State of the Union 2025 Bingo 🗣

🎯 Learning Targets

• Explain how communication technology has changed the president's relationship with the national constituency and the other branches

⏰ What We Did

• Watched a recorded broadcast of the 2025 presidential address to a joint session of Congress and played policy/buzzword bingo for Fun and Exciting Prizes™️

⚙️ Resources

• President Trump Full Speech to Joint Session of Congress (C-SPAN)

YMTR: Washington's Farewell Address 🪶Presidential Communication 🤳

🎯 Learning Targets

• Explain how communication technology has changed the president's relationship with the national constituency and the other branches

⏰ What We Did

• Answered Mr. Carpenter's ten yes/no questions regarding Washington's Farewell Address
• Took notes on the methods by which presidents have shared their message to the American people and with the other branches of government

⚙️ Resources

• 2.10 Presidential Communication

YMTR: Washington's Farewell Address 🪶

🎯 Learning Targets

• Explain how presidents have interpreted and justified their use of formal and informal powers

⏰ What We Did

• Read the warnings George Washington gave to both his successors and the public following his second term as president
• Developed ten yes/no questions related to Washington's Farewell Address (NOTE: Ten teacher-developed yes/no questions will be provided to answer at the beginning of class tomorrow)

⚙️ Resources

• You-Make-The-Read: Washington's Farewell Address, In Modern English

Expansion of Presidential Powers ↔️Federalist No. 70 🪶

🎯 Learning Targets

• Explain how presidents have interpreted and justified their use of formal and informal powers

⏰ What We Did

• Took notes on the development of a unitary executive, the qualifications and term of office of the president, and how the presidency has changed from the role envisioned by the Framers

⚙️ Resources

• 2.9 Expansion of Presidential Power; Federalist No. 70

Checks on the Presidency ✅

🎯 Learning Targets

• Explain how the president’s agenda can create tension and frequent confrontations with Congress

⏰ What We Did

• Took notes on the organization of the Executive Branch, the president's ability to make judicial nominations, and the conflicts that can develop between the president and Congress

⚙️ Resources

• 2.8 Checks on the Presidency

Powers of the President 💪

🎯 Learning Targets

• The presidency has been enhanced beyond the expressed constitutional powers

⏰ What We Did

• Continued the notes from Tuesday on the president's use of the veto for legislation and signing statements, the president's formal and informal powers in making foreign policy, the president and Congress, and the use -- and purpose -- of executive orders

The Roles of the President Gallery Walk/Reflection 🖼

🎯 Learning Targets

• The presidency has been enhanced beyond the expressed constitutional powers

⏰ What We Did

• Completed the gallery walk begun yesterday, if needed or absent
• Reflected on the gallery walk on the roles of the presidency

The Roles of the President Gallery Walk 🖼

🎯 Learning Targets

• The presidency has been enhanced beyond the expressed constitutional powers

⏰ What We Did

• Conducted a gallery walk with photographic and video examples of American presidents exhibiting one of the roles of the presidency

The Roles of the President 🎩

🎯 Learning Targets

• The presidency has been enhanced beyond the expressed constitutional powers

⏰ What We Did

• Took notes on the roles played by the president

⚙️ Resources

• 2.7 Roles and Powers of the President

Baker v. Carr (1962) and Shaw v. Reno (1993) 🏛

🎯 Learning Targets

• Explain how congressional behavior is influenced by election processes, partisanship, and divided government

⏰ What We Did

• Quickly reviewed reapportionment, redistricting, and gerrymandering
• Discussed the facts leading up to Baker v. Carr (1962) and Shaw v. Reno (1993), regarding redistricting and gerrymandering
• Added Baker and Shaw to Supreme Court graphic organizer

⚙️ Resources

• Baker v. Carr Case Summary
• Shaw v. Reno Case Summary

Reapportionment and Redistricting ✏️

Today's class was led by a guest teacher. 🏫

🎯 Learning Targets

• Explain how congressional behavior is influenced by election processes, partisanship, and divided government

⏰ What We Did

• Took notes on reapportionment, redistricting, and gerrymandering in the House of Representatives
• Simulate the state legislature drawing congressional districts to meet various criteria

⚙️ Resources

• 2.6 Baker v. Carr, Shaw v. Reno
• Gerrymandering

Congressional Behavior 🧐

🎯 Learning Targets

• Explain how congressional behavior is influenced by election processes, partisanship, and divided government

⏰ What We Did

• Reviewed notes on the use of compromise in Congress, how Congress interacts with "lame duck" presidents, and the theories of congressional behavior
• Identified examples of theories of congressional behavior by reading a first-hand account by former Congressman Lee Hamilton

⚙️ Resources

• How Members Vote (Rep. Lee Hamilton, 2004)

Congress and Money 💰

🎯 Learning Targets

• Explain how the structure, powers, and functions of both houses of Congress affect the policy-making process

⏰ What We Did

• Took notes on the process by which Congress passes a budget, the various types of spending, and the influence of pork-barrel legislation and logrolling

⚙️ Resources

• 2.4 Congress and Money

📖 Homework

• Review 2.5 Congressional Behavior before class tomorrow

Mid-Winter Break — No School ❄️

Clintondale High School is out on Mid-Winter Break. Classes will resume on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 7:35 A.M.

