Part of our Societal Problems Project is to get a really good grasp on the problem. Check out these infographics below to see more about the various problems we are tackling in class. An infographic is a visual image such as a chart or diagram used to represent information or data. They are a great resource when trying to understand an issue.
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This week we really dissected the budget process and federal spending process of our government. We stared with the budget process, examined revenues (taxes) and expenditures (spending) and today we put it all together. While we rarely accomplish a surplus, we even hardly ever have a balanced budget. Our government has a history of deficit spending - having to borrow to fund the government.
This video clip does a fabulous job of explaining everything together.
In the green section below, you will click on the link to answer the questions on your Webquest - due in class on Tuesday. In the orange section - take some time to look at the graphs - we will discuss them in class. GREEN SECTIONWe ended last week looking at the Federal Budget process and talking about REVENUE (government income through taxes). We are going to focus today's lesson on government spending. You cant think of it as the government purchasing items to help run the country. Follow the links for each sections, and answer the questions as you go! PART ONE: REVENUE REVIEW https://static.nationalpriorities.org/images/charts/2015/revenue-desk.png PART TWO: SPENDING 101 https://www.nationalpriorities.org/budget-basics/federal-budget-101/spending/ PART THREE: SPENDING BREAKDOWN https://static.nationalpriorities.org/images/charts/2015/total-desk.png PART FOUR: ADDING IT ALL TOGETHER https://www.nationalpriorities.org/budget-basics/federal-budget-101/borrowing-and-federal-debt/ PART FIVE: WHO DO WE OWE https://static.nationalpriorities.org/images/fb101/2014/us-government-owes-money.png ORANGE SECTION We will be discussing these in class. You can write it out of you need to. For each of the following images, explain the graphic in your own words. For each image A. Write the number B. The Title of the Graphic C. Your explanation/summary 1. ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM SPENDING IS MASSIVE 2. TWO-THIRDS OF ALL GOVERNMENT SPENDING WAS MANDATORY, 2013 3. TOTAL REVENUE & MANDATORY SPENDING WHAT DOES YELLOW & BLUE REPRESENT? (YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS IN ORDER TO EXPLAIN THE CHART) 4. WHERE DOES YOUR TAX DOLLARS GO? OPINION QUESTIONS:5. What do you think the biggest problem with our Federal Spending is? 6. Do you think this is easily fixed? Explain. 7. What do you think the government should cut its spending on? How would they have to do this? 8. Pick one of the government solutions below. Read the article or watch the video (use headphones) and explain why this IS or IS NOT a good solution for our government. SOLUTIONS?!!? ×Raise taxes on the rich! ×http://www.learnliberty.org/videos/would-taxing-rich-fix-deficit/ ×Print more money! ×http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EobPnLZiOo8 × ×Stop giving other countries money and pay off our debt! ×http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/11/07/the-budget-myth-that-just-wont-die-americans-still-think-28-percent-of-the-budget-goes-to-foreign-aid/ × ×Stop giving other countries money and pay off our debt!×https://www.nationalpriorities.org/blog/2013/05/06/how-much-foreign-aid-does-us-give-away/ ×Cut military spending! ×http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/01/07/everything-chuck-hagel-needs-to-know-about-the-defense-budget-in-charts/ × ×http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=1258 × ×Cut the SNAP (Food Stamp) program… ×http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=1258 × ×http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_21412568/face-facts-usa-food-stamp-costs × × 9. Summarize what entitlements are in your own words. 10. In three sentences, explain what you learned today. 11. What was the most interesting thing you learned? EXTRA: MORE THAN ONE THIRD OF AMERICANS RECEIVE WELFARE BENEFITS http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/08/29/census-figures-show-more-than-one-third-americans-receiving-welfare-benefits/ . IF YOU ARE DONE WITH WEBQUEST: FIRST MAKE SURE YOU HAVE US CHECK IT!
