Daily Check In

AP Government and Politics - 2016-17

May 31 - Final Exam for one.

May 29 - No School - Memorial Day

May 26 - One on One current events - Assignment: Study for the final exam next class.

May 24 - Start of class was delayed due to a Senior Class meeting. Completed Lincoln. Completed the viewing log. Linked all documents to class table.... Team photo..... and said good bye.....

May 22 - 4th Amendment study. Lincoln continued to 1:54.0.  Assignment: Clean up your viewing log. It will be collected at the end of next class and count as a test grade.  Be certain to clean up the grammar and overall appearance as well as the accuracy in order to earn the best score.

May 18 - Current Events (NPR) large group analysis session followed by a quiz.  Lincoln continued to 1:33.0. Assignment: Bring your pocket Constitution to class

May 16 - U.S. Constitution Article IV work and quiz, Article V with brief discussion. Continued with Lincoln.  Some excellent examples of the "politics" and how Lincoln was a master. Assignment: Bring your Pocket Constitution to class.

May 12 - Current Events (NPR) - Medium Group Discussion using Gallup. Assignment: Bring your Pocket Constitution to class.

May 10 - Current Events (NPR) - Brief discussion over the firing of the FBI Director. Collected Wilson Textbook. Continued viewing and logging Lincoln. Assignment: Bring your Pocket Constitution to class.

May 8 - Current Events (NPR) - Debriefed the Free Response Questions from the National Exam, and began watching Lincoln. Assignment: Review and edit your video viewing log as needed.

May 4 - National Exam at 8:00 a.m. Assignment: Smile.... and stay dry.

73. May 2 - Reviewed the most commonly missed questions from the practice exam 2002. Reviewed previous FRQs and practiced counting points. Assignment: Review for the National Exam on Thursday.

72.  April 28 - Completed a practice AP Gov't test released from 2002. Completed work in the Wolfford text in groups over materials on the Civil Rights / Liberties chapters. Assignment: Please study and prepare for the National Exam which is but a few days away.

71. April 26 - Completed an analytical reading of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Viewed "A Conversation on the Constitution  with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Fourteenth Amendment.  Reviewed significant U.S. Supreme Court Cases using Quizlet. Quiz on the Court Cases.  Assignment: Continue to review for the upcoming national exam which is now just a bit over a week away.

70. April 24 - AP test form preparation with with Mr. Saygers. Open question period over Wilson pp. 100-124. Detailed look at Civil Liberties concepts specifically incorporation, and freedom of religion as per the first amendment. Assignment: Study carefully the Key Supreme Court Cases list.  Be prepared........

69. April 20 - Detailed explanation of "Incorporation". Covered specific concepts in the Civil Rights/Civil Liberties Quizlet stack.  Quiz over Civil Rights/Civil Liberties. Assignment: Read carefully pp. 100-124 in the Wilson text.  Be prepared to answer a few questions next class meeting.

68. April 18 - Debriefed I-Civics: The People's Pie. Discussed the various methods that the government uses to regulate the economy.  Assignment: Carefully study Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Quizlet stack.

67. April 12 - Assignment: Complete I-Civics: The People's Pie. Bring evidence of your completion to class.

66. April 10 - Open question period over Deregulation and Government Subsidies.  Quiz over public policy. Quizlet work over Public Policy key vocabulary.  Flashcards, and Learn were completed. Started discussion on Fiscal and Monetary policy formulation. Assignment: Carefully study Managing the Economy lecture notes.

65. April 6 - Close examination of the Endangered Species Act and how it could be classified by public policy standards.  Reviewed how public policy is made. Observed a portion of the John Glenn interment at Arlington National Cemetery.  Assignment: Study carefully the lecture notes for Deregulation and Government Subsidies.  There will be a few questions for everyone to answer at our next class meeting.

64. April 4 - New Seats. Analyzed most commonly missed questions from the Judicial Branch test. Quiz over Public Policy. Reviewed Environmental policy and highlighted some key laws related to Environmental Policy. Assignment: Complete reading the Environmental Lecture notes and answer the question at the end of those notes.  It would be wise to review "How Public Policy is Made. <hint hint>

End of Third Quarter

63. March 31 - Open question session on Public Policy. Learned the five steps of public policy. Graded notes 470-479.  Assignment: Complete handwritten notes over the remaining pages 480-487. Read and study Public Policy: The Environment and Public Policy: Social Security. Anticipate a quiz. 