Mid-Winter Break — No School ❄️Presidents' Day 🇺🇸

George Washington's Birthday Observed (1732) 🇺🇸

Clintondale High School is out on Mid-Winter Break

Function of Congress: Rules for Debate 🏛

🎯 Learning Targets

• Explain how the structure, powers, and functions of both houses of Congress affect the policy-making process

⏰ What We Did

• Continue taking notes on Function of Congress, specifically comparing rules for debate in both the House and Senate

Inclement Weather — No School 🥶

Clintondale High School is closed due to inclement weather. Classes will resume on Friday, February 14, 2025, at 7:35 A.M.

Who's Who in Congress ❗️

Abraham Lincoln's Birthday (1809) 🇺🇸

🎯 Learning Targets

• Explain how the structure, powers, and functions of both houses of Congress affect the policy-making process

⏰ What We Did

• Discussed the answers to yesterday's "Who's Who in Congress" internet webquest

Who's Who in Congress ❓

🎯 Learning Targets

• Explain how the structure, powers, and functions of both houses of Congress affect the policy-making process

⏰ What We Did

• Conducted an internet webquest to identify current members of congressional leadership

⚙️ Resources

• Who's Who in Congress

Function of Congress 🏛

🎯 Learning Targets

• Explain how the structure, powers, and functions of both houses of Congress affect the policy-making process

⏰ What We Did

• Discussed the answers to Friday's "How a Bill Becomes a Law: Reading a Diagram"
• Continued taking notes on the duties and leadership of Congress
• Completed a "Who's Who in Congress" internet search

Function of Congress 🏛

🎯 Learning Targets

• Explain how the structure, powers, and functions of both houses of Congress affect the policy-making process

⏰ What We Did

• Took notes on the differing structures, powers, and functions of the Senate and the House in the policy-making process
• Examined "How a Bill Becomes a Law" handout
• Watched Schoolhouse Rock's "I'm Just a Bill"...because we had to
• Identified the steps in the legislative process by following the flowchart handout

⚙️ Resources

• 2.3: Function of Congress
• How a Bill Becomes a Law
• Schoolhouse Rock's I'm Just a Bill
• How a Bill Becomes a Law: Reading a Diagram

Inclement Weather — No School 🥶

Clintondale High School is closed due to inclement weather. Classes will resume on Friday, February 7, 2025, at 7:35 A.M.

Congress Represented in Cartoons Reflection 🪞

Today's class was led by a guest teacher. 🏫

🎯 Learning Targets

• Describe the different structures, powers, and functions of each house of Congress

⏰ What We Did

• Completed a reflection on the cartoons examined in yesterday's class

⚙️ Resources

• Political Cartoon Reflection

Congress Represented in Cartoons Group Work 🖌

🎯 Learning Targets

• Describe the different structures, powers, and functions of each house of Congress

⏰ What We Did

• Divided into six groups, each group a was assigned chapter in a eBook
• Examine assigned political cartoons by identifying a caption for each and relating one cartoon to a contemporary issue

⚙️ Resources

• Representing Congress: Clifford K. Berryman’s Political Cartoons (eBook)
• Worksheets 2 through 7 (Group cartoons)
• Caption cards

Powers of Congress 💪

🎯 Learning Targets

• Describe the different structures, powers, and functions of each house of Congress

⏰ What We Did

• Took notes on the powers of Congress
• Began an examination of Congress represented in political cartoons

⚙️ Resources

• 2.2: Powers of Congress
• The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription
• Worksheet 1: Introducing Political Cartoons
• Cartoon Analysis Worksheet

Close and Critical Reading: "Ten Most Important Things You Should Know About the Senate" 🔟

🎯 Learning Targets

• Describe the different structures, powers, and functions of each house of Congress

⏰ What We Did

• Read "Ten Most Important Things You Should Know About the Senate" while completing a close and critical read, highlighting prompted text

⚙️ Resources

• Ten Most Important Things You Should Know About the Senate (Text)
• Ten Most Important Things You Should Know About the Senate (Prompts)

"Ten Most Important Things You Should Know About the House of Representatives" 🔟

🎯 Learning Targets

• Describe the different structures, powers, and functions of each house of Congress

⏰ What We Did

• Read "Ten Most Important Things You Should Know About the U.S. House of Representatives" while completing a guided reading

⚙️ Resources

• Ten Most Important Things You Should Know About the House of Representatives (Text)
• Ten Most Important Things You Should Know About the House of Representatives (Questions)

Structure of Congress 🏛

🎯 Learning Targets

• Describe the different structures, powers, and functions of each house of Congress

