The following is a tracker of our collaborative project. The topics under each chapter are REQUIRED for your chapters, but they are NOT exhuastive lists of what could (and maybe should) be included in your chapter. If you need to add more rows to your table, just add another underneath the last row by RIGHT clicking in the row and clicking on "Row" and then "Insert Row After". You may change the title of your chapter, but not the overall topic.
| PB Works Homepage |
| Dr. Berry's APGOV Homepage |
Chapter 1 Introduction, Constitutional Underpinnings, Federalism |
Leaders Jordan and Xander |
Notes | Blog Date | SLD Date | Status |
| Articles 1-3 | 10/25 | 10/27 | Rough Draft workshop 10/29 | ||
| Bill of Rights | |||||
| Federalism (3 types) Especially Fiscal Federalism |
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| Checks and Balances/Separation of Powers | |||||
| Amendments | |||||
| The plans at the Convention (1787) and debate about Founding Fathers motivations (Roche v. Beard) | |||||
| Explanation and analysis of Implied Powers; Enumerated powers; commerce clause; Full Faith and Credit | |||||
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Federalists and anti-federalists |
Chapter 2 Congress |
Leaders Eddie and Jacob |
Notes | Blog Date | SLD Date | Status |
| Implied v. Enumerated Powers | Oct 31 | Nov 2 | Rough Draft workshop 11/4 | ||
| Requirements for office and re-election |
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| Two houses (bicameralism) and their relationships | |||||
| Committees | |||||
| Incumbancy | |||||
| Pork Barrel, Credit Claiming, Case Work | |||||
| Leadership in both Houses (and seniority) | |||||
| Legislative Process | |||||
| Caucuses | |||||
| Lobbyists' relationship with Congress |
Chapter 3 The Presidency |
Leaders Safatul and Alex |
Notes | Blog Date | SLD Date | Status |
| Powers | Nov 4 | Nov 6 | Rough Draft workshop Nov 6 | ||
| Cabinet, Executive Office of the President, and White House Staff | |||||
| Conflicts with Congress (including veto) |
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| Electoral College | |||||
| Historical Turning points in the Office | |||||
| Presidential personality and diverse roles |
Chapter 4 The Bureaucracy |
Leaders Emma, Jason, Taryn |
Notes | Blog Date | SLD Date | Status |
| Structure (including Cabinet and Departments) | 11/8 | 11/10 | Rough Draft workshop 11/10 | ||
| Definition of and role of | |||||
| Iron Triangle and Linkage Institutions | |||||
| Policy making vs. law enforcing | |||||
| Civil Service (including Hatch Act) | |||||
| Independent Regulatory Agencies vs. Independent Executive Agencies | |||||
| Administrative Discretion | |||||
| Regulation and deregulation | |||||
| Public Policy |
Chapter 5 The Judicial System |
Leaders Nick, Lena |
Notes | Blog Date | SLD Date | Status |
| Federal Court Structure | Nov 11 | Nov 13 | Rough Draft workshop 11/13 | ||
| Jurisdictions | |||||
| Constitutional Powers/Legislative Origins | |||||
| Key Supreme Courts (eg the Warren Court)/Cases | |||||
| Loose and Strict interpretation of the S.C. |
Chapter 6 The Electoral System |
Leaders Sarah M. and Zach |
Notes | Blog Date | SLD Date | Status |
| Political Parties | 11/15 | 11/17 | Rough Draft workshop 11/17 | ||
| Primaries vs. General Elections (caucuses, open primary, conventions) |
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| Voting Districts and Gerrymandering | |||||
| Campaign Finance (and Reform -- including the most important laws) |
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| Voter Participation and Media influence | |||||
| Soft money vs. Hard Money | |||||
| Role of PACs | |||||
| Referendum and Recall | |||||
| Electoral College |
Chapter 7 Media, Opinion, America's Political Culture and Civic Participation |
Leaders Ariel, Sarah, Diego |
Notes | Blog Date | SLD Date | Status |
| Media involvement in campaigns | 11/17 | 11/19 | Rough Draft workshop 11/19 | ||
| Public Opinion and the role of polling | |||||
| Civic Participation trends | |||||
| The responsible electorate and the rational voter | |||||
| Political Socialization | |||||
| Liberals vs. Conservatives | |||||
| Role of Investigative Journalism (imp. historical moments?) | |||||
| Different kinds of media (and the effect of the Internet) | |||||
| Bias and Sound Bite culture |