62. March 29 - Judicial Branch Test - Be certain that your 60 Second Civics assignment is shared properly with ccox@rossfordschools.org . Be certain that the shared settings are set to "edit".  Assignment:  Read and study carefully "Public Policy". Specifically complete How Public Policy Is Made,  and the information on Welfare and Crime and Law Enforcement.  Prepare handwritten notes (you pick the format) for pp. 470 up to The Case of Business Regulation on pp. 480 from the Wilson Textbook.

61. March 27 - Teacher driven open questioning on the Supreme Court Readings. Worked on 60 Second Civics summaries related to the Supreme Court. Assignment: Complete the 60 Second Civics assignment, be certain to link your document to the class listing.  Prepare for a test (40 or so questions over the Federal Court system to be given during our next class meeting. Be certain to thoroughly study the lecture notes on the Courts.

No School - Spring Break - March 18 - 26

60. March 16 - Did some work on the types of jurisdiction for the U.S. Supreme Court. Examined the Oyez.org website.  Toured the Supreme Court building.  Reviewed Latin terms associated with the court system. Assignment: CHECK BACK AT THIS SITE AFTER THURSDAY MARCH 23 FOR A READING ASSIGNMENT TO BE COMPLETED. : Update 3/22/17 at 2:45 pm - Read carefully and study the following: "A Brief Overview of the Supreme Court", "The Court and Constitutional Interpretation", and "The Court and Its Procedures".

March 16 - No School - Snow and Ice

59. March 13 - NPR - shared with ccox@rossfordschools.org.  Completed reading notes about how the Supreme Court Works. Created Piktochart info graphic. Assignment: Complete the Piktochart have it ready to share.

58. March 9 - Round Robin Questions using information from the "Introduction to the Federal Courts" notes. Answered a few questions about the Notes. Completed a short Conversation with Chief Justice Roberts on the Origin, Nature, and Importance of the Supreme Court. Assignment: Carefully study and understand the lecture notes on Federal Attorneys and Judges.

57. March 7 - Covered the key questions about Federalist #78. Answered some questions about readings in chapter 12 of the Wolfford Text. Read and analyzed Article 3 of the U.S. Constitution. Covered lecture notes on Introduction to the Federal Courts.  Assignment: Be prepared to answer 10-15 questions on the Introduction to the Federal Courts lecture notes.

56. March 3 - Legislative Branch Test.  Read carefully and analyzed Article III of the U.S. Constitution.   Assignment: Read and analyze Federalist #78. Read carefully Chapter 12 in the Wolfford book, and be prepared to answer a few questions about the reading.

55. March 1 - Open question session, Quiz over Influences on Members of Congress, Lecture/Recitation over Legislative Branch.  Assignment: Test next class over the Legislative Branch (40 or so multiple choice questions only.)

54. Feb. 27 - Open question session over incumbency advantage, structure and powers of Congress, and leadership in Congress. Diagnostic assessment. Assignment: Complete the Gerrymandering Activity, and in-depth studying of "Influences on Members of Congress" notes. There will be a quiz over the assignment material.

53. Feb. 23 - Briefly covered Evolution of Congress and Overview of Congress prior to students leaving for an assembly on "Social Media/Branding". Assignment: Please study carefully Incumbency Advantage, Structure and powers of Congress, and Leadership in Congress.

52. Feb. 21 - Warmed up with 27 amendments review and assessment. Reviewed and quizzed Legislative Branch Quizlet vocabulary. Quizzed over the reading assignment in Wolford pp. 213-228. Briefly looked at lecture notes over the Evolution of Congress. Assignment: Carefully read lecture notes over Evolution of Congress and Overview of Congress. Study to remember.

51. Feb. 16 - Extensive discussion about Article 1 sections 7 and 8. Discussed and looked at graphic organizer on how a bill becomes a law. Discussed the committee system, Explained Enumerated, Implied, and Inherent powers.  Defined powers denied (ex post facto and bills of attainder). Cleaned up Iron Triangle Assignment questions.  Studied Legislative Branch Quizlet.  Assignment: Read carefully pp. 213-228 in the Wolford text. Be prepared for a 15 question quiz over the reading material. You should also be working while logged in to the Quizlet stack.  Cards, Learn, and Test (minimum 30 items).

50. Feb. 14 - Open question period over bureaucracy and how it relates to Iron Triangles. Worked most of the class on fundamentals of Legislative Branch and specifically on the Iron Triangle Assignment.  Assignment: Continue to work on your Iron Triangle Assignment and reading of chapter Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution.

