Tentative Schedule for Part 1 of Fourth Unit

AP GOVERNMENT Tentative Schedule for Part 1 of Fourth Unit Congress

The American System of Congress: Character, Function, Powers, and Evolution Homework for Wednesday/Thursday, December 14/15, 2011  Chapter 12, pp. 352-355  United States Constitution, Article I, pp. 745-747

- [What are the differences between Congress and a Parliament, and how would such differences affect the character of the respective members of each type of institution? – not covered in text] - What are the powers of Congress? - What is it like to be a representative?

The Structure and Make-up of Congress Homework for Friday, December 16, 2011  Chapter 12, pp. 355-357, 364-367 - [How have the two houses of Congress evolved through history? – not covered in text] - Why two Houses of Congress and what are the differences between the House and the Senate? - What do the two houses of Congress look like today?

Congressional Elections Homework for Tuesday/Wednesday, January 3/4, 2012  Chapter 12, pp. 357-364  Handout on redistricting

- How does one get elected to Congress? - What are the peculiarities of Congressional elections?

Leadership and Organization of Congress Homework for Thursday/Friday, January 5/6, 2012  Chapter 12, pp. 367-376  Profiles of Congressional Leadership (see News Journal Requirements – due 1/7)  Periodical Research on Congressional Leadership (see News Journal – due 1/11)

- Who leads each house and how is each house organized?

The Legislative Process Homework for Monday/Tuesday, January 9/10, 2012  Chapter 12, pp. 377 (reading actually begins on p. 378, but chart on p. 377 is important)-383  Sinclair article

- How is a bill introduced and how does it become law? - What factors influence a representative’s vote - What characterizes relations between the parties in Congress? Suggestions for Reform and Congressional Ethics Homework Wednesday/Thursday, January 11/12 and Friday, January 13, 2012  Chapter 12, pp. 383-386  Gingrich Ethics Handout  Keating 5 Handout  Ethics research (see News Journal Requirements)

- What ethical considerations face Congress? - How might Congress be reformed and are term limits a good idea? - How can we evaluate Congress?

First Semester Finals (Wednesday, January 25 – 1st and Thursday, January 26 – 2nd): the plan is to have a writing exercise on Congress. The exercise will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis; however, those whose grades are within one point of the next level will have an opportunity to have the exercise evaluated substantively which may result in a grade improvement to the next level. Of course inclement weather resulting in school cancellation will alter this plan.

News Journal Assignment for Fourth Unit – Part I: Congress

The News Journal Requirements for our study of Congress will involve periodical research on the workings of Congress, the leadership of Congress, and the ethics of Congress. Assignments will be due periodically throughout the unit as noted on the schedule. Please note that the work for this portion of the Fourth Unit is back-loaded. You would be well advised to get working on the News Journal assignments ahead of schedule. All assignments from this part of Unit 4 must be turned in by the beginning of First Semester finals to be counted as timely except that the ethics assignment (Topic 3) must be turned in on the due date of Wednesday/Thursday, January 11/12 to be given full credit.

Topic 1 – Who are the leaders of the 112th Congress? Identify and write profiles of the following House and Senate leaders: Speaker of the House, Majority Leader of the House, Minority Leader of the House, Majority Leader of the Senate, and Minority Leader of the Senate. Include political affiliation, political history, and political ideology. Target length – 300 words (word process please). Due Thursday/Friday, January 5/6

Topic 2 – Investigate the plans of the Republican leadership and Democratic opposition in the House and the Democratic leadership and the Republican opposition in the Senate. How did the Republican majority organized the 112th Congress that began its term in January, 2011? What appears be their agenda for the remainder of the term? How do you believe that agenda will be affected by the 2012 l elections? How do the agenda and strategy seem to be different in the House and in the Senate? What problems might exist for each leadership and how do they appear to be working to overcome these problems? What appears to the prospects for relations between the parties for the remainder of the term of the 112th Congress? Target length – 500 words (word process). Minimum number of articles as sources – 6. Include list of sources. Due Monday/Tuesday, January 9/10

Topic 3 – Investigate ethical issues before Congress. Look into action taken by the House and Senate since the beginning of the 112th Congress on this issue and any action or changes planned by the Republican House leadership. Useful background includes the creation of the Office of Congressional Ethics, the reasons behind its creation and opinions on its activities and prospects for the future. Matters involving some or all of the following officials may be useful: former Republican congressmen Tom DeLay, Randy “Duke” Cunningham, Mark Foley, Bob Ney, John Doolittle; former democratic Congressman William Jefferson; current Democratic representatives Charles Rangel and Maxine Waters; the Congressional Black Caucus; former Republican Senator John Ensign and current Republican Senator David Vitter. You should also look into the activities of lobbyist and the congressional practice of “earmarks” (sometimes referred to as “pork barrel legislation”). What do these matters tell you about the operations of Congress, its relationship with lobbyists, and Congress’ ability to “police” itself? Target Length – 500 words (word process). Minimum number of articles as sources – 6. Include list of sources. Due Wednesday/Thursday, January 11/12