PART I:  Explore Your Emerging Political Platform

In a multi-page paper, examine your political ideology, trace your roots of socialization, respond to national news stories, and forecast your political future.   Organizational Overview                                                 Section One:  Introduction to the political spectrum

                                               
Thesis:  Articulate your ideology

 

                                                Section Two:  Trace your roots of political socialization

                                                                                               

Section Three:  Demonstrate your ideology through news analysis 

                                               

Section Four:  Conclude, and forecast your political future

                                               

Section Five:  MLA Works Cited

 Section One:  Introduction (1-2 pages)

Explore the fundamental differences between liberal and conservative thinking in American politics.  Consider how liberals and conservatives differ with regard to core values like property, opportunity, equality, freedom, security, privacy, as well as the purpose and scope of government.  Transition into a brief introduction of your personal journey of self discovery and conclude this section of your paper with a thesis statement in which you attempt to identify your own political ideology.  This section of your paper should answer the question, “What am I?” or “Where do I fit on the political spectrum?”  Feel free to use the traditional political labels we’ve studied in class; or, if that feels too restrictive, develop a new set of language to describe your political beliefs.  Either way, be careful your creativity does not surpass your clarity.

 Section Two (1-2 pages)

Building off your thesis statement, explore your roots of socialization.  In other words, go back and trace the most influential social forces that have combined to shape your ideology.  Include key aspects of your upbringing, demographics, major life experiences, and your current social circle.  This section of your paper should answer the question, “How did I get here?” or “What shapes my politics?”  Don’t shy away from serious self-evaluation.  You haven’t honestly explored this topic until you’ve asked the hard question:  “Are these my beliefs, or am I just (1) borrowing them from my parents, or (2) pretending to believe in them to look cool around my friends?” 

 Section Three (3-5 pages) 

Provide evidence to support your thesis by discussing your response to three national political news stories from this year.  This section of your paper should answer the question, “How did I react to the big news events of the year?  Your goal here is to demonstrate your ideology by demonstrating the way you think, the way you filter news events through your unique political lens.  I will  have a particular interest in this section of your paper because here you’ll show me whether you’re really able to apply your ideology in a specific context.  To help your reader, divide this section into three sub-sections (one for each news story) and include all of the following in each sub-section:

  
Summarize, Analyze, & Evaluate a News Event

Keep in mind this paper is all about expressing your emerging ideology, so you’ll want to choose stories that pull your political leanings to the surface – stories that invite a liberal or conservative reaction.  Before you start writing, make sure I  approve your choices.   It would be a shame to have you turn in a paper about Anna Nicole Smith in a year of so many more important political events. 

 

Begin by briefly summarizing the event and the way it played out in the media.  Most likely, your reader already knows about the event so save your ink here.  Just be sure to provide parenthetical citations to give credit to the reputable news source where you retrieved the information.   Next, analyze and evaluate the story and/or the media’s coverage from a personal standpoint.  Try to answer the questions “What happened, what does it mean, and how do I feel about it?” Discuss the elements of the story/coverage that surprised, disgusted, disappointed, inspired, infuriated, alarmed, or satisfied you, etc.  Discuss the developing consequences of this story after the event, and the political ramifications for the participants.  Discuss what impact, if any, this event may have on the upcoming presidential election.  Discuss alternative outcomes you would have wished for, or make predictions about future outcomes.  Choose one or all of these, or develop your own; but at the very least, make your unique political voice evident in these discussions.    

 Embed your Favorite Political Cartoon

Research each news story until you’ve uncovered the perfect political cartoon.  It may be one that mirrors your reaction to the story, or just the opposite.  Once you’ve found it, embed it (digitally through cut-and-paste, or physically cutting and pasting a photocopy) in your text wherever you deem it most appropriate.  The function of the cartoon is to illustrate your main idea, NOT TO BECOME THE MAIN IDEA OF THE SECTION.  Should you choose to briefly explain or discuss the cartoon, be sure that it’s done in a way that enhances your analysis/evaluation as opposed to simply explaining a joke that is already obvious to the reader.  Think of it like this:  the summary, analysis, and evaluation are the meat and potatoes of this sub-section and the cartoon is the seasoning.  You will be evaluated on your ability to not only choose the right flavor, but also measure in just the right “pinch.”

 

Don’t get in a hurry with the cartoon because there’s a lot of detail here I will be looking for.