Then, you can play the iCivics Game People's Pie. You may not be on any other website or you will lose your Internet privileges. GOAL: Do you like to control your own money? In People’s Pie, you control the budget of the federal government! You choose how federal revenues should be raised and how taxpayers’ money should be spent. You must decide how to fund programs that are important to you, without setting taxes too high or borrowing too much money. This is a great review. remember the different types of revenue and spending (entitlements) that we talked about. https://www.icivics.org/games/peoples-pie
CHECK OUT THIS LINK: http://www.library.vanderbilt.edu/govt/pubpol.php
Directions: Using the societal problem your group has been assigned; create a detailed, research-style typed outline or other research presentation (not a paper!) that includes the following information regarding your problem. THIS IS NOT LIKE AN OUTLINE FOR ENGLISH CLASS. EXTRAORDINARY DETAIL IS REQUIRED! **IMPORTANT: Indicate (in parentheses) the source used for the information in your outline and the page number (Example, 6).** You may download a copy of this digital note form at the top of the page. Upload & Convert in GoogleDocs! MAKE SURE TO CITE ALL SOURCES (at least ad URL for now - cite later) YOU MUST FINISH STEP ONE BEFORE MOVING ON TO STEP TWO! A. Introduction to the Problem: Include information that addresses the following: a. What is the problem? b. Briefly describe and define key terms (minimum of 5) c. Why is this topic a problem for society? d. What are the causes of this problem? B. Facts and Statistics (EVIDENCE) Include information that answers the following questions: a. How do you know that this is a problem for society? Explain. b. What statistical evidence do you have to prove this a problem? c. Who is affected by this problem? d. What are the human and monetary costs of this problem *In this section, you must have a minimum of 15 pieces of evidence. **You must use varied, reliable sources for this portion of the project. You are required to include information from DATABASES (no Wikipedia) ***Graphs, charts, pictures, etc. are a great addition to your research. C. Past Public Policy Include information that answers the following questions: a. What is the history of this problem? b. What has the government done previously to address this problem? (Consider: past laws, statutes, regulations and court cases) c. Evaluate the effectiveness of these policies: i. Are they working? If not, then why aren’t these past policies working? ii. What is public opinion? *You should have a minimum of 3 past policies that deal with your topic. CLIMATE CHANGE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Yq-sfWSWLg IMMIGRATION MINIMUM WAGE DISTRACTED DIVING GUNS WAR ON TERROR HEALTH CARE DIRECTIONS: Using the class blog www.CorcoranGovEcon.weebly.com, locate the WebQuest and Live links. Go in order. If you work efficiently you will successfully complete this in one class period. If your map is complete, you will have a chance to use this on a quiz.
1. FEDERAL : US CONSTITUTION ARTICLE 1, SECTION 8, CLAUSE 9 a. Summarize what this section of the US Constitution says b. Click here to read: http://www.heritage.org/constitution/#!/articles/1/essays/47/inferior-courts 2. FEDERAL US CONSTITUTION ARTICLE III, SECTION 1 a. Summarize what this section of the US Constitution says b. Click here to read: http://www.heritage.org/constitution/#!/articles/3/essays/102/judicial-vesting-clause 3. STATE: PA CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE V, Section I a. Summarize what this section of the PA Constitution says (not US Constitution) Click here and SCROLL till you see § 1. Unified judicial system. http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/consCheck.cfm?txt&ttl=00&div=0&chpt=5 4. TYPES OF COURT JURISDICTION a. Use this space to DEFINE the following words: b. Click here: http://civilprocedure.uslegal.com/jurisdiction/ i. Jurisdiction: Types of Jurisdiction 1. Original Jurisdiction 2. Appellate Jurisdiction: 3. Exclusive jurisdiction: 4. Concurrent jurisdiction: 5. FEDERAL V. STATE COMPARISON i. WE WILL DO THIS IN CLASS! 6. FEDERAL JUDGES TOP: Federal Judges: i. How are federal judges selected? ii. What is the qualification for most federal judges? iii. What is the term length for most federal judges? Click here: http://www.uscourts.gov/Common/FAQS.aspx 7. STATE JUDGES BOTTOM: State Judges: i. What are the various ways state court judges are selected? ii. How are judges in Pennsylvania selected? Click here: http://courts.uslegal.com/selection-of-judges/state-by-state-summary-of-judicial-selection/ 8. US FEDERAL & DISTRICT COURT MAP Use the map to label the federal circuit courts (the 12th circuit is located in Washington DC) i. Shade & NUMBER the circuit courts using 11 colors to DIFFERENT COLORS ii. DRAW A STAR ON DC iii. Click here: http://www.uscourts.gov/court_locator.aspx 9. DISTRICT v. COURT OF APPEALS 1. What is the basic difference between the federal district courts and the court of appeals? 