tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51662876818431457322023-11-16T03:47:38.101-08:00AP United States Government & Politicsedited by Mike GwaltneyMichael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-48402781544681947142011-02-02T20:58:00.000-08:002011-02-03T10:47:25.518-08:00Health Care and Federalism<blockquote>"[The Congress shall have Power] To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian tribes;"<br />
~Article I, Section 8, Line 3 of the U.S. Constitution</blockquote>In 2010, the United States Congress passed landmark health care reform. Among the law's intentions is the closing of the "uninsured gap" that sees nearly 50 million Americans living without health insurance.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsSfCpsJXXrS_1AZX6i-BJ40fHmBMs1B7-LhF-cRsfXV6xF4EBrat-Ye7dxd8hDErZ-ObbMNuubMIqTaEd40lcgRlZ35FxiGVxQ2amYFtPAa36c5JnsSEqzUktKY-q0VkxpJgOanPbYsoj/s1600/HealthcareReform.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsSfCpsJXXrS_1AZX6i-BJ40fHmBMs1B7-LhF-cRsfXV6xF4EBrat-Ye7dxd8hDErZ-ObbMNuubMIqTaEd40lcgRlZ35FxiGVxQ2amYFtPAa36c5JnsSEqzUktKY-q0VkxpJgOanPbYsoj/s200/HealthcareReform.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>From the outset, this legislation has been controversial - not a single Republican voted for the law that President Obama signed in late March. Democrats have pushed for some version of national health insurance since the presidency of Harry Truman, and in recent decades, Republicans have stood staunchly against most attempts at reforming the national health care system.<br />
<br />
What mostly divides the parties on the health care issue is a question of federalism: <b>does the Constitution provide the power to Congress to regulate the health care industry?</b><br />
<br />
More than 20 states (most with Republican governors or attorneys general) have joined various lawsuits against the new law. These suits take aim at the so-called individual mandate, a requirement that all Americans buy health insurance or pay a fee. Critics of the mandate claim the national government does not have the power to require individuals to purchase health coverage.<br />
<br />
In the months since the suits were filed, judges in federal courts have ruled for both sides, likely foreshadowing an eventual decision by the Supreme Court.<br />
<br />
This week, Judge Roger Vinson of Federal District Court in Pensacola, Fla., concluded that "It would be a radical departure from existing case law to hold that Congress can regulate inactivity under the Commerce Clause.” The plaintiffs that brought the case claim the mandate is an unprecedented effort to regulate inactivity because citizens would be fined for NOT participating in commerce (purchasing health insurance).<br />
<br />
Whether Congress has the power under the commerce clause to require citizens to purchase health insurance will likely remain an issue for debate until the Supreme Court decides. For AP U.S. Government students, it's important to understand this issue as part of the ongoing debate over federalism.<br />
<br />
PBS NewsHour covered the issue in some depth tonight:<br />
<br />
<script src="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/js/pap/embed.js?news01s47ccq104e" type="text/javascript">
</script>Michael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-84458932434923796662011-01-16T13:52:00.000-08:002011-01-16T14:12:40.316-08:00The Constitution and GunsIn the days following the tragic shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 19 others in Tuscon, Arizona, gun control advocates and gun enthusiasts alike have called for changes to existing laws. Many want <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/14/virginia-tech-families-gun-background-checks_n_809395.html" target="new">more extensive background checks</a> required to purchase a gun, or for a <a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/01/11/132826365/Rep-McCarthy-To-Propose-Ban-On-High-Capacity-Ammo" target="new">ban on high-capacity magazines</a> like the kind used by the shooter. Opponents of such measures have <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/16/2018335/floridas-solution-to-violence.html" target="new">called for the expansion of the right to carry in public</a>, arguing that if just one law-abiding citizen had been armed, the shooter could have been stopped before he hurt so many people. With opinions about guns <a href="http://pewresearch.org/databank/dailynumber/?NumberID=1174" target="new">so strongly held across the political spectrum</a>, it seems <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/14/us/14guns.html" target="new">unlikely any changes in law are in the offing</a>.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXg6zllKCuhc9NjD3Am0-okDaGPyS6JEJQAw6jljVsSDYSNWR_CH12F3gY9nQX5yPzapSxz_LaAwcLn1FQS64XmJ5xtrD1C12rquh3LJ1TZiN-IwKu0cExpOmWp49B6LLvRtdu4JF23IE/s1600/Statue_in_Minute_Man_National_Historical_Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXg6zllKCuhc9NjD3Am0-okDaGPyS6JEJQAw6jljVsSDYSNWR_CH12F3gY9nQX5yPzapSxz_LaAwcLn1FQS64XmJ5xtrD1C12rquh3LJ1TZiN-IwKu0cExpOmWp49B6LLvRtdu4JF23IE/s200/Statue_in_Minute_Man_National_Historical_Park.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many supporters of the Right to Bear<br />