 

·        Shrink the image so that it occupies a maximum of 1/3 of the entire page.

·        Provide the artist’s name in parentheses to the bottom right of the image.

  

·        Give credit to the source of the cartoon in your MLA Works Cited page, making careful note of the original publication as well as the website that you copied it from. 

·        For an electronic source, all you’ll need is www.politicalcartoons.com, but you’ll also have luck searching through back issues of The Week.

 Section Four:  Conclusion (1 page) 

Provide an appropriate conclusion to the paper by first revisiting your thesis and your most salient points of self-discovery.  Then, conclude your paper by forecasting and answer to the question, “How might my political beliefs shape my future?”  You have a range of options to consider for this section because you are all such different thinkers; just bring the paper to its appropriate conclusion.  Depending on your level of optimism about the future, you might discuss the degree to which your ideology inspires/discourages/isolates you in your community/campus/world.  Perhaps you’re going to become an activist, a candidate, a working stiff, a couch potato non-voter, a missionary, or a soccer mom; whatever the case, discuss how the budding political platform of your teenage years might evolve to influence the future you.  

 Section Five:  MLA Works Cited

You’ll use this as a way to give credit to the print/Internet sources in Section Three of your paper.  Refer to any reputable MLA reference, or utilize the resources provided by our eager and capable library staff at http://www.mead354.org/page.cfm?p=5351. 

 Titles & Formatting

Your finished product must reflect careful planning and construction.  It must have a title (on a separate title page) that appropriately reflects your thesis, and sub-heading at the outset of each section that direct the reader on the shifting topics.  The title and sub-headings not only add to the clarity of your paper’s organization, but also provide a great opportunity to add a touch of your unique voice to the paper.  Feel free to utilize clever, symbolic, or catchy language that entertains the reader; but don’t be cheesy as this will undermine the work as a whole. 

 

Please be sure to polish your final product according to the following standards:

• Double space
• 12 pt. Times New Roman font
• One inch margins
• Free of awkward sentence construction and errors in spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. 

Follow standard MLA formatting guidelines for:

• Parenthetical citations of news sources
• Citation of political cartoons
• Works Cited page

   PART II:  Write a Book Review
As a vital component of your self-exploration, read a book that truly
feeds your political passion and curiosity, and write a review evaluating
 the author’s effectiveness and the usefulness of the work as a whole.  

For all the books that teachers have forced upon you over the years, here’s an assignment that tries a fresh approach:  pick your own.  Even the most senioritis-stricken can find something to get fired up about on the “Politics/Current Events” shelf at the bookstore.  Go ahead, try it.  Spend one hour browsing this section and you’ll undoubtedly find a title that connects with you; it resonates with that same “political self” you’ve been thinking and writing about in your paper.  Once you’ve found it, just make sure that it’s 1.) related to your political interests, 2.) non-fiction, 3.) published in the last 10 years, and 4.) a minimum of 200 pages in length.  To play it safe, please check with me for “advice and consent” on your chosen title.  After that, you’re ready to start turning pages! 

 

A simple way to get started on your search for a good book is to do some searches on Amazon.com or Barnesandnoble.com.  Websites such as these allow you to type in a very specific topic.  In addition, they will make recommendations for you on related titles in the subject.  Once you find a title, check for it in one of the local public libraries, university libraries, or here at the high school.  There’s no sense spending money if you don’t have to.  If you find a title that you absolutely cannot do without, and you cannot find it on the shelves locally, be sure to ask a librarian for assistance.  They get paid to put resources into the hands of eager readers. 

 Paragraph organization (Feel free to use topic sub-headings)

1. Introduction to the book, and a discussion of why you chose it (this discussion should reflect the discoveries you’re making and work you’re doing in the platform paper)

2. A summary of the author’s thesis/overall purpose for publishing.

3. Summary of the book’s organizational layout (please do not simply list the chapter titles).

4. Evaluation of the author’s persuasiveness in proving their thesis.  Since each author will present information in different ways, consider addressing some of these questions as appropriate:  Did he/she make their case?  More importantly, does their thesis even matter?  What does it contribute to the world of political analysis?  To what degree does the thesis and supporting evidence challenge/reaffirm your personal political biases?  

5. Conclude by assessing the degree to which you would recommend this book to future students.  What audience would most benefit from this book?  REMEMBER TO INCLUDE POIGNANT QUOTES AND PARENTHETICAL PAGE REFERENCES AS FURTHER EVIDENCE OF COMPLETE AND CAREFUL READING.

