Socratic Seminar

Units 1-6

Unit 1: Principles of Government

• What were some of the reasons that the text indicated for governments forming?

• What effects did the sentiments and reasoning of the Enlightenment period have on America?

• Compare and contrast the similarities between the American government model and its European contemporaries.

• Why and how has American government changed?

Unit 2: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

• What are civil rights?– Political and social freedoms for citizens– Amendments: for religious freedoms, freedom of speech, freedom

of the press, right to bear arms– If you were a non-white, and not a man, civil rights did not apply

• What are civil liberties?– Rights and freedoms that focused on the individual specifically– 3 Amendments: 4-searches and seizures, the use of evidence,

electronic surveillance; 5-limits on criminal charges, protecting witnesses; 6-right to a fair trial, the right to legal advice (a lawyer)

• Why and how are each necessary to American culture?– Protects the people and enforces their natural rights.

Unit 3: Political Participation, Government by the People

• Explain “government by the people”.– People elect leadership; people participate in

government; citizens can be elected; bipartisanship-opposing political parties find agreement through compromise; Republicans vs. Democrats

• Explain “political participation”.– Voting, public opinion, strikes/unions, protest, campaign

• Where should government “draw the line”?• Compare and contrast the United States to one

other people-driven society in world history.

Unit 4: Why is the legislative branch necessary? Evaluate its role in American Government.

• What is the legislative branch's function? Make the laws; Congress controls the US wallet, trade commerce, collects taxes, creates treaties, foreign trade, and gives President permission to declare war. Senate ratifies treaties and approves Presidential nominations for government offices.

• What “organ of government” does the American legislative branch most resemble? Parliament

• Is it the most important government branch in our nation?– Yes: they regulate the people through laws and nominate proper

politicians for government seats.– No: they do make laws but the Executive Branch enforces the laws.

• How is the legislative branch different today than it was when the nation was first established? List changes that were made.

Unit 5: Why is the executive branch necessary? Evaluate its role in American Government.

• What is the role of the executive branch? Enforce laws, commander-in-chief of the military is the President, gives the State of the Union Address, nominating members of the Cabinet and Judiciary Branch, conducting foreign affairs, negotiating treaties with other nations, makes sure that the laws created are Constitutional toward the individual citizens, carries out laws: signing and vetoing bills

• Why has it's role changed since Washington's Presidency? – Under Washington: there was more authority to the President’s position; more than just a

figurehead; • What factors contributed to changes in the executive branch's role? Electoral College

changed to support party nominees rather than 1st and 2nd Place vote achievers; Controversies: Watergate Scandal and other scandals; states rights vs. national stability which contributes to the Civil War; US does not become a part of the League of Nations; because of Adolf Hitler, the United Nations is created to allow the US to help stop threats that resemble Adolf Hitler.

• Is the executive branch necessary? – Yes: responsible for laws, President is at the forefront of US policy– No:

Unit 6 National Government: Judicial Branch

What is the function of the judicial branch? Determines whether a law is Constitutional or not.

Supreme court determines crimes too large for state courts to resolve.

Supreme court can decide to let state constitutions solve social issues such as civil union

How has its role changed?Should it exist?Why are laws and their interpretation necessary to a

nation's stability?