Arms are inspired by the Minutemen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>For AP U.S. Government, coverage of gun issues has historically been limited to discussions about the politics of local laws. The "Right to Bear Arms" has long been left out of those <a href="http://www.class.uidaho.edu/mickelsen/Media%20Readings/Incorporation_Doctrine.htm" target="new">incorporated by the Supreme Court</a>, and teachers and textbooks barely touched the subject. The 2008 version (11th ed.) of Wilson's <i>American Government</i>, for example, referred to guns only minimally and as a "selectively incorporated" right. But because of two landmark court cases and increased focus on the issue following high profile incidents like the shooting in Tuscon and the 2007 Virginia Tech killings, AP Gov-ers need to understand the 2nd Amendment and its implications.<br />
<blockquote><i>A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.</i></blockquote>Partly because of the ambiguous language of the 2nd Amendment, (does it suggest a right for individuals to own and carry arms, or a public right for armed militias, or both?) controversy swirled around guns through the latter half of the 20th century. But in 2008, the United States Supreme Court mostly settled the dispute in the case <a href="http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2007/2007_07_290" target="new"><i>District of Columbia v. Heller</i></a>. In his majority decision, Justice Antonin Scalia made clear the court's 5-member majority believe the amendment must be understood in its colonial-era context and that it thus "confers an individual right to keep and bear arms." And just two years later in <a href="http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2009/2009_08_1521" target="new"><i>McDonald v. Chicago</i> (2010)</a>, the court clarified that the individual right to gun ownership must also be protected by the states, saying "the <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Due_Process_Clause" title="Due Process Clause" target="new">Due Process Clause</a> of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution" title="Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution" target="new">Fourteenth Amendment</a> incorporates the 2nd Amendment right." Though the <i>Heller</i> decision overturned a D.C. law that virtually banned the ownership of handguns, which SCOTUS found overly restrictive, both cases left open the possibility for some reasonable gun control restrictions.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Z0M-E6NBrzT33e0M73gDJOU7fnBbS9WnN7rNhi8cjRemdNf6JTVSgrfbQgnor-xJraAN2j3I4t6Lr2YblfbrgXbOP42rs3kI_8NdvJb5HomxsFnFwZMfGsIixilQSoWBjrevbFXrVrDN/s1600/Public+Divided+About+Gun+Control.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Z0M-E6NBrzT33e0M73gDJOU7fnBbS9WnN7rNhi8cjRemdNf6JTVSgrfbQgnor-xJraAN2j3I4t6Lr2YblfbrgXbOP42rs3kI_8NdvJb5HomxsFnFwZMfGsIixilQSoWBjrevbFXrVrDN/s320/Public+Divided+About+Gun+Control.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1858/gun-control-rights-division-demographics-party-ideology-religion-region-tea-party" target="new">Sep. 2010 Pew Poll</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Still, the American public remains deeply divided over the right to gun ownership. In a <a href="http://people-press.org/reports/questionnaires/658.pdf" target="new">summer 2010 Pew Research survey</a>, half the public (50%) said it was more important to control gun ownership, while 46% said it was more important to protect the right of Americans to own guns. Also, as in many current political debates, a deep partisan divide separates views on gun control. Republicans strongly favor gun rights over gun control by a 70%-to-26% margin, while Democrats are almost as equally supportive of gun control over gun ownership by a 67%-to-30% margin. Independents mirror the nation as a whole, with 50% favoring gun control and 46% favoring gun rights. (<a href="http://pewresearch.org/databank/dailynumber/?NumberID=1174" target="new">PewResearchCenter</a>)<br />
<br />
With the parties and voters divided, it follows that the likelihood of a change in state and local gun laws is unlikely. Many also point to the power of interest groups like the National Rifle Association as an obstacle to change. Just three days after the Tuscon shooting, the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/11/opinion/11tue1.html" target="new">New York Times Editorial Board wrote</a>:<br />
