April 4-5, 2011Mr. Gordon

Announcements and AgendaGrades are up to date:

Assignments include: Parent Signature, Survey, Pre-test

Please turn in Exit Slip from last class If you are missing any of these please see me!

Assignment BinsBring books to class from now on!Agenda

Student survey summaryPre-test summary and a few things to noteBill of Rights activity

Graphic Organizer and Small Group DiscussionPreview Supreme Court Simulation

Student survey summaryI found out…

A lot, thank you for your thoughtful answers and for feeling comfortable sharing personal information.

63% of you plan on participating in school of some kind after high school. Sweet! Let me know if you have questions.

34% of you have a job. I will keep this in mind when assigning homework.

The three class average for importance of PowerPoint is 7.6/10

People want to learn more about: voting, taxes, presidents and the organization of the government. Topics I will be sure to cover.

People enjoy: Individual assignments, worksheets, videos and making visual projects.

People dislike: Listening to teachers talk endlessly and speeches.

Pre-test summaryThree Class Average: 27%High Score: 60.5%Vocabulary Portion of the test: 16.8% of points

possible in this sectionRemember to use the word wall and drill and

practice station for vocabulary practiceAlso remember to take notes in class (preferably

c-notes). We will be covering each portion of the test in detail and it will be important to take notes so that you have all the important information at your access to review.

Speaking of notes…

A few things to clear upChecks and balances has nothing to do with

check books or bank accounts.Checks and Balances refers to the separation

of powers in government, set-up in the 3 branches of our government.

This system ensures no one individual or branch has too much power. Puts checks on the other branches to ensure there is no abuse of power.

3 Branches UnitDuring the next few weeks we will be studying

how the three branches of government work together in that system of checks and balances.

The graphic organizer sheet will be a helpful tool in understanding these branches and their interactions.

These branches were established, as you have learned, with the Constitution. The freedoms of individuals were later clarified by the Bill of Rights. Which is where we will focus today.

But first, to review…

The Three Branches

ConstitutionWe the People of the United States, in Order to

form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Article One: Legislative PowerArticle Two: Executive powerArticle Three: Judicial power

The Bill of RightsThe first ten amendments to the constitution.Constitution was ratified June 21, 1788Bill of Rights was ratified December 15, 1791Why?

Because many feared the idea of the social contract.

Having just fought for freedom from Great Britain some feared that the government could become to powerful and overbearing. The Bill of Rights clarified individual freedoms.

Many states would not sign the constitution without these rights.

Shoeless Joe and Scott Free explain…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlt6R1KD4E0

Use the worksheet to organize your thoughts and summarize each of the amendments

The First 10 Amendments

to the U.S. Constitution

Who determines what the Bill of Rights means?

The Supreme Court makes rulings on the meaning

The Supreme Court balances the rights of the individual with the needs of society

Individual?? Society??

Freedoms worth fighting for??

Five Rights in the First Amendment

Freedom of Religion Freedom of Speech Freedom of the Press Freedom of Assembly Petition the Government

Freedom of Religion“Congress shall make no law respecting an

establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise there of”

Two clauses:

Establishment clauseFree Exercise clause

Establishment and free exercise clause often conflict with each other

In schools, the religion issue is most prevalent

If a student raises his hand and asks “Teacher, can we say an opening prayer before this test?”

If the teacher says:

“Yes”, It looks like establishment of religion

“No”, It is denying a student free exercise.

Establishment clause-GovernmentCans Cannot

Teach about religions in school

Allow voluntary prayer in many examples

Transport students to a religious school

Read Bible for culture or literacy content

Set a state religion Government cannot

order a prayerTeach religious

doctrine in the school

Pay seminary teachers

Teach creationism

Free Exercise—The personCan Cannot

Choose whatever religion

Lead a prayer in most examples

Ask questions about religions

Worship whomever you want

Break the law and claim it is religious belief

Raise children without education

Deprive children of basic needs

Freedom of speech“Congress shall make no laws . . . abridging

the freedom of speech”

Free speech– The individual can:

Say any political beliefProtest (without getting out of control)Say things about someone that are trueBurn the flagSay racist and hate slogansFree speech means someone

might say something you disagree with

Free speech—limits on the personThreaten to blow up airplanes, schools or the

presidentSexual harassmentCreate too much social chaosExtremely crude language in a public placeDisrespectful, vulgar language

in schoolsHate crimes

Freedom of the pressCongress shall make no

law . . . abridging . . . the freedom of the press.”

Freedom of the press-the pressCan Cannot

Print any political position

Make fun of people, especially politicians

Expose wrongs by the government

Say things you might not agree with

Libel– intentionally injuring a person’s reputation by false facts

Disclose defense-security secrets

Detail how to make certain weapons

Freedom of AssemblyCongress shall make no law . . . Abridging . . .

the people to peaceably assemble”

Freedom of Assembly—IndividualCan Cannot

Protest Parade (with a

permit)Parade chanting

hate slogan

Protest by throwing rocks and breaking windows

Hang out on private land against owners will—loitering

Violate teen curfew

Petition the Government“Congress shall make no law . . .

preventing . . . the people. . . to petition the government for a redress of grievances”

Petition the governmentYou may sue the government

for wrongsYou cannot be punished for

exposing wrongs by the government

The courts decide the wrongs

2nd Amendment—Right to bear arms

“A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to bear arms shall not be infringed.”

What is the debate with the right to bear arms?

How much can the government keep guns from criminals and youth?

In order to keep guns away from criminals, does that limit the right of law abiding citizens?

Gun debate continued…..

Thousands of people die every year because of guns

Thousands of crimes are prevented because of gunsShoes representing gun deaths.

Third Amendment

The Government cannot force you to shelter soldiers in your home without your consent in time of war or peace.