2. Click Here: http://judiciallearningcenter.org/levels-of-the-federal-courts/ 10. TOTAL NUMBER OF FEDERAL COURTS i. How many total US district courts are there? ii. How many US court of appeals? iii. How many US Supreme Courts? Click Here: http://judiciallearningcenter.org/levels-of-the-federal-courts/ When we talk about districts in a state, we are talking about the seats in the House of Representatives. Each districts elects ONE representative to work for them in the House of Reps. Each state has a different number of seats depending on their POPULATION. So how does it work? EVERY 10 YEARS --> A census is taken to determine the population in a state. States that GAIN population get additional seats in the House of Representatives States that LOSE population will lose sets in the House or Representatives REAPPORTIONMENT basically means that the 435 seats in the house are divided up (reassigned, redistributed) based on the population. If states GAIN or LOSE seats they will need to add new districts (draw new lines) Gerrymandering is blatantly drawing district lines to favor one party over the other. Do you want to see Pennsylvania's districts? Click here: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/PA Check out these video: Congress is made up of people just like you and me. You can get elected for office as well. You can click the visual below to make it bigger and read about who in in our Congress. In addition, check out the video - a day in the life of a Congressman. If you need further help, the reading assignment and the powerpoint from class are at the bottom of the page!
Today we examine how the media covers news and how they portray it to the public. The media communicates information to a large audience. We assume all media is unbias and the facts are accurate we can make an informed opinion. The website The Daily Banter created a media comparison back in May 2014 you can see more at this website: http://thedailybanter.com/2014/05/heres-how-the-media-covered-the-same-story-in-6-different-ways/ THIS IS DIRECTLY FROM THEIR WEBSITE: "One crucial aspect of White House reporting that often gets missed is what actually ends up getting on the air. That’s where the rubber meets the road and narratives are set. At Tuesday’s White House Daily Briefing, Press Secretary Jay Carney responded to Karl Rove’s smear of Hillary Clinton in blistering fashion, mockingly calling him “Dr. Rove,” and questioning Rove’s cognitive capacity. Here’s how differently six television news outlets covered the exchange: 1. MSNBC 2. NBC Nightly News 3. CNN Out Front With Erin Burnett 4. FOX News 5. CBS News 6. ABC News The Constitution was written so that no one branch would have all the power. So instead of one central government, like a King, the United States would have three branches and divide the power (separation of powers) of the government. I found this great guided lesson here: https://www.wisc-online.com/learn/social-science/political-science/soc5904/the-duties-of-the-three-branches-of-government It also has a quiz to test your knowledge. At the very bottom of this post, you will see your favorite rap guys - talking about the three branches. Money talks! Its true or so they say. The question is; however, how much do they talk in elections? We know that campaign fundraising is a crucial part of our election process. Typically, the more you have the more likely you are to get the attention of voters and (hopefully) win the election. Campaign funding has changed a lot since the 2010 Supreme Court ruling of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission See here: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/super-pac-short-history/story?id=16960267 Gone are the days when just the candidates raised their own money. In class this week, we are watching Big Sky, Big Money a closer look into how outside interest groups influence elections in the United States. Its is a PBS Frontline Documentary about a small election in Montana that raised a lot of money (and a lot of eyebrows). CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE DOCUMENTARY: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/big-sky-big-money/ HERE ARE SOME MORE CLIPS TO HELP UNDERSTAND CAMPAIGN FINANCE http://static.guim.co.uk/draft/interactivesaved/2012/2/21/1329848588089/70226/explainer/video/SUPER_PAC_FINAL.ogv |
May 2015
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UPDATESHere are some updates in our classroom and our weekly updates. |