<blockquote>[to enact gun laws, lawmakers] will need to stand up to the National Rifle Association and its allies, whose lobbying power continues to grow... Having won a Supreme Court ruling establishing a right to keep a firearm in the home, the gun lobby is striving for new heights of lunacy, waging a campaign to legalize the possession of a gun in schools, bars, parks, offices, and churches, even by teenagers... It reflexively opposes even mild, sensible restrictions — but if there is any reason left in this debate, the latest mass shooting should force a retreat. Is there anyone, even the most die-hard gun lobbyist, who wants to argue that a disturbed man should be able to easily and legally buy a Glock to shoot a congresswoman, a judge, a 9-year-old girl?... Between 1994 and 2004, it was illegal to manufacture or import the extended clips as part of the ban on assault weapons. But the ban was never renewed because of the fierce opposition of the N.R.A. </blockquote>The N.R.A. counters that they are a membership organization that represents majority American views: "We are all the people. Our effectiveness is a measure of our deep abiding love of freedom—especially that freedom that is uniquely guaranteed to citizens of the USA—the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. We represent all the people. That is why we win." (<a href="http://www.nrapublications.org/SG/index.asp" target="new">NRA Publications</a>)<br />
<br />
It's clear that the debate over guns will continue, but it is far less clear what will result. For now, AP Government students should be able to identify and explain the decisions in <i>Heller</i> and <i>McDonald</i>, and be able to defend and refute the arguments over N.R.A. influence on gun policy in this country.Michael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-30793824522020505402010-12-14T14:48:00.000-08:002010-12-15T08:54:01.485-08:00Calling all AP US Gov Teachers: Collaborate!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8gG7kAsriYMGDic83LTQtX_c0_ktzuaDZLywYTPgML-dRPg-kHlLaU_9_Phcl7O9GnjjcJV7YykQeBqBxu7-2bLTUKyC-cH-Vx4NoFTSytpgIMU7mE3iODNC1d_09r3LcGkixfdw0_Xh/s1600/uncle-sam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju8gG7kAsriYMGDic83LTQtX_c0_ktzuaDZLywYTPgML-dRPg-kHlLaU_9_Phcl7O9GnjjcJV7YykQeBqBxu7-2bLTUKyC-cH-Vx4NoFTSytpgIMU7mE3iODNC1d_09r3LcGkixfdw0_Xh/s200/uncle-sam.jpg" width="145" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We need you!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I am reinventing this blog as a collaborative space for teachers to help AP US Gov students around the country. The goal is to create a resource that helps students deepen their understanding of the American government and its political system. I believe that if we can get instructors and students collaborating, we can produce some very powerful learning results!<br />
<br />
Will you join me in this goal?<br />
<br />
I am looking for new and experienced AP Gov teachers who would like to write posts and contribute to a wiki. You don't have to consider yourself a "Master Teacher" to post and there's certainly no obligation to write something daily or weekly - just post when you are able. And if you already have a blog, I'd love if you would cross-post your work here. <br />
<br />
The wiki will be a website where we all post resources for each other and our students. Using Google Sites, we can create a great knowledge repository!<br />
<br />
Beginning mid-January 2011, my students will be Tweeting current event stories and resources using the hashtag #APGOV. Of course, I hope we can get other students around the country to do the same - the goal is to get students to create a Personal Learning Network for AP Gov that is much larger than their textbook and teacher!<br />
<br />
I hope that you will join in this effort. Please simply leave an email where I can contact you in the comments section below, or Tweet me @mikegwaltney.Michael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-25079772898031845172010-12-14T14:27:00.000-08:002010-12-14T20:14:44.784-08:00AP US Government Blog 2.0After a 2 year hiatus, the AP United States Government & Politics Blog is back!<br />
<br />
After teaching AP Gov for 11 years, I moved to a new school where I have spent most of my time teaching AP U.S. History and some political philosophy seminars. However, now I am beginning a new assignment with the <a href="http://onlineschoolforgirls.org/course_catalog.html#americangovt" target="_blank">Online School for Girls</a> teaching AP U.S. Gov as a second semester course, and I can't wait to get started.<br />
<br />
