Unit 4: Institutions of National Government
Day
47

48

49
50
51









52


53

54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63



















Topic
Pre-Test; Begin Separation of Powers & Checks &
Balances Worksheet
Separation of Powers + Checks & Balances
Worksheet
Primary Source Activity: Separation of Powers
HW: Formal Arrangements… Venn Diagram
Relationships among Institutions: War Powers Act
HW: Study Separation of Powers / Checks &
Balances
Relationships among Institutions Essay [SC13]
HW: Read p.311-328 [CH13 Review]
Congress: Basics [PPT Slides 1-21]
114th Congress Articles + Discussion
HW: Read p.329-335 + Mirroring Data Analysis
Congress: Powers [PPT Slides 22-28]
HW: Passing Laws in House & Senate Research +
Read p.336-357
Congress: Creating Laws & Committee System [PPT
Slides 29-32]
Committees Worksheet
Congress: Current Issues
HW: Read p.358-375 [CH14 Review]
Presidency Notes
HW: Read p.370-399 + President Charts
*Extra Credit*
Data Analysis: Presidential Approval
Presidency: What makes a good president? What
makes a popular president? Short Essays [SC13]
HW: Read p.400-423 [CH15 Review]
Organization of the Bureaucracy Reading
Legislatures & Statutory Control of Bureaucracy
Questions
Bureaucracy: Cabinet Positions
Bureaucracy: Regulatory Agencies Research
Bureaucracy: Independent Agencies Research
HW: Current Event
Bureaucracy Current Events Discussion
HW: Read p.428-457 [CH16 Review]
Judiciary: Courts System
Begin Supreme Court Cases
Judiciary: Supreme Court Cases
64
65
66




67

Judiciary: Supreme Court Cases
Judiciary: Supreme Court Cases
Judiciary: Judicial Activism VS Judicial Restraint
HW: Read & form opinion on the 10 Big Supreme
Court Cases Awaiting Decision
Judiciary: Current Cases Opinion Debate [SC10]
68

Institutions Vocabulary Quiz
69

Comparison to Parliamentary Systems Abroad
Assn. Due
Reading
Supplemental Materials
Government Chart
Separation of
Powers & Venn
Diagram
Relationships
Among Institutions
Essay
p.311-328
Data Analysis
p.329-335
Passing Laws
Research
p.336-357
Committees
Worksheet
CH13 Review
President Charts
CH14 Review
*Extra Credit*
Huffington Post: “Congress
Diversity Peaks as 113th
Class Members are Sworn
In” [SC12]
“The Ins and Outs of the
Committee System”
News Articles [SC12]
p.358-375
Federalist #70
[SC11]
p.370-399
Presidential Approval Chart
[SC9]
p.400-423
“Organization of the
Bureaucracy”
Current Event
CH15 Review
p.428-457
“Landmark Cases of the
Supreme Court” Website
“10 Big Supreme Court
Cases Awaiting Decision”
CH16 Review
70

Comparison to Parliamentary Systems Abroad
71

Op.Ed: government structure [SC13]
72

Link to Public Opinion & Voters: Write letters to
Congressmen [SC13]
73

Link to Public Opinion & Voters: Case Study:
Incumbent re-election data [SC9]
74

Link to Interest Groups
75
76
77



Link to Interest Groups
Link to Political Parties
Link to Political Parties
78

Link to the Media
79

Link to the Media: Current Events
80

Link to State & Local Governments


Unit 4 Review
Unit 4 Exam
Center for Responsive
Politics: Reelection Rates
Over the Years Graph
News Articles
[SC12]
81
82
83



Essential Questions
What are the constitutional roles of the different branches
of government?
How do the institutions of national government interact
with one another?
How do institutions of national government link with
interest groups, political parties, public opinion, local
governments, and the media?



Enduring Understandings
The Constitution sets roles for the legislative branch that
apply to Congress, the executive branch that apply to the
president and bureaucracies, and judicial branch that apply
to the Supreme Court.
The president, Congress, and Supreme Court interact with
one another in formal and informal ways.
Institutions of national government all influence and are
influenced by interest groups, political parties, public
opinion, local governments, and the media.
Resources
 Huffington Post. “Congress Diversity Peaks as 113th Class Members Are Sworn IN.” January 2013. With charts.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/03/congress-diversity-113-members-sworn-in_n_2404848.html
 Unitarian Universalist Association. “The Ins and Outs of the Committee System.”
http://www.uua.org/action/advocacytips/26940.shtml
 Alexander Hamilton. Federalist #70. http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa70.htm
 Wall Street Journal. “How the Presidents Stack Up.” Presidential Approval Graph.
http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-presapp0605-31.html
 US History.org. “Organization of the Bureaucracy.” http://www.ushistory.org/gov/8b.asp
 Street Law, Inc. & the Supreme Court Historical Society. “Landmark Cases of the Supreme Court.”
http://www.streetlaw.org/en/landmark/home
 Constitution Center. “10 Big Supreme Court Cases Awaiting Decisions.” May 5, 2014.
http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2014/05/10-big-supreme-court-cases-awaiting-decisions/
 Center For Responsive Politics. “Reelection Rates Over the Years.” House & Senate Reelection Rates Graphs.
https://www.opensecrets.org/bigpicture/reelect.php
AP Scoring Components
SC6 The course provides instruction in Institutions of National Government.
SC9 The course provides students with practice analyzing and interpreting data.
SC10 The course provides students with practice analyzing information relevant to US government and politics.
SC11 The course includes supplemental readings, including primary source materials
SC12 The course includes supplemental readings, including contemporary news analyses that strengthen student understanding of
curriculum.
SC13 The course requires students to answer analytical and interpretive free response questions on a frequent basis.
Analytical: Presidential power has evolved since the writing of the Constitution. Why has this occurred? How has presidential power
grown? How has it been abused? How has it been checked/limited? What criteria should be used to assess current and former
presidents? Use specific examples as evidence.
Practical: Presidential power has evolved since the writing of the Constitution. Why has this occurred? How has presidential power
grown? How has it been abused? How has it been checked/limited? What criteria should be used to assess current and former
presidents? Use evidence from the presidencies of Richard Nixon and Franklin Roosevelt.
http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/publication/2011/07/20110727112022su0.829765.html#axzz3JjX4uDvN