49. Feb. 10 - Covered any questions regarding Sorting Out the Bureaucracy Assignment.  Read carefully about about the Growth of the Federal Bureaucracy.  Assignment: Start working on the Iron Triangle Assignment. (This Link for the Iron Triangle Assignment has been repaired as of 2/13/17 at 10:00 a.m.)  Read carefully 115th Congress.  Be prepared to answer questions about the reading. Review Bureaucracy Quizlet.

48. Feb. 8 - Read carefully introductory material on the Federal Bureaucracy. Worked on Quizlet Vocabulary for the Bureaucracy.  Cleared up any confusion with terms or concepts. Finished with a note taking session over the Structure of American Bureaucracy.  Assignment: Complete three podcasts and complete the question template created for each Bureaucratic agency. Re-read carefully the notes from class and take a good look to understand Growth of the Democracy in the notes.  Review your Quizlet stack from today's class.

47. Feb. 6 - Test over the Executive Branch.  Assignment: Read very carefully and take notes over pp. 408-424 (stop at "Why So Many Constraints").  Be prepared to answer a few questions over this reading.

46. Feb. 1 - Open question period (Current Events/Executive Branch). Covered specific vocabulary exclusive to the Executive Branch and cleaned up any misunderstandings in regard to Executive Branch notes.  Worked on Wolford vocabulary quizlets. Finished with Quizlet Live. Assignment: Prepare for test on Executive Branch next class meeting.

45. Jan. 30 - Built quizlet stacks using the terms on page 272 from the Wolford Book. Answered questions on pp. 273-275 in Wolford.  Assignment: Be certain to have read through and understand all lecture notes and anticipate that there will be a quiz next class over the executive branch.

44. Jan. 26 - Open question period over the reading or any topic related to the executive branch. Quiz over pp. 398-401 reading assignment. Completed The American President.  Assignment: Complete the Roles of the President table.

43. Jan. 24 - Visit from Guidance Office on AP testing registration. Discussion/Lecture over the Cabinet, and Vice Presidency. Watched American President to 1:14.51. Assignment: Read carefully pp. 398-401. (quiz is likely over this reading assignment.) Practice this quizlet stack until you know them.  27 Amendments

42. Jan. 20 - Analyzed line by line, word by word Article II of the U.S. Constitution. Read current news articles about the 2017 Presidential Inauguration. Assignment: Practice this quizlet stack until you know them.  27 Amendments

41. Jan. 18 - Reviewed lecture notes and materials over the executive branch. Extensive discussion about the Presidential Support Staff, specifically the Executive Office of the President, and White House Office/Staff.  Watched and analyzed The American President to 54:20. Assignment: Be certain to have read pp. 378-386 (up to Presidential Character). Study carefully these brief videos on the Cabinet and the Situation Room.  Inside the White House: The Cabinet and Inside the White House: The Situation Room

Tuesday Jan. 17, 2017 - 2 Hour Delay (Fog)

End of First Semester

40. Jan. 12 - Quiz over the Presidential Constitutional qualifications and Roles of the Presidency. Covered Growth of Presidential Power. Began viewing the American President. (stopped at :24.01). Assignment: Study carefully Article 2 of the U.S. Constitution.  Be prepared to be questioned over its contents.

No School January 10, 2017 due to ice

39. Jan. 9 - Discussed reading assignment 364-378. Broke down Evolution of the Presidency and Roles of the Presidency. Assignment: Review notes and bring questions to next class. Reminder that you will not need your text for the next couple of classes.

38. Jan. 5 - Completed EoMoP activity.  Tested over Effects of the Media on Government and Politics. Read Article 2 of the United States Constitution. Assignment: Read carefully pp. 364-378 (stop at The Power to Persuade). Take hand written notes over the reading assignment. (These will be graded and added to the 2nd Quarter grades.)

37. Jan. 3 - Discussed semester exam results. Discussed briefly the progress on the lobbying project. Began examination over the Effects of the Media on Politics. Worked diligently on the EoMoP activity. Assignment: Read carefully, Chapter 12 (pp. 298-325) in the Wilson text and prepare for a 25 question "TEST" over the Effects of the Media for our next class meeting.

December 23 - January 2 - No School - Winter Break

36. Dec. 20 - Semester Exam.  Assignment: Continue to work on your Lobbying Project.

35. Dec. 15 - Covered in-depth lecture/recitation over advantages and disadvantages of lobbying, Political Action Committees (PACs), and Introduction to Political Parties. Assignment: Continue to prepare for the semester exam. Remember that we are holding an exam study session on Monday Dec. 19th between 3 and 4 p.m. weather permitting.

