Week 3.2 Checks and Balances

 Checks and Balances in Action

                                                                                               Image courtesy of ClipArt, Branches of Governments

When the Founder Fathers created the Constitution, they developed a system in which three branches would evaluate each other as a means prevent a particular branch from dominating the government.

Directions: 

You will play a game on Docs You Teach

Match the document to the description of the correct "checks and balances."


Click on one box then another to make a match. On mobile devices, tap each box twice.

Click on the link:   👉 DocsTeach Checks and Balances 👈

Answer the questions: Post your answers, respond to another student 

• Based on the documents included in this activity, select one document, give a brief summary the document's significance and state how it is an example of a check on another branch.

• Based on the documents included in this activity, which branch has the most powerful check on the other branches? Explain

Documents used in this activity

Attempted Override of President Richard Nixon's Veto of S. 518, an Act to Abolish the Offices of the Director and Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget
Constitution of the United States
Draft of Motion Rule for Marbury v. Madison
Judiciary Act of 1789
Nomination of John Marshall to the Supreme Court
Roll call votes relating to the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson on Articles II, III, and XI
Selection from President Andrew Jackson's Veto of the Bank Recharter Bill

3.1: Current Events/Political Parties Vocabulary due 10/30

 Chapter 5 Political Parties Vocabulary Review and Current Events

Communicating as an American citizen, involves a working knowledge of the key terms related to the functions of our government. Take time to study, practice and familiarize yourself with political party vocabulary terms on quizlet.
Part 1 Directions: Go to quizlet Learn the vocabulary words and play through 4 activities on quizlet. Select 6 words that were challenging for you. Define the 6 words. Use each word in a sentence and post the 6 words with the definitions and sentences on the discussion board.

Part 2 Directions: Obtain an article from a reputable news source ( O.C. Register, LA Times, ABC.com, CBS.com, CNN.com) that deals with a government-related event on either the federal, state, or local level. Some possible topics might be: ballot initiatives, judicial cases, legislation under consideration, world affairs, campaigns and candidates, etc.

Use good judgement in your selection. The article subject may be different from what I suggested as long as you can justify how your article relates to government. 

After you select an article, you must summarize the story in the following format in at least 2 full paragraphs.

• Title of Article                                            
• Source, Date,Section and Page
• Aspect of Democracy to which the article is related
• Summary of article in a paragraph form
• What is it about: How does it pertain to political parties? Finally, what is your opinion on the article?

Month 2 week 4 The Electoral College: Due 10/23

 Directions: Read the Following Article and view the video below, answer the questions below, complete the vocabulary exercise on Quizlet.  and post your responses. Complete 4 activities on quizlet. What was your score? 

What is the Electoral College

Have you ever been to the Electoral College???? Of course you have not because the Electoral College is not a place, it is a process. The Electoral College is a unique system outlined in our Constitution. Read the article below taken from https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/about.html

The Electoral College is a process, not a place. The founding fathers established it in the Constitution as a compromise between election of the President by a vote in Congress and election of the President by a popular vote of qualified citizens.

The Electoral College process consists of the selection of the electors, the meeting of the electors where they vote for President and Vice President, and the counting of the electoral votes by Congress.

The Electoral College consists of 538 electors. A majority of 270 electoral votes is required to elect the President. Your state’s entitled allotment of electors equals the number of members in its Congressional delegation: one for each member in the House of Representatives plus two for your Senators. Read more about the allocation of electoral votes.

Under the 23rd Amendment of the Constitution, the District of Columbia is allocated 3 electors and treated like a state for purposes of the Electoral College. For this reason, in the following discussion, the word “state” also refers to the District of Columbia.

Each candidate running for President in your state has his or her own group of electors. The electors are generally chosen by the candidate’s political party, but state laws vary on how the electors are selected and what their responsibilities are. Read more about the qualifications of the Electors and restrictions on who the Electors may vote for.

The presidential election is held every four years on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. You help choose your state’s electors when you vote for President because when you vote for your candidate you are actually voting for your candidate’s electors. (downloaded from: archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/about.html, 10/24/2014) 

 Video Clip:

2. What is the Electoral College?

    

Please respond to the following questions:

1. Describe how the body of electors are selected and the role they play in the elections of the President.
2. Why did the Framers of the Constitution call for the President to be elected by the body of electors?
3. How many electors does each state have?
4. Quizlet: Complete 4 activities, select 4 words you needed help with. List the Q4 vocabulary words, with the definitions and used in a sentence.
5. Are we a pure democracy? Why or why not.
6. Do you think the Electoral College is a good system? 

2.3 due 10/16: The Great Debate over the Ratification Of the Constitution

The Great Debate 

Over the Ratification Of the Constitution

Research the mindset of the Founding Fathers as you read, The Great Debate. 

       Who do you agree with, the Federalists or the Anti-Federalists?

Respond in a paragraph of minimum of five sentences in response to the question. Explain your reasoning. Use evidence from the reading selection regarding the ratification of the Constitution. 

See  any other responses on the discussion blog? If so, respond to your classmate and state if you agree or disagree. Explain your reasoning. and use evidence.