United States Government and Politics
Mrs. Lexie Weitzel
aweitzel@lindberghschools.ws
314. 729.2410 ext. 1030
Prep hour: 4th (10:15-11:05) Please make an appointment.
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mrs-Weitzels-Government-and-PoliticsClasses/128174673919960 (“Like” this page and get updates to the class) and Moodle Page
Required Text: Remy, Richard C., United States Government: Democracy in Action.
New York: Glencoe McGraw-Hill, 2008.
*cost of a lost textbook will be $71.00
Tired of carrying your book home? Follow these directions to access the online textbook. An
online version of the textbook is available for student and parent use. This will take you to the
online book site where you will need to login with the following info:
LOGIN: USGOVNA08 PASS: pat98UDA
http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/socialstudies/ose/national.html
Course Description: The purpose of the course is to help you better understand how the government
works, and how it impacts your life. We will examine the following topics in government: growth of
democracy, federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, civil liberties, civil rights, civic
participation, global perspectives, constitutional interpretations, political processes, public policy, free
enterprise, and cultural pluralism. The state of Missouri mandates that all high school students
must pass a US Constitution test as well as a Missouri Constitution test with a grade of 59.5% or
higher to receive credit for the course regardless of the grade obtained on all other course work.
An EOC is also given at the end of this course.
Essential Questions for Civics:
1.
2.
3.
4.
What is the purpose and role of government in society?
How can we balance liberty and order?
How and why should citizens participate in government?
Who governs? To what ends?
Civics Units:
Unit 1: Foundations of Government
Unit 2: Legislative Branch
Unit 3: Executive Branch
Unit 4: Judicial Branch
Unit 5: Bill of Rights
Grading:
A=100-90%
B=89-80%
C=79-17%
Unit 6: Participating in Government
Unit 7: MO/Local Government
Unit 8: Economics
Unit 9: Public Policy
D=69-60%
F=59% or below
You will have approximately 12 unit tests, possible weekly reading quizzes, and a few major research
papers/projects/document based question essays per semester. Grades will be totaled at the end of each quarter and start
new at the beginning of each quarter. I will grade using total points. A grade summary will be totaled for two quarters for
semester one grades and two quarters for semester two grades. The first semester exam will count for 10% of your grade.
The EOC and semester exam will count as at least 15% of your final grade for semester 2.
Participation= ~30%
Homework= ~30%
Research/Projects=~15%
Tests/Quizzes=~ 25%
Work not complete for this course will result in a failure. The failure will become permanent at the end of the next
semester.
Student/Parent Access to Grades:
Students/Parents can go to SIS to access grades. Grades will be updated approximately once a week. Unit syllabi,
homework assignments, and daily activities will be made available on the Moodle.
Attendance and Participation: You should attend every class and participate in class discussions and in class
assignments. Participation will make up approximately 30% of your term grade. If you have to miss class for a critical
reason YOU will be completely responsible for any make up work that was assigned. First, go to the folders in class to
get any papers that you missed. Second, ask a responsible classmate for notes or anything else missed in class. Finally,
ask me if you have any other questions. All out of class assignments are due at the beginning of your class on the
scheduled due date. Assignments handed in later on that same day, or the next day will be worth 50% less. After one week
you will earn a zero on the assignment. There are no exceptions to this rule unless you have discussed the assignment
with me within a week of the due date. Quizzes need to be made up within the unit or your grade will result in a zero.
Rules for the Classroom:
1. Be Respectful.
3. Follow directions.
2. Be prepared and ready to learn when the bell rings. 4. Listen attentively to your peers and
me.
*follow these rules as well as the rules listed in the Lindbergh Handbook.
Hall Passes: You will have the opportunity to receive 3 hall passes per semester. Passes not used will go toward extra
credit, if needed, to get the next letter grade. Students must be in good standing in order for this to take place. You may
use a hall pass to go towards a tardy, but when you have received 3 or more tardies without a hall pass you will get a
detention. Every tardy after that will also be a detention. All detentions must be served within the specific time period!
This is school policy. There are NO exceptions to this rule.
Academic Honesty: Academic Honesty is fundamental to the activities and principles of this high school. All members
of the academic community must be confident that each person’s work has been responsibly and honorably acquired,
developed, and presented. Any effort to gain an advantage not given to all students is dishonest whether or not the effort
is successful. Everything is to be done individually unless told otherwise. The academic community regards academic
dishonesty as an extremely serious matter, with serious consequences. When in doubt about plagiarism, paraphrasing,
quoting, or collaboration, please consult me. In this course, cheating, or the appearance of it will result in an automatic
zero on that exam, project, or homework assignment. Such action includes displaying a test for others to see, looking at
another person’s test paper, attempting to communicate in any matter with another student during the test, are plagiarism.
There will be opportunities for tutoring on Tuesdays during after school instruction, and review in class. If you
need special assistance otherwise please contact me.
Materials for Class:
 Paper
 Pen/pencil
 3 ring binder with tabs for each unit
 Kleenex to donate to classroom use
 Note Cards
The six pillars of Lindbergh High School Character Education are: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility,
Fairness, Caring, Citizenship. Please strive to abide by these pillars daily.