Hello and welcome to my Principles of American Democracy web page. This class is a high school requirement for graduation. I hope you visit this page frequently and use the information to help yourself pass the course.
2019 Government Grade Breakdown
A= 90-100
B= 80-89
C= 61-79
D= 40-60
FAIL= >40
- 20% Notebook with 50 entries, all three parts: Day/Date, Stuff and TIL
- 20% (Modified=5%) Research Paper: Topic, Resources, Notes, Outline, Drafts, Final and Presentation
- 5% Participation 10 signatures
- 5% 311 Reports, total of 10
- 5% RA LA Times Articles, total of 10
- 10% I am Citizen Project
- 10% Emails and Notes for each Representative (9)
- 5% Healthcare For All Essay Process (Notes, Outline, Essay)
- 4% Amendment Project
- 4% How a Bill Becomes a Law Video Project and storyboard
- 4% POTUS Website
- 2% Flex your Rights Questions and Notes
- Constitution Questions
- Democratic Party Platform Notes
- Republican Party Platform Notes
- Political Party Quiz
- Chart: Notes for Article I,II,III
- Factors that Shape your Political Attitudes
- Roadmap to the Whitehouse, Road to 270
A= 90-100
B= 80-89
C= 61-79
D= 40-60
FAIL= >40
2018 Government Final Grade Breakdown with Assignments
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2018 Government Final
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The article above will discuss the impact of gay marriage on children. Please read and create a T-Chart of positives and negatives. Finally, make sure you discuss your family experience on your health.
Aldo's Class Voting Results for Propositions
Click here to go to Secretary of State website for their results |
10 Week Grades 2018
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Landmark Cases Activity
You will work on researching a famous case from American history.
You will work on researching a famous case from American history.
- You are to Summarize the Overview
- Read the background (.) and summarize
- In teaching link, investigate the links to get more information
- Read the summary of the decision
Gay Marriage
The topic above will be the last one we research, discuss, debate and write a 5 paragraph essay on. You are to:
1. Go to procon.org and create a t-chart on 3-5 arguments in favor and against
2. Read materials and research on your own. Take notes and annotate.
3. Get ready for debate on the subject. Come ready with notes and outside research for our debate.
5. Write a 5 paragraph essay based on format we discussed in class.
Homophobic? Maybe you are gay (article)
Anti Same-Sex marriage Article
Facts about Same-Sex Marriage
Supreme Court Ruling, NY Times article
Pro Gay Marriage Article
At Least I am Free Now... 46 Years Later (Read Me Now)
Rough Riders Read across America Activity
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Read each of the two articles below. For each article you are to identify at least 3 reasons to either support or oppose the legalization of Marijuana. In addition, you are to find an additional resource, article or statistic that can help you in the debate that we will have on Friday, November 3.
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10 week grade sheet
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Carpenter v United States: Should police need to obtain a search warrant to get information from your cell phone carrier?
Please click and read article. Pay specific attention to the section "Factual and Procedural Background". What would you decide?
For example, while individuals may enjoy a reasonable expectation of privacy regarding the content of their telephone calls, they do not have the same expectation for the numbers dialed.
The Court may be willing to oblige them. Of particular interest is Justice Sotomayor’s concurrence in Jones (cited by all sides), which highlights the impracticability of the third-party doctrine in the digital age:
More fundamentally, it may be necessary to reconsider the premise that an individual has no reasonable expectation of privacy in information voluntarily disclosed to third parties. This approach is ill suited to the digital age, in which people reveal a great deal of information about themselves to third parties in the course of carrying out mundane tasks. People disclose the phone numbers that they dial or text to their cellular providers; the URLs that they visit and the e-mail addresses with which they correspond to their Internet service providers; and the books, groceries, and medications they purchase to online retailers. Perhaps, as Justice Alito notes, some people may find the “tradeoff” of privacy for convenience “worthwhile,” or come to accept this “diminution of privacy” as “inevitable,” and perhaps not.
