Wednesday, 9/14: Intro to Govy Basics

Today's Goal: Understand the basic idea behind checks and balances in the U.S. Constitution and apply those principals to a rousing game of Rock-Paper-Scissors on steroids.

Starter 7  Sort the following terms in order of their importance to you.   Justify why you ranked the top two and the last two where you did.

1. Justice
2. Liberty
3. Life
4. Common Good
5. Pursuit of Happiness
6. Truth
7. Equality
8. Diversity.

When done, form a group of between 4 and 5 people.  See if you can agree on the order these terms should come in. When you’re done, add to your starter:  How hard was it to rank these terms in order of importance in your group?  Where were the sticking points?
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Segue: That's exactly how the framers of the Constitution felt when they had to design a government based on these values.

AGENDA
The CONSTITUTION! 

1. Youtube video, Key Constitutional Concepts, part 1
   1. Watch
   2. Answer prompts 
   3. Discuss/Questions 
2. Youtube video, Key Constitutional Concepts, part 2.
   1. Watch 
   2. Answer prompts 
   3. Discuss/Questions 

RPSLS tournament!  

1. Watch the "Big Bang Theory" video clip
2. Ready to get rowdy?  We're gonna drill down on a full bracket-style tournament – Rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock!  Best of 5 – winner moves on, loser becomes the winner's biggest fan.  Cheer your hearts out!
3. After the game, we will map out a 'power diagram' on the board for us and discuss the winning strategy.

 
Checks and Balances (<--page 2 of the linked doc).
Brief discussion: Our branches of government work just like a complex version of RPSLS.  The system is based on the idea that any person with the opportunity to seize more power will do it (we're coming out of tyranny, remember?), so each branch must have significant 'checks' on the others.

1. Legislative branch.  Primary function: to make new laws.
2. Executive branch.  Primary function: to “execute,” or carry out, laws that Congress writes.
3. Judicial branch.  Primary function: to interpret the Constitution by ruling on difficult cases (to interpret the law through the lens of the Constitution).

Checks and Balances Diagram
Using colored pencils, markers, crayons, etc, create a “power diagram” similar to RPSLS.  Use your “Checks and Balances Cheat Sheet” to help you (see page 2).  Also, google image search the phrase “checks and balances” and you will get a lot of handy ideas. Beautiful work, people.
DUE: Start of class tomorrow.

Homework

1. College Essay Display Board: Don't forget to display your college essay. DUE: End of Today!!
2. Checks and Balances Diagram:  See above for details.  DUE:  Thursday, 9/15, start of class.
3. DP Update and Writing Goals:  Email Ashley DP link when complete.  DUE:  Friday, 9/16, start of class.