Look for the AP U.S. Gov Blog to go collaborative in 2011, with many teachers posting ideas and resources that are in use in AP classes around the country.Michael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-56219909505915771802008-11-14T15:39:00.000-08:002010-12-14T20:07:34.960-08:00It really was about YOUAs has been said many times now, this recent campaign for president was the first to engage the public with the new medium of the internet. Though the Deane campaign of '04 is often seen as the beginning of this strategy, the Obama campaign used it like never before. YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, etc., made this campaign more about YOU the voter than ever before.<br />
<br />
Watch Joe Trippi (Deane '04 campaign manager), Gavin Newsom (S.F. Mayor) and Arianna Huffington (huffingtonpost.com) discuss this development at the recent Web 2.0 conference:<br />
<br />
<embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="298" src="http://blip.tv/play/gfIU2P0FhZlM" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420"></embed>Michael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-90897706573978060732008-11-08T10:55:00.000-08:002010-12-14T20:07:34.961-08:00Passing the Torch to a New GenerationAfter gaining the youth vote in 1960, John F. Kennedy famously declared in his inaugural address that “the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans.” This line was delivered partly because Kennedy himself seemed the face of a new generation, but also partly because he had won the youth vote 2 to 1 against his rival Richard Nixon.<br />
Since George McGovern's loss to Nixon in 1972, the youth vote has been tiny - a mere blip on pollsters' computer screens. Any political scientist could tell you that the vote of people 18-29 is now always the smallest of any age group, and they'd further make the point that any politician who could galvanize that group and get them to come to the polls in large numbers would surely win an election. So now that the 2008 election is over, let 's look at the new numbers as provided by The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE):<br />
<table border="1" style="height: 243px; width: 450px;"><tbody>
<tr> <th>Year</th> <td>Youth Voter Turnout Estimated by CIRCLE (18-29)</td> <td>Percentage change since previous election</td> <td>Number of young people who voted in nation</td> </tr>
<tr> <th>1996</th> <td style="text-align: center;">37%</td> <td><br />
</td> <td style="text-align: center;">14.5 million</td> </tr>
<tr> <th>2000</th> <td style="text-align: center;">41%</td> <td style="text-align: center;">+4</td> <td style="text-align: center;">16.2 million</td> </tr>
<tr> <th>2004</th> <td style="text-align: center;">48%</td> <td style="text-align: center;">+7</td> <td style="text-align: center;">19.4 million</td> </tr>
<tr> <th>2008</th> <td style="text-align: center;">52-53%</td> <td style="text-align: center;">+4-5</td> <td style="text-align: center;">22.8 - 23.1 million</td> </tr>
</tbody> </table>With a modest increase of 4 or 5 percentage points, young people came to the polls last Tuesday in larger numbers than in any election since 1972. Still, according to the NY Times exit poll data, young voters remained the smallest voting group, accounting for just 18% of the total vote, or the smallest percentage of the four age group categories (18-29, 30-44, 45-59, 60 & older).<br />
But taken alone, this data is misleading. Try this for context: <i>the increase in youth votes accounts for at least 60% of the overall increase in the number of votes [across all age groups], suggesting that this year’s election mobilized young people more than any other group.</i> In other words, young people showed up in 2008.<br />
We can take the youth vote impact even further - according to CIRCLE, young voters favored Barack Obama by more than 2 to 1. Politico.com reports this morning that 66% of voters under age 30 preferred Obama while just 32% favored McCain—nearly four times the size of John F. Kennedy's lead with the group in 1960. Do the math on that and you find that Obama received 7.8 million more 18-29 year old votes than John McCain. Obama's total popular vote margin over McCain? 7.1 million.<br />
From Politico: "In other words, never in post-war American politics have youth voted so differently than older generations as they did in 2008... Obama's lead with the group this year is easily the largest of any newly elected president in the era of modern polling."<br />
At Coretta Scott King's funeral in early 2006, Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Robert Kennedy, leaned over to a fairly new Senator Obama and whispered, "The torch is being passed to you." "A chill went up my spine," Obama later told an aide. On Tuesday, the young voters of America ensured he'll have to run with the torch for the next four years - it had indeed been passed.<br />
