Unit 9: Georgia State and Local Government
Student Portfolio
Directions: For Unit 9, you will be completing a student portfolio. Requirements for this unit have been broken down into the
following categories: Legislative Branch, Executive Branch, Judicial Branch, and Local Government. Each category is comprised of a
series of activities worth different points.
Name:__________________________________
Portfolio Due Date:_______________________
Total Points Possible: 400
Points Required: 150
You must complete at least one activity per category and have a total of 150points.
Portfolio
Category
10 Point Activity
Legislative
Branch
Watch the interview of a 1st
year member of the GA
General Assembly Sam Watson
and answer the following
question: What is the hardest
part of his job and what has he
learned this year?
Points Possible: 10
Executive
Branch
Create a RACE response to
answer the following question
after researching using the link
below
http://gov.georgia.gov/issues0#education
Question: What are Governor
Deal’s major strategies to
improve education in GA?
Points Possible: 10
20 Point Activity
Create a Venn
Diagram comparing
and contrasting
similarities and
differences between
the two houses in the
Georgia General
Assembly. Points
Possible: 20
Create a Venn
Diagram comparing
and contrasting
similarities and
differences between
the Governor and
Lieutenant Governor.
Points Possible: 20
30 Point Activity
Research of the GA
General Assembly
Website and Create a
Flow Chart in order to
research and summarize
4 specific committees of
the Senate or House of
Representatives.
Points Possible: 30
Research a state agency
or department. Write a
Letter to the Governor
how the programs that
are provided by the
agency or department
directly affect you and
your family.
Points Possible: 30
40 Point Activity
Create a Visual Flow Chart
of the steps in the
Legislative Process. Create a
visual or a symbol that
relates to each step in your
flow chart.
Points Possible: 40
Create a Facebook Profile
for the Governor or the
Lieutenant Governor.
Points Possible: 40
Judicial
Branch
Explain the difference (in one
paragraph) between criminal law
and civil law using the following
resource:
http://www.georgiaencyclopedia
.org/articles/governmentpolitics/judicial-branch-overview
Points Possible: 10
Local
Personal Reflection
Government If I were to run for a position in
either the city or county
governments, I would prefer to
serve in _________ the
government because…
List three elements of either city
OR county government in your
response.
Points Possible: 10
Create a Venn
Diagram comparing
and contrasting
similarities and
differences between
Juvenile, Probate, and
Magistrate Court.
Points Possible: 20
7 Deadly Sin: Find a
LOCAL or State news
article about a juvenile
accused and/or convicted
of a 7 deadly sin and
write a ONE paragraph
summary.
Points Possible: 30
Create a Visual Flow Chart
of the steps in the Pretrial
OR Trial Process. Create a
visual or a symbol that
relates to each step in your
flow chart.
Points Possible: 40
Create a Venn
Diagram comparing
and contrasting
similarities and
differences between
the role of Mayor and
City Manager within a
Mayor-Council system.
Points Possible: 20
159 Counties:
Find a LOCAL or State
news article about a
SPLOST (Special Purpose
Local Option Sales Tax) in
one of Georgia’s counties
and write a ONE
paragraph summary.
Points Possible: 30
Create a Facebook Profile
for your city councilman OR
county commissioner AND
create five interview
questions.
Points Possible: 40
Legislative Branch Activities
10 Point Activity: Watch the interview of a 1st year member of the GA General Assembly Sam Watson
Answer the following question in a RACE RESPONSE: What is the hardest part of his job and what has he learned this year?
Use this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZHptCPi_4o
Scoring Guide:
Restate the
Question
Answer the
Question
0- This criteria is not present
Cite Evidence (Piece
#1)
Cite Evidence (Piece
#2)
Explain your
Evidence
1- Criteria is present
2- Criteria is present and high quality
Total Points Possible: 10
20 Point Activity: Create a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting similarities and differences between the two houses in the
Georgia General Assembly.
