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Unit 1 Learning Objectives – Mastery Project
LO 1.A.1: Compare how various models of representative democracy are reflected through major institutions, policies, events, or debates in the U.S. The various models of democracy, such as plural, representative, and participatory democracy are demonstrative in the current government the United States possesses today. The participatory being the people’s will to elect representatives, the plural being the main two political parties, and representative being the officials that represent the masses’ opinions.
LO 1.B.1: Analyze and compare democratic ideals reflected in U.S. foundational documents. Democratic ideals are apparent in the Constitution of the United States. Such ideals include limited national government, such that it primarily exists to protect the country and provide basic support for individual states. The states themselves have enough power to govern their own peoples, and are all equally represented. The separation of powers also serves to assure that no one branch is too weak or too strong. The judiciary, the legislature, and executive can all override each other within reason for the greater good of the country.
LO 1.C.1: Explain the relationship between key provisions of the Articles of Confederation and the debate over granting greater power to the federal government formerly reserved to the states. The argument was that the central government needed more power than it was originally granted during the time of The Articles of Confederation. The states were all under separate governments and no sense of unity was apparent. The anti-federalists thought that the central government would attain too much power and become reminiscent of a monarch-like rule. The Constitution went on to define federalism as a central government exercising only it’s absolute rights to govern and protect and leave implied powers to the states.
LO 1.C.2: Analyze causes and effects of constitutional compromises in addressing political, economic, and regional divisions. As a result of plural democracy, U.S. citizens disagree more often than not. Recently, President Obama proposed to make community college free, in order to allow more Americans to attain their dreams without being financially burdened. Likewise, some people are skeptical about how much this will cost the government to cover the costs of JCs across the country. Immigrants have recently been allowed to obtain driver licenses, which sparks controversy in many Americans, (i.e. Immigrants being given more privileges while here illegally).
LO 1.C.3: Explain how the issues raised in the ratification debate are reflected in ongoing philosophical disagreements about democracy and governmental power. This is a classic debate that is often shrouded between the typical democrat and republican citizen. Democrats have been thought to be more liberal or progressive thinkers, wanting the government to regulate more along with pushing new federal programs in order to better the nation as a whole. Conversely, republicans have been thought of as more individual, conservative thinkers, wanting limited government, allowing for more state control and individual rights, as everyone is their own person, rather than a member of a group.
LO 1.D.1: Evaluate the relationship between separation of powers and checks and balances. The separation of powers and checks and balances exist to ensure that: no single branch of the government overpowers the other, and that certain abilities for one branch to check or justify another’s decisions. This includes the Supreme Courts will to open or close cases, the legislature to compose new laws, and the executive to approve such laws.
LO 1.E.1: Assess how the distribution of powers among three federal branches affects policy making. If, for example, if a new law is written by the legislature and is passed onto the president for approval, he has the right to veto it if he sees it as unjust, however Congress may override his veto if it sees the law as just.
LO 1.F.1: Explain how and why the appropriate balance of power between national and state governments has been interpreted differently over time. The National government has been subjected to vast progression and change over the course of the United States’ existence. State governments have been allowed their own sets of laws which much be followed by the citizens of said state. The federal government has undergone several changes that have caused it to intervene with state governments. For example, when Upton Sinclair exposed the meat packing industry in Chicago, and since then, the Food and Drug Administration as existed for inspecting produce to ensure that it’s safe to consume.
LO 1.F.2: Analyze questions over the allocation and scope of central power within a federal structure. The scope of centralized government power, at least for the U.S. can be seen as a progressively motivated, yet balanced government in that it allows state governments to retain their powers along with intervening in anything that might be seen as unjust or unconstitutional. Such acts that can be considered unjust vary from state to state, such as the recent ratification for the legalization of marijuana in Colorado, or the tight border control in Arizona. The government can intervene or tend to these laws as it sees fit. In fact, the immigration and border control issue has gone all the way to the Supreme Court to be dealt with precision beyond what a state court might deal.