Rights of the Accused Amendments #4-8

Important to preserve freedom

Fourth Amendment

What does a policeman need in order to search your home? A warrant given

to him by a judge Probable cause

is also needed

Fifth AmendmentYou cannot be tried for the same crime twice

—called “Double Jeopardy”You do not have to testify against your self. “I

plead the fifth”You must have due process of law before you

are convictedThe government cannot take

your land unless it pays.

Sixth Amendment

Right to speedy trial by impartial jury—meaning not favoring either side

Seventh Amendment

guarantees the right to a jury trial in most civil cases

Eighth Amendment

No excessive bail

No cruel and unusual punishment

Ninth Amendment

The Bill of Rights cannot deny other rights previously held by the people.

Tenth Amendment

The states remain in charge within their own borders

……..protecting our freedoms

Bill of Rights ActivityFirst, Individually read through the “Bill of Rights Organizer”

and match the correct “summary” after reading each amendment. Next, think of a current event or create a scenario which you believe would represent each amendment and record this in the “application” box for each amendment.

Second, use the worksheet included and begin to rank the rights in the order that you think they are the most important.

We will then be working in small groups to discuss the same idea and come up with small group preferences. We will get into small groups in about 20-25 minutes depending on how quickly people are finishing.

If you need another reference of information pages 87-97 in the textbook have more detail about each of the amendments.

Government:

How it works for you

Did you know there are three

branches of the

Federal Governme

nt?

Executive

Legislative

Judicial

The United States Supreme Court is the head of the Judicial Branch

The judicial branch oversees the court system of the United States. •Explains the meaning of the Constitution and laws passed by Congress •Rules on whether something is unconstitutional or constitutional

•On the Supreme Court there are nine justices, or judges; eight associate and one chief justice.

•Judges are nominated by the President and approved by the Senate.

•Have no term limits.

•Supreme Court is the highest court in the land.

•Its decisions are final, and no other court can overrule their decisions.

The U.S. Court SystemFill out the U.S. court system packet using

the prompts from the attached sheet. Use information from chapter 15 to help you

complete the graphic organizers. Page 280 in the textbook.

The President of The United States is the head of the

Executive Branch

•The Secretary of Agriculture

•The Secretary of the Interior

•The Secretary of Commerce

•The Secretary of Education

•The Secretary of Health and Human Services

•The Secretary of Homeland Security

•The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

•The Secretary of Transportation

•The Secretary of Veterans' Affairs

The Executive Branch also includes the Vice President and other officials, such as members of the cabinet.

•The Secretary of State

•The Secretary of Labor

•The Secretary of the Treasury

•The Secretary of Energy

•The Secretary of Defense

•The Attorney General

The legislative branch is made up of the two houses of Congress- the Senate and the House of Representatives.

•Most important duty of the legislative branch is to make laws

•There are 100 senators in the senate, two from each state

•There are 435 representatives in the House of Representatives. The number of representatives is based on each state’s population

Did you know that each state’s constitution also separates power between three branches of government? Oregon, like the federal government has Executive, Judicial and Legislative branches of government to protect its citizens.

The Governor is the head of the state executive branch. The executive branch also includes the Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State,

State Treasurer, State Auditor and the State Land Commissioner.

The state judicial branch is made up of five court systems:

•The Oregon Supreme Court

•Oregon Court of Appeals

•Circuit Courts

•District Courts

•City Courts

At the top level is the Supreme Court where there are nine justices, or judges: 8 associate justices and one chief justice. Unlike the federal judicial branch the state Supreme Court Justices are elected by the people.

The state legislative branch, like the federal legislative branch is made up of two houses- the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The state legislative branch also creates laws; there are 35 senators and 100 representatives.

They meet every odd year in January at the State Capitol in Little Rock for their regular session.

Do you know how a bill becomes a law? We know that the legislative branch makes them, but do we know how?

First, a concerned citizen contacts his/her senator or representative about an idea that they would like to see become a law. After the researching is done the legislator has the bill drafted by their staff.

After a bill is drafted, it can be introduced by any member of the house or senate, and more than one legislator can sponsor a bill. The bill is filed with the bill clerk, who assigns the bill a number.

The bill is then introduced and read in the house or the senate for the first and usually a second time ( a bill must be read three times before final passage).

After reading, the bill is assigned to the appropriate committee. The committee schedules the bill to be read at a public meeting where legislators and anyone interested can speak for or against the bill. The committee can also add amendments to a bill. The committee then votes on the bill. The committee votes do pass, do pass as amended, do not pass, or without recommendation.

If a bill is amended, the bill is engrossed to include the amendment. When a bill comes out of committee it is placed on the calendar for a third reading. At the third reading, the reading clerk reads the title of the bill for the third and final time.

Vote: Most bills are adopted by a simple majority. Appropriation bills require a 3/4 vote. Initiated acts may be amended or repealed by a 2/3 vote of both houses.

If the bill fails, it dies on the floor.

If the bill passes, it is sent to the opposite chamber and repeats the process that it followed in the previous chamber. If the house amends a senate bill, it is then referred to the senate and then referred to a committee.

Conference Committee: If the 2 houses cannot agree on a bill, the differences are reconciled by a conference committee with representatives from each House. Compromises subject to approval by both houses.

When bills are passed by both houses, the enrolled bill is certified by the presiding officer of each house and sent to the Governor.

The Governor must sign, veto, or refer the bill back to its House of origin with his objections within 5 days. The bill may be passed over the Governor’s veto by a simple majority vote of both houses. A bill not signed or returned within 5 days of session must be signed or vetoed by the Governor within 20 days of adjournment of the general assembly or they become law without his signature. All acts are given a number and filed with the Secretary of State.