POD+SYLLABUS

__Principles of Democracy __

Instructor: Mr. Holzhauser Email: jholzhauser@laurel.k12.pa.us

__Course Description: __ This course is an introduction to the basic concepts of American government, the American political process, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. This course will focus on the principles and beliefs upon which the United States was founded and on the structure, functions, and powers of government on the national, state, and local levels. A significant focus of this course on the U.S. Constitution, its underlying principles and the form of government it created. Based on the premise that analyzing current information is essential to an effective citizenry, this course asks students to research, compare, contrast, and think critically about government-related issues. Students will learn the ideals behind the American system of government, the mechanics of its operation, and will be encouraged to take their places as active, well informed, and independently thinking citizens in our country. The curriculum for this course was developed through the Standard Aligned System in meeting both national and state standards in social studies.

The following topics will be discussed throughout the course:
 *  Foundations of American Government
 * o Forms of Government
 * o Basic Concepts of Democracy
 *  Origins of American Government
 * o Our Political Beginnings
 * o The coming of Independence
 * o The Declaration of Independence
 * o Creating and Ratifying the Constitution
 *  The Constitution
 * o Basic Principles
 * o Formal Amendment
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Federalism
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Powers Divided
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The National Government and the 50 States
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Political Parties
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Parties and what they do
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Two-Party system in American History
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The Minor Parties
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Party Organization
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Voting
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The Right to Vote
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Voter Qualifications
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Suffrage and Civil Rights
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Voter Behavior
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Electoral Process
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Elections
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Mass Media and Public Opinion
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The Formation of Public Opinion
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Measuring Public Opinion
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The Legislative Branch
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The national Legislature
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The House of Representatives
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The Senate
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The Members of Congress
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Powers of Congress
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The expressed Powers of Money and Commerce
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The Implied Powers
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The Executive Branch
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The Presidency
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The President’s Job Description
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Presidential Succession and the Vice President
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The Presidential Election
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The Judicial Branch
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The Federal Court System
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The National Judiciary
 * o <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">The Supreme Court

__<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Course Objectives __ <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">At the end of the course student should be able to:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Understand the forces that impacted the founding of the United States
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Demonstrate knowledge of the continuing impact of the Declaration of Independence in the U.S. and worldwide.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Understand the process of creating the U.S. Constitution.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the principles upon which the U.S. government is based.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Know sources of power and authority of the United States government.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Know how the U.S. Constitution seeks to prevent the abuse of power.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Understand tensions that exist between key principles of government in the United States.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Demonstrate understanding of how the different forms of government impact the social, political, and economic aspects of people’s lives.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Understand Minnesota state and local government structure and political processes.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Understand the sovereign status of American Indian nations.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Understand the scope and limits of rights, the relationship among them, and how they are secured.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Know how citizenship is defined, established, and exercised and how it has changed over time.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Understand how public policy is made, enforced, and interpreted by the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Understand the role and influence of political processes and organizations.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Know how constitutional amendments and Supreme Court interpretations of the Constitution have increased the impact of the Constitution on people's lives.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Analyze the relationships and interactions between the United States and other nations and evaluate the role of the U.S. in world affairs.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Analyze various methods of civic engagement needed to fulfill responsibilities of a citizen of a republic.

__<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Materials for class __
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Notebook
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> Folder
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> Writing Utensil
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Pen or Pencil
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Classroom Participation
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Wikispace Discussion Participation
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Unit and Chapter Tests
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Announced or unannounced quizzes
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Individual and group projects
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Presentation of student work
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Journal Records
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Mock Trials Participation

__ Assessment __
__<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Classroom Procedures __
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">There will be daily warm-ups at the start of every class. Students will begin the //DO NOW// daily warm-up as soon as class starts. These warm-ups will range from single answer to short essay and should not take longer than 5 minutes each day. All of the //DO NOW// warm-ups will be placed in classroom notebooks right below each day’s date. Each day’s warmup will be checked at the end of the week attempts completion. __Absent students are responsible for getting the //DO NOWS// classmates.__


 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Daily assignments will consist of taking notes, chapter assignments, media research, presentations, written work, small group work, short answer essays, class discussions, and individual/group projects.

__<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Classroom Expectations __

__<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Rules __ <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">1. Respect <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">2. Responsibility


 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Follow and adhere to all school-wide rules, including no cell phones, electronics, language, dress code, food and drink
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Academic honest will be enforced in this class
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Be in your seat when the bell rings and start working on daily warm-ups

__ Grading Policies __
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> __District Grading Scale__ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> Students at the Elementary and Jr./Sr. High Schools <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> will be graded according to this scale: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> A 100—92 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> B 91—83 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> C 82—74 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> D 73—65 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;"> Below 65 is failing
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;">Grades are based on a point system. All assignments will contribute to your overall grade. Assignments will vary in point value. Assignments include, but are not limited to, class work, warm-ups, homework assignments, projects, class participation, quizzes and tests.

__<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Missed Work Due to Absence: __

 * Make up work due to an absence is your responsibility as a student. Please come to me to collect missed work. I will not track you down to give you assignments. An assignment due on the day a student is absent will be due the day the student returns to school.


 * __ Late Homework: __**
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 10pt;">Late homework will receive a grade reduction if turned in after the due date. Late assignments will not be accepted after 1 week from the due date.