Principles of American Democracy

A survey of the how the U.S. Constitution, the two-party system and government at the national level serve as the central elements in determining America's freedoms, values and place in the world.

US Govt - MaGruder’s American Government
2012 Syllabus for Feb/Mar

Mon 06 Feb Ch 22 Unit 6 Comp Poly Sys Revolutions 1
Tue 07 Ch 22 all America 2
Wed 08 Ch 22 all World Today 3
Thu 09 Ch 23 Comp Econ Sys Capitalism 4
Fri 10 Ch 23 all Communism 5

Mon 13 Ch 5 Unit 2 Political Parties Two-Party System 6
Tue 14 Ch 5 Sec all Organization 7
Wed 15 Ch 6 Voter Behavior Suffrage 8
Thu 16 Ch 6 Sec all Behavior 9
Fri 17 election 2012 Current Events 10

Tue 21 Ch 7 Electoral Process Nominating 11
Wed 22 Ch 7 Sec all Money 12
Thu 23 Ch 8 Mass Media Public Opinion 13
Fri 24 Ch 9 Interest Groups Interest Groups 14

Mon 27 Ch 13 Unit 4 The Presidency Nominations 15
Tue 28 Ch 13 Sec all Election 16
Wed 29 Ch 14 Modern Presidency Growth of Power 17
Thu 1 Mar Ch 15 Sec all Comm-In-Chief 18
Fri 2 Ch 22, 23, 5-9, 13, 14 Review for exam 19

Mon 5 Midterm Exam Comprehensive 20
Tue 6 Ch 15 Unit 4 Bureaucracy Bureaucracy 21
Wed 7 Ch 15 Sec all Departments 22
Thu 8 Ch 15 Sec all Parent Night 23
Fri 9 election 2012 Current Events 24

Mon 12 Ch 1 Unit 1 Principles Democracy 25
Tue 13 Ch 2 Origins Independence 26
Wed 14 Ch 2 Sec all Constitution 27
Thu 15 Ch 2 Sec all Ratifying 28
Fri 16 Ch 3 Constitution Principles 29

Tue 19 Ch 3 Sec all Amendments 30
Wed 20 Ch 3 Sec all Issues 31
Thu 21 Ch 4 Federalism Division of Power 32
Fri 22 Ch 4 Sec all States’ Rights 33
Fri 23 election 2012 Current Events 34

Mon 26 Ch 10 Unit 3 Congress House/Senate 35
Tue 27 Ch 11 Powers Expressed/Implied 36
Wed 28 Ch 11 Sec all Issues 37
Thu 29 Ch 12 Bills Book Survey due 38
Fri 30 Cesar Chavez Day no school - - -
US Govt
– April 2012 Syllabus -

Mon 9 Apr Ch 19 Unit 5 Civil Liberties Speech/Press 39
Tue 10 Ch 19 Sec all Issues 40
Wed 11 Ch 24 Unit 7 California State Legislature 41
Thu 12 Ch 24 Sec all Governor 42
Fri 13 Ch 1-24 Review Comprehensive 43

Mon 16 Final Exams Quarter 3 - - - 44
Tue 17 Film Quarter 3 grades due 45
Wed 18 election 2012 Quarter 3 Last Day 46

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Attendance

1. Two tardies are allowed, though greatly discouraged. A third tardy for any reason, including with a teacher’s or parent’s excuse, will lower your grade one letter for the course.

2. Two absences are allowed, though greatly discouraged. Make-up assignments are given by instructor after class and are not the same as assigned work. A third absence will eliminate the opportunity for making up missed work.

Note: students with perfect attendance will receive consideration if grade is borderline.

Grading

1. Make sure your printer is working, make sure your computer is working, make sure you have enough paper and do it today.

2. Monitoring your grade throughout the semester. Keep all graded work until end of course. Grading is 90/80/70/60 as required by the state of California. Extra credit offered by request.

Classroom Behavior

1. Every student knows how to behave appropriately. Inappropriate behavior will be considered deliberate and disruptive.

2. Respect the people and the process in the classroom every day.

3. Raise your hand to speak – no exceptions.

4. You must have your textbook, a pen and paper with you every day before the bell rings. Failure to have the tools for learning will be considered deliberate and disruptive.

5. No food or drink is allowed inside the classroom, except water in clear plastic bottles plainly labeled as water. Throw all other items away before entering the classroom. Wastepaper baskets are for paper only. Chewing gum must be disposed in a paper tissue.