34. Dec. 13 - Reviewed materials on  Political Parties, reviewed reading 212-225. Assignment: Review lecture notes and prepare for the semester exam that is on the immediate horizon.

Monday December 12 - No School due to ice and snow

33. Dec. 8 - Class was shortened due to the Naturalization Citizenship ceremony.  Established that the exam review session would take place on Monday December 19th at 3:00 p.m. Worked through Quizlet vocabulary. Lecture/recitation over PACs. Assignment: Read carefully pp. 212-225. There will be a quiz over the reading material.

32.  Dec. 6 - Read and discussed in detail Federalist #10 and the study guide that went along with that reading. Completed work on Quizlet on Interest Groups, Political Parties, and the Media.  Lecture/recitation over Factors Influencing Interest Group Strength and Lobbying (through item IV Netroots).  Assignment: Read carefully pp. 202-212.  Prepare to answer a few questions on Dec. 6 lecture/recitation.

31. Dec. 2 - Questions were covered regarding types of interest groups. We listened to various podcasts done on interest groups and identified those groups by type. Partnered up by state group and checked for understanding.  Had a couple of different guest speakers discuss term limits and the influence of interest groups. Passed back tests. Discussed reasons to join interest groups and reasons not to join interest groups. Link to Political Beliefs and Behaviors Test.  Assignment: Read Federalist #10 very carefully.  Complete by the start of next class, the questions on this Federalist #10 reading comprehension document.

30. Nov. 28 - Current Events (NPR), Discussed the significance of the passing of Fidel Castro, Introduced Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Media vocabulary.  Graded reading notes 280-293. Assignment: Study carefully Quizlet terms and the lecture notes over Interest Groups: The Reasons for their Growth.

29. Nov. 21 - Political Beliefs and Behaviors test. Read pp. 280-293 in text. Assignment: Complete a set of handwritten notes on pp. 280-293 for a grade due next class meeting.

28. Nov. 17 - Discussion over quiz 243-247.  Quiz over Campaign Finance lecture notes. Review for Political Beliefs and Behaviors test that will be next class meeting. Assignment: Prepare for Political Beliefs and Behaviors Test.

November 17, 2016 - Two Hour Delay due to fog

27. Nov. 15 - Discussion over Taking Chance - Quiz over pp. 243-257 - Discussion and reading period over the electoral college. Assignment: Carefully study Campaign Finance lecture notes. (Be prepared to recover from the pp. 243-257 quiz <it was a disaster>.)

26. Nov. 11 - Taking Chance - Veteran's Day Conversation. Assignment: Read carefully pp. 249-257. It may be wise to take a few notes as you read (hint hint).

25. Nov. 9 - Extensive discussion of Election 2016 results. Open question period over the reading on pp. 243-249. Lecture/Recitation over Path to the Presidency.  Assignment: Read carefully pp. 249-257.  DO NOT BRING ANY TEXTBOOKS NOR NOTEBOOKS TO NEXT CLASS.

24 - Nov. 7 - Cleaned up questions regarding the reading over Congressional Elections. Held an informal Socratic Seminar over Term Limits. Assignment: Read carefully pp. 243-249.  Come prepared for a quiz over the reading material.

No School for Parent/Teacher Conferences

(November 3-4)

23- Nov. 1 - Answered any last minute questions over Voter Turnout and Voter Behavior. 28 question quiz over voter turnout and voter behavior. Assignment: Read carefully pp. 234-243. You should be able to explain/share information from the reading and any figures/diagrams.

22 - Oct. 28 - Covered Voter Turnout and Voter Behavior in-depth. Assignment: Prepare for a quiz over Voter Turnout and Voter Behavior for next class.

21 - Oct. 26 -  Picked apart the Polling Assignment and conducted an open question session, in-depth look at Political Socialization. Assignment: Keep up with the class syllabus reading assignments.

20 - Oct. 24 - Partner sharing of Demographic Articles from the Pew Research Center on Voter Turnout. Handed in 12 factual statements from the discussion. Polling Assignment with Presidential Groups. Assignment: Read carefully in the Wilson Text pp. 257-266.

End of 1st Quarter

19 - Oct. 20 - Current Events (NPR) - big group, Completed a 12 question by 4 turn Round Robin on Political Culture and Public Opinion. Lecture/Recitation on Political Socialization. Assignment: Read at least two articles on this page and be prepared to discuss the main ideas of what you read:  Pew Research Center on Voter Turnout.