I for one doubt that people would accept without complaint the warrantless disclosure to the Government of a list of every Web site they had visited in the last week, or month, or year. But whatever the societal expectations, they can attain constitutionally protected status only if our Fourth Amendment jurisprudence ceases to treat secrecy as a prerequisite for privacy. I would not assume that all information voluntarily disclosed to some member of the public for a limited purpose is, for that reason alone, disentitled to Fourth Amendment protection.
What does mean?
What do you think about your privacy?
Do you expect privacy?
What about web searches? Should they be private? Is this public information?
Please click and read article. Pay specific attention to the section "Factual and Procedural Background". What would you decide?
For example, while individuals may enjoy a reasonable expectation of privacy regarding the content of their telephone calls, they do not have the same expectation for the numbers dialed.
The Court may be willing to oblige them. Of particular interest is Justice Sotomayor’s concurrence in Jones (cited by all sides), which highlights the impracticability of the third-party doctrine in the digital age:
More fundamentally, it may be necessary to reconsider the premise that an individual has no reasonable expectation of privacy in information voluntarily disclosed to third parties. This approach is ill suited to the digital age, in which people reveal a great deal of information about themselves to third parties in the course of carrying out mundane tasks. People disclose the phone numbers that they dial or text to their cellular providers; the URLs that they visit and the e-mail addresses with which they correspond to their Internet service providers; and the books, groceries, and medications they purchase to online retailers. Perhaps, as Justice Alito notes, some people may find the “tradeoff” of privacy for convenience “worthwhile,” or come to accept this “diminution of privacy” as “inevitable,” and perhaps not.
I for one doubt that people would accept without complaint the warrantless disclosure to the Government of a list of every Web site they had visited in the last week, or month, or year. But whatever the societal expectations, they can attain constitutionally protected status only if our Fourth Amendment jurisprudence ceases to treat secrecy as a prerequisite for privacy. I would not assume that all information voluntarily disclosed to some member of the public for a limited purpose is, for that reason alone, disentitled to Fourth Amendment protection.
What does mean?
What do you think about your privacy?
Do you expect privacy?
What about web searches? Should they be private? Is this public information?
Voters Purged from rolls for not Voting: Is this OK to do or not? (Read Article Here)
Please read and annotate article. When you are annotating identify the arguments made by each side as to why this practice is FAIR or UNFAIR.
Make a T-Chart for this activity
Please read and annotate article. When you are annotating identify the arguments made by each side as to why this practice is FAIR or UNFAIR.
Make a T-Chart for this activity
Who's My Representative?
LA City Council
LA City Council
questions_for_aug_29_2017_political_parties_reading.docx | |
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LA Times Article: Summary Democrats and Republicans
FACTORS THAT SHAPE YOUR POLITICAL ATTITUDES
SEE HOW PEOPLE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD VOTED IN 2016 ELECTION
Extra Credit
Art Exhibit Visit @ ELAC's Vincent Price Museum
Documentary: How to Die in Oregon
LA Times Assisted Suicide Article
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Ballot Propositions: For each proposition write a brief summary of the proposition (3-4 sentences) an a t-chart with 2-3 pro and con arguments.
Prop. 64: Legalization of Marijuana for Recreational Purposes
Prop. 64: Legalization of Marijuana for Recreational Purposes
Newspaper Article Suggestions:
Japanese Americans Remembered by city
Boy found dead, mom blamed
On illegal immigration, trump supporters differ
Obama's Lawyers Challenge the Money Bail System
Japanese Americans Remembered by city
Boy found dead, mom blamed
On illegal immigration, trump supporters differ
Obama's Lawyers Challenge the Money Bail System
Who am I? 5 Paragraph Essay
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SYLLABUS FALL OF 2016
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I am a Citizen project
For this last activity in our class you are to write nine letters to government officials at all three levels of government. City of Los Angeles residents will write two letters, one to your Councilman, a second to the Mayor. If you reside in the county then contact your LA County Supervisor (this one takes you to all of them). For the State level you will contact your State Senator, State Assemblyman and the Governor. Finally you will write to your federal representatives, Congressman, (2) US Senators and the President of the United States.
