Reading (206-214) Economy

Have these pages read for Wednesday.

Globalization and Sovereignty

Define the concepts of 1. Globalization and 2. Sovereignty

What is the interaction between the two?

Read "Mexico in the Global Economy" pg 213 in Kesselman

Use specific information from the text to support your answer.

Concepts in AP Comparative

Be prepared to answer the following questions, in class on Friday 12/14.

1.  Define political legitimacy and describe two sources of legitimacy, provide an example of each from the six countries studied in AP Comparative Politics.

2.  Define the concepts of "globalization" and "sovereignty" and explain the interaction between the two.

3.  Define civil society and political culture. Explain why civil society is important to a democratic political culture.

Democracy exists along a continuum.  During the 1980s and 90s, many countries attempted to democratize.  Some were more successful than others. Using your knowledge of AP Comparative Politics, complete the following tasks:

1.  Define illiberal democracy and provide an example from the six countries studied in AP Comparative Politics.

2.  Define liberal democracy and provide an example from the six countries studied in AP Comparative Politics.

3.  Describe a change in policy that would make an illiberal democracy more liberal.

4.  Describe an obstacle to democratization; use a specific example from AP Comparative Politics to support your answer.

Democratization Briefing Paper

Handout in class...read the democratization briefing paper for Thursday's classy 11/29

64 term test

Tuesday Dec. 11...we'll have a test on the BIG 64!

Vocabulary Handout

In class you received a vocabulary packet of 64 terms.  We will have a vocab test in two weeks over terms.

In the short term you need to define the following for the remainder of this week:
Procedural Democracy
Substantive Democracy
Civil liberties
Civil Rights
Illiberal democracy
Civil society
Corruption

Should we change the Electoral College?

Time to enter the debate!
Use the following template to answer the question:

The electoral college ________(works, should be modified, done away with) because,...
    *List at least 3 arguments
As a solution to the problems raised about the college I propose... Your solution needs to mirror your arguments.


Go HERE for a brief list of arguments and potential solutions

Congressional committees

Choose a committee to research from the list on page 143

Power point

            1) Provide a brief 1 paragraph description of the types of bills (issues) that

                  your committee deals with.

            2) Provide a 1 paragraph explanation of recent legislation this committee helped create

            3) Which states are most of the members from?

                Go to: committee list

                      a) select your committee

                      b) scroll down to see who the members are and where they are from

                      c) click on the committees official website link under the "track Committee button"

                      d) click on the "about" tab to read about the bills and issues the committee deals with

Ballot Debate

We are having a series of debates in class on Tuesday the 30th.  Students have chosen a ballot measure to represent either for or against.  If you have not been in class this week you need to look over the measures and email me with one you would like to debate.  Every student needs to be repaired to turn in a list of arguments representing their side of the debate.  They may be in bullet point form.  You are graded on your arguments (quantity and quality) as well as performance in the debate.

On-line voters pamphlet

Go to: voter's pamphlet

Measure 9-86

Click on 2012 General Election

From the pamphlet page you can use the headings in the left margin to navigate the measures and candidates.

2nd Debate

Watch the following: NPR

Which is issue is the most important to undecided voters?  Which candidate did the best job of representing his position?

Opinion Polling

You are going to conduct your own opinion polls

Read Chapter 18-4 "Measuring Opinion"  Using the information on pages 520 - 521 (scientific polling), do the following:

1.  Outline your sample : include a definition of who is your "universe"

2.  Outline how you will conduct your survey:  Include your plan for random sampling and eliminating error.  Be specific about time and place.

3.  Develop your polls:

       a.  Decide which (5) issues you think are most important

       b.  For each issue write two (2) questions.  One as unbiased as you can, another written in an attempt to influence the response (be creative)

       c.  pass out your survey and present your data accordingly

Trouble Shooting the Debate

After watching the debates we often have more questions than answers.  Using the worksheet from class, write down 5 questions you have about the responses the candidates gave during the debate.

Here are a few websites to help you with fact checking:

factcheck.org

politifact.com

usdebtclock.org

Polling Data... (In class on Monday 10/1)

Go to the following website:
Map

1.  Choose which campaign (Obama or Romney) you are managing

2.  As campaign manager consider the following when making your decisions:

Electoral College numbers (strength or value of each state)

State Demographics (young, old, hispanic, etc)

Single-issue vs multiple issues

Where we are in the polls now

Decide which five states you will focus your campaign on:

3.  List each of the five states

4.  For each state- justify why the state is important

5.  What is your plan for winning the state (On which issue(s) do you try and persuade voters?

Next 2 weeks (Oct - Nov)

Week of 9/24

            US section 3 Governance/Policy-making

            M – Organization of State (112-113)

