American Government
Fall 2015
Donald F. De Angelo
ddeangelo@cathedralcatholic.org
ddeangelo@cchsdons.com
AH 209
(858) 523-4000 x1258
Course Description
American government increases the political knowledge and sophistication of the student
who is about to vote. The course studies the roles, recruitment and decision-making
powers of the president, Congress and Supreme Court. The chief executive, legislative
and judicial bodies of our state and local governments are examined. Current events are
emphasized.
Materials
 Required textbook, TCI’s Government Alive: Power, Politics, and You
 IPad with a Google site for this course
 Please bring additional school supplies including pens, pencils, and plenty of
lined paper.
Homework
Students will have anywhere from 10-20 pages of reading per evening. The reading will
coincide with various assignments that will be posted as a separate page on the students’
Google sites. The Google site will be checked when the students are taking their quiz for
a respective section of the textbook (i.e. our first section is chapters 1 and 2 so the
homework on the Google site will be graded on August 28 or 29).
Grading
American Government is a 4-point course:
97-100%=A+
87-89%=B+
93-96%=A
83-86%=B
90-92%=A80-82%=B-
"A" =4, "B"=3, "C"=2, "D"=1, and "F"=0
77-79%=C+
67-69%=D+
73-76%=C
63-66%=D
70-72%=C60-62%=D-
The following weight-scale will be used (quarter/semester):
Midterm and Final Exams
20%/20%
Class Work
35%/35%% worksheets, reflections, flashcards
Unit Quizzes
35%/35%
Current Events
10%/10%
American Government
P2
Student Learning Outcomes
Students explain the fundamental principles and values of American democracy as
expressed in the Constitution and other documents fundamental to the shaping of
American democracy. (ESLR 2)
Students evaluate, take, and defend positions on the scope and limits of rights and
obligations of citizens of the United States. (ESLR 2.1)
Students evaluate, take, and defend positions on fundamental values and principles of
civil society and learn their meaning and importance to a free society.(ESLR 1.3)
Students analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of
government as established by the Constitution. (ESLR 2.1)
Students summarize landmark U.S. Supreme Court interpretations of the Constitution and
its amendments. (ESLR 2)
Students evaluate issues regarding campaigns for national, state, and local elective
offices. (ESLR 2.1, 2.2)
Students analyze and compare the powers and procedures of national, state, and local
governments. (ESLR 2)
Students evaluate, take, and defend positions on the influence and role of the media on
American political life. (ESLR 2.3, 4.1)
Students analyze the origins, characteristics, and development of different political
systems across time, with emphasis on the quest for democracy, its advances, and its
obstacles. (ESLR 2)
Students formulate questions and defend their analyses of tensions within our
constitutional democracy and the importance of maintaining a balance among the
following concepts: majority rule and individual rights; liberty and equality; state and
national authority in a federal system; civil disobedience and rule of law; freedom of
press and right to a fair trial; the relationship of religion and government.(ESLR 1, 4.4)
Students will examine the process of law required to conduct the business of California’s
civil and criminal courts. (ESLR 2, 3.4)
Class Work: Each student will create a Google site for this class. On the Google site
each student will create a separate page for each of the chapters in the TCI textbook.
There must be AT LEAST a list of the chapter’s vocabulary and written definition.
Students should consider also including outlines and any graphic aids for each chapter.
Google sites will be checked for a grade after every TWO CHAPTERS. Done, according
to the directions is a 100%, half done 50%, not there 0%.
Unit Quizzes: After every TWO CHAPTERS the students will take a 20-question
multiple-choice quiz.
Current Events: Each student must complete a written report – placed on their Google site
for each of the following observations: (1)International Current Event; (2)National
Current Event; (3)Court Observation (students will have a one-day trip to SD
Courthouse); (4)Local Government Observation (students must go to actual local
meeting)
Midterm/Final Exam: Both the Midterm and Final exam will follow the same format. 60
Multiple-choice questions, 20 Identifications, Short Answer questions (100 points) The
Semester Final will have more questions on the fourth quarter.
Extra Credit: Throughout the semester there will be additional opportunities for points.
The following assignments may be submitted for points:
1). Written observation of the film Dave (10 points to Midterm exam)
2). Written observation of the documentary Thank You for Smoking (5 points on Unit
Seven Quiz)
3). Presidential Campaign Project (5 points on Unit Eight Quiz).
4). Written essay on Failed States and Genocide (10 points on Final Exam)
Content
August 14: Introduction to the class and textbook/Google site
PART I: Conceptual Foundations of American Government
Power, Authority, and Government
Chapter One: The Nature of Power, Politics, and Government (August 17)
Chapter Two: Comparing Forms of Government (August 19)
Section Activity/Review/Quiz August 21
Foundations of American Government
Chapter Three: The Roots of American Democracy (August 25)
Chapter Six: Federalism: National, State, and Local Powers (August 27)
Section Activity/Review/Quiz August 31
Chapter Four: The United States Constitution (September 2)
Chapter Five: The Bill of Rights and Civil Liberties (September 4)
Section Activity/Review/Quiz September 9
PART II: Structure of the Unites States Government
The Legislative Branch
Lawmakers and Legislatures (September 11)
Congressional Lawmaking (September 15)
Section Activity/Review/Quiz September 17
The Executive Branch
Chief Executives and Bureaucracies (September 21)
The Federal Budget (September 23)
Section Activity/Review/Quiz September 25
The Judicial Branch
Courts, Judges, and the Law (September 29)
The Criminal Justice System (October 1)
Section Activity/Review/Quiz October 5
National and International Current Events posted to Google sites October 1
MIDTERM EXAM:
Review Day: October 7
Exam Day: October 9
END OF THE FIRST QUARTER
American Government in Humor
Film Dave October 13-16 (10 Points Extra Credit to Midterm grade)
PART III: American Democracy in Action
Political Participation and Behavior
Citizen Participation in a Democracy (October 20)
Parties, Interest Groups, and Public Policy (October 22)
Section Activity/Review/Quiz October 26
Thank You For Smoking Classroom viewing and Activity
October 28-30 (5 Point Extra Credit to Quiz)
Public Opinion and the Media (November 3)
Political Campaigns and Elections (November 5)
Section Activity/Review/Quiz November 9)
The Candidate Classroom viewing and activity
November 12-18 (5 Point Extra Credit to Quiz)
PART IV: America as a Superpower
The United States and the World
The History or American Foreign Policy (November 20)
Creating American Foreign Policy (December 1)
Confronting Global Issues (December 3)
Section Activity/Review/Quiz December 7
Failed States and Genocide
December 9 (5 Point Extra Credit to Quiz)
FINAL EXAM:
Review Days: December 11
Exam Days: Red 1 December 15; Red 3 December 16
Important Information About Current Events
ALL students must do a report on three areas of government: Local, National, and
International
These reports will be posted on the student’s Google Site (each with its own page)
The current events CANNOT be about celebrities or sporting events
The national or international current event reports can be either a PowerPoint
presentation or an IMovie posted onto the Google site.
The reports must cover:
The main issue described in the news article
Background information gleaned from another source
Are there any far-reaching implications?
Is there someone doing something “wrong”?
Are there varying opinions about this issue?
If there is a problem, what are the proposed solutions?
The Local current event is to actually sit in on a local government meeting and report on
your findings.
The form for this will be posted on the instructor’s Google site.
This report may be done in just a typed and posted format.