Welcome to US Government & Politics - PowerPoint Presentation

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Welcome to US Government & Politics

What does it mean to be an American today?

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Learning Outcomes

To understand the values, beliefs and culture identified with being “American”

To understand the content and assessment of the US politics A-level unit

To understand the expectations of you whilst studying US politics

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YOUR TASK:

Read the quotes around the room, discuss them in pairs and add or develop your initial ideas on your mind map.

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What does being an “American” mean?

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Learning Outcomes

To understand the values, beliefs and culture identified with being “American”

To understand the content and assessment of the US politics A-level unit

To understand the expectations of you whilst studying US politics

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EXAM BOARD: AQA

Course: Government & Politics (7152)

More information:

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/government-and-politics/as-and-a-level/politics-7152

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Unit

Examination

Weighting

1

Government & Politics of the UK

77 marks

(2 hours)

33.3%

2

Government & Politics of the USA (and comparative politics)

77 marks

(2 hours)

33.3%

3

Political Ideas

77 marks

(2 hours)

33.3%

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Assessment Objectives

Weighting

AO1

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of political institutions, processes, concepts, theories and issues

30%

AO2

Analyse aspects of politics and political information, including in relations to parallels, connections, similarities and differences

35%

AO3

Evaluate aspects of politics and political information, including to construct arguments and make substantiated judgements and draw conclusions

25%

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How will you learn in G&P?

Active Learning

Lots of discussion

Chrome books

Mobile Phones

Twitter

Trips

Debate

Independent Research

Group presentations

News/Current Affairs

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What are we going to learn?

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Through your study of this unit you will cover the following topics, and you folder should be divided into these sections:

Introduction

Constitution

Federalism

Congress

Presidency

Supreme Court

Elections & Voting

Political Parties

Pressure Groups

Comparative Politics

Stick your folder insert on the inside front cover of your folder.

Read the expectations for folders hand-out and insert into the Introduction section of your folder.

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Both you and your teacher need to be able to track your progress through this unit, both your understanding of the content and your application of this to examination questions.

Read the unit overview and place in the Introduction section of your folder.

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EXAM QUESTIONS:

Section A contains 3 x 9 mark questions. These are mini essay questions for which you need to make 3 developed points. You will answer all 3 of these questions.

Section B is the stimulus essay question. You will answer one essay question but will not have a choice. This part of the paper is worth 25 marks, and is so is expected to be extended and developed.

Section C is the extended comparative essay question. You will have a choice between 2 questions. Your answer to this question must draw on content learnt in both Unit 1 and Unit 2.

Organise the progress trackers into the appropriate sections of your folder.

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In order to succeed in politics you need to have a working knowledge of recent and up to date current affairs – this should be a high priority so that you have a wealth of contemporary examples to offer.

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Email will be the main method of communication

You need to check your emails regularly and respond appropriately.

Do not

email classwork or homework, unless specifically requested.

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Political Investigations

http://peped.org/politicalinvestigations/

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Application Task

You will apply what you have learned in the lesson to an examination question

Preparation Task

You will carry out reading and note taking in preparation for the next lesson

Stretch & Challenge Task

Optional activities to help you consolidate your understanding or challenge you further (in particular if you are aiming for an A/A*)

Application Task:

Explain and analyse the key principles of the US Constitution. (9)

Preparation Task:

Characteristics of federalism (Pearson p330-332)

Stretch & Challenge Task

Powers and Functions of State Governments (A. Williams) [VLE]

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Learning Outcomes

To understand the values, beliefs and culture identified with being “American”

To understand the content and assessment of the US politics A-level unit

To understand the expectations of you whilst studying US politics

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What are the key “American Values”?

1. Individual Freedom 

2. Self-Reliance 

3. Equality of Opportunity 

4. Competition 

5. The American Dream 

6. Hard Work

These values create a unique, enduring American identity. 

There are three pairs of values consisting of three reasons why immigrants have come (and still do) to the United States and three prices that are paid for these benefits.

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What does it mean to be an American today?

It is important to note that these six values are 

cultural

 values and not 

moral values, or even personal ones. 

They are the foundation of a democratic nation.  Rooted in the beliefs and visions of the Founding Fathers and reinforced by historical experience, these cultural values are what distinguish this country from all others.

They are what make the people who live there “Americans.”

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Homework

Application Task

N/A

Preparation Task

Organise folder appropriately & prepare for next lesson by accessing printing power point for next lesson “2. Wedge Issues”

Stretch & Challenge Task

The Values Americans Live By (Robert Kohls)

http://www1.cmc.edu/pages/faculty/alee/extra/American_values.html

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“We are called the nation of inventors. And we are. We could still claim that title and wear its loftiest honours if we had stopped with the first thing we ever invented, which was human liberty.”

– Mark Twain

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“There is much more to being a patriot and a citizen than reciting the pledge or raising a flag.”

-

Wrestler, Actor and former Governor of Minnesota Jesse Ventura

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“America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.”

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President Harry Truman

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“This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.”

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World War II Director of the United States Office of War Information Elmer Davis

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“America is another name for opportunity. Our whole history appears like a last effort of divine providence on behalf of the human race.”

- Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson

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“There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.”

- President Bill Clinton

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“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”

- President John F. Kennedy

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“Wars may be fought with weapons, but they are won by men. It is the spirit of men who follow and of the man who leads that gains the victory.”

- United States Army General George S. Patton

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“A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.”

- Author Edward Abbey

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“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

- Founding Father Patrick Henry

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“The way to secure liberty is to place it in the people’s hands, that is, to give them the power at all times to defend it in the legislature and in the courts of justice.”

- President John Adams

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 “Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”

- Author Mark Twain

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 “I am an American; free born and free bred, where I acknowledge no man as my superior, except for his own worth, or as my inferior, except for his own demerit.”

- President Theodore Roosevelt

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“If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin.”

- Founding Father Samuel Adams

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 “They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

- Founding Father Benjamin Franklin

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“This nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

- President Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address

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“We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.”

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President Barack Obama

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“We can’t all be Washingtons, but we can all be patriots.”

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Writer Charles F. Browne

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“What is the essence of America? Finding and maintaining that perfect, delicate balance between freedom ‘to’ and freedom ‘from’.”

- Writer Marilyn vos Savant

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“Posterity: you will never know how much it has cost the present generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.”

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President John Quincy Adams

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“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”

- President Ronald Reagan

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“I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

- American Revolutionary Soldier Nathan Hale