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Government Class
Overall Class Documents
Guidelines (syllabus) (older version but still with the same basic info)
Introduction to Government
Lectures
The History and Theory of Government
Sci. Rev and Enlightenment Thinkers
Readings
Student-Created Textbook Chapter
Liberal and Conservative Visual
Video: https://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_haidt_on_the_moral_mind?language=en
AOC Understands Democracy Article
Assignments
Parent Homework (Think of these as dinner table conversation starters.)
Do liberals and conservatives think differently? If so, why? How easy is it to understand another person's point of view? How can we form a government that allows everyone to share power but doesn't allow anyone to dominate? Does democracy always work? Are some countries and peoples simply not ready for democracy? What sustains a democracy? Why do they fail? How do different types of power balance each other?
Elections
Lectures
Readings
Assignments
Parent Homework (Think of these as dinner table conversation starters.)
How well are American elections done? Are they truly democratic? Is money speech? Are PACs and SuperPacs good for democracy? What role does the press play? How well does the press do it? What new regulations, if any, should we create?
Legislative Branch
Lectures
Readings
Assignments
Parent Homework (Think of these as dinner table conversation starters.)
Do politics work well? Do they accurately reflect the will of the people? Why or why not?
Judicial Branch
Lectures
Readings
Supreme Court Legitimacy Article
Assignments
Parent Homework (Think of these as dinner table conversation starters.)
What is justice? How do you define it? What basis does justice have (virtue, consequential, categorical)? How can you tell if you are making the "right" decision?
Executive Branch
Lectures
Readings
Assignments
Parent Homework (Think of these as dinner table conversation starters.)
How complicated is the job of the president? What traits are most important in a president? What should determine your vote?
Final
