AP AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
Unit 3: Congress
 9/25 - 10/15

UNIT 3 CONTENT MAP

VOCABULARY

CATCH-ALL PARTY
IDEOLOGICAL PARTY
DEMOCRAT
REPUBLICAN
LIBERTARIAN
REALIGNMENT
PARLIAMENT
PLURALITY SYSTEM
PROPORTIONAL SYSTEM
COALITION
 CLOSED PRIMARY
OPEN PRIMARY
CROSSOVER VOTING
CENSUS

REDISTRICTING
GERRYMANDER
SAFE SEAT
INCUMBENT
REPRESENTATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONAL
ATTITUDINAL
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
MAJORITY LEADER
MINORITY LEADER
WHIP
COMMITTEES
QUOROM

EARMARK
CAUCUS
FILIBUSTER
IMPEACHMENT
INTEREST GROUP
LOBBYING
SOFT MONEY
REVOLVING DOOR
PAC
2002 BCRA
527 ORGANIZATION

 Court Cases:
CITIZENS UNITED v FEC

WEEK 6
9/24 - 9/28

LESSON

IN CLASS

HOMEWORK

Wednesday
Lesson 1

Debrief Unit 2 Test

Homework: Bring Electronic Device tomorrow for Political Party Research!

Read:  Magelby 25th,  Chapter 6 pp. 172-180 (This is Chapter 5, pp. 128-134 in the Brief Edition)

Thursday
Lesson 2

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  • What is a Political Party?

  • Why are some political parties stronger and more electorally successful than others?

Assignment:  Political Party Presentation Project

This MUST be ready by the beginning of class Friday--any assignment turned in late will be penalized 1 point.

Read:  Magelby 25th,  Chapter 6 pp. 180-188 (This is Chapter 5, pp. 134-145 in the Brief Edition)

Friday
Lesson 3

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What are the issues and ideologies of political parties in America?

·         Political Party Presentation Project

Assignment:  Political Party Presentation Project

You MUST be ready to present by the beginning of class TODAY--any assignment turned in late will be penalized 1 point.

Watch:  First-Past-the-Post Elections Systems

Read:  Magelby 25th,  Chapter 6 pp. 189-200 (This is Chapter 6, pp. 188-195 in the Brief Edition)

ALL RETAKES FOR FORMATIVES ARE DUE TODAY; NO MORE UNIT 2 RETAKES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER TODAY.

WEEK 7
10/1 - 10/5

LESSON

IN CLASS

HOMEWORK

Monday
Lesson 4

 ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What are the functions of political parties in America?
  • Types of Political Party
    • Ideological
    • Catch-All
  • The Two-Party System
    • Pluralist vs Proportional Election Systems
    • Third Parties
  • Realignments
  • The structure of Poltical Parties
    • Leadership
    • Conventions
    • Platforms

 

Quick Notes: Unit 3 Part 1 Political Parties

Homework: Bring Electronic Device Tuesday for Article I GRQs!

Read:  Magelby 25th,  Chapter 10 pp. 320-322 (This is Chapter 8, pp. 262-266 in the Brief Edition)

Tuesday
Lesson 5

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What are the constitutional powers and functions of Congress?

  •  Breakdown of the US Constitution
    • Article I

Quiz: Quicknotes 3.1

Assignment:  GRQ Unit 3

A great reference is the official US Senate Annotated Constitution linked here!

Answers must be In Your Own Words.

This is a 3 point (FNC) which WILL be checked tomorrow during the GRQ Quiz.

Watch: Gerrymandering

Read:  Magelby 25th,  Chapter 10 pp. 312-319 (This is Chapter 8, pp. 245-261 in the Brief Edition)

Wednesday
Lesson 6

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: Who is in Congress?

