• Fight to the Finish

• Out From the Shadows

• Politics: 'St. Jack' Examines His Conscience—And Party

• Iraq: A Secret Definition

• Elections: Shays' Sudden Shift

• New Plan For Plan B

• Still Blind to the Poverty

• Wal-Mart's A Diversion

• The Man Who Said Too Much

• A Delicate Balance

• John G. Roberts- What Answers Is He Going to Give
• CW: Federal Disaster Edition
• Another Gulf War for the White House
• How Will Katrina Impact U.S. Economy?
• George F. Will: Leviathan in Louisiana
• Morning-After Pill Decision Delayed

• Summer Reading
  • The Power Game by Hedrick Smith
  • Click on the link above or to the left for more information about this book.
• Political Ideology Quizzes - Take three quizzes other than the World's Smallest Political Quiz, and compare the results in your journal.  Also, check out the World's Smallest Political Hook.
  • World's Smallest Political Quiz
    • World's Smallest Political Hook
  • Politopia
  • What's Your Idealology
  • The Political Quiz Show
  • The Political Compass
  • Party Matchmaking Questions

• Newsweek
  • Quiz
  • Articles
    • “Is Labor Dying, or Being Born?” (page 42)
    • “Twilight of the PC Era?” (pages 54-58)
    • “Soaking In Spam” (pages 66-69)
    • “Rising Up” (pages 78-79)

Here are the assignments that have been given so far this semester.  The dates refer to the date the assignment was due.

• Correct the Multiple Choice part of your exam.  You may use any resources you wish.
• Read Chapter One in The Power Game.  You may check this book out of the library or read it online by clicking on the link above.
• Answer American Political Landscape multiple choice questions using your book. 
• Don't forget the Research Assignment is due January 22.

January 24

• American Political Landscape Internet Assignment 
  • Click on Review and then Essay.
  • Answer two of the three essay questions.

January 28

• Read the following reviews of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington  and respond to them in a review of your own.
  • Washington Post 
  • Movie Magazine International
  • Moviemac
  • Amazon.com
  • Teaching With Movies

January 29

• Explore the web site of an interest group and write a brief summary and analysis of what you find.
• For a list of links to interest groups click on the following or search for a specific one.
  • Government Links
  • Interest Group Links

January 30

• Read pages 203-212 in Burns.

January 31

• Read pages 212-224 in Burns.

February 1

• Study for quiz on Chapter 9.

February 4

• Interest Group Assignment

February 19

• Read Chapter Two in The Power Game.

February 20

• Review information on campaign finance reform, and read Court Tests Likely For Shays-Meehan.

February 26

• Test on The Power Game, Interest Groups and Political Parties

February 27

• Read Chapter 11 in Burns.  Answer the multiple choice questions using the book.

February 28

• Speaker

March 1

• Campaign Finance Reform Assignment

March 20

• Make an outline that summarizes the redistricting problem in Virginia.  What are the issues involved?  What is your opinion?  Use the following web sites.  Be sure to look at the background sites.
  • Fight Brewing On Virginia Redistricting
  • Virginia Standoff Viewed As Major Test

March 22

• Campaigns and Elections MC

March 28

• Media MC

April 2

• Electoral College Essay
  • Discuss the pros and cons, especially in light of the 2000 Presidential Election

April 5

• Congress MC

April 12

• Presidency MC

April 15

• Monitor the news coverage of President Bush and Congress on a daily basis from April 2 through April 12 in the following media
  • Richmond Times Dispatch 
  • Washington Post
  • New York Times
  • A national news broadcast on one of the major networks

  You may use the Internet to access the Washington Post and the New York Times but you must use the online print editions.  You must use the paper version of the Richmond Times Dispatch and watch the news broadcast on television.  

  Keep a journal with an entry for each date in the assignment.  Record the coverage of President Bush and Congress in the assigned newspapers each day.  Every entry should include the title, author, and location of each article.  A summary of the day's coverage in each newspaper is also required.  You should also record which news broadcast you watched, including its title and what time it aired, as well as the names of the stories, the reporters, and a summary of the coverage.  Record any overall thoughts you might have about the day's events, particularly concerning any differences in the coverage or evidence of bias.  Click here for sample journal pages.  You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them.

  After you have made your last entry, write an essay on what you have learned about various media and their coverage of the national government.  The best essays will connect what you have learned about the media, the presidency, and Congress from the textbook, class discussions, and other sources with what you have learned from this assignment.

April 17

• Judicial Branch MC

May 10

• Mock Supreme Court
  • Case 
    • Susan Tave Zelman, Superintendent of Public Instruction of Ohio, et al. v. Doris Simmons-Harris, et al.
    • This is the school voucher case that was argued on February 20, 2002
    • Click on the name of the case above and then scroll down until you find the case.  It is the third one down.
    • This site has the Appeals Court Decision, briefs from the parties in the case, amicus curae briefs, transcripts of the oral arguments, and a link to a good summary of the case.
      • You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view some of these documents.  You can download it for free by clicking on the link at the bottom of this page.
    • The actual decision in this case will probably be announced in June.
  • Roles
    • Nine justices
    • Six lawyers
    • One reporter
  • Assignments
    • Each justice will research all aspects of the case, read briefs, listen to arguments from each side, ask questions of the lawyers during oral arguments, briefly discuss the case, and write a formal opinion.
    • Each lawyer will research various aspects of the case, write a brief supporting his or her position, and argue that position before the court.
    • The reporter will research all aspects of the case, observe the oral arguments, and write an article about the case after the opinions have been written.
  • Activities and Dates
    • May 2 and 3 - Research
    • May 8 - Briefs Due
      • Make copies for everyone
    • May 10 - Oral Arguments
      • Fifteen minutes per side
    • May 16 - Opinions Due
      • Make copies for everyone
    • May 17 - Article Due
      • Make copies for everyone

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