 Formatting Requirements

§         Two-Four pages typed, double spaced

§         Times New Roman 12 pt. font

§         One inch margins

§         Free of awkward sentence construction and errors in spelling, capitalization, or punctuation. 

 PART III:  Create a Media Presentation
Have a little fun at the media’s expense by spoofing
an NPR news story through the lens of your unique political bias. 

Exploring one’s emerging political platform can be heady stuff.  This entire project will require you to do some serious soul searching and more than likely produce a few unpleasant thoughts directed towards your favorite teachers. 

 

In this section of the project examine your political platform and have a little fun with it.  Working with one or two other classmates you will create a National Public Radio spoof on any major news story of the year.  To find a topic, consider reviewing your Reflective Journals or copies of The Week (www.theweekmagazine.com).  Once you’ve found it check with me for my “advice and consent” on your presentation idea.  YOUR NEWS STORIES MUST BE CONFIRMED BY ME BEFORE YOU BEGIN.  After you’ve completed the confirmation hearings on your idea, start creating your spoof.  Feel free to make fun of the news event, the way it was covered by the mass media, public reaction, NPR itself, or all of the above!  Remember though, no matter how funny it is, your newscast still has to clearly indicate your political opinion/s. 

 

You may notice this portion of the project is excessively vague.  This allows for some creative license.  You can be witty, but the presentation must be appropriate (hence, the confirmation process).

 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AUDIO PODCAST

      1.  Audio recording on Mac or PC digital recording software.

      2. Three to four minutes in length.

      3.  Includes spoken dialogue.

      4.  Includes music that connects to, and enhances the presentation.

      5.  Background sounds/effects that indicate your report is “on location.”

6.  CLEARLY COMMUNICATES YOUR political bias in response to one of the year’s biggest national news stories.

7. Demonstrates appropriate use of editing that enhances the presentation rather than distracts the audience.

         1^st Week     Chapters 1& 2. Study of American Government and the Constitution. ( Wilson, James Q.  and John J. Dilulio, Jr. American Government: ninth edition.      Boston, MA:  Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004)Goals and objectives:   The study of American Government.  The creation of the Federal Government, The Federal system.  The Constitution, a living document.   Readings Lasser, William. Perspective on American Politics,  Fourth edition. Boston, MA:  Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004.  1.1 Federalist  #10. 1.2 Federalist  #47. 1.3 Federalist #48. 1.4 Federalist #51.  1.5 The address and reason of dissent of the minority of the convention of Pennsylvania to their constituents.1.6  Second Thoughts on the Second Amendment1.7 How Ideas Travel:  Rights at Home and Abroad1.8 The Founding Fathers:  A reform caucus in Action Additional Readings:1.        “Why men rule and conservatives will inherit the earth.” Phillip Longman, Foreign Policy, 2006.2.        “A world without Israel.” Josef Joffe, Poreign Policy, 20053.        “Policical Wasteland, Why democracy won’t save the Middle East.” Marina Ottaway and Thomas Carothers, Foreign Policy, 2004. Questions to be answered During the 1^st two weeks:   Free Response questions for turn in. 1. Why do governments exist and what are their functions?2. Identify the characteristics of a nation-state.3. What are the purposes of government?4. How are The Declaration of Independence and UnitedStates Constitution inextricably linked together?5. What are the six basic principles of the U.S. Constitution?6. In what ways can the Constitution be amended?7. Explain the impact the Supremacy Clause has on state government8. How is power dispersed in a Federal system ofGovernment?9.  Compare the institutions that have power over you.  What are the characteristics that distinguish one set of institutions from another? 10.  Distinguishing between power and authority is, fundamentally, reflective of        one’s political beliefs.  In what kinds of institutions do you have confidence? Why do you trust them? Are there any that raise your suspicions?11. How democratic is the U.S.?  For example, clear majorities of the American people favor allowing prayer in the public schools and favor handgun control.  Yet the Supreme Court has ruled that prayer in the schools is a violation of the Constitution, and Congress has not yet passed comprehensive handgun regulation.  Is this evidence that the U.S. in not a democracy?    12. The United States Constitution has endured for more than two centuries as the framework of government.  However, the meaning of the Constitution has been changed both by formal and informal methods. a. Identify two formal methods for adding amendments to the Constitution. b. Describe two informal methods that have been used to change the meaning of the Constitution.  Provide one specific example for each informal method you described. c. Explain why informal methods are used more often than the formal amendment process.  Activities:  Reading/writing, videotape, lecture, class activities, discussion, critical thinking,  writing and test. Things for students to Create or answer. 

