The Executive - 7 Roles

Readings: The President is a Dolt.....
From Mr. Swanson's site:

PowerPoint
Instructions for The Roles of the Executive presentations.

Committee Assignments

Congratulations on your election to Congress.  As a freshman member of either House or Senate, I am asking you to present, in order of preference, your first four choices for committee assignment.  For each committee, you should include a paragraph describing your interest in the committee, why you are seeking this committee, and how your knowledge will contribute to the functioning of your assignment.   

Who Represents Us?

How representative are our Representatives?  Take a look at the CHART below and Wikipedia's Congressional demographics. 

How significant a factor do these demographics play?

Women in the Military

"Pentagon to ease restrictions on women in some combat roles

The Pentagon said Thursday that it would ease some restrictions on women serving in combat roles, a step that in part codifies the reality on the ground in Afghanistan, where commanders have stretched rules to allow women to support ground combat units."
By Craig Whitlock, Washington Post. Thursday, February 9

PHOTO GALLERY

Should women's roles be restricted in the 21st century US military?  Should females be required to register for selective service?

Bill Review Exercise

Complete in Google Docs.  Due Wedneday.

Directions: Working in small groups, students will receive an actual bill that is currently being debated in Washington, D.C.  If wifi is available students can pick their own bill.  Students should read the bill and answer the following analysis questions.

1.What is the title of the bill? What is the bills main focus?

2.Who is sponsoring this bill?

3.Based on the title of the bill, what groups of people would you expect to support this bill? Who would be likely to oppose it and why

4.What does this bill require? What does this bill prohibit?

5.How clear is the language being used in this bill?

6.Does this legislation require the government to spend money? If so, where will the money come from?

7.Who would enforce this bill if it becomes law?

8.What penalties might someone face if they violate this bill if it becomes law?

9.How do you personally feel about this bill?  Why?

For Romney and Paul, a strategic alliance between establishment and outsider

Here is the article we discussed in Period 8.

Semester 2 Reading

Weeek of 3/26-3/30 

Chapter 10 THE BOOK IS FINISHED!!!!!
   Weeek of 3/19-3/23  

Chapters 9, 17, 18 in text
  
Week of 3/12-3/16

Chapter 19 in Text
Exercising Wartime Powers (Swanson Unit 6)
Unilateralism v. Multilateralism (Swanson Unit 6)
Readings on Afghan War @ Govweluv 


Due Monday 3/5 

Readings: The President is a Dolt.....

From Mr. Swanson's site: 
Arthur Schlesinger - The Imperial Presidency
Clinton Rossiter - The Presidency - Focus of Leadership
Craig Rimmerman - The Rise of the Plebiscitary Presidency
Boumediene et ak v Bush
Michael Cairo - The Imperial Presidency Triumphant
Richard Neustadt - Presidential Power (Lasser)
Richard Neustadt - Presidential Power (Woll)
Richard Neustadt - Presidential Power & the Modern Presidents


Weeks One through Three (2/1-Winter Break)

You should be taking notes on ALL readings.
For the online readings consider the following:

• What is the author's thesis?
• Is there a POV or bias?
• What are the most effective supporting arguments?
• Are there counter arguments or questions you would pose?
• Did the author raise any points that interested or surprised you, or challenged your own POV?

The notes need not be more than a half page per source, but if you do not take notes you will find yourself struggling come time to review.

1) Read Chapter 8 in Sabato

2) Unit 4 Readings (Mr. Swanson's Site) Underlined docs for Monday 2/12.


Richard Fenno, Going Home
Stephen Frantzich, Re--‐Presentation
John McCain, Hey There!
Evan Bayh, Why I’m Leaving the Senate

Ronald Brownstein, The Four Quadrants of Congress

Morris Fiorina, The Rise of the Washington Establishment

Michele Swers, The Difference Women Make

Woodrow Wilson,Congressional Government
Lawrence C Dodd, Congress and the Quest for Power
David Price, Congressional Experience

Paul Starobin, Pork: A Time Honored Tradition Lives on

John Ellwood & Eric Patashnik, In Praise of Pork

Sarah Binder & Thomas Mann, Slaying the Dinosaur

Bill Frenzel, Defending the Dinosaur

Gregory Wawro, & Eric Schickler, Filibuster

Barbara Sinclair, The 60 Vote Senate

Paul Quirk & Sarah Binder, Congress and the American Democracy

Sarah Binder, Stalemate

David R. Mayhew, Congress: The Electoral Connection