Scoring Guide:
Correct Structure of
Venn Diagram
3 THOUGHTFUL
differences
indentified for
House of
Representatives
0- This criteria is not present
2 THOUGHTFUL
similarities
identified for the
Senate
2 THOUGHTFUL
similarities
identified for the
two groups
CITE your Evidence
2- Criteria is present
4- Criteria is present and high quality
Total Points Possible: 20
30 Point Activity: Research the GA General Assembly Website in order to research and summarize 4 specific committees of the
Senate or House of Representatives in a Prezi.
Use these two helpful links: http://www.house.ga.gov/Committees/en-US/CommitteeList.aspx
http://www.senate.ga.gov/committees/en-US/Home.aspx
Scoring Guide:
Identify For Specific
Committees
Summarize the
Role and
Importance of Four
Committees
0- This criteria is not present
Give an Example of
a Current Issue or
Job of each
Committee
CITE Your
Evidence
Work is
THOUGHTFUL and
Well-Developed
2.5- Criteria is present
5- Criteria is present and high quality
Total Points Possible: 30
Grammar and
Conventions
40 Point Activity: Create a Visual Flow Chart of the steps in the Legislative Process.
Create a visual or a symbol that relates to each step in your flow chart. Write written description of each step under the symbols!
Here is an example:
Scoring Guide:
Correct Legislative
Process Identified
Visual Identified for
Each Legislative
Step
0- criteria is not present
Written
Descriptions is
Accurate and
Informative for Each
Step
Work is Creative
and Neat
5- Criteria is present
10- Criteria is present and high quality
Total Points Possible: 40
Executive Branch Activities
10 Point Activity: Create a RACE response to answer the following question after researching using the link below
http://gov.georgia.gov/issues-0#education
Question: What are Governor Deal’s major strategies to improve education in GA?
Scoring Guide:
Restate the
Question
Answer the
Question
0- This criteria is not present
Cite Evidence (Piece #1)
Cite Evidence (Piece #2)
Explain your
Evidence
1- Criteria is present
2- Criteria is present and high quality
Total Points Possible: 10
20 Point Activity: Create a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting similarities and differences between the Governor and
Lieutenant Governor.
Scoring Guide:
Correct Structure of
Venn Diagram
3 THOUGHTFUL
differences
indentified for
Governor
0- This criteria is not present
2 THOUGHTFUL
similarities
identified for the Lt.
Governor
2 THOUGHTFUL
similarities
identified for the
two groups
CITE your Evidence
2- Criteria is present
4- Criteria is present and high quality
Total Points Possible: 20
30 Point Activity: Research a state agency or department. Write a Letter to the Governor about how the programs that are
provided by the agency or department directly affect you and your family.
Use the following link (and your notes) to help you in your research: http://www.gpb.org/georgiastories/stories/executive_branch
Scoring Guide:
Identify State
Agency or
Department in Your
Letter
State 3 Reasons for
the Importance of
the Agency or
Department
Explain How the
Program Affects
You or Your Family
0- This criteria is not present
CITE Your
Evidence
Follow Proper
Letter Format
2.5- Criteria is present
5- Criteria is present and high quality
Total Points Possible: 30
40 Point Activity: Create a Facebook Profile for the Governor or the Lieutenant Governor.
Use the following interactive template to create: http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/profile/
You will need to research biographical information about the Governor or Lieutenant Governor before beginning!
Scoring Guide:
Personal Info
Complete and
Accurate
About Me Complete
and Accurate
Grammar and
Conventions
Latest Blog Entry
Completed About a
Current Issue or
Topic
0- This criteria is not present
5- Criteria is present
Total Points Possible: 40
Work is Creative
and Neat
10- Criteria is present and high quality
Judicial Branch Activities
10 Point Activity: Explain the difference (in one to two paragraphs) between criminal law and civil law using the following
resource: http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/government-politics/judicial-branch-overview
Scoring Guide:
Purpose &
Supporting Details
Organization &
Structure
0- This criteria is not present
Transitions
Grammar &
Conventions
Work is
THOUGHTFUL and
Well-Developed
1- Criteria is present
2- Criteria is present and high quality
Total Points Possible: 10
20 Point Activity: Create a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting similarities and differences between Juvenile, Probate, and
Magistrate Court.