⏰ What We Did

• Finished discussing the structure of Congress
• Used notes on the Structure of Congress to complete a graphic organizer on the structure of both houses of Congress

⚙️ Resources

• Graphic Organizer: Structure of Congress

Structure of Congress 🏛

🎯 Learning Targets

• Describe the different structures, powers, and functions of each house of Congress

⏰ What We Did

• Began Unit 2: Interactions Among Branches of Government with an overview of the Essential Questions and Enduring Understandings
• Examined the separation of powers, as well as the checks & balances, of the federal government
• Discussed and took notes on the structure of Congress

⚙️ Resources

• Checks and Balances of the Federal Government
• 2.1: Structure of Congress

Records Day — No School 📂

Clintondale High School is closed for Records Day. The Second Semester will begin tomorrow, Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at 7:35 A.M.

Semester Assessment — Units 4 and 5 💯

🎯 Learning Targets

• Assess comprehension of Units 4 and 5 in United States Government and Politics

⏰ What We Did

• Completed the Semester Assessment, covering Units 4 and 5

Cold Weather Advisory — No School 🥶

Clintondale High School is closed due to extreme cold. Classes will resume on Thursday, January 23, 2024, at 7:35 A.M.

Cold Weather Advisory — No School 🥶

Clintondale High School is closed due to extreme cold. Classes will resume on Thursday, January 23, 2024, at 7:35 A.M.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day — No School 🇺🇸

Clintondale High School is closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 21, 2024, at 7:35 A.M.

Units 4 and 5 Review ♻️

🎯 Learning Targets

• Review key concepts raised in Units 4 and 5

⏰ What We Did

• Continued preparing for next week's semester exam

Units 4 and 5 Review ♻️

🎯 Learning Targets

• Review key concepts raised in Units 4 and 5

⏰ What We Did

• Individually prepared for next week's semester exam, covering Units 4 and 5, using an online study guide

⚙️ Resources

• Unit 4 — American Political Ideologies and Beliefs
• Unit 5 — Political Participation

FRQ 3: SCOTUS Comparison 3️⃣

🎯 Learning Targets

• Prepare for next week's semester exam, covering Units 4 and 5

⏰ What We Did

• Explained the rubric for answering FRQ 3 and engaged in a practice free-response Supreme Court comparison question

⚙️ Resources

• FRQ #3: SCOTUS Comparison
• Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954) Case Summary

FRQ 2: Quantitative Analysis 2️⃣

🎯 Learning Targets

• Prepare for next week's semester exam, covering Units 4 and 5

⏰ What We Did

• Explained the rubric for answering FRQ 2 and engaged in a practice free-response concept application question

⚙️ Resources

• FRQ #2: Quantitative Analysis

FRQ 1: Concept Application 1️⃣

🎯 Learning Targets

• Prepare for next week's semester exam, covering Units 4 and 5

⏰ What We Did

• Explained the rubric for answering FRQ 1 and engaged in a practice free-response concept application question

⚙️ Resources

• FRQ #1: Concept Application

The Changing Media and Politics 📱

🎯 Learning Targets

• Explain how increasingly diverse choices of media and communication outlets influence political institutions and behavior

⏰ What We Did

• Identified the means by which the media influences political participation, the biases that different media organizations use to present the same information, how the media may affect American democracy, and the ways to consume media responsibly

⚙️ Resources

• 11 The Changing Media and Politics

The Media and Politics 📰

🎯 Learning Targets

• Explain the media's role as a linkage institution

⏰ What We Did

• Examined what information the media presents and the means by which media is shared in the modern world
• Weighed the pros and cons of the media's use of polls to create "horse races" in political campaigns

⚙️ Resources

• 10 The Media and Politics

Campaign Finance 💰

Late Start Day 🕣

🎯 Learning Targets

• Explain how the organization, finance, and strategies of national political campaigns affect the election process

⏰ What We Did

• Briefly introduced the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (a.k.a., McCain-Feingold Act)
• Added Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) to Supreme Court graphic organizer
• Weighed the effectiveness of campaign finance when compared with the loopholes the legislation created

⚙️ Resources

• 9 Campaign Finance
• Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission Case Summary

Campaign Finance 💰Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) 🏛

Late Start Day 🕣

🎯 Learning Targets

• Explain how the organization, finance, and strategies of national political campaigns affect the election process

⏰ What We Did

• Brief overview of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (McCain-Feingold)
• Added Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) to the GoPo Landmark Supreme Court cases graphic organizer
• Weighed the effectiveness of campaign finance when compared with the loopholes the legislation created

⚙️ Resources

• 9 Campaign Finance
• Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission Case Summary

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), Day 3 🎞

🎯 Learning Targets

• Explain how the structures, powers, and functions of both houses of Congress affect the policy-making process

⏰ What We Did

• Completed a viewing guide while watching Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), Day 2 🎞

🎯 Learning Targets

• Explain how the structures, powers, and functions of both houses of Congress affect the policy-making process

⏰ What We Did

• Continued a viewing guide while watching Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)