Declaration Of Independence

The Declaration of Independence was written more to be listened to than read. What did you learn, and/or how did your attitude change about the declaration after listening to this rendering?

Home Work Due This Week

Read Chapter 2 - Section 1 and 2
Chapter 2 Assessment (Page 60) questions 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 21
Period 1 - Due Tuesday 9/25
Period 7 - Due Wednesday 9/26

Read Chapter 2 - Sections 3, 4, and 5
Chapter 2 Assessment (Page 60) questions 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29.
Period 1 - Due Thursday 9/27
Period 7 - Due Friday 9/28

THERE WILL BE A TEST COVERING CHAPTERS ONE AND TWO PLUS THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE ON...
- TUESDAY 10/2 FOR PERIOD ONE
- WEDNESDAY 10/3 FOR PERIOD SEVEN

Philosophy of Liberty

Read the transcript of the Philosophy of Liberty. 

Text code the transcript by…

1. Underlining the sentence that you think is most central to the author’s thesis.
2. Draw a rectangle around the phrase that you think is most central to the author’s thesis.
3. Draw a circle around the word that you think is most central to the author’s thesis.

In the margins write ideas that come to you and questions that arise while reading and watching the video.

Watch the “The Philosophy of Liberty” revise your text coding if needed.

Seminar Question:
What would a society look like that strives toward this philosophy ? 

Secondary Questions:
What role would government play?
Would you like to live in this society?

A foundation for Society?

Can you think of 1 or 2 guiding principals that would lead to a safe and prosperous society? Explain.

Government and a Mixed Economy

Talk to someone next to you about the question you answered in your homework...
What is the role of government in a mixed economy?
What does in mean to protect the public?
What does it mean to preserve free enterprise?
Try to modify your answer based on your discussion.

Homework: Basics of Democracy

Read chapter 1 section 3 of your text and answer the questions in the Section Assessment on page 22
Period 1 due on Thursday 9/20
Period 7 due on Friday 9/21

Perspectives on Forms of Government

How does the perspective of this video differ from the one in your book?

Quick Write: Presidential Vs. Parliamentary

Which form of government do you think represents the people better, a presidential or parliamentary system?

Homework: Ch. 1 Section 2

Read chapter 1 section 2 of your text and answer the questions in the Section Assessment on page 16

Period 1 - due on Tuesday 9/18
Period 7 - due on Wednesday 9/19

Quick Write: Representative Government

1. What do you think of when you hear the term “democracy?” Write down some key
words and phrases.

2. Have you heard the phrase “majority rules”? Should the majority always rule? Why or why not?

Electoral College Quickwrite

Should the U.S. get rid of the electoral college? If not, why? If so, what should it be replaced with?

ELECTORAL COLLEGE HOMEWORK

We are going to jump ahead and take a look at the electoral college so we can begin following the 2012 presidential election.

Read Chapter 13 Section 5 and answer the questions on page 384.
Period 1 due Thursday 9/13.
Period 7 due on Friday 9/14

Rosseau and Rothbard

Which of these authors has a more positive view of human nature?

Self Evaluation:

Describe something I learned from someone else in the group.

Did I contribute my own ideas?

Did I ask questions of others?

Did I site the text in my comments?

How could I improve my participation?

Today's Quickwrite

In what ways can government benefit people and  how can it impose dangers or inconvenience people's lives?

FIRST ASSIGNMENT! Your Academic Integrity Pledge and Google Folder (titled with your name and the number of you period) are due Monday, September 10th.

“An Uneducated Electorate Promotes Democracy's Demise”

Welcome to "Government" Class

Before we get to the ins and outs of U.S. Government, and even before we get to the purpose of government we need to be able to define government. This may sound simple but give it a try. You can look to dictionaries but the definitions are not very satisfying.

What IS Government? What makes it different than any other organization of people?

Write your definition in a  comment below.
Feel free to comment on others definitions.