CHAPTERS 1-4:  The Constitution and Federalism                                                    print PowerPoint presentation slides
DATE TOPIC ACTIVITY HOMEWORK
08-12-08 Welcome Back and Class Orientation syllabus, course requirements, textbooks, student/teacher expectations, Pop Quiz  
08-14-08 Thinking About Government; Difference between "Politics" and "Government" Handout 2-A Brainstorming, Personal Activity Chart, Reflective Journal, Terms to define Internet Activity Handout #2
08-18-08 Theories on the Origins of Government; Purpose of Government; Structure of Government Notes; Video Clip; Group Activity Handout #3 (article) and Handout #4 (questions)
08-20-08 "What is Democracy and How Do I Explain It"? Notes; Group Activity  
08-22-08 Formation of the United States Government--Colonization to the Constitution Notes; Handout #7
08-26-08 The U.S. Constitution: Principles and Structure; How to Read the U.S. Constitution (outline); The Amendment Process Notes; Handouts #8, 9, and 11 Handout #10

Begin studying for your test!
08-28-08 The Amendments Project Computer Lab 817--BRING A JUMP DRIVE TO CLASS! Handout #12

Study for your test!
09-02-08 Federalism--Our U.S. Structure of Government Notes; Handouts #13 and 14 Study for your test!
       
09-04-08 TEST #1--Chapters 1-4:  The Constitution and Federalism    
 

CHAPTERS 10-12:  The Legislative Branch                                                                     print PowerPoint presentation slides
09-16-08 Getting to Know Congress; Alabama Congressional Districts and U.S. Electoral Map Handouts #2 and 3  
09-18-08 Review Handout #2; Constitutional Interpretation; Expressed vs. Implied Powers--What Can Congress Do--Why and How? Notes and Handout #5  
09-22-08 Expressed vs. Implied Powers (continued); Non-Legislative Powers of Congress Notes; Handout #6  
09-24-08 Where Does Congress Do Their Work?  The Congressional Committee System Notes; Handout #7  
09-24-08 How Does A Bill Become A Law? Notes; Handout # 8, 9, and 11; class activity; group activity Handout #10
      begin studying for your test
09-26-08 video:  Mr. Smith Goes To Washington   STUDY!!
09-30-08 video:  Mr. Smith Goes To Washington and in-class essay on the film Handout #14 STUDY!!
10-02-08 TEST #2--Chapters 10-12:  The Legislative Branch    
 
CHAPTERS 13-15:  The Executive Branch

print PowerPoint presentation slides (NOTE: DO NOT print slide #7, 21-24, 26-43, 52-54, 81)

10-06-08 Leadership; Eight Roles and Responsibilities of the President class discussion; notes Read p. 315-321; answer questions on PPP slide #17-19;
10-08-08 Presidential succession; the Vice-Presidency Handout #2 Handout#
10-10-08 Six Steps to Nominating and Electing a President--Primaries and Caucuses; The National Convention Notes; class activity; video clips Handout #2 Handout #
10-14-08 Six Steps to Nominating and Electing  A President--Campaign Season Notes; video Journeys with George  
10-27-08 Six Steps to Nominating and Electing a President--General Election and the Electoral College notes; class and group activities  
10-29-08 Six Steps to Nominating and Electing a President--The Inauguration notes; video clips; Handout #    ; begin studying for your test
10-31-08 What Does A President Do, and Who Helps Him? notes STUDY
11-04-08 What Does A President Do, and Who Helps Him?; The Bureaucracy notes Handout #   ; STUDY
11-06-08 What Does A President Do, and Who Helps Him? video:  Inside the Real West Wing STUDY
11-10-08 TEST #3--The Executive Branch    
 
CHAPTER 18:  The Judicial Branch                                                                          print PowerPoint presentation slides
11-13-08 Background information on the U.S. Court system notes; terms and questions, p. 461  
11-17-08 Federal Courts and Federal Crimes notes; Handout #2--Chart on Inferior and Special Courts
11-19-08 The U.S. Supreme Court notes--Handout #3 Handout # 5 and 6
11-21-08 State Cases and State Courts notes; Handout #7
11-25-08 The Criminal Justice Process--How Does a Case Reach the Courts? notes  
12-02-08 Supreme Court Case Analysis Computer Lab Activity--BRING YOUR JUMP DRIVE!!  
12-04-08 TEST #4--The Judicial Branch    
       
CHAPTER 19-21:  Civil Rights and Liberties                                                                       print PowerPoint presentation slides
12-08-08 First Amendment Freedoms--Speech and Press notes and Supreme Court case studies  
12-10-08 First Amendment Freedoms--Religion, Assembly, and Petition notes and Supreme Court case studies  
12-12-08 5th and 14th Amendment Due Process; 4th Amendment Right to Privacy; 2nd Amendment Right to Keep and Bear Arms notes and Supreme Court case studies  
12-16-08 4th Amendment Search and Seizure notes and Supreme Court case studies  
  Rights of the Accused (6th, 7th, 8th Amendments) notes and Supreme Court case studies  
  Discrimination notes and Supreme Court case studies  
  Discrimination notes and Supreme Court case studies  
12-06-08 TEST #5--Civil Rights and Liberties