Current events AP exam review

U.S. News and World Report April 30, 2007: Homework

Madam Enforcer page 26:

What is Senator Barbara Boxer’s (D-CA) official role in the United States Senate?

What issues are at the top of her committee’s legislative agenda?

Which government agency will most likely face oversight hearings by Boxer’s committee?

What would Boxer like the president to do with the Environmental Protection Agency?

Make a prediction about whether or not her committee’s legislative agenda will be successful. Explain your prediction.

Changing Their Stripes page 32:

Choose one of the Republican Candidates. How is this candidate presenting himself to attract primary voters?

Choose one of the Democratic Candidates. How is this candidate presenting him/herself to attract primary voters?

What will these candidates most likely have to do after securing their party’s nomination for the general election?

Reading the Abortion Ruling page 36:

What has caused the Supreme Court to shift its opinion on partial birth abortion bans?

Identify one interest group in the article and its position on this case.

Summarize the polling data regarding public opinion on the abortion issue.

Funding the Troops page 38:

Why is the president threatening to veto a supplemental appropriations bill for the Iraq conflict?

What is the difference between the House and Senate versions of this bill?

What is the division in the Democratic Party over the Iraq conflict?

Predict the outcome of this feud between Capitol Hill and the White House. Explain your prediction.

Why “Ho” Is So Hurtful page 68:

Do you agree or disagree with this editorial? Why?

Public Policy Part 6: May 3

Public Policy Part 6: Conclusion/Prediction

In this section of the paper, you will look back on your research and predict whether or not this bill will be successful. What changes will have to be made in order for the bill to become law? If it becomes law will it be implemented properly and adequately address the policy issue?

Research Note: You should go to a public library and check out some books related to your topic. You should also contact interest groups, agencies and congressional committees involved in your topic. They will normally be more than willing to send you information on your topic. You may even get the chance to conduct an interview. Additionally, once everyone has chosen a topic, I will request Congressional Research Service Packs from our congressman. You must have at least three sources beyond the Internet. YOU MUST CITE EVERY PIECE OF INFORMATION YOU OBTAIN!!!
The following website will help you with the proper form for source citations:
http://www.jfklibrary.org/Education+and+Public+Programs/Profile+in+Courage+Award/Essay+Contest+for+High+School+Students/Prepare+your+Essay/Citing+Sources+and+Bibliographies/

For information on your topic, I suggest beginning with a Google or Yahoo or Ask search often the issue or bill name + prediction is a great starting point. (e.g. Iraq troop funding prediction) Then, branch out beyond the Internet.


Simply make a prediction based upon your research. You should compare your own thoughts to the predictions of other political pundits.



Compile all of your research into a rough draft, which is due by the end of class tomorrow, May 4th.

Public Policy Part 5: May 2

Public Policy Part 5: Policy Evaluation

In this section of the paper, we will examine how the policy will be evaluated after it is implemented. Who will oversee the policy and will it be reviewed by government agencies and/or Congress at a later date? In other words, how will we know the policy is working?

Research Note: You should go to a public library and check out some books related to your topic. You should also contact interest groups, agencies and congressional committees involved in your topic. They will normally be more than willing to send you information on your topic. You may even get the chance to conduct an interview. Additionally, once everyone has chosen a topic, I will request Congressional Research Service Packs from our congressman. You must have at least three sources beyond the Internet. YOU MUST CITE EVERY PIECE OF INFORMATION YOU OBTAIN!!!
The following website will help you with the proper form for source citations:
http://www.jfklibrary.org/Education+and+Public+Programs/Profile+in+Courage+Award/Essay+Contest+for+High+School+Students/Prepare+your+Essay/Citing+Sources+and+Bibliographies/

For information on your topic, I suggest beginning with a Google or Yahoo or Ask search often the issue or bill name + evaluation is a great starting point. (e.g. Iraq troop funding evaluation) Then, branch out beyond the Internet.

1. What is the bill you are researching? (name and number)

2. What is the purpose of the bill you are researching? What issue(s) does it address?

3. How does this bill address the issue at hand?

4. What government agencies will be responsible for carrying out this law?

5. Are there any reporting requirements for government agencies? If so, what data is to be collected and for what purpose?

6. Are there any reporting requirements for state and local governments? If so, what data is to be collected and for what purpose?

7. Are there are reporting requirements for business, individuals or groups? If so, what data is to be collected and for what purpose?

8. Is there a time when this law will have to be renewed or revisited by Congress (a.k.a. a sunset provision)?

9. Ultimately, who will be held accountable for the success or failure of this policy? To whom will they be accountable?

10. If similar legislation has been enacted previously, how has that policy’s effectiveness been evaluated?

Public Policy Part 4: April 30

Public Policy Part 4: Policy Implementation

In this section of the paper, we will examine how the bill you have chosen seeks to implement a policy. What actions are to be taken and who will carry it out? In other words, how does this bill seek to make the policy happen?

