Day 1

1.  CIRCUS (review this week's political events)
What do you observe about the ACCESS of Mark Halperin, Mark McKinnon and John Heil to all of the power players.

Focus and take notes on:

Gorsuch Hearings: Senate Judiciary Committee, "conscience of the nation" 


House Investigative Committee: purpose of the hearing, L/C ideologies (pay attention to D/R after the names of the committee members), conclusions, Devin Nunes, Adam Schiff

GOP House Healthcare Bill: House Freedom Caucus, roadblocks the bill faces, L/C ideologies, Speaker Paul Ryan,

2.  Gerrymandering: Questions?

3.  Finish Review Formal and Informal Checks to Power (booklet)

4.  Complete Presidential Powers: Formal or Expressed

Day 2

Review Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, SCOTUS and Abortion
CONTINUE CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION AFTER:

LESSON OF THE DAY:

What is GERRYMANDERING?

• How did this term originate?
• Who does gerrymander empower and oppress?
• What is California's method for redistricting? 
• How do we increase diversity in Congressional districts?

The Daily Show
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Indecision Political Humor,The Daily Show on Facebook

Day 1

BIG THINGS HAPPENING IN GOVERNING RIGHT NOW

 1. House Intelligence Committee investigates claims of wiretapping Trump Towers, Russian interference in 2016 Election and the leaking of classified government information. 2. Judge Neil Gorsuch, 49 years old, is going through his confirmation hearings with the Senate Judiciary Committee.

•  How has Gorsuch ruled on prior issues? 
•  How would his confirmation affect SCOTUS decisions on these issues? 
•  How do Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch hearings have in common?

Day 2

Arrange Desks
Get your meet & greet sheet
Interest Groups and Elections Simulations

Reflection
a.  Interest Groups-who are you officially endorsing and WHY?
b.  Candidates-who received the most money?  Why?
c.  Candidates-who received the least money?  Why?
d.  What if we eliminated campaign financing and candidates had to spend their own money on their campaigns?  Effects on the political system

Day 1

Review Tweets about Congress and motivators that show participation vs. factors of disenfranchisement.  How do we see this in the two recent tweets?

Interest Groups: Dr. Evil
What's an interest group?
List two functions of an interest group.
How/Why are the good and bad for politics?

Interest Group-Elections Simulation
Candidates: Choose a campaign Manager
Interest Groups (everyone else): get your assignment


a.  Interest Groups-who are you officially endorsing and WHY?
b.  Candidates-who received the most money?  Why?
c.  Candidates-who received the least money?  Why?
d.  What if we eliminated campaign financing and candidates had to spend their own money on their campaigns?  Effects on the political system?

Day 3

Where have we been this semester?
We've examined and analyzed:

• Events that lead to the creation of the Constitution.
• The power that storytellers or historians have.
• Federalism and the balance of local, state and federal power.
• Political ideology and factors of socialization.
• Factors that motivate political participation and what disenfranchises certain groups.
• Political subculture through a case study: Hip Hop

 Today we will examine one linkage institution--->INTEREST GROUPS.
How do INTEREST GROUPS link people to GOVERNMENT?
     
Begin with Unit 4:  Interest Groups


Thank You for Smoking
Dr. Evil and Nanny State