<h6><i>Sources:<br />
CIRCLE: http://www.civicyouth.org/<br />
NY Times: http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/results/president/exit-polls.html<br />
Politico: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15441.html<br />
Newsweek: http://www.newsweek.com/id/167582</i></h6>Michael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-16547909832280244342008-09-07T08:38:00.001-07:002010-12-14T20:07:34.962-08:00UC Admissions; Affirmative ActionOn the off-chance any of you are still checking it to this blog now that you've moved on to college, I thought I'd post a short update on this issue.<br />
<br />
The L.A. Times on Sunday 9/7/08 posted a pair of opinion pieces on the new UCLA admission process which the university contends is legal, but critics decry. The process has successfully doubled African-American admission.<br />
<br />
Read all about it here:<br />
<br />
Pro --> <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-hunt7-2008sep07,0,4419624.story?track=rss">http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-hunt7-2008sep07,0,4419624.story?track=rss</a><br />
<br />
Con --> <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-mac_donald-2008sep07,0,1237273.story">http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-mac_donald-2008sep07,0,1237273.story</a><br />
<br />
~ MJGMichael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-33355245435619284192008-06-04T10:42:00.000-07:002010-12-14T20:07:34.964-08:00It's OverHigh School, AP U.S. Gov, and the Primaries. They're all over.<br />
<br />
Congratulations to you as you move on to the next stage of your life. Meanwhile, the selection process for the next President of the United States moves on to its next stage. Though it seemed the Democrats might never decide, they figured it out just in time for your graduation.<br />
<br />
I wish all the best to you and I hope you'll stay engaged in the process of making our community, country, and the world more just.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNehRV4mqUvnRoRMrhYLDsvMxTXKadCmFkNCvEqttmBk9awH-nUFvmncp-WwVFOjoOJfbl8Hb5XUrRZJGOySNc0AV4hBw3wRQyjSkmeFQzjgghbltGc7nIpz3kfUqgNcF-tQmGyBB4TZyc/s1600-h/obama+clinton+map.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208084585231620178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNehRV4mqUvnRoRMrhYLDsvMxTXKadCmFkNCvEqttmBk9awH-nUFvmncp-WwVFOjoOJfbl8Hb5XUrRZJGOySNc0AV4hBw3wRQyjSkmeFQzjgghbltGc7nIpz3kfUqgNcF-tQmGyBB4TZyc/s320/obama+clinton+map.jpg" style="cursor: pointer;" /></a>Michael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-3549345779444901002008-05-30T08:23:00.000-07:002010-12-14T20:07:34.965-08:00Final AP US GOV Update - Policy ProjectSeniors,<br />
<br />
Your final update for AP U.S. Government & Politics is a reminder about the Policy Project - the last assignment in the "gradebook".<br />
<br />
To reiterate what we discussed in class:<br />
<br />
1. Choose a general policy area corresponding to the policy chapters in the Wilson text (economic, environmental, social, etc.). Carefully read the chapter with an eye to how politics plays into the process of policy-making. The goal here is to enhance your understanding of why what seems the best policy isn't always what is enacted - politics affects everything!<br />
<br />
2. Here's where you have nearly complete flexibility. Choose any specific contemporary policy issue related to your general policy area (e.g. carbon-reduction : environmental policy). This can be something that you noticed during the Current Events Blog Project or simply something about which you're interested. Research a little what is being done policy-wise about your issue.<br />
<br />
3. Formulate and produce a statement of position. Essentially you're making a policy recommendation. Again, here you have wide latitude to say whatever you want in the way you want - the only requirement is that it appears on your blog site. It could be written, drawn, spoken (audio/video), whatever. It simply needs to make a policy recommendation. It must be substantive and I expect your recommendations will be robust. In "student-speak", it needs to be as substantial as you might make a statement of position essay in CritComp.<br />
<br />
Due Date: I'll be checking your blog at the end of Senior Finals. Please have your policy statement posted by the end of the day on Friday 6/6. If you have questions about the project, email me.<br />
<br />
It's been a pleasure working with you this year. All the best to you as you wrap up the year and move on to university study.<br />
<br />
