1. Welcome to United States Government and Politics!!!
Mr. Trainor
Website: mrtrainor.sharepoint.com
Text: Democracy in Action, Remy

2. This class will combine textbook readings with current events
This class will combine textbook readings with current events. There will be HW almost every night, and they will be graded twice per-week on average.

3. Course Outline Text: Democracy in Action
Unit 1 – Origins and Roots of American Government
Chapters 1 and 2: The Origins of American Gov
English Political Heritage
Influence of European Enlightenment
Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation

4. Unit 1 cont. Chapter 3: The Constitution – Structure and Principles
a. Three Branches of government
Amending the Constitution
c. The Amendments, Bill of Rights
Chapter 4: The Federal System
a. National and State Powers
b. McCullogh v. Maryland
c. Relations among states

5. Unit 2 Chapter 16: Political Parties Development of Parties
Party Organization
Nominating candidates
Chapter 17: Elections and Voting
a. Election campaigns

6. Unit 3 Chapter 5: Organization of Congress Congressional membership
b. The House of Representatives
c. The Senate
d. Congressional Committees
d. State and Support Agencies

7. Unit 3 Cont. Chapter 6: Congressional Powers Constitutional Powers
Investigations/oversight
Congress and the President
Chapter 7: Congress at Work
How a Bill Becomes a Law
Taxing and Spending Bills
Influencing in Congress
Helping Constituents

8. Unit 4 Chapter 8: The Presidency President and Vice president
Electing the President
The Cabinet
Chapter 9: Presidential Leadership
a. Presidential Powers
Roles of the President
Bureaucracy

9. Unit 5 Chapter 11: The Federal Court System
Powers of the Federal Courts
Marbury v. Madison
Lower Federal Courts
The Supreme Court
Chapter 12: Supreme Court Decision-Making
Shaping Public Policy
Judicial restraint v. Judicial Activism

10. Unit 6 Chapter 13: Constitutional Freedoms Freedom of Religion
Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Press
Freedom of Assembly
Chapter 14: Citizenship and Equal Justice
Immigration
The Basis of Citizenship
Rights of the Accused
Equal Protection under the law
Challenges for Civil Liberties
Chapter 15: Law in America
Sources of American Law
Civil Law
Criminal Law

11. And finally, would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck?