College in High School American Politics
Course Description
This is an introductory course in American politics. The course is suitable for beginning political science students or students who wish to complete the course as part of a “general education” requirement for college. The purpose of the course is to teach students about the American political system and the broad concepts social scientists use to study politics.
Course Big Ideas
- What is the essence of politics?
- How does the U.S. Constitution seek to find and respect the “will of the people”?
- To what extent do several American political system elements represent the “will of the people?”
Course Essential Questions
- How did the context of the writing of the U.S. Constitution affect the priorities of its framers when outlining a new form of government?
- What continuities and changes are essential to an understanding of the institutions of the U.S. federal government?
- How has the American political system changed since the writing of the U.S. Constitution?
Course Competencies
- Contextualization
- Perspective Analysis
- Interpretation
- Reasoning
- Synthesis
Course Assessments
- Thinking Skills-Based Assessments
- Writing Prompts/Discussion Forums
- Project/Problem-Based Learning
Course Units
- Unit 1: Building an American Government
- Unit 2: Institutions of Government
- Unit 3: American Politics
- Unit 4: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Unit 1: Building an American Government
- Standards
- Know
- Understanding/Key Learning
- Do
- Unit Essential Questions
- Lesson Essential Questions
- Materials/Resources
- Vocabulary
- Assessments
Standards
Reading and Writing in History and Social Studies Standards
- CC.8.5: Reading Informational Text: Students read, understand, and respond to informational text – with emphasis on comprehension, making connections among ideas and between texts with a focus on textual evidence.
- CC.8.6: Writing: Students write for different purposes and audiences. Students write clear and focused text to convey a well-defined perspective and appropriate content.
PA Social Studies Standards
- 8.1.9.A: Compare patterns of continuity and change over time, applying the context of events.
- 8.1.9.B: Compare the interpretation of historical events and sources, considering the use of fact versus opinion, multiple perspectives, and cause and effect relationships.
- 8.3.9.A: Compare the role groups and individuals played in the social, political, cultural, and economic development of the U.S.
- 8.3.9.B: Compare the impact of historical documents, artifacts, and places that are critical to the U.S.
- 8.3.9.C: Analyze how continuity and change have impacted the United States.
- Belief systems and religions
- Commerce and Industry
- Technology
- Politics and government
- Physical and human geography
- Social organizations
- 8.3.9.D: Interpret how conflict and cooperation among groups and organizations have impacted the growth and development of the U.S.
Know
- Common collective action problems: (coordination, free riders, prisoner’s dilemma, tragedy of the commons).
- The historical context of the Articles of Confederation and framing of the U.S. Constitution.
- Role of the U.S. Constitution in establishing a representative democracy.
- Federalism as power sharing/power division between levels of government.
Understanding/Key Learning
- The essence of politics is attempting to determine a course of action in providing for the common good or solving a collective problem. The American political system was designed so that the action should represent the will of the people.
- The decision on a course of action can be complicated by competing interests or motivations exemplified in various collective action problems.
- The framers of the U.S. Constitution, influenced by their historical context, sought to create a government that defers to the will of the political majority without trampling the political minority.
- Federalism is a check on federal and state government power that can cause conflict.
Do
- Summarize and paraphrase common collective action problems. (Interpretation)
- Explain how current events contain constitutional concepts. (Reasoning)
- Identify the issues the Founders considered when drafting the U.S. Constitution. (Context)
- Discuss the advantages and disadvantages inherent in federalism: power sharing and division between levels of government. (Reasoning)
- Participate in class discussions about key concepts through effective listening and verbal and/or written expression. (Synthesis)
Unit Essential Questions
- What is the role of a constitution in establishing the rules and procedures that government institutions must follow for collective agreement?
- How did the U.S. Constitution put mechanisms in place that allowed subsequent U.S. political development to lead to the nationalization of American politics?
- How has the American-style system of federalism evolved?
- How has power shifted toward the national government over time, and how do varying concepts of federalism remain at the center of many policy debates?
Lesson Essential Questions
- How did experiences with collective action problems, and the costs of collective action, influence the drafting of the U.S. Constitution?
- What was the significance of the debates over the ratification of the U.S. Constitution?
- Which collective action problems are most evident in discussions between states, or between states and the federal government?
- How does the national government dominate the modern federal system?
Materials/Resources
Vocabulary
Assessments
Unit 2: Institutions of Government
- Standards
- Know
- Understanding/Key Learning
- Do
- Unit Essential Questions
- Lesson Essential Questions
- Materials/Resources
- Vocabulary
- Assessments
Standards
Reading and Writing in History and Social Studies Standards
- CC.8.5: Reading Informational Text: Students read, understand, and respond to informational text – with emphasis on comprehension, making connections among ideas and between texts with a focus on textual evidence.
- CC.8.6: Writing: Students write for different purposes and audiences. Students write clear and focused text to convey a well-defined perspective and appropriate content.
PA Social Studies Standards
- 8.1.9.A: Compare patterns of continuity and change over time, applying the context of events.
- 8.1.9.B: Compare the interpretation of historical events and sources, considering the use of fact versus opinion, multiple perspectives, and cause and effect relationships.
- 8.3.9.A: Compare the role groups and individuals played in the social, political, cultural, and economic development of the U.S.
- 8.3.9.B: Compare the impact of historical documents, artifacts, and places that are critical to the U.S.
- 8.3.9.C: Analyze how continuity and change have impacted the United States.
- Belief systems and religions
- Commerce and Industry
- Technology
- Politics and government
- Physical and human geography
- Social organizations
- 8.3.9.D: Interpret how conflict and cooperation among groups and organizations have impacted the growth and development of the U.S.
Know
- Constitutional role, historical role, and common context for the American presidency.
- Constitutional role, historical role, and common context for U.S. Congress.
- Constitutional role, historical role, and common context for the federal bureaucracy.
- Constitutional role, historical role, and common context for the federal judiciary.
Understanding/Key Learning
- By envisioning a nation of laws ruled by popular will, the framers of the U.S. Constitution envisioned Congress as the primary government branch. Its role and functions have retained some original purposes, practices, and traditions while changing with historical context.
- The American presidency has become a more vast institution than the framers of the U.S. Constitution originally imagined. Its role and functions have retained some original purposes, practices, and traditions while changing with historical context.
- The federal bureaucracy has evolved to become the “fourth branch” of government. Its role and functions have retained some original purposes, practices, and traditions while changing with historical context.
- The federal judiciary, with its power of judicial review, has made decisions that have been affected by and have affected American history. Its role and functions have retained some original purposes, practices, and traditions while changing with historical context.
Do
- Identify current legislators in leadership roles in the U.S. Congress.
- Analyze the priorities of candidates for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. (Reasoning)
- Identify congressional committees and summarize recent actions taken in committees. (Context)
- Identify and evaluate constitutional requirements for federal elected office. (Synthesis)
- Discuss the relationship between divided government and presidential action.
- Categorize landmark Supreme Court decisions for the purpose of recognizing continuity and change over time. (Patterns)
- Participate in class discussions about key concepts through effective listening and verbal and/or written expression. (Synthesis)
Unit Essential Questions
- What are the relationships of the institutional structures in the House of Representatives and Senate that help members overcome barriers to collective action?
- To what extent have changes in Congress been beneficial or detrimental to the purpose of representing the people in a democratic republic?
- Why is red tape is often an important check on the operation of massive bureaucracies?
- How was the Supreme Court’s power of judicial review established?
- What are the most historically significant changes to the Supreme Court throughout American history?
Lesson Essential Questions
- How does the 21st-century presidency differ from earlier points of time in American history?
- What are the requirements and powers of Congress, and explain how political priorities influence congressional action?
- What is the role and function of the bureaucracy in the context of the federal government?
- What is Supreme Court’s constitutional role and the relationship of its decisions to American history?
Materials/Resources
Vocabulary
Assessments
Unit 3: American Politics
- Standards
- Know
- Understanding/Key Learning
- Do
- Unit Essential Questions
- Lesson Essential Questions
- Materials/Resources
- Vocabulary
- Assessments
Standards
Reading and Writing in History and Social Studies Standards
- CC.8.5: Reading Informational Text: Students read, understand, and respond to informational text – with emphasis on comprehension, making connections among ideas and between texts with a focus on textual evidence.
- CC.8.6: Writing: Students write for different purposes and audiences. Students write clear and focused text to convey a well-defined perspective and appropriate content.
PA Social Studies Standards
- 8.1.9.A: Compare patterns of continuity and change over time, applying the context of events.
- 8.1.9.B: Compare the interpretation of historical events and sources, considering the use of fact versus opinion, multiple perspectives, and cause and effect relationships.
- 8.3.9.A: Compare the role groups and individuals played in the social, political, cultural, and economic development of the U.S.
- 8.3.9.B: Compare the impact of historical documents, artifacts, and places that are critical to the U.S.
- 8.3.9.C: Analyze how continuity and change have impacted the United States.