• Compare the United States Constitution to the Iroquois Constitution.

 2^nd Week       Chapter 3.  Federalism. (Wilson and Dilulio.) Overview: The people of the thirteen colonies revolted against the strong rule of the British king.  Was the new nation likely to accept a powerful central authority?  Hardly!  The roots of federalist system lie in the framers’ desire to provide the states with a large measure of autonomy.  What are the implications of federalism for democracy Goals and objectives:  Government Structure. The debate on the meaning of Federalism.  Federal-state relations.  Federal aid and federal controls. Readings: Lasser, Perspectives on American Politics 2.1 What the Antifederalists were for.2.1 Federalist # 392.3 Federalist # 452.4 American Federalism on the Horizon2.5  If you sincerely want to be a United States …2.6  The man behind the mayor2.7 The out of towners1.  Essay on: Why hawks Win.  Daniel Kahmenman and Jonathan Renshon2.  Article:  Americanism-and its Enemies, David Gelernter, Commentry, 20053.  Article:  Are Empires Past their Prime?  Niall Ferguson, Foreign Policy, 2006 Free response Questions:  (timed)

1. What beliefs and philosophies influenced the Founding Fathers in the development of the U.S. Government?

Using the federalist papers and your knowledge of the U.S. Government:

1. Explain how the authors of the Federalist Papers defined the character of the national government?
2. Describe or Illustrate the Federalist position regarding the creation of one of the branches of government.   Hint Use Federalist paper #10 and 51.
3. How has the distribution of power between Washington and the state changed in recent years?  What implications do these changes have for the shape of American public Policy.
4. How would the Federalist and Antifederalist evaluate the trends in American Federalism describe in the readings.

 6.  Does Federalism enhance effectiveness in government, or does federalism undermine effectiveness in government? Activities.  Reading/writing, videotape, lecture, class activities, discussion, critical thinking,  writing and test. Things for students to Create or answer. ·        Flow chart for sequence of events that shaped American government 3^rd Week        Chapter 18,  Civil Liberties (Wilson and Dilulio) Overview:  One of the most important theoretical premises of a democratic political system is the guarantee of certain rights and liberties.  Many of these rights and liberties have been enshrined in the Constitution, but not without significant and ongoing debate about their merit.  More than the other two branches of government, the Supreme Court has been heavily enmeshed in such debates, and we will study a variety of questions in this area though the lens of their decisions. Goal and objectives:  Interpreting and applying the first amendment, What is speech,  Church and State, Who is a person, Crime and due process.   Readings:  Lasser, Perspectives on American Politics3.1 On liberty3.2 Terrorism and limits of law3.3 The Universal Declaration and the U.S. Constitution3.4 Speaking our minds1.  Article.  A new Washington scandal could bring Congress to its knees, US News and world report, Sept 20062.  Article.  George Washington on British biowarfare, IS News and World report, July 20063.  Gunning for the World, David Morton, Foreign Policy.  (2^nd Admendment)4.  Patriot Act Summary  (provided by teacher)5. How Eminent Domain Ran Amok, Carla T. Main, Policy Review, No 133, 2005Free Response Questions1.  Is the right to own a gun the same as the right to assembly, of freedom of speech.  Defend your answer based on previous reading.2.  Identify the major aspects of the patriot act and interpret its ramifications on our delineated freedoms.3.  Initially, the United States Constitution did little to protect citizens from actions of the states.  In the twentieth century, the Supreme Court interpreted the Constitution to protect the rights of citizens from state governments in a process referred to as incorporation. a.        Define selective incorporation.b.       Explain how each of the following has been incorporated.  Each of your explanations must be based on specific and relevant supreme court decisions.Ø      Rights of criminal defendantsØ      First AmendmentØ      Privacy rights  4. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.The Supreme Court has the difficult task of interpreting the above words in order to identify which forms of speech deserve protection, and which forms of speech are subject to regulations.            a. Identify and provide a detailed discussion of the U.S. Supreme Court case that interprets the nature of “obscenity.”b. Identify and provide a detailed discussion of any other U.S. Supreme Court case that establishes a standard of acceptable forms of speech/expression. 5.  To what degree have our government institutions been successful in balancing individual rights to liberty, with society’s need for order and stability?Discussion issues, and  things to know:1. Establishment Clause (1st Amendment)2. Free Exercise Clause (1st Amendment)3. Amendment 44. Amendment 55. Amendment 66. Amendment 87. Due Process Clause (14th Amendment)8. Equal Protection Clause (14th Amendment)9. Incorporation Theory/Doctrine (aka Nationalization p. 99)10. Prior Restraint11. Symbolic Speech12. Probable Cause13. Exclusionary Rule14. How do school rights differ from “real world” rights15. ACLU16. Civil Liberties Matching Quiz17. Barron18. Gideon19. Miranda20. Mapp21. Gitlow22. “Right to Privacy” and abortion Activities  Reading/writing, videotape, lecture, class activities, discussion, critical thinking,  writing and test.   4^th Week         Chapter 19. Civil Rights  (Wilson and Dilulio) Overview:  More than the other two branches of government, the Supreme Court has been heavily enmeshed in such debates, and we will study a variety of questions in this area though the lens of their decisions. Goal and objectives:  The campaign in the courts,  (separate but equal,) The campaign in Congress (racial profiling) Women and Equal Rights, Affirmative Action.  Readings:  Lasser, Perspectives on American Politics4.1    Plessy vs. Ferguson4.2    4.2 Brown vs. Bd of education4.3    Bolling vs. Sharpe4.4    Affirmative Action4.5    Multicultural Citizenship4.6    Women in the barracksArticle:  Israel in a Middle East Union, Jeff Halper, TIKKUN vol.20 No.1  (Civil rights                                         for Palestinian’s ) Free Response Questions (Topics) 