LO 1.A.1: Compare how various models of representative democracy are reflected through major institutions, policies, events, or debates in the U.S. The various models of democracy, such as plural, representative, and participatory democracy are demonstrative in the current government the United States possesses today. The participatory being the people’s will to elect representatives, the plural being the main two political parties, and representative being the officials that represent the masses’ opinions.
LO 1.B.1: Analyze and compare democratic ideals reflected in U.S. foundational documents. Democratic ideals are apparent in the Constitution of the United States. Such ideals include limited national government, such that it primarily exists to protect the country and provide basic support for individual states. The states themselves have enough power to govern their own peoples, and are all equally represented. The separation of powers also serves to assure that no one branch is too weak or too strong. The judiciary, the legislature, and executive can all override each other within reason for the greater good of the country.
LO 1.C.1: Explain the relationship between key provisions of the Articles of Confederation and the debate over granting greater power to the federal government formerly reserved to the states. The argument was that the central government needed more power than it was originally granted during the time of The Articles of Confederation. The states were all under separate governments and no sense of unity was apparent. The anti-federalists thought that the central government would attain too much power and become reminiscent of a monarch-like rule. The Constitution went on to define federalism as a central government exercising only it’s absolute rights to govern and protect and leave implied powers to the states.
LO 1.C.2: Analyze causes and effects of constitutional compromises in addressing political, economic, and regional divisions. As a result of plural democracy, U.S. citizens disagree more often than not. Recently, President Obama proposed to make community college free, in order to allow more Americans to attain their dreams without being financially burdened. Likewise, some people are skeptical about how much this will cost the government to cover the costs of JCs across the country. Immigrants have recently been allowed to obtain driver licenses, which sparks controversy in many Americans, (i.e. Immigrants being given more privileges while here illegally).
LO 1.C.3: Explain how the issues raised in the ratification debate are reflected in ongoing philosophical disagreements about democracy and governmental power. This is a classic debate that is often shrouded between the typical democrat and republican citizen. Democrats have been thought to be more liberal or progressive thinkers, wanting the government to regulate more along with pushing new federal programs in order to better the nation as a whole. Conversely, republicans have been thought of as more individual, conservative thinkers, wanting limited government, allowing for more state control and individual rights, as everyone is their own person, rather than a member of a group.
LO 1.D.1: Evaluate the relationship between separation of powers and checks and balances. The separation of powers and checks and balances exist to ensure that: no single branch of the government overpowers the other, and that certain abilities for one branch to check or justify another’s decisions. This includes the Supreme Courts will to open or close cases, the legislature to compose new laws, and the executive to approve such laws.
LO 1.E.1: Assess how the distribution of powers among three federal branches affects policy making. If, for example, if a new law is written by the legislature and is passed onto the president for approval, he has the right to veto it if he sees it as unjust, however Congress may override his veto if it sees the law as just.
LO 1.F.1: Explain how and why the appropriate balance of power between national and state governments has been interpreted differently over time. The National government has been subjected to vast progression and change over the course of the United States’ existence. State governments have been allowed their own sets of laws which much be followed by the citizens of said state. The federal government has undergone several changes that have caused it to intervene with state governments. For example, when Upton Sinclair exposed the meat packing industry in Chicago, and since then, the Food and Drug Administration as existed for inspecting produce to ensure that it’s safe to consume.
LO 1.F.2: Analyze questions over the allocation and scope of central power within a federal structure. The scope of centralized government power, at least for the U.S. can be seen as a progressively motivated, yet balanced government in that it allows state governments to retain their powers along with intervening in anything that might be seen as unjust or unconstitutional. Such acts that can be considered unjust vary from state to state, such as the recent ratification for the legalization of marijuana in Colorado, or the tight border control in Arizona. The government can intervene or tend to these laws as it sees fit. In fact, the immigration and border control issue has gone all the way to the Supreme Court to be dealt with precision beyond what a state court might deal.