            T- Executive Branch (113-115)

            W – Cabinet and other Institutions (116-119)

            Th – The Judiciary

                        Activist court decisions

            F – Policy making (119-120)

Week of 10/1

            Representation and Participation

            M – Legislature (121-123)

                        How a Bill becomes a law

            T – Parties and elections (123-126)

            W- Preparing for Debate #1 (Candidates – domestic policy) 6-730

            Th – Discussion

            F _ Political Culture, Citizenship, and Identity

Read pages 106-111

For Friday 10/21 read about Society and Economy and Global Economy

Questions for discussion:

1.  Provide examples of progressive and regressive taxes.

2.  The author states; the gap between rich and poor is not remedied by taxation.  What reasons are given for the lack class-based political movements?
           a.  How does US policy on immigration compare with most other countries?

3.  Provide examples of distributive and redistributive policies

4.  What problems exist with financing Social Security?
           a.  what are the solutions?

5.  Budgets and Deficits
           a.  What leads to a deficit?
           b.  What are positives / negatives to deficit spending?

6.  How has US involvement in the Global Economy grown?

7.  What are the challenges to continued US dominance in the world economy? (dollar)

Read pages 102-106

Guiding Concept:  The US state and it's ability to retain it's democratic principles in an era of Globalization

Create a list of examples:

Using a 3 column chart, list examples of Laissez-faire policies as well as instances when the government imposed regulations (expanded it's role in the economy)

In the middle and last columns identify whether the example you listed helped the economy grow (+), middle column and explain why, or did not help/hurt the economy (-) last column.

Read pages 13-16

Themes for comparative analysis: States

Reading for Tuesday (pages 4-13)

Take notes on the reading (pages 4-13) paying attention to vocabulary and sub-headings.

In Class:  Groups read Critical Junctures pages 95 - 100.  Groups outlined the Issues, challenges, and outcomes during those eras and will present on Tuesday.

Be sure to sign -up for a Current Events day if you have not already!

Current Events Sign-up

Follow this link the the google docs page to sign-up for your day to present.  Once you sign-up you are responsible for presenting on that day.  If changes in your life/schedule prevent you from presenting on the day you signed-up for it is YOUR responsibility to find someone to trade days with.


Current Event sign-up

Here we go...

For the first week or two of reading I will post articles related to Mexico's elections and the drug war.  Mexico is one of the first countries we will be studying and with the elections just over there is plenty of commentary.  Don't worry if you feel overwhelmed by the gaps in your understanding of Mexico's elections system and history...we need to begin somewhere.  Read the following articles over the next week.  It would be worth taking a look at Mexico's election process (how congress and the president are elected)

http://www.economist.com/blogs/americasview/2012/07/mexicos-election?zid=309&ah=80dcf288b8561b012f603b9fd9577f0e

http://www.economist.com/node/21558285

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LT_MEXICO_ELECTIONS_DRUG_CARTELS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Welcome to Comparative Government & Politics

The AP Course in Comparative Government and Politics introduces students to fundamental concepts used by political scientists to study the processes and outcomes of politics in a variety of settings. The year long course will be ideally suited for the strong student who wants a better understanding of todayʼs ever more complex world.
Students will build develop solid foundations in research and analysis, while developing their study skills, note taking, and communication skills in order to:

• understand major comparative political concepts, themes and generalizations
  
• have knowledge of politics of China, Great Britain, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, and
  Russia
  
• understand typical patterns of political processes and their consequences
  
• be able to compare and contrast political institutions and processes across
  countries
  
• be able to analyze and interpret basic data relevant to comparative government
  and politics.
  Expectations: Students in this class will need a strong social science background, with solid writing and analytical skills. Successful students will have an interest in foreign affairs, and bring some of the tools to study them.
  Summer news reading will be assigned, so that the students have an understanding of the contemporary events of the countries we are studying.
  
  
  

Syllabus to come in September along with unit and chapter breakdowns.
Our text will be:

• Introduction to Comparative Politics, Kesselman et al, Houghton Mifflin,

I will be posting readings and current events on a bi-weekly basis throughout the summer.  We will discuss these articles in September along with graded quizzes on your knowledge of the (6) countries covered by the comparative exam (China, Britain, Nigeria, Iran, Russia, and Mexico).  For Comparative Government: Students will need to be up to date on current events in the six countries the AP exam will be emphasizing.  Current event topics include elections, trade agreements, social issues/events, international affaris (wars, UN invovlement) Students will need to have a basic understanding of the country's economic conditions including GDP, exports and imports (major industries), government controls /programs (healthcare) and trading partners.  A basic understanding of the countries leadership including form of government (if only by name), current leaders, basic understanding of how power is shared (if not a unitary form of government)