1. What are civil rights?  
2. Why was the Civil Rights movement necessary? 
3. Identify the Amendments relative to civil rights.

Free response questions:

1. Was Affirmative Action Necessary? Site at least two cases that describe the effects of Affirmative Action.
2. What impact did Brown vs. the Board Have?  What was the immediate response by the states.  Did they comply with the law or try to subvert the system.  Give examples

      6. Many scholars and observers have argued that the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution has become the single most important act in all of United States politics.a. Select two Supreme Court cases below and identify which provision of the Fourteenth Amendment was applied in each. b. For each case you select, explain the significance of the decision in U.S. politics.   q       Brown v. Board of Education (1954)q       UC Regents v. Bakke (1978)q       Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)q       Miranda v. Arizona (1966)q       Mapp v. Ohio (1961) Discussion issues, and  things to know:1. Civil War Amendments2. Equal Protection & Due Process clauses (14th Amendment)3. Supreme Court of the United States Equal Protection Standards for Classification (p. 141)4. Dred Scott (1857)5. Plessy (1896)6. Brown (1954)7. Brown enforcement issues8. Busing & Swann (1971)9. De jure vs. de facto segregation10. Civil Rights Act of 196411. Voting Rights Act of 196512. Poll Taxes & the 24th Amendment13. White Primary14. Shaw v. Reno (1993) & Racial Gerrymandering15. Korematsu (1944)16. 19th Amendment17. Equal Rights Amendment18. Title IX19. Reed v. Reed (1971)20. EEOC21. Comparable Worth & Gender Pay Equity22. ADA23. Bakke (1978)24. Affirmative Action25. University of Michigan casesActivities  Reading/writing, videotape, lecture, class activities, discussion, critical thinking,   Debates,  writing and test. 5^th Week      Chapters 4,5, & 6  Political Culture and Public Opinion (Wilson and Dilulio) Overview:  Americans have widely divergent opinions about politics.  Is there ever any consensus?  What do the terms “liberal” and “conservative” mean to you?  Do you think those terms have much concrete meaning for most Americans?  Where do we learn about politics, and is it true that political socialization occurs only during childhood?  What are your earliest political memories, and do they have any impact on the way you approach politics today? Goal and objectives:  Political system, Comparing America with other nations, Mistrust of government, Politial tolerance.  What is Public opinion, Schooling, gender gap, social class, Political ideology, Political elites, opinion and policy. Readings:  Lasser, Perspectives on American Politics5.1 Democracy in America5.2 One nation, slightly divisible5.3 American exceptionalism5.4 The other war roomArticles:  The First Law of Petropolitics, Thomas L. Friedman, Foreign Policy                When Jesus Votes, Roger Friedland, TIKKUN, Vol. 20 Number 1                 Mid-terms Elections:  The impact of Local and National Issues, Lisa Prososki, PBS News Hour Extra.The Wars and Public Opinion, John Mueller, Foreign Affairs, 2005 Free Response Questions: (topics)1. Describe the factors that shape public opinion?2. What limits the impact of public opinion in a constitutional democracy?3. Demonstrate the impact of special interest and lobby groups on the U.S. political system?4. How has mass media influenced politics?5. What role do interest groups have in the development of public policy?6. Define propaganda and demonstrate how is it used in the political arena?7. What cultural and technological characteristics can link or divide regions?8.  Describe challenges in measuring public opinion.9.  Identify five steps in the polling process, and the types of polls.10.  Identify cultural, technological characteristics that link or divide regions in the U.S. Additional FRQ’s and projects or Things for students to Create or answer. 