Scoring Guide:
Correct Structure of
Venn Diagram
3 THOUGHTFUL
differences
identified for
Juvenile and
Probate
0- This criteria is not present
2 THOUGHTFUL
similarities
identified for
Magistrate
2 THOUGHTFUL
similarities
identified for the
three groups
CITE your Evidence
2- Criteria is present
4- Criteria is present and high quality
Total Points Possible: 20
30 Point Activity: 7 Deadly Sin: Find a LOCAL or State news article about a juvenile accused and/or convicted of a 7 deadly sin
and write a ONE paragraph summary.
Scoring Guide:
5 sentence
summary
Choice of 7 Deadly
Sin that is clearly
stated and
identified
0- This criteria is not present
Article Choice
(Legitimate News
Source)
Organization
5 W’s (Who, What,
Where, When, Why)
Grammar and
Conventions
2.5- Criteria is present
5- Criteria is present and high quality
Total Points Possible: 30
40 Point Activity: Create a Visual Flow Chart of the steps in the Pretrial OR Trial Process. Create a visual or a symbol that relates
to each step in your flow chart.
Create a visual or a symbol that relates to each step in your flow chart. Write written description of each step under the symbols!
Here is an example:
Scoring Guide:
Correct Legislative
Process Identified
Visual Identified for
Each Legislative
Step
0- criteria is not present
Written
Descriptions is
Accurate and
Informative for Each
Step
Work is Creative
and Neat
5- Criteria is present
10- Criteria is present and high quality
Total Points Possible: 40
Local Government Activities
10 Point Activity: Personal Reflection
If I were to run for a position in either the city or county governments, I would prefer to serve in _________ the government
because…List three elements of either city OR county government in your response.
Scoring Guide:
Clarity/Accuracy
Voice
0- This criteria is not present
3 Elements of city OR
county governments
Conventions
Explain your
Evidence
1- Criteria is present
2- Criteria is present and high quality
Total Points Possible: 10
20 Point Activity: Create a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting similarities and differences between the role of Mayor and
City Manager within a Mayor-Council system.
Scoring Guide:
Correct Structure of
Venn Diagram
3 THOUGHTFUL
differences
identified for Mayor
0- This criteria is not present
2 THOUGHTFUL
similarities
identified for the Lt.
City Manager
2 THOUGHTFUL
similarities
identified for the
two groups
CITE your Evidence
2- Criteria is present
4- Criteria is present and high quality
Total Points Possible: 20
30 Point Activity: 159 Counties: Find a LOCAL or State news article about a SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) in
one of Georgia’s counties and write a ONE paragraph summary.
Scoring Guide:
5 sentence
summary
Choice of County
with a clear
SPLOST
1- This criteria is not present
Article Choice
(Legitimate News
Source)
Organization
5 W’s (Who, What,
Where, When, Why)
Grammar and
Conventions
2.5- Criteria is present
5- Criteria is present and high quality
Total Points Possible: 30
40 Point Activity: Create a Facebook Profile for your city councilman OR county commissioner AND create five interview
questions.
Use the following interactive template to create: http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/profile/
You will need to research biographical information about a city councilman or county commissioner before beginning!
Scoring Guide:
Personal Info/About
Me Complete and
Accurate
5 Interview
Questions
Latest Blog Entry
Completed About a
Current Issue or
Topic
0- This criteria is not present
5- Criteria is present
Total Points Possible: 40
Work is Creative
and Neat
10- Criteria is present and high quality