  •  Parliament and Congress
  • Elections
  • The Incumbent Advantage
  • Political Polarization

 

Quiz: Open GRQ (FA) quiz

Quick Notes: Unit 3 Part 2 Congress

Read:  Magelby 25th,  Chapter 10 pp. 335-338 (This is Chapter 8, pp. 262-266 in the Brief Edition)

Thursday
Lesson 7

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: Why is gerrymandering important?

Activity:  The Redistricting Game

 

Assignment: Complete The Redistricting Game simulations.

Answers must be In Your Own Words.

This MUST be turned in BEFORE the end of class today--any assignment turned in late will be penalized 1 point.

Read:   West Wing: The Stackhouse Filibuster

Friday
Lesson 8

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What is the purpose of a filibuster?

Watch:  West Wing: The Stackhouse Filibuster

 Be prepared to answer a short quiz based on the questions listed during the video, and discuss the answers.

Video Questions:

  • What are the rules to filibustering?  Name at least 5.
  • What was the original purpose of the filibuster rule in the Senate?
  • Does the House have filibusters? Why or why not?
  • What bill caused Senator Stackhouse to filibuster?
  • What was the intent of the bill?
  • What did Senator Stackhouse want to attach to the Act?
  • Why didn’t the President's Assistant Josh Lyman agree to Stackhouse’s request?
  • What is a Christmas Tree Bill?  (Hint: think about what happens on a Christmas tree.)
  • What does the President discover about the motivation behind Stackhouse’s filibuster? Is this attitudinal, organizational, or representational behavior?
  • What was Donna’s suggestion to allow Stackhouse to yield the floor?
  • How did the filibuster end?
  • Should the Senate revise the rules on floor debate? Why or why not?

 

Answers must be In Your Own Words.

This MUST be turned in BEFORE the end of class today--any assignment turned in late will be penalized 1 point.

 

Quiz: Open GRQ (FA) quiz

Read:  Magelby 25th,  Chapter 10 pp. 322-332, and pp. 339-340 (This is Chapter 5, pp. 145-153 in the Brief Edition)

Makeup: Watch Democracy in American #6: The Legislative Process

Answer the assigned questions on the Video Worksheet in complete sentences.

Answers must be In Your Own Words.

This MUST be turned in within 24 hours of your absence--any assignment turned in late will receive 50%.

WEEK 8
10/8 - 10/12

LESSON

IN CLASS

HOMEWORK

Monday
Lesson 9

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How does a bill becomes a law?

  • The structure of Congress
    • Leadership
    •  Committees
    • Caucuses
    •  Filibusters
  • Amendments
    • Earmarks
    • Logrolling
    •  Pork Barrel

Quick Notes: Unit 3 Part 3 Laws

Watch:  I’m Just a Bill

 

Read:  Magelby 25th,  Chapter 5 pp. 136-154 (This is Chapter 5, pp. 153-183 in the Brief Edition)

Tuesday
Lesson 10

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What are special interest groups?

  •  Interest groups 
    • Single Instance Groups
    • Single Issue Groups
    • Social Movements
    • Economics Interests
    • Intragovernmental Lobbyists
  • Activities:
    • Lobbying
    • Lobbying/Testifying
    • Fund-raising
    • Mobilizing

Quick Notes: Unit 3 Part 4 Special Interests

Watch:  I’m Just a Bill (Lobbyists)

 

Read: Magelby 25th,  Chapter 5 pp. 154-166 (This is Chapter 5, pp. 145-153 in the Brief Edition)

 

"The Scandal of Lobbyists", and "Good Lobbying, Good Government".

Wednesday
Lesson 11

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How do special interest groups influence Congress?

Using your knowledge of American government define and give an example from the film of the following vocabulary terms.

  • Special Interest Effect
  • Bureaucratic Capture

 

Watch:  The Distinguished Gentleman

Quiz: Quicknotes 3.2 - 3.3 quiz on Congress

Discussion: After watching the excerpt, do you believe that good government needs lobbyists, or should they be banned as inefficient and detrimental to the process of governing? Justify your answer.