• Evaluate the impact of interest groups on the political process.
• Evaluate the role of media in our political life, explain the role of media in

             influencing the public agenda.

• Develop a chart explaining different propaganda techniques and their uses.
• Explain how our tradition of joining organizations has resulted in a wide range of interest groups.
• Compare/contrast interest groups and political parties.
• Study political party platforms & principles and determine which one you agree with most.
•   Identify interest group, peer group, mass media, Chamber of Commerce, Sierra  Club, PETA, lobbyist, random

sampling, sampling error, straw vote, cluster sample, quota sample, scientific poll,public opinion, FCC, editorial page, fact, opinion, propaganda Activities  Reading/writing, videotape, lecture, class activities, discussion, critical thinking,   Debates,  writing and test.   6^th Week       Chapters:  9 &10  Interest Groups, Social Movements and the Media (Wilson and Dilulio) Overview:  The pluralist model of democracy assumes that Americans with similar political interests will band together in order to influence the policy process.  Does this happen?  The number of interest groups in Washington has grown quite dramatically during the twentieth and now the twenty first century.  What are the ramifications of this fact for democracy in America?  We will also consider the differences between interest groups and social movements.   There is no doubt that the influence of the mass media on politics and Americans in general has grown dramatically during the twentieth and twenty first centuries.  While the print media certainly provided and important forum for political debate, the area in which we will concentrate most of our attention is television.  How do you think the extensive coverage of the Persian Gulf War and now the war in Iraq has shaped attitudes about the conflicts?  We will also consider the political content of televised entertainment and film.  Goal and objectives:  Explaining Proliferation, The birth of Interest Groups, Organizations, Social Movements.  Funding for groups, Bias, Regulating Groups.  Structure of the media, Rules governing the media, Effects of media on Politics.  Should we believe all we read and hear?  Readings:  Lasser, Perspectives on American Politicsa.       The scope and bias of the pressure systemb.      Always involved, rarely centralc.       Lobbying, Euro-styled.      A new form of lobbying puts public face on private interest7.1    New York Times Co Vs. United States7.2    Bias7.3    Victim Politics7.4    Inside Al Jazeera7.5    Keeper of Secrets1.  Public Diplomacy:  Lessons from King and Mandela, Policy Review, No 133, 2005 Free Response Questions 1.) Recent trends in the mass media and the rise of interest groups have combined to have significant positive effects on America’s political system.  List two factors relating to the mass media AND discuss how they have enhanced democracy.  List two factors relating to  interest groups and discuss how they have enhanced democracy. 2.) Recent trends in the mass media and the rise of interest groups have combined to have significant negative effects on America’s political system.  List two factors relating to the mass media AND discuss how they have damaged democracy.  List two factors relating to interest groups and discuss how they have damaged democracy. 3.)  National interest groups often target national-level policymaking institutions to achieve their policy objectives.            a. Identify a national interest group. b. For the group you have chosen, discuss two common tactics used to influence the Legislative Branch. c. For the group you have chosen, discuss two common tactics used to influence the Judicial Branch. d. Identify two resources or characteristics of the interest group and explain how each acts as an influence onnational policymaking institutions. Discussion issues, and  things to know: Interest Groups1. Know Interest Group examples2. What are the many things that Lobbyists do besides talk to legislators3. Multiple Points of Access (know examples of group activity at each level & branch ofgovernment)4. Interest Groups and the 1st Amendment5. Interest Groups as Linkage Institutions6. PACs7. Why do people join Interest Groups?8. Bowling Alone9. Interest Groups & Pluralist/Elitist/ Theory10. Federalist 10 = Factions11. Iron Triangles (Hyperpluralism) and Interest Group12. Hard Money vs. Soft Money (Soft goes directly to the party NOT to the candidate) Media1. Historic examples of the media2. Is the media biased? Which way?3. How does the government regulate the media4. How is the media changing?5. Spin6. Incredible Shrinking Sound Bite7. Role of the White House Press Secretary8. Wag the Dog9. The Modern Media Conglomerate (Time Warner)10. Managing the Media for Free Airtime Activities  Reading/writing, videotape, lecture, class activities, discussion, critical thinking,   writing and test.   7^th Week       Chapters 7 & 8 Political Parties and Elections and Campaigns (Wilson and Dilulio) Overview:  When you think of Democrats and Republicans, what images come to mind?  