Mr. G.Michael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-10113366615495588812008-04-29T18:23:00.000-07:002010-12-14T20:13:37.782-08:00It's Coming...The AP Exam is nearly here. Monday, May 5th will arrive soon enough. Are you reviewing?<br /><br />We have in-class review Wed, Thur, & Fri this week, as well as after-school sessions on Wed & Fri. Be sure to also set aside your weekend - we're meeting as a group on Saturday at 9am and Sunday at 3pm. See you there!<br /><br />If for some reason you can't make the out-of-class review sessions, hit the lecture notes page for the outlines and audio/video.<br /><br />Mr. GMichael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-82379727513508078052008-04-25T12:58:00.000-07:002010-12-14T20:07:34.967-08:00Civil Liberties / Rights WRAPPED!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGTRAgCtPOvIPyHTRFTHMi72nNEMo9UUyp6Oxgq3YN0MyiGtcUuRs5_9owUpINWlVpoB9YWaPI6ON59MS0nOoQrn5KMWbjnpPPhRPHna3G7m5yYuP6YgQPKyuXirqLgt0DrvxKQ8cZ5MC/s1600-h/38214899.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193938342896254082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGTRAgCtPOvIPyHTRFTHMi72nNEMo9UUyp6Oxgq3YN0MyiGtcUuRs5_9owUpINWlVpoB9YWaPI6ON59MS0nOoQrn5KMWbjnpPPhRPHna3G7m5yYuP6YgQPKyuXirqLgt0DrvxKQ8cZ5MC/s320/38214899.gif" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLcDo4jzxJdWoGYz3623LJjFaG5nANktBc3_qK_YhEzzNSW45YnEnXFt6s1dQjT1qfYCAc-rOGfa4E8rYdYxDR-1BRVmJFz2x7XpBvqCrLseVavmdBPPthEPHJ0rxbYOdMgGj0FF5mRtI/s1600-h/ucla_200.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193275779766336610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLcDo4jzxJdWoGYz3623LJjFaG5nANktBc3_qK_YhEzzNSW45YnEnXFt6s1dQjT1qfYCAc-rOGfa4E8rYdYxDR-1BRVmJFz2x7XpBvqCrLseVavmdBPPthEPHJ0rxbYOdMgGj0FF5mRtI/s320/ucla_200.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a><br />
That's a WRAP for the Civil Liberties/Rights Unit. You better be sure you've read Wilson chapters 18 & 19 by next class. Have detailed notes and be ready for the Mini-Exam!<br />
<br />
Recalling our Affirmative Action debate in class, I thought you should see the statistical chart to the left. Keep in mind that after U.C. Regents v. Bakke (1978), Affirmative Action of a sort was the norm at UCLA. In 1998 the first UCLA class affected by CA Prop. 209 (banning race from university admission criteria) was admitted.<br />
<br />
And in the event you thought I was exaggerating how lucky you are to be at your private Los Angeles school, check out these statistics in the chart at the right about South L.A. public schools. You can read <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-survey26apr26,1,472648,print.story">the full story about students in L.A. public schools here</a>.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">UCLA statistics (chart) courtesy of Jeremy VanderKnyff, NPR.<br />
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5563891</span>Michael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-33567133293821055292008-04-23T17:22:00.000-07:002010-12-14T20:13:37.783-08:00Review Session #1AP US Gov-ers,<br /><br />Review Session #1 is in the books. Check out the entire video of the session below. (I'll be doing this for all the sessions, so if you can't make it to them in person, I'd suggest you set aside time to enjoy the reviews online.)<br /><br />Each Review Session will have handouts of course. You can access these on the website through the "Notes" or "Course Calendar" page.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzc2BGbmpBo0R523nXFhLPNUCjsPOnlPQXaOMQ4RCdBLi1Qf71oOq7JE1IJuo9lmkiK3aWoqmppqJ3YWxM9wg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><a href="http://216.101.58.17/hs/mgwaltney/apusgovt/files/AP%20US%20Govt%20Review%201.mov">http://216.101.58.17/hs/mgwaltney/apusgovt/files/AP%20US%20Govt%20Review%201.mov</a>Michael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-14562707446525041532008-03-10T10:07:00.001-07:002010-12-14T20:07:34.968-08:00POTUSAP US GOV-ers,<br />
<br />
You're studying POTUS and you have the daily reading quiz thing starting Wednesday, through Monday. Make sure you're keeping up with the reading!<br />
<br />
REMINDER: You should be checking the Course Calendar every day (it changes, so always click Refresh). Note that you have a joint Congress/Presidency Exam right before Spring Break - hit the books!<br />
<br />
Eight (8) weeks to the AP Exam.<br />
<br />
Mr. GMichael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-33783274161813812742008-03-03T09:06:00.000-08:002010-12-14T20:13:37.784-08:00Congress / Presidency ExamAP US GOV-ers,<br />
<br />
We're combining the Congress and Presidency chapters in Wilson and doing one exam right before Spring Break. Check the updated course calendar (link on the right) for more information!<br />
<br />
Keep reading! The AP Exam is only 8 weeks away!<br />
<br />
