Ms. Kabel’s US Government Spring 2011

Schedule 1 st Block- US History 2 nd Block- Government 3 rd Block- US History 4 th Block- Planning Please make arrangements with me for tutorial times. Please make arrangements with me for tutorial times.

Contact Information I can be reached by at: I can be reached by at: Or by phone at Or by phone at

Textbooks Magruder’s American Government: Prentice Hall Magruder’s American Government: Prentice Hall Outside reading is encouraged and may be assigned during the course of the semester. Outside reading is encouraged and may be assigned during the course of the semester. There is no way that all of the course material can be covered during class, therefore each student is responsible for reading their textbook daily. Anything in the textbook should be considered test material. There is no way that all of the course material can be covered during class, therefore each student is responsible for reading their textbook daily. Anything in the textbook should be considered test material.

Materials Each student needs the following materials every day: Each student needs the following materials every day: Pen/pencil Pen/pencil Thick spiral notebook-for note taking Thick spiral notebook-for note taking Binder/folder- to put assignments; graded work in Binder/folder- to put assignments; graded work in Paper Paper

Items Needed in Classroom Tissue Tissue Hand Sanitizer Hand Sanitizer Markers Markers Colored Pencils Colored Pencils Scissors Scissors Glue Sticks Glue Sticks If at all possible, I ask that you brink in one of the previous items to help keep the classroom running…thank you! If at all possible, I ask that you brink in one of the previous items to help keep the classroom running…thank you!

Classroom Management The Student Code of Conduct will be enforced at all time. This includes: No disruptive behavior. No disruptive behavior. Be Respectful, at all times. Be Respectful, at all times. Be Responsible. Be Responsible. No leaving class during the first 20 minutes or last 20 minutes of class. No leaving class during the first 20 minutes or last 20 minutes of class. Food only allowed during the first 20 minutes. Food only allowed during the first 20 minutes.

Late & Make-Up Work If a student is absent, it is their responsibility to get the notes that were missed. The student must come in before or after school to get any make-up work. If a student is absent, it is their responsibility to get the notes that were missed. The student must come in before or after school to get any make-up work. Late work: Late work: 1 st day late- 30 points off 1 st day late- 30 points off 2 nd day late- 50 points off 2 nd day late- 50 points off After that… sorry. After that… sorry.

Grades Unit tests will be take-home. Test format will include all vocabulary from that unit, in addition to all short answer and essay questions posed at the end of each section. This must be turned in completely and all aspects answered thoroughly to receive full credit. Tests make up 60% of your grade. Unit tests will be take-home. Test format will include all vocabulary from that unit, in addition to all short answer and essay questions posed at the end of each section. This must be turned in completely and all aspects answered thoroughly to receive full credit. Tests make up 60% of your grade. Mid-Term/Final Exams will be cumulative. An outside writing assignment will also be expected on the day of these exams. Mid-Term/Final Exams will be cumulative. An outside writing assignment will also be expected on the day of these exams. Homework (when assigned), (random) notebook checks and class participation will be worth 40% of your grade. Homework (when assigned), (random) notebook checks and class participation will be worth 40% of your grade.

Writing Assignments Current Events- one a week, except the week of mid-term/finals week. Current Events- one a week, except the week of mid-term/finals week Federalist Paper Essay-Due at Mid-Term Exam Federalist Paper Essay-Due at Mid-Term Exam Constitutional Amendment Research Paper-Due at Final Exam Constitutional Amendment Research Paper-Due at Final Exam

US Government-Survey What is your first memory of Politics or Government? What is your first memory of Politics or Government?

Draw the following comparison chart and fill it in as much as you can. LiberalConservative

Do you believe that the government should play a major role in the everyday life of American citizens, or do you believe that the government’s role should be limited?

On a scale of 1-10 (1 being you couldn’t care less and 10 being it’s the most important thing in your life, up to this point) how would you rate your interest in the government right now? Don’t be afraid to put a low number, I won’t get mad and my feelings won’t be hurt. Don’t be afraid to put a low number, I won’t get mad and my feelings won’t be hurt.

Do you know where you stand politically? ( conservative/liberal…Democrat/Republican/L ibertarian) Do you know where you stand politically? ( conservative/liberal…Democrat/Republican/L ibertarian) What factors have influenced your political opinion so far? (i.e. parents, peers, teachers, church…) What factors have influenced your political opinion so far? (i.e. parents, peers, teachers, church…)

Are you familiar with the Electoral College?

Presidential Qualifications No person except a natural born citizen… shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States.

The Perfect Leader In your group, you are to come up with 10 qualities of the perfect president- for each one explain why it is important. In your group, you are to come up with 10 qualities of the perfect president- for each one explain why it is important. This must be serious; have nothing to do with political parties. This must be serious; have nothing to do with political parties. Do looks have anything to do with it? Gender? Personality? Intellect? Do looks have anything to do with it? Gender? Personality? Intellect? You will turn this in! You will turn this in!