120 likes | 198 Views
Teaching Political Science/Government/Civics. How to organize a course?. Part One: “looking under the hood” or, “how does this thing work?” Government Part Two: “let’s drive this thing!” or, Citizenship. Part One. What’s under the hood? How does this thing work?
E N D
How to organize a course? • Part One: “looking under the hood” or, “how does this thing work?” Government • Part Two: “let’s drive this thing!” or, Citizenship
Part One • What’s under the hood? • How does this thing work? • Be sure to teach both how it was designed back then AND how it works now
First, the choices • Many different kinds of government out there • Monarchy, theocracy, dictatorship, totalitarianism, anarchy… • Representational, not direct democracy • Democracy: • Presidential • Parliamentary • Pros and cons of each?
Local government • What is the government of your school? • Your neighborhood? • Your county? • Your state? • Why might this be important to know?
What’s under the hood? • First, it’s a “federal system” of states’ rights, federal rights, and peoples’ rights • Express, concurrent, and reserved powers • Constant tension among them • Examples?
The 3 branches • What are they and what do they do? • How have they changed over time? • What can’t they do? • How is power both shared and limited? • Checks and balances and separation of powers • Why? • What role do citizens play? http://youtu.be/M9bbxNV7QY8
Lobbying and PACS • A fourth branch? • See packet materials on lobbying
The Constitution Itself • It’s really small! • Teach the parts and the contents • How do we change it? Amendments • How are laws made? • How has it changed?
The Political Process • Voting rights: “Electoral Dysfunction”? • The electoral college • The different kinds of political parties and their beliefs • The process: how people get elected • Campaigning and the media
The Media • Propaganda techniques • Media bias • Image making and digital advertising • Polls • Role of technology to shape and target messages • Digital advertising
Part Two • “Let’s drive this thing” • Citizenship and civics