Research Note: You should go to a public library and check out some books related to your topic. You should also contact interest groups, agencies and congressional committees involved in your topic. They will normally be more than willing to send you information on your topic. You may even get the chance to conduct an interview. Additionally, once everyone has chosen a topic, I will request Congressional Research Service Packs from our congressman. You must have at least three sources beyond the Internet. YOU MUST CITE EVERY PIECE OF INFORMATION YOU OBTAIN!!!
The following website will help you with the proper form for source citations:
http://www.jfklibrary.org/Education+and+Public+Programs/Profile+in+Courage+Award/Essay+Contest+for+High+School+Students/Prepare+your+Essay/Citing+Sources+and+Bibliographies/

For information on your topic, I suggest beginning with a Google or Yahoo or Ask search often the issue or bill name + implementation is a great starting point. (e.g. Iraq troop funding implementation) Then, branch out beyond the Internet.

1. What is the bill you are researching? (name and number)

2. What is the purpose of the bill you are researching? What issue(s) does it address?

3. How does this bill address the issue at hand?

4. What government agencies will be responsible for carrying out this law?

5. How much money is attached to this bill and how is it supposed to be spent?

6. Does federalism play a role in this bill? If so, what is the responsibility of state and local governments?

7. Does implementation of this bill require coordination between the public (government) and the private (business & non-profits) sectors of our economy? If so, describe those relationships.

Public Policy Part 3: April 27

Public Policy Part 3: Policy Formulation

In this section of the paper, we will examine possible solutions to the problem addressed by the bill you have chosen. In other words, we will look at the chosen bill as well as other proposals put forward to deal with this issue.

Research Note: You should go to a public library and check out some books related to your topic. You should also contact interest groups, agencies and congressional committees involved in your topic. They will normally be more than willing to send you information on your topic. You may even get the chance to conduct an interview. Additionally, once everyone has chosen a topic, I will request Congressional Research Service Packs from our congressman. You must have at least three sources beyond the Internet. YOU MUST CITE EVERY PIECE OF INFORMATION YOU OBTAIN!!!
The following website will help you with the proper form for source citations:
http://www.jfklibrary.org/Education+and+Public+Programs/Profile+in+Courage+Award/Essay+Contest+for+High+School+Students/Prepare+your+Essay/Citing+Sources+and+Bibliographies/

For information on your topic, I suggest beginning with a Google or Yahoo or Ask search often the issue or bill name + politics is a great starting point. (e.g. Iraq troop funding politics) Then, branch out beyond the Internet. Additional sites that may prove helpful are the Cato Institute’s www.cato.org and the more liberal www.movingideas.org which will help you see different perspectives on given policies.

1. What is the bill you are researching? (name and number)

2. What is the purpose of the bill you are researching? What issue(s) does it address?

3. How does this bill address the issue at hand?

4. Is there a Senate version of this bill? If so, what is it and how does it differ from the House bill?

5. Are there any proposals of this issue from the president? If so, what is it and how does it differ from the House bill?

6. Are there any proposals on this issue from a bureaucratic agency? If so, what is it and how does it differ from the House bill?

7. Are there any proposals on this issue from business or other interest groups? If so, what are those proposals and how do they differ from the House bill?

AP Gov - April 24 - Public Policy Project Part 2

Public Policy Part 2: Agenda Setting

In this section of the paper, we will examine how the bill you have chosen became a public policy issue in the first place. In other words, we will research the background of this issue by answering the following questions.

Research Note: You should go to a public library and check out some books related to your topic. You should also contact interest groups, agencies and congressional committees involved in your topic. They will normally be more than willing to send you information on your topic. You may even get the chance to conduct an interview. Additionally, once everyone has chosen a topic, I will request Congressional Research Service Packs from our congressman. You must have at least three sources beyond the Internet. YOU MUST CITE EVERY PIECE OF INFORMATION YOU OBTAIN!!!
The following website will help you with the proper form for source citations:
http://www.jfklibrary.org/Education+and+Public+Programs/Profile+in+Courage+Award/Essay+Contest+for+High+School+Students/Prepare+your+Essay/Citing+Sources+and+Bibliographies/

For background on your topic, I suggest beginning with a Google or Yahoo or Ask search. Then branch out beyond the Internet.


1. What is the bill you are researching? (name and number)

2. What is the purpose of the bill you are researching? What issue(s) does it address?

3. How did this become a political issue to begin with? What is the history of this problem/issue?

4. What political actors (individuals, interest groups, politicians, agencies, etc.) elevated this topic to a national political issue? How was this done?

5. Has there been any previous legislation on your topic? Was it effective or not? Why?

AP Gov - April 20 - Public Policy Project Part 1

Public Policy Project Step 1: Topic Selection

Objective: Students will explore the House of Representatives committee web pages and select a topic for further research.

Go to:

http://www.house.gov/house/CommitteeWWW.shtml

Directions: Once you are at the site link to one of the committees that interests you. Throughout the period, explore the various committee websites and select a bill that is currently being debated. A bill will have a title and a number beginning with the letters HR.

Before the end of class you must notify Mr. Martinek of the name and number of the bill you will research. We will be working on this project for the next couple of weeks and it will count as your research grade (20% of total) for the 4th quarter.

Homework: Complete our last required SQ3R for this textbook: Chapter 17. This is due Tuesday. Also, start researching your topic. Gather as much background information as you can find on the legislation you chose. Pay particular attention to who favors and who opposes the legislation. What are their arguments? We will be back in the library on Monday to continue this process.