Crisis of Nations

READ ALL BEFORE CLICKING THE LINK!

In this game you will be the leader of a country and you must work with three other countries to solve international problems.

You may play single player by yourself or if you register (it's free) you can play against your classmates.

Here is the link to the game:  http://www.icivics.org/games/crisis-nations

Controversial Court Cases

Use the following link to help you answer the questions about the controversial court cases that went to the Supreme Court.

http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,2036448,00.html

Judicial System

We are now going to take a look at the United States Judicial system, more commonly known as the courts.  You have two different games to play to learn a little bit about the courts.

First, play "We the Jury" to get an idea of what it is like to serve on a jury.  At some point in your life, all of you will receive a jury summons, so prepare yourself.

http://www.icivics.org/games/we-the-jury

Second, if you have time, play through a game of "Supreme Decision".  For this game you will need headphones or speakers to listen to what the people are talking about.

http://www.icivics.org/games/supreme-decision

Presidential Facts

Please answer the following questions on your own sheet of paper.

Turn in when you are finished.

USE THE LINKS LISTED TO FIND THE INFORMATION.


1. How many Presidents have been killed while in office? Name them.


2. William Howard Taft said the position he held after the Presidency was his greatest honor.
What was that position?


3. The President's salary is set by Congress. Use the info in the linked chart to answer the following inquiries.

a. In what year(s) did the Vice President get a raise, but the President did not?



b. What was the longest period of time without a Presidential pay raise?



c. How much more is the current President being paid than George Washington earned?


4. The President is part of the Executive branch. Who are the President's advisors?


5. Article II of the US Constitution sets out the qualifications and powers of the executive.
There are 3 qualifications to be elected President of the United States of America. Interactive Constitution

a. Write them.





6. Suppose you have Presidential powers in your classroom. Your teacher makes a rule (law) that you do not like.

You could elect to veto it. What is a veto?


What two "Presidential" ways can you veto the law?



7. Which Presidents did not live in the White House?


8. You should know that the Vice President becomes the President if the President dies in office or resigns.
But what happens if the Vice President cannot complete his/her term in office?



9. Did you know that two people served as President and Vice President, who were NOT elected to the office?


Who became President, without being elected to the post and without being first elected to the Vice Presidency?
Explain what happened that lead to the person becoming the President.


10. The Presidential Oath binds the president-elect to protect something.

What must the President protect?


11. When you are 18 years old, you will be permitted to vote in elections in the United States.
But you will not actually elect the president. Who does?


12. In 1782, a committee completed a Presidential Seal. President Truman made several changes to the seal.
Do you agree with or take exception to his rationales for the changes?

Executive Command

In this game you will take action as the President of the United States.  Complete the day-to-day responsibilities of the President and see if you can make it as Commander in Chief.

http://www.icivics.org/games/executive-command

Win the White House

Go to the following link and play through the game.  The goal is to fight through the different stages of an election and win the presidency.

http://www.icivics.org/games/win-white-house

Good luck!

Represent Me

http://www.icivics.org/games/represent-me

At the end of the game, print out a copy of your certificate and turn it in.

The Legislative Process

http://congress.indiana.edu/e-learning-module-the-dynamic-legislative-process

Impact of Congress

Today you will study how Congress actually impacts your everyday life.  You will go through an interactive activity that walks you through a typical day to show you how Congress is involved in your everyday life.  From your alarm clock in the morning, to going to school, to going to sleep at night, Congress impacts your life one way or another.

Go to the following website:

http://www.centeroncongress.org/interactive-learning-modules

Scroll down until you see "Impact of Congress".  Click on the picture.

Next click on the house to get started.

Now on your OWN SHEET OF PAPER answer the following questions BY CLICKING ON THE ITEMS.  You do not have to write the questions.  YOU CAN CLICK ON OTHER THINGS IN THE MODULE TO LEARN HOW GOVERNMENT AFFECTS EVERYDAY LIFE!

1. How does government affect your alarm clock?
2. What about the weather on the TV?
3. Go to the bathroom and click on the mirror.  How does Congress affect medicine?
4. Click the glass on the shelf.  How does government affect water?
5. Now go back and go to the kitchen; click on the newspaper,  How does government affect the newspaper?
6. Click the cabinet under the sink.  How does government affect garbage?
7. How does Congress affect your pets?
8. Click the back door to get in your car.  How does the government affect roads?
9. Click the speedometer.  How does government impact speed limits?
10. Click the car horn.  How does Congress affect safety on the road?
11. Next click back and then "go to school".  Click on the teacher sign on the desk.  How does Congress affect teachers?
12. Next click exit to go into the hall.  How does Congress affect libraries?
13. How does Congress affect the lunchroom?
14. Click until you "go to work".  Now click on the computer.  How does government affect the workplace?
15. Click on the blue drill.  How did government impact tools?
16. Lastly go through town and tell me TWO ways that government impacts our lives.

When you are finished please turn in your paper to me.

Making Laws: The U.S. Congress

Today you will be completing a web-quest to find out how bills are proposed to become laws and more about who represents you in Congress.

Go to the following website:

http://www.icivics.org/web-quests/making-rules

Follow through each page and click on the links to the left to find the answers to your questions.

If you have any questions please ask.  Turn in your paper to me when you are finished.

THE GOVERNMENT IS FALLING!

We have survived day one of the government shutdown!  So far there is no rioting in the streets and most all has gone on as normal.  This is still an interesting moment in American history that you can remember for a long time.  So this is what I want you to do for your first real blog.

I want you to search through articles from websites such as cnn.com, nytimes.com, or any other CREDIBLE news source.  Try to become a little more familiar with why our government is currently shut down.

Here are a few articles you can look at to get you started:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/01/politics/government-shutdown/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57605565/government-shutdown-continues-no-agreement-in-sight/
http://www.wjla.com/articles/2013/10/government-shutdown-2013-what-s-changing-what-s-not-94706.html

After you have looked through a few articles I want you to post a new blog answering the following questions.  You do not have to number out the questions.  I would rather you just answer them in a paragraph or two and include any other thoughts you have on the subject.  Use these questions as guidelines to voice your opinion on the matter.  REMEMBER THIS WILL BE A TEST GRADE SO PLEASE SHOW SOME EFFORT AND THOUGHT!

• How did the government get shutdown in the first place?
• Do you see a problem with having a two-party system?
• Which side of the argument do you fall on?  Who do you think is right?
• Does the government shutdown affect you in any way?
• How do you think politicians can fix this problem?

Government Blog

Welcome to blogging!  We talked about how the internet is one way media is capable of making changes in the government.  Today you will be creating a blog to talk about some of your ideas and point of view.  Even if you never use this blog again it will be a good way to show you how you can get your voice out there and try to make a difference.

Getting started:

Go to www.blogger.com.  Sign in using your google email (everyone should have a school account).

• After you log in you should see a screen that says "Create your blog now".  
• Click the "new blog" link on the left. 
• Create a title for your blog.  You can choose the title but keep it appropriate and related to class! 
• Next create the web address for your blog.  You may have to get a little more creative and be sure to WRITE IT DOWN.  You don't want to forget the website name.

After that you should see a word document for you to write in your blog.

Today I want you to work on your first blog.  Please give a brief introduction of yourself.  Tell me one interesting ting about your senior year so far.  And tell me one current issue in the country you are passionate about or you are interested to learn about more.

Try looking through the different settings to change the look of your blog.  There are lots of choices to customize your page.  You can also add pictures into your posts.  Try finding you classmates blogs and follow their blogs.  Get creative and have fun with it.