Lawrence Free State High School

US Government – Syllabus Lawrence Free State High School 2015-2016

Ms. Aimee McLendon [email protected] 785.832.6050 Room 510/214

I will generally be available mornings by 7:30 in room 510 or 214 or by appointment. After-school hours will vary, but I will work with student schedules in order to find time to answer questions, provide guidance, or clarify concepts and expectations. I will also check email at least twice a day during the school week and, in most cases, respond within 24 hours.

COURSE DESCRIPTION Welcome to US Government! In addition to the study of history, the study of government is one of the most critical for citizens to make sense of their world. As citizens of a democratic society, it is vitally important for the people to understand the foundations of government, how government operates, and their role in the democratic process. The basic objective of the course is to provide students with the knowledge necessary to participate as citizens in governmental affairs. The topics covered may include: the Constitution, its historical background and the principles incorporated into it; the federal government, including the executive, legislative, and judicial branches and the federal bureaucracy; state and local government; elections, voting behavior, political parties, the media, interest groups, and political behavior.

This course will guide students through the complex operating structure of the US government, both in theory and in practice, and shed light on the role of individuals within the governing system. Part of this process will be the study the history and trajectory of US policies, both domestic and foreign.

COURSE OBJECTIVES Obviously, as members of a free society, many of us are coming to the class with already-formed ideas about government and the democratic process. This course is not intended to persuade students from one opinion or set of opinions to another, but rather will serve to help students more thoroughly understand the processes by which our government operates.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:  Identify the foundational concepts that informed the creation of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution  Identify and analyze the early debates on how best to transform democratic ideals into a functional form of government  Identify and understand the various powers reserved to each branch of the government, the states, local governments, and the people and how these relate with one another  Comprehend how the system of making, enforcing, and interpreting laws works and apply the process to a fictional scenario  Trace the development of case law over time and analyze how the intent of the framers has been interpreted and applied to contemporary circumstances throughout history  Evaluate specific examples of domestic and foreign policy and their adherence, of lack thereof, to the processes of government  Compare and contrast successful and unsuccessful policies in terms of their alignment with founding documents and all pertinent amendments

EXPECTATIONS I will enforce all Free State High School policies as outlined in the student handbook. In addition, I expect students to adhere to the following:  Be in class, on time and prepared, every day. o Everyone should be seated when the bell rings, ready to work. o Bring textbook, binder, notebook, blue or black pens, and assignments or homework. o Tardies will be addressed per FSHS policies. o Hall passes – per FSHS policy. These will be issued SPARINGLY. Please use the restroom, get drinks etc. between classes.  Demonstrate respect for fellow students, property, and Ms. McLendon o Again, the study of government often involves ideological differences, which can become heated. It is our job to investigate all of them, recognize our own biases, and reach conclusions based on theory and evidence—not assumptions, emotions, or opinions. o Differences of opinion, questions, and disagreement are acceptable—rudeness, bullying, or meanness are not. o Destruction or theft of others’ property, including intellectual property, will not be tolerated. o If Ms. McLendon or another student is speaking, the expectation is that everyone is actively listening.  All work must be completed on time.  All work can be corrected. o My ultimate goal for you is that you learn. Sometimes this takes several tries. I strongly encourage that all work below the 70% mark be corrected. Students will be allowed two grades below 65% per semester. After that, all work below 65% carries mandatory corrections. I will advise and assist students in the correction process in order to maximize understanding. Just to be clear, I will hold corrections to the same standards as all other work. Half-baked corrections will be returned.  Excused absences o Students will have one day for each day absent in which to make up late work. Late work not completed in this window will be subject to the regular late-work policy.  Participation is not optional. o We will have frequent class and small-group discussions as part of this course. I expect everyone to be prepared and ready to contribute to the conversation.  Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. o All LFSHS policies on cheating and plagiarism will be enforced. Additionally, students found cheating (as either the recipient or giver of work) or plagiarizing will automatically suffer a score of 0 and have a conference with their parent/guardian and Ms. McLendon. Furthermore, students will be given a mandatory alternate assignment. Failure to complete the alternate assignment will result in an office referral. Moral of the story—don’t cheat and don’t steal other peoples’ stuff.  Cell phones o Cell phones will be allowed as a research device at specified times, as announced by Ms. McLendon. o Cell phones will not be allowed during lectures, presentations, or discussions. Any student observed using their cell phone during a non-authorized time will be subject to the following: . 1st offense – warning . 2nd offense – phone confiscated until end of class period . 3rd offense – phone confiscated until end of class period AND 15-minute detention; communication with parent/guardian . 4th offense – phone confiscated until end of class period AND 45-minute detention; communication with parent/guardian . 5th offense – office referral o All ringers are to be silenced during class o EXAM DAY PHONE POLICY – all phones will be placed facedown the student’s desk until everyone has turned in the exam. Any handling of phones during an exam will be interpreted as cheating. No exceptions.  Other policies and procedures as explained by Ms. McLendon. GRADING  Late work o ALL UNEXCUSED LATE WORK WILL SUFFER AN AUTOMATIC 20% GRADE REDUCTION AFTER THE DUE DATE. AN ADDITIONAL 5% WILL BE DEDUCTED FOR EACH CLASS DAY AFTER THE DUE DATE. Late work will be subject to the same expectations for corrections, but can only ever achieve a maximum score of 80%.  The grading scale is as follows: o 90-100 A o 80-89 B o 70-79 C o 60-69 D* o <60 F* *Given that I will let you make corrections on anything, I expect very few of you to be consistently scoring in this range.  The point breakdown for the class is as follows: o Assessments /essays 800 points o Homework assignments/discussion participation 200 points  Extra Credit – all students will have the opportunity to earn extra credit points throughout the semester. Each week, Ms. McLendon will provide the names of and links to several articles for which students may write a brief reaction (less than 250 words). Points will be awarded based on quality of work, not the mere completion of the work. Students may turn in up to 5 reactions per semester, for a total of 50 points.

Overview of Course Material

Introduction Prior to beginning the year, we will very briefly compare and contrast democracy with other forms of government in order for students to better understand the rights and responsibilities of individuals living under such rule. We will also attempt to identify some of the assumptions each of us brings to the study of US government and how those may influence our academic inquiry.

Students will identify the role of citizen within a democratic society and will analyze various means of participation in the democratic process. Additionally, students will identify and analyze threats to the democratic process. Throughout the course, students will identify and analyze the dynamic nature of the rights and responsibilities of citizens.

Unit 1 – Principles and Foundations of the US Constitution Unit 2 – Structure and Function of the Federal Government Unit 3 – Human and Civil Rights in American Democracy Unit 4 – Politics, Media, and Interest Groups

Ms. McLendon reserves the right to amend this syllabus as necessary.

I have read and understand the expectations for Ms. McLendon’s class.

Student signature: ______

Parent/Guardian signature: ______