Mr. GMichael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-89125846337685553332008-02-20T12:08:00.000-08:002010-12-14T20:13:37.786-08:00READ!!!Seniors,<br /><br />We've reached a crucial time in your preparation for the AP Exam. We are doing all three of the big government "institutions" (Congress, Presidency, Courts) over the next 2 months and you absolutely MUST do your part. There's plenty of reading to be done, and if you aren't doing it you're going to be behind. PUH-LEASE double your efforts and keep up with the reading. The reading quizzes will be coming nearly daily to help motivate you. :-)<br /><br />Reminder: AP Exam registration is due on Friday 2/22.<br /><br />Mr. G<br /><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4784ed20097ccb96/47ad28e3a2332eab/4784ed20097ccb96/caa8deb3/widget.js"></script>Michael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-76731465544080328712008-02-08T20:06:00.000-08:002010-12-14T20:13:37.787-08:00Kairos is Over, APUSGOV Marches On!Welcome back from Kairos those of you who were gone - I hope the experience was great.<br /><br />On Monday 2/11 and Tuesday 2/12, we'll have our Media (Ch. 10) Reading Quiz.<br /><br />On Wednesday 2/13 and Thursday 2/14, we'll have our Media FRQ Exam. Be ready!Michael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-43935176021598232022008-01-30T15:41:00.000-08:002010-12-13T09:14:53.234-08:002nd Semester, Senior Year & AP US GOVStudents,<br />
<br />
You've been waiting to be 2nd Semester Seniors forever, though some of you came down with Senioritis many months before now. Nonetheless, it's here. PLEASE challenge yourself to continue giving the kind of effort being a student requires. I've been through 2nd semester many times before with seniors and I'll do my part to make it as painless as possible, but you have to do your part to keep at it. Deal?<br />
<br />
Keep up with the reading! Check the Course Calendar link at the right.<br />
<br />
Mr. G.Michael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-46728543380014204392008-01-22T09:09:00.000-08:002010-12-14T20:13:37.788-08:00UPDATED End of Semester NoticesAP GOVers - here are your end of semester updates:<br />
<br />
1. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Study for the Final Exam</span>. As mentioned in class, the exam covers chapters 1-9 and is built the way your Unit Exams were - all former AP Exam questions. Yes, you'll recognize many (or most!) of the questions. Use the Fast Track to a 5 review guides located at the Course Calendar page (<a href="http://216.101.58.17/hs/mgwaltney/apusgovt/files/Fast%20Track%20Ch.%207,8,9.pdf">http://216.101.58.17/hs/mgwaltney/apusgovt/files/Fast%20Track%20Ch.%207,8,9.pdf</a>). For those of you needing the first and second unit "Fast Tracks", go to the Course Calendar page and scroll to that unit schedule.<br />
<br />
2. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Blog Wrap-up Assignment</span>. I've decided to extend the "capstone" assignment from the Current Event Blog project into the second semester. More on this to come next week.<br />
<br />
3. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Grades</span>. They'll be posted online by Monday or Tuesday. If you really need to know before then, email or come see me.<br />
<br />
Mr. G.Michael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-1229061580093487522007-11-08T14:31:00.000-08:002010-12-13T09:14:53.236-08:00UPDATED AP U.S. Gov, Movies, and Extra CreditI've let slip in a few blocks that I would consider extra credit in the gradebook for people who take an "extra" interest in public affairs, politics, government issues, etc. For now, I'm offering that to people who do the following:<br /><br />1. See a current movie about public affairs, political issues, government, etc.<br />2. Bring a ticket stub from said movie.<br />3. Attach a one-page write-up which explains how the movie relates to our class and what new or "extra" you learned by seeing the movie.<br /><br />Not just any movie will suffice for this. Here's a list of current movies (in theaters now unless noted) that I think will work. If you have a different idea, propose it to me. You can find info and listings for these movies at RottenTomatoes.com.<br /><ul><li>King Corn</li><li>Lake of Fire</li><li>Jimmy Carter, Man From Plains</li><li>In The Valley of Elah</li><li>Darfur Now</li><li>Rendition</li><li>Lions For Lambs<br /></li><li>Redacted (opens 11/16)</li><li>Charlie Wilson's War (opens 12/25)</li></ul>UPDATED 11/11/07Michael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-35890020740298277502007-11-04T12:17:00.000-08:002010-12-14T20:13:37.789-08:00Two instead of Four. Grrr...Ok, so apparently I've given conflicting directions about the number of Unit 2 Discussion questions you are required to answer. My apologies.<br /><br />Officially, you are now required to only do TWO (2). Grrrrr...<br /><br />~Mr. G.Michael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-28634151438990239772007-10-23T17:00:00.000-07:002010-12-14T20:13:37.790-08:00This Week in AP U.S. Gov #9Seniors, as you begin this week, you've finished the first 1/4 of the school year! Congrats. Now it's time to double your efforts and to stay on top of things. Check the fully up-to-date Course Calendar to make sure you're on track. Some highlites:<br />
