 Nov 24-28	Elections	Unit 4 exam	THANKSGIVING
Week 14 Dec 1-5	Political parties	Political parties	Political parties
Week 15 Dec 8-12	Political parties	Political parties	Special Interests
Week 16 Dec 15-19	Special Interests - QUIZ	Review	Final exam
Dec 20-Jan 4	WINTER BREAK
Week 17 Jan 5-9	Congress - Go over 1st semester final, hand out Congress unit 6 study guide	Congress - "Key legislation to know" handout	Congress
Week 18 Jan 12-16	Congress	Congress	Congress
Week 19 Jan 19-23	NO SCHOOL	Congress	Congress - EXAM
Week 20 Jan 26-30	Presidency	Presidency	NO SCHOOL
Week 21 Feb 2-6	Presidency	Presidency	Presidency
Week 22 Feb 9-13	Presidency	Presidency	Presidency - EXAM
Week 23 Feb 16-20	NO SCHOOL	Bureaucracy and budget	Bureaucracy and budget
Week 24 Feb 23-27	Bureaucracy and budget	Bureaucracy and budget	Bureaucracy and budget
Week 25 Mar 2-6	Bureaucracy and budget	Bureaucracy and budget	Bureaucracy and budget - EXAM
Week 26 Mar 9-13	Judiciary	Judiciary	Judiciary
Week 27 Mar 16-20	Judiciary	Judiciary	Judiciary - EXAM
Week 28 Mar 23-27	SPRING BREAK
Week 29 Mar 30-Apr 3	Civil Liberties/Rights	Civil Liberties/Rights	Civil Liberties/Rights
Week 30 Apr 6-10	Civil Liberties/Rights	Civil Liberties/Rights	NO SCHOOL
Week 31 Apr 13-17	Civil Liberties/Rights	Civil Liberties/Rights	Civil Liberties/Rights - EXAM
Week 32 Apr 20-24	Review	Review	Review
Week 33 Apr 27-May 1	Review	Review	Review
Week 34 May 4-8	Review	Review	Final exam - 70 multiple choice questions
Week 35 May 11-15	Last minute panic review	Post test	Post test
Week 36 May 18-22	Post test	Post test	Post test
Week 37 May 25-29	NO SCHOOL	Post test	Post test
Week 38 June 1-5	Seniors' last day?

Online flashcards

http://www.studyblue.com/notes/grant-high-school/c/ap-government/586284/0

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Homework: Unit 1 non-textbook readings

Monday, September 1, 2014

Homework: John Locke

Date assigned
Wednesday, September 3

Assignment
1) If you don't have Gmail, fix that oversight.

2) Apply for membership in the Google Group: https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en#!forum/grant-ap-gov

3) Read the excerpt of John Locke's "2nd Treatise on Government" - https://docs.google.com/document/d/161gdrikwRGSOIBsPYbBWbw1j32D691yAw5hLDapj9l4/pub

4) Post a 150-word summary of his main ideas on the Google Group.

Due date
Friday, September 5, beginning of class

Syllabus

The AP Gov syllabus can be found here.

Friday, May 30, 2014

Keeping up with the news

Alternative
Democracy Now - http://www.democracynow.org/

Al Jazeera - http://america.aljazeera.com/

Slate - http://www.slate.com/

The Young Turks - http://www.tytnetwork.com/

ProPublica - http://www.propublica.org/

Mother Jones - http://www.motherjones.com/

The Nation - http://www.thenation.com/

TomDispatch - http://www.tomdispatch.com/

Vice - http://www.vice.com/en_us

Informed Comment - http://www.juancole.com/

Truthout - http://www.truth-out.org/

TruthDig - http://www.truthdig.com/

Traditional
New York Times - http://www.nytimes.com/

Washington Post - http://www.washingtonpost.com/

National Public Radio - http://www.npr.org/

Wall Street Journal - http://online.wsj.com/home-page

BBC - http://www.bbc.com/news/

The Guardian - http://www.theguardian.com/us

Partisan
MSNBC - http://www.msnbc.com/

Fox News - http://www.foxnews.com/

Ping: 5th period

If you want more book recommendations, find me on Goodreads.com. The email address I use there is jeremyreinholt at yahoo dot com

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

4th amendment

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2014/05/28/answering-justice-alitos-question-what-makes-an-expectation-of-privacy-reasonable/

Homework: Political compass test

Date assigned
Wednesday, May 28

Assignment
Take the test at politicalcompass.org and record your results to discuss in class on Monday.

Due date
Monday, June 2

Friday, May 16, 2014

Lake of Fire

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/fg9yxy5csh98mt9/AABPf1aQ3OeVYgJV2VwxIjOAa

We left off in class at 26:53

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Homework: Budget assignment

Date assigned
Wednesday, May 14

Assignment
Two parts:

1) Keep track of all of your expenses from the morning of Wednesday May 14 to the evening of Thursday, May 22. This includes everything you personally spend money on (food, beverages, recreation, gas, supplies for Sasquatch) as well as everything your parents spend on you (example: if you have one sibling and two parents, divide the grocery bill by 4 to get an approximate number for how much was spent on your food). If you are in Blues, track the money spent on your food in Ashland, but not the money spent on your hotel room.

2) Figure out how much money you are responsible for next year. Find this by determining the amount of money you are receiving via loans, grants, scholarships, and work study programs, and then subtracting that total from the amount that tuition, fees, and room and board will cost. Then figure out how much spending money you'll have throughout the course of your freshman year from a job, your parents giving you an allowance, and what you save this summer from working. Divide that number by the number of weeks you will be at school to figure out your weekly budget for next year.

Due date
Friday, May 23

Friday, May 9, 2014

Final essay

Due Friday, May 30 - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jylhYprZAGqoo72thAuHTaxpKqVd_FCl1V0hHgFFh1E/pub

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Practice test

http://www.mymaxscore.com/images/stories/docs/MMS_GovPol_PracTest_WebFINAL.pdf

Credit to Princess Moskowitz

Supreme Court cases to study

Cases we talked about
Marbury v. Madison
McCullough v. Maryland
Gibbons v. Ogden
Barron v. Baltimore
Gitlow v. New York
Engel v. Vitale
Tinker v. Des Moines
Miranda v. Arizona
Gideon v. Wainwright
Furman v. Georgia and Gregg v. Georgia
Roe v. Wade
Citizens United v. FEC
Baker v. Carr
New York Times v. US
US v. Nixon
Brown v. Board
Bakke v. Regents
US v. Lopez
Bush v. Gore
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Plessy v. Ferguson
Mapp v. Ohio
Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier
Buckley v. Valeo

Cases we never talked about that might be helpful
Lemon v. Kurtzmann (religion)
Schenck v. US (speech, "clear and present danger")
Miller v. California (obscenity)
Texas v. Johnson (flag burning)