Political parties play a number o important roles in American poitics.  We will consider the implications of partisan control of political “independent,” do you still have partisan leanings?  Are there any real differences between American political parties?  What chances do third party and independent candidates stand in elections?  Also some would say that elections are the most democratic aspect of the American political system.  We will assess this claim.  We will also consider the ways in which political campaigns have changed and evolved over time.  Does the typical American campaign help voters to identify the “best” person for the office? Goal and objectives:  A study of the rise and decline of political parties, The national party structure today, State and local Parties.  Nominating a President.  Campaigns, President vs. congressional campaigns.  Money.  What decides the election Readings:  Lasser, Perspectives on American Politics8.1    Towards a more responsible two party system8.2    The crabgrass wars8.3    Why there’s nothing the democrats could have done8.4    Breaking the two party monopoly8.5    “oh, waiter! One order of Crow!”1.  Trouble in Bush Country, The crisis in the Republican Party,  ISR, Aug 20062.  War and the Mid-Term elections, Newsweek, 2006 Free Response Questions:1. What role do political parties play in the electoral process?2. Explain how individuals develop a sense of politicalidentity.3. How was suffrage extended in the United States?4. What are the voting rights and responsibilities of U.S.citizens?5. Describe how federal civil rights and voting rights havechanged since the 1950's. What are the social and politicalimplications of these events?6. What are the different types and purposes of primaryelections?7.    Analyze the current status of the United States election system by performing the following tasks:a. Discuss the current status of U.S. voter turnout as compared to other Western democracies. b. Identify each of the following and explain how it is associated with the decline in U.S. voterturnout.o       Institutional obstacleso       Incumbencyo       Dealignmento       Public opinion polling 8.  According to many, the usefulness and vitality of the American two-party system is weakening, and perhaps dying out.  Is this an accurate characterization? 9.)  Based on your knowledge of the historical context of the Constitutional Convention, and the 2000 Presidential Election, complete the following tasks regarding the Electoral College: a. Identify how a candidate captures the electoral votes of a state today, AND how they continue to win the overall election. b. Identify and discuss two examples of how the above rules impact presidential campaigns.  c. Finally, identify two historical justifications for the Electoral College and discuss the relevance of these today. Things for students to create or do: 

• Evaluate citizens' participation in government and civic life, and duties in various governments.
• Develop a timeline of federal civil rights and voting rights.
• Analyze the role of political parties in the electoral process.
• Describe the different types of primary elections.
• Evaluate the sequence of the election process.
• Evaluate the merits of a Two-Party System.

 Things to know and discuss Public Opinion1. Exit Polls2. Gallup Polls3. Margin of Error4. How can polls be flawed?5. Tracking Polls6. Push Polls7. What factors are important in politicalsocialization?8. Changing Demography of America Campaign Finance1. Buckley v. Valeo2. BCRA AKA McCain/FeingoldCampaign Finance Reform3. PACS and Campaign Finance4. EMILY5. FECA6. FEC7. Independent Expenditures8. Soft vs. Hard Money9. Fund raising scandals Elections1. How do primaries & caucuses work?2. Significance of Iowa & New Hampshire3. Closed vs. Open Primaries4. Move to the extremes to get the nomination and move to the center to get elected5. Who decides when primaries and caucuses are held and who decides howdelegates are awarded?6. Super Tuesday