CHAPTERS 1-4:  The Constitution and Federalism                                                          print PowerPoint presentation slides
DATE TOPIC ACTIVITY HOMEWORK
10-13-08 Welcome Back and Class Orientation syllabus, course requirements, textbooks, student/teacher expectations, Pop Quiz  
10-14-08 Thinking About Government; Difference between "Politics" and "Government" Handout 2-A Brainstorming, Personal Activity Chart, Reflective Journal, Terms to define Internet Activity Handout #2
10-16-08 Theories on the Origins of Government; Purpose of Government; Structure of Government Notes; Video Clip; Group Activity Handout #3 (article) and Handout #4 (questions)
10-17-08 "What is Democracy and How Do I Explain It"? Notes; Group Activity  
10-21-08 Formation of the United States Government--Colonization to the Constitution Notes; Handout #7
10-22-08 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!
10-23 & 24-08 The Amendments Project Computer Lab 817--BRING A JUMP DRIVE TO CLASS! Handout #12

Study for your test!
10-28-08 Federalism--Our U.S. Structure of Government Notes; Handouts #13 and 14 Study for your test!
       
10-29-08 TEST #1--Chapters 1-4:  The Constitution and Federalism    
 

CHAPTERS 10-12:  The Legislative Branch                                                                     print PowerPoint presentation slides
11-03-08 Getting to Know Congress; Alabama Congressional Districts and U.S. Electoral Map Handouts #2 and 3 Watch opening night (or at least one night) of the Democratic National Convention; Handout #4
11-04-08 Review Handout #2; Constitutional Interpretation; Expressed vs. Implied Powers--What Can Congress Do--Why and How? Notes and Handout #5  
11-05-08 Expressed vs. Implied Powers (continued); Non-Legislative Powers of Congress Notes; Handout #6  
11-06-08 Where Does Congress Do Their Work?  The Congressional Committee System Notes; Handout #7 Watch the closing night acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention
11-07-08 How Does A Bill Become A Law? Notes; Handout # 8, 9, and 11; class activity; group activity Handout #10
      begin studying for your test
10-30-08 video:  Mr. Smith Goes To Washington   STUDY!!
10-31-08 video:  Mr. Smith Goes To Washington and in-class essay on the film Handout #14 STUDY!!
11-10-08 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)

11-12-08 Leadership; Eight Roles and Responsibilities of the President class discussion; notes Read p. 315-321; answer questions on PPP slide #17-19; Watch opening night (or at least one night) of the Republican National Convention.
11-13-08 Presidential succession; the Vice-Presidency Handout #2 Handout#
11-14-08 Six Steps to Nominating and Electing a President--Primaries and Caucuses; The National Convention Notes; class activity; video clips Handout #2 Handout #
11-17-08 Six Steps to Nominating and Electing  A President--Campaign Season Notes; video Journeys with George Watch the closing night acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention.
11-18-08 Six Steps to Nominating and Electing a President--General Election and the Electoral College notes; class and group activities  
11-19-08 Six Steps to Nominating and Electing a President--The Inauguration notes; video clips; Handout #    ; begin studying for your test
11-20-08 What Does A President Do, and Who Helps Him? notes STUDY
11-21-08 What Does A President Do, and Who Helps Him?; The Bureaucracy notes Handout #   ; STUDY
11-24-08 What Does A President Do, and Who Helps Him? video:  Inside the Real West Wing STUDY
11-25-08 TEST #3--The Executive Branch    
 
CHAPTER 18:  The Judicial Branch                                                                                                              print PowerPoint presentation slides
12-01-08 Background information on the U.S. Court system notes; terms and questions, p. 506  
12-02-08 Federal Courts and Federal Crimes notes; Handout #2--Chart on Inferior and Special Courts
12-03-08 The U.S. Supreme Court notes--Handout #3 Handout # 5 and 6
12-04-08 State Cases and State Courts notes; Handout #7
12-05-08 The Criminal Justice Process--How Does a Case Reach the Courts? notes  
12-08-08 Supreme Court Case Analysis Computer Lab Activity--BRING YOUR JUMP DRIVE!!  
12-09-08 TEST #4--The Judicial Branch    
       
CHAPTER 19-21:  Civil Rights and Liberties                                                                                                                                       print PowerPoint presentation slides
12-10-08 First Amendment Freedoms--Speech and Press notes and Supreme Court case studies  
12-11-08 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  
12-15-08 4th Amendment Search and Seizure notes and Supreme Court case studies  
12-16-08 Rights of the Accused (6th, 7th, 8th Amendments) notes and Supreme Court case studies  
12-17-08 Discrimination notes and Supreme Court case studies  
  Discrimination notes and Supreme Court case studies  
12-18-08 TEST #5--Civil Rights and Liberties