Each letter will focus on a different issue based on the level of the representative. If you are doing the research paper, you only need to write 3 letters, one for each level. Those not doing the research paper will write all 9 letters and present a display board/poster with 9 letters to class during final. Click on each official above to find out the name of your representative and their website. Make sure to email your letter to the official and to me as well. You must include:
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Congressional Questions
Click on download to answer. Click here to take a tour of Congress.
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What am I????
For this activity you will get a better idea of where you stand in the political spectrum. Please follow the link below, take the test and screenshot the results and email me at [email protected]. The first quiz is 20 questions the second is a little more thorough at 38 questions, but each will determine your ideology. Good luck and have fun.
pewcenter ideology test or you can do the political compass test. TAKE THIS QUIZ 2019 |
VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!Click on VOTE, VOTE, VOTE above to register to vote in California.
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Presidential Video/ Website and Research Project
For this activity you will get a sense of what a politico goes through as he/she prepares his/her campaign message for prospective voters. You are to complete three tasks in a group of 5-8 classmates from any of my classes.
Click Here for a REALLY GOOD SAMPLE!!!! Click here for a sample website Click here for a sample website 1. First, select five topics from the following list. Determine which issues are most important to your constituents. The topics include:
2. You are to create a website that contains the video or a link to your video. The website will be in a style to promote the election of your candidate. Please visit websites listed below for samples. You must also have all five positions from part one on your website. 3. 30 second Commercial promoting your candidate. Please create a 30 second commercial that promotes your candidate. You must discuss at least 3-5 ideas that you did research on. Be creative and have fun. Sample Resources Click on picture to go to their websites. If you want to see a list of ALL candidates click here. There are at least 35 & many, many more !!! |
Presidential Debate Activity
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Proposition Project
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Flex Your Rights Activity VIDEO
We have just seen a video that illustrates the rights you have under the 4th, 5th and 6th amendments. Please visit the website above by clicking on red or go to youtube and search "flex your rights". Please answer the following questions related to our video lecture in class.
1. What are some of the protections you have under the 4th amendment?
2. What are some of the protections you have under the 5th amendment?
3. What are some of the protections you have under the 6th amendment?
4. You and your best friend are in a car and get pulled over by a cop. What are some tips that you would share with your buddy regarding how to behave? Explain.
5. You and your best friend are walking down the street, a police officer stops you both. What are some tips that you would share with your buddy regarding how to behave? Explain.
6. You are visiting your friend at their home and the police are knocking on the door. What are some tips that you would share with your buddy regarding how to behave? Explain.
HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW PROJECT
SAMPLE VIDEOS:
1. COUNTRY MUSIC BAN
2. FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION
3. NO SAGGING
For this activity you are able to work with up to 8 people from any period. You have 2 weeks. By Friday, 11/22/19, please have a storyboard to turn in. By 12/2/19, please have your video done. You need to email me the link. The video must have the following 8 parts included.
SAMPLE VIDEOS:
1. COUNTRY MUSIC BAN
2. FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION
3. NO SAGGING
For this activity you are able to work with up to 8 people from any period. You have 2 weeks. By Friday, 11/22/19, please have a storyboard to turn in. By 12/2/19, please have your video done. You need to email me the link. The video must have the following 8 parts included.
- An idea is born
- Congressperson creates bill
- Bill goes to committee (debate, investigate, discuss)
- House votes (435, 50%+1)
- It goes to Senate in committee
- It goes to full Senate vote
- President either signs or vetoes
- Congress overrides the veto (???)
- Aftermath of the bill process
Bill of Rights and other Amendments Project
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Constitutional Questions...
For this assignment you are to use the Constitution to answer questions. All questions must be answered by hand. Do not copy questions. Make sure you cite the article, section and clause of the constitution you used to support your answer.
