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Government
Topics in American Government: Grades 9-12
Topics in American Government is a seminar class. Students will be given weekly reading or research assignments and will be expected to actively participate in class discussions. Topics will change each semester. A student may take one or both semesters. To receive high school credit for American Government students will need to take both The Presidency and Politics and Interest Groups and Congress. Possible future topics are: Politics and the Media, History and Politics, American Foreign Policy, and The World Stage: Governments of Influence or Concern.
This course requires: high school level reading, writing, and analytical skills and access to the Internet.
The Presidency and Politics (Fall 2008)
This course will examine, through research, analysis, and discussion, the presidency and the Constitution, presidential selection process, presidential power, presidential policy-making, the Executive Office of the President, and the role of public opinion.
In addition to studying the fundamentals of the executive branch, this course will exam both past and current presidencies and the current presidential contest. Students will be required to watch either the Republican or Democratic National Conventions, and a Presidential debate. We will examine the political process through current events.
The goals of this course are 1) to understand the functions, powers, and selection of the President and 2) and to enable each student to analytically evaluate presidential candidates in order to make a more informed opinion and become actively involved in the presidential process.
Interest Groups and Congress (Spring 2009)
This course will examine, through research, analysis, and discussion, the framework of the Constitution and how it applies to the congress. Areas to be studied include the structure and procedures within Congress, congressional responsibilities, and the powers of Congress. Working in groups, students will formulate a bill and present it in class. Students will monitor certain bills of interest in Congress and investigate ear mark spending.
Interest groups have a powerful influence on Congress and state legislatures. This course will examine various types of special interest groups and their role in the legislative process. Students will prepare and lobby the Texas Legislature on a current legislative bill or issue.
The goals of this course are 1) to understand the functions and powers of the US Congress and the Texas Legislature, 2) to make students aware that it is their responsibility, as a good citizen, to monitor their government leaders and, 3) to take an active role in their government
Government Syllabus
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