Links for section videos
Chapter 1
1:1 - Government and the State: Can you start your own country?
1:1 - Government and the State: Can you start your own country?
- Would you want to start your own country? Why or why not?
- Are there any benefits of an authoritarian government? Name one
- Choose one of the six concepts. If it didn't exist in our country, what would life be like?
Chapter 2
2:1 - Our Political Beginnings: Colonial America
2:4 - Creating the Constitution: Constitutional Compromises
2:1 - Our Political Beginnings: Colonial America
- Some historians say the American Revolution may never have happened if all of the colonies had the same freedoms. Why would people say that? In what way could that be true?
- What did you learn that you didn't know before?
2:4 - Creating the Constitution: Constitutional Compromises
- Craig, the host, says about the Articles of Confederation, "Give it a break, it never did this before." At the end of the episode, he says, "Because the Constitution was passed, we tend to think that everyone loved it." We have the idea in our minds that the constitutional framers had this perfect vision from the very beginning. What part of this process of proposal, compromise, and persuasion was surprising to you?
Chapter 3
3:1 - Basic Principles (of the Constitution): Basic Principles
3:1 - Basic Principles (of the Constitution): Basic Principles
- What is the shared goal of Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, and Judicial Review?
- There have been 27 amendments to the Constitution. Why not more in almost 250 years?
Chapter 4
4:1 - Federalism: Powers Divided: Separation of Powers
Puerto Rico voted for statehood
4:1 - Federalism: Powers Divided: Separation of Powers
- You are represented by a city councilor, a state representative, a state senator, a governor, a US representative, and two US senators. Why do so many different government officials represent the same area?
Puerto Rico voted for statehood
- The US territory of Puerto Rico has 3.1 million residents. If it was a state, it would have a greater population than 20 of the current states. Why isn't it a state (yet)?
Chapter 5
5:1 - Parties and What they Do: Functions and structures of political parties
5:1 - Parties and What they Do: Functions and structures of political parties
- How do parties help unify people?
- Was George Washington right about his prediction regarding the US political climate?
- Why might someone like H. Ross Perot run as a minor party candidate, even if the chances of winning are extremely small?
Chapter 6
6:1 - The Right to Vote: The history of voting rights
Voting Rights act of 1965
Optional: Why don't young people turn out to vote?
6:1 - The Right to Vote: The history of voting rights
- Several amendments have dealt with adding voting rights for different groups of people. (15, 19, 24, 26) What is the next step? Are there more people who should get the right to vote?
- Gotta love cats, right?
- Why is this issue so controversial?
Voting Rights act of 1965
- Why did it take 100 years after the 15th Amendment to actually make sure of voting rights?
Optional: Why don't young people turn out to vote?
- Are you going to vote in the first election after you turn 18? Why or why not? Which of these reasons for not voting applies to you?
- Information: Don't feel like I know enough about the candidates or issues
- Convenience: It's complicated to vote (it's much more convenient in Oregon, by the way)
- Representation: The two main parties don't represent me effectively
- Knowledge of Process: I don't know how to register
- Purposelessness: I don't think my one vote makes much of a difference
- Indifference: I don't like politics
- Unpersuaded: I haven't been convinced of any particular candidate's rightness
- Burnout: I can't get fired up about every election
Chapter 7
7:1 - The Nominating Process: Primary elections explained
7:3 - Money and Elections
7:1 - The Nominating Process: Primary elections explained
- How would elections be better or worse if there were no political parties?
7:3 - Money and Elections
Chapter 10
10:1 - The National Legislature: asdf
10:1 - The National Legislature: asdf
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- What are some differences between House and Senate that you learned about?
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Chapter 11
11:1 - The Expressed Powers of Money and Commerce: asdf
11:1 - The Expressed Powers of Money and Commerce: asdf
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Chapter 13
13:1 - The President's Job Description: asdf
13:1 - The President's Job Description: asdf
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Chapter 14
14:1 - The Growth of Presidential Power: asdf
14:1 - The Growth of Presidential Power: asdf
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Chapter 8
8:1 - The Formation of Public Opinion: asdf
8:1 - The Formation of Public Opinion: asdf
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Chapter 18
18:1 - The National Judiciary: asdf
18:1 - The National Judiciary: asdf
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Chapter 19
19:1 - The Unalienable Rights: asdf
19:1 - The Unalienable Rights: asdf
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- Do you agree with Hamlin that it is possible to distinguish between supporting someone’s right to speak, and endorsing their opinions? Explain.
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Chapter 20
20:1 - Due Process of Law: asdf
20:1 - Due Process of Law: asdf
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Chapter 21
21:1 - Diversity and Discrimination: asdf
21:1 - Diversity and Discrimination: asdf
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