18 - Oct. 18 - Current Events (NPR), Wolfford reading pp. 53-69 in groups and completion of all questions on pp. 70-74. These answers were to be submitted as a group with the ability to edit.  If you were absent you should answer on your own and share with the ability to edit. Assignment: You are to create 12 multiple choice questions based on class lecture notes that have been covered in class. (political culture, ideology and public policy, and public opinion). These may be written or typed. Be certain to build a key.

17 - Oct. 14 - Reviewed vocabulary and lecture/recitation over public opinion.  Assignment: Keep up with the course syllabus. Specifically read pp. 184-196 in the Wilson text.

16 - Oct. 12 - Visit with Guidance counselor, Mr. Saygers, about college admissions, letters of recommendation, and Common App issues. Broke down free response questions from the first test and re-taught federalism and the compromises that made up the Constitution. Worked on Political Ideology and specifically "liberalism".  Assignment: Read carefully and study pp. 162-178 in the Wilson text.

Oct. 10 - No School - Teacher Professional Development Workshop

15- Oct. 7 - Political Culture lecture/recitation. Worked extensively on Politcal Beliefs and Behaviors Quizlet stack. Assignment: Please have read and studied pp. 66-94 in the Wilson text.

14- Oct. 5 - Test #1 completed in class. Some were  able to read current news articles on government and politics. Assignment: Please read carefully pp. 79-85 on Political Culture.

October 3 - 2 hour delay due to Fog

13 - Oct. 3 - Checked over Wolfford Questions. In Depth review of Constitutional Underpinnings.  Assignment: Test #1 Next class meeting.

12 - Sept. 29 - Current events (NPR) - Wolfford review pp. 1-50.  Assignment: Keep up with the syllabus requirements. Test for this class is planned to be Wed. 10/5/16.   

11- Sept. 27 - A "spirited" discussion over the first televised presidential debate for the 2016 election. Reviewed all concepts covered in class to date.  Assignment: Study as per syllabus and especially know federalism from this diagram.

10- Sept. 23 - Open question period. Federalism introduction. Current Events (NPR).  Assignment: Be certain to continue reviewing your lecture notes and vocabulary.

9 - Sept. 21- Quick Write. Formal and Informal ways to amend the U.S. Constitution. Federalism introduction. Assignment: Read carefully pp. 63-72.

8- Sept. 19 - Graded U.S. Constitutional Underpinnings Round Robin. Open question session. Lecture/Recitation over Federalist 51,  specifically looked at ways that the federal government limited power by design.  Assignment: Prepare for Day 8 on the class syllabus.

7- Sept. 14 - Fine tuned the U.S. Constitutional Underpinnings Infographic assignment.  Worked on a 16x8 Round Robin based onthe infographics. Assignment: Read carefully to understand Federalist #51 . You might find this helpful as well: Federalist 51 Explained.

6 - Sept. 12 - Open questions period. In-depth look at Marbury v. Madison. Discussed the role of the courts in accepting cases, discussed some of the duties of the Supreme Court and specifically the fundamentals of "judicial review" Assignment: U.S. Constitutional Underpinnings Infographic , Carefully review appendix A26

5 - Sept. 8 - Careful analysis of "Sunrise at Philadelphia" . Open question period on assigned reading pp. 29-38.  Provided examples of "ex post facto and bills of attainder". Assignment: Read and comprehend pp. 39-45 in the Wilson text. Be certain to have within your brain the circumstances of "Marbury v. Madison" for next class.

4 - Sept. 6 - Open question period. Types of Government Quizlet quiz. Lecture/notes on "Origins of the American Republic". Assignment: Read carefully "Sunrise at Philadelphia" and answer the first five questions at the end of the reading.  This work must be hand written to receive full credit.  Read carefully pp. 29-38 in the Wilson text.

3 - Sept. 1 - Discussion over the readings 1-29. Socratic lecture over U.S. Democracy. Practice quiz. Assignment: If you haven't joined our class quizlet group, you must do that prior to next class.  Study carefully the Types of Government Quizlet. The link to join is https://quizlet.com/join/dg9gkdtAJ . Continue to read and study notes as per the syllabus. Quiz next class.

2 - Aug. 30 - Current Events (NPR.ORG), Open question period. Notes/Discussion on Democracy in the U.S.  Assignment: Join Our Class Quizlet Group Here.   Read carefully to understand the material pp. 20-29 in Wilson and prepare for a quiz over the class discussions and readings.

1 - Aug. 26 - Welcome to AP Gov.  Procedures, account built in Edmodo. Assignment: Complete the Political Spectrum assignment at: Political Spectrum Assignment. Complete reading pp. 1-14 in Wilson.