1. My name is Carlos and I am running for US Congress. I want to know if I am eligible. I was born in Tijuana, Mexico in 1988. I became a US citizen in 1995. I have lived in my district for the last 15 years. I am a college graduate and currently run my own business. Can I run for a House of Representatives seat? 2. My name is Sammy and I am interested in running for the US Senate. I am a gay male who has been in a partnership for the last twenty years. As a proud Californian who was born in the state in 1960, I feel I can represent the State better than either of the two current Senators. Can I run? 3. My name is Victor Vice President of the US. I am considering playing golf with some friends this afternoon. The US Senate is having a big vote regarding immigration. Many feel that it will be a tie. Should I have any reason to worry about the vote or should I just enjoy my golf trip? 4. I am Sammy Senator from California. Yesterday an investigation report came out that proves that the President of the US is selling his signature on pictures to people on ebay for lots of money. Can I do anything about this? 5. I am Charlie Congressman and I received an idea from one of my constituents. She asked that I propose a bill to provide money to build a statute to a great high school government teacher named Aldo Parral. Do I have the power to do this? 6. My paycheck has been getting smaller and smaller every week. I complained to my supervisor and he said that its Congress who is taxing us. Is this true? Does Congress have the right to take my hard earned money? 7. Recently, Mexican candy makers have been sending too much Mexican candy to the US. Many American candy makers are complaining about this because their profits are shrinking. As a candy maker, what can I do to stop the flood of pelones, lucas and tommy's? 8. The people of California are tired of a weakening dollar around the world. The Governor of the State has come up with an ingenious idea to help California out of the recession. He proposes that California print their own money called Golden Bucks. Is this possible? 9. President Obama went out last night and had some horrible Chinese food. He wakes up this morning with a bad case of diarrhea. He tells Michelle that he is going to go to war with China. Is this possible? 10. A new scientific discovery makes it possible for the American public to lose weight by watching TV. Unfortunately all the research and tests have not been completely done. There may be some risks as people use this device. Can Congress regulate this device? What gives them that power? 11. My name is Pedro and I am a proud American. I was born in the US in 1970. I am currently unemployed and did not receive my HS diploma. My stupid government teacher failed me! Either way, I feel I can do a better job than the current President. Can I run for this office? I was always told that anyone can become President. Is this true? 12. As President what do I do exactly? Can you tell me at least two responsibilities I have? 13. I am Justice Jerry and am currently on the US Supreme Court. I just got back from the doctor and he told me that I am going senile. I think I can do a great job still. Do I need to worry about losing my job? It's really fun wearing shorts under my black robe. 14. I am Iggy the immigrant. I am tired of all the injustices that undocumented immigrants face. Even though I pay taxes, contribute to society and a great member of the community I must live in the shadows. Is there anything I can do to add an amendment to the US Constitution that will help undocumented immigrants? What is the process to change the US Constitution? 15. The man who owns our neighborhood pot shop said he can sell all the marijuana he wants and no one can stop him because California legalized the use of medical marijuana years ago. My brilliant government teacher told me that marijuana was illegal in the US. As a matter of fact here was a huge marijuana bust in TJ/San Diego border last week. Who is right? Is one law greater than another or all they all equal? 16. My name is William Blount VI. There has always been a rumor in my family that a relative of ours signed the US Constitution. We are originally from North Carolina. Is this really possible that a distant relative of mine signed this beautiful document? |
Puro Pari, Pari, Pari!!!
The elections are in full swing. Americans are about to engage in a four year ritual called elections. The two major political parties are trying to convince America that they have the solution to our nation's problems. Who will win in November??? For this assignment you are to:
Republican National Convention Day 1: Ann Romney & Chris Christie Day 2: Paul Ryan Day 3: Mitt Romney Democratic National Convention Day 1 Julian Castro & Michelle Obama Day 2 Bill Clinton & Elizabeth Warren Click on links to left to go the the convention websites. |
Quarter 1
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Philosophers and U.S.
This project will focus in on the major philosophers that shaped the development of our nation's government structure. We are going to focus on 8 men that had a profound influence on our founding fathers. You are to create a poster with a silhouette of a person and identify 5 parts of the body and designate which philosopher most exemplifies that part. The philosophers are:
Read each philosopher and think about which body part they would represent:
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Tuesday
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Opening Day-SyllabusPlease read, share and make sure you and your parents sign the syllabus. This is your first assignment and will be kept as the first page in your binder.
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