Read:  Magelby 25th,  Chapter 8 pp. 264-272 (This is Chapter 5, pp. 145-153 in the Brief Edition)

Thursday
Lesson 11

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: What are the functions of lobbyists?

Watch: West Wing: Big Block of Cheese Day

Be prepared to answer a short quiz based on the questions listed during the video, and discuss the answers.

Video Questions::

  •  What is Big Block of Cheese day at the White House?
  • What is the tradition behind Big Block of Cheese day? Who started it?
  • According to Chief of Staff Leo McGarry, what does the Big Block of Cheese symbolize?
  • What is President Bartlett and his staff doing after the morning meeting? Why does the President do this regularly?
  • What group is Speechwriter Sam Seaborn's first appointment? What is their issue?
  • What group is Press Secretary CJ Cregg's first appointment? What issue do they want addressed?
  •  What group does Communications Director Toby Ziegler meet with? What are their issues?
  • What group is Press Secretary CJ Cregg's second appointment? What issue do they want addressed?
  • Why does the policewoman think it's important for Toby to address the protesters?
  • Why does President Bartlett think it is important to open the doors of the White House to the people?
  • Do you think the framers of the Constitution would agree or disagree with the President and Leo? Why or why not?

Answers must be In Your Own Words.

This MUST be turned in BEFORE the end of class today--any assignment turned in late will be penalized 1 point.

Makeup: Watch Democracy in American #14: Interest Groups

Answer the assigned questions on the worksheet in complete sentences.

Answers must be In Your Own Words.

This MUST be turned in within 24 hours of your absence--any assignment turned in late will receive 50%.

Friday
Lesson 12

ESSENTIAL QUESTION: How do you write an effective AP American Government DBQ?

  • Review Practice Unit 3 AP Essays

Assignment: In groups, Read for the Rubric, Organize your Essays, and OUTLINE the possible ideas and conclusions which would receive credit under the COMPLETE-CORRECT-CONNECT guidelines.

You will be responsible for one of the following three essays:

1.        Congressional reapportionment and redistricting are conducted every ten years. When redistricting is conducted, politicians often engage in gerrymandering.

a.        Define congressional reapportionment and explain one reason why it is important to states

b.        Define congressional redistricting

c.        Explain two goals of politicians when they gerrymander during redistricting

d.        Describe two limits that the United States Supreme Court has placed on congressional redistricting.

2.        Over the last several decades, the composition of the Democratic and Republican parties has changed in important ways. In particular, a major partisan shift has occurred in the South.

a.        Identify one specific trend evident in party voting in the South since 1980.

b.        Choose two of the following.  Define each and explain why each would help or hinder party realignment in the South over the past 30 years.

                                                   i.      -Incumbency advantage

                                                  ii.      -Gerrymandering

                                                iii.      -Closed Primaries

c.        Identify whether changes in party composition would be reflected more quickly in presidential or congressional elections, and explain the structural reasons for this

3.        Members of Congress are charged with three primary duties—writing laws, overseeing the implementation of laws, and serving the needs of their constituents.

a.        Describe the role of each of the following in lawmaking

                                                   i.      -Senate filibuster

                                                  ii.      -Speaker of the House

                                                iii.      -Conference committees

b.        Identify and describe one method by which Congress checks the Executive branch.

c.        Define casework  and explain how it affects members’ attention to legislation

http://www.teapartypatriotsedh.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/essaycontest.gif

WEEK 9
10/15 - 10/19

LESSON

IN CLASS

HOMEWORK

Monday
Lesson 13

Review for Unit 3 Test

Review: Unit 1, 2 and 3 using online chapter notes, GRQs, and Textbook site practice section quizzes.

Tuesday
Lesson 14
  • Unit 3 Test

http://www.crawfordsworld.com/rob/AP_American_Government/Giving_A_TEST.gif

Bring:  Pencil for Unit 3 test;

This test will consist of 50 multiple choice questions, and one brief essay from the material and concepts in Units 1, 2, and 3.

The test will be counted out of 60 points.