- Belief systems and religions
- Commerce and Industry
- Technology
- Politics and government
- Physical and human geography
- Social organizations
- 8.3.9.D: Interpret how conflict and cooperation among groups and organizations have impacted the growth and development of the U.S.
Know
Understanding/Key Learning
- The will of the people is essential to American democracy and public opinion polling can be helpful in gauging general feelings about issues, candidates, and other ideas. Public opinion polling contains some inherent difficulties.
- Elected officials gain authority to make decisions on behalf of the American people by being elected by the people to represent them.
- The American government is intended to reflect the will of the people and political parties seek to promote policies and ideas of large groups of people.
- Media protections outlined in the Bill of Rights can provide an important check on government power by keeping the public aware of the words and actions of government bodies and officials. The nature of media has changed throughout American history in significant ways.
Do
- Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of using public opinion polling to gauge the ideas of Americans about various issues. (Reasoning)
- Analyze the steps of the voter registration process. (Reasoning)
- Discuss continuities and changes in American presidential campaigns throughout history. (Patterns)
- Evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of the Electoral College system in electing U.S. presidents. (Reasoning)
- Explain the ways in which media outlets select and report stories pertaining to American politics. (Interpretation)
- Participate in class discussions about key concepts through effective listening and verbal and/or written expression. (Synthesis)
Unit Essential Questions
- What are some influences and limitations of public opinion in American politics?
- To what extent do elections hold leaders accountable to voters?
- How do elections help solve delegation problems?
- What is the role of campaigns in elections?
- How did the party systems develop and evolve?How was the news business developed?
- How does the need for money in campaigns introduce problems?
Lesson Essential Questions
- What were the origins of political parties and their basic features?
- When did the revival of partisanship in the 21st century occur and how are modern political parties structured?
- Is news a consumer product, and if so, how does it influence the news itself?
- How does the need for money in campaigns introduce problems?
Materials/Resources
Vocabulary
- public opinion
- cognitive shortcut
- core values
- framing
- issue public
- liberal
- conservative
- measurement error
- scientific polling
- candidate
- issue voting
- messaging
- campaigning
- political party
- caucus
- primary election
- split ticket
- straight ticket
- two-party system
- lobbying
- political action committee
- social movements
Assessments
Unit 4: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
- Standards
- Know
- Understanding/Key Learning
- Do
- Unit Essential Questions
- Lesson Essential Questions
- Materials/Resources
- Vocabulary
- Assessments
Standards
Reading and Writing in History and Social Studies Standards
- CC.8.5: Reading Informational Text: Students read, understand, and respond to informational text – with emphasis on comprehension, making connections among ideas and between texts with a focus on textual evidence.
- CC.8.6: Writing: Students write for different purposes and audiences. Students write clear and focused text to convey a well-defined perspective and appropriate content.
PA Social Studies Standards
- 8.1.9.A: Compare patterns of continuity and change over time, applying the context of events.
- 8.1.9.B: Compare the interpretation of historical events and sources, considering the use of fact versus opinion, multiple perspectives, and cause and effect relationships.
- 8.3.9.A: Compare the role groups and individuals played in the social, political, cultural, and economic development of the U.S.
- 8.3.9.B: Compare the impact of historical documents, artifacts, and places that are critical to the U.S.
- 8.3.9.C: Analyze how continuity and change have impacted the United States.
- Belief systems and religions
- Commerce and Industry
- Technology
- Politics and government
- Physical and human geography
- Social organizations
- 8.3.9.D: Interpret how conflict and cooperation among groups and organizations have impacted the growth and development of the U.S.
Know
Understanding/Key Learning
- Civil rights are protections by the government or that the government secures on behalf of its citizens.
- Civil liberties are “protections from government power, meaning the government may not take these freedoms.
- At times in American history elements of government did not protect its citizens in various ways.
- At times in American history, people have taken collective action to promote, defend, and preserve civil rights.
Do
- Identify and summarize major events in U.S. Civil Rights history between the end of the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s-1960s. (Interpretation)
- Defend arguments about the legacy of civil rights in American history. (Synthesis)
- Compare and contrast American experiences with civil rights and civil liberties with those of other nations in context. (Context)
- Participate in class discussions about key concepts through effective listening and verbal and/or written expression. (Synthesis)
Unit Essential Questions
- What were the political efforts to seek civil rights for African Americans from the 19th century to the present day.
- How can one consider the protection of minority rights from majority rule?
- What was the role and impact of collective action efforts in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s-1960s?