<ul><li>Unit 2 Basics are linked and due on Mon/Tues Nov. 5/6.</li>
<li>You have a "Unit 2 Basics Quiz" on that date.</li>
<li>You should be doing the reading actively and taking notes carefully - be prepared for reading quizzes at all times!</li>
<li>If you haven't printed the online Lecture Notes, get on 'em.</li>
<li>You should now have at least six (6) original posts on your Blogspot, and have made eighteen (18) reply posts on distinct Blogspots.<br />
</li>
<li>You should now have seven (7) weeks of Current Events and Editorials in your notebook!</li>
</ul>Michael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-8285211177492844102007-10-08T19:04:00.000-07:002010-12-14T20:13:37.792-08:00Don't do the essay!Hey Even Day peeps: you don't have to do the essay per the worksheet the sub gave you to do over the weekend. I'm getting emails and IMs asking about it and I'm telling you now not to do that part.<br /><br />You should definitely read the whole thing, and do the questions, and choose arguments you like and dislike, but just note them, and don't do a whole essay.<br /><br />Now if you already did it, you're an all-star and show it to me in class and I'll tell you in person you're an all-star. :-)<br /><br />~Mr. GMichael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-48489657545866155352007-10-05T10:37:00.001-07:002010-12-14T20:07:34.969-08:00Patriotism and American Political Culture<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQWJ4i8Yi-HTzzKdUX2syoW3qeXA7Ko5ghSXcNbNYELiDvBiv3_mE-t2vvQkU9zYWExbCJ1PP10E5RnnrgtcI19LzcRqnTrHQ1f6_tuo1rqEeJxJtPB2UrF_UMcltxLeG-dL1TbWIVGFz/s1600-h/ALeqM5gvcOisURG62Jn_BXrGiG_bPgTUhA" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117908970173317170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQWJ4i8Yi-HTzzKdUX2syoW3qeXA7Ko5ghSXcNbNYELiDvBiv3_mE-t2vvQkU9zYWExbCJ1PP10E5RnnrgtcI19LzcRqnTrHQ1f6_tuo1rqEeJxJtPB2UrF_UMcltxLeG-dL1TbWIVGFz/s320/ALeqM5gvcOisURG62Jn_BXrGiG_bPgTUhA" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px;" /></a>While you wade into these murky waters as part of the homework due Monday/Tuesday, consider this recent development in the presidential campaign:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold;">Obama Stops Wearing Flag Pin</span><br />
By MIKE GLOVER<br />
<br />
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says he doesn't wear an American flag lapel pin because it has become a substitute for "true patriotism" since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.<br />
<br />
Asked about it Wednesday in an interview with KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the Illinois senator said he stopped wearing the pin shortly after the attacks and instead hoped to show his patriotism by explaining his ideas to citizens.<br />
<br />
"The truth is that right after 9/11 I had a pin," Obama said. "Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we're talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for I think true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security.<br />
<br />
"I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest," he said in the interview. "Instead, I'm going to try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great, and hopefully that will be a testament to my patriotism."<br />
<br />
On Thursday, his campaign issued a statement: "We all revere the flag, but Senator Obama believes that being a patriot is about more than a symbol. It's about fighting for our veterans when they get home and speaking honestly with the American people about this disastrous war."<br />
<br />
You can link to the full article here: <a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gkfaEohqv6mY_K46tJ4waCivh0kAD8S2K3UO0">http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gkfaEohqv6mY_K46tJ4waCivh0kAD8S2K3UO0</a><br />
<br />
UPDATE (Sat, 10/6, 9:00am): Now the NYT Opinionator Blog has weighed in about Obama's "Patriotism Fashion Statement" and the comments from readers are fascinating too. Check it all out here: <a href="http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/05/fashion-statement/index.html?ex=1349323200&en=acd9108ea586209d&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss">http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/05/fashion-statement/index.html?ex=1349323200&en=acd9108ea586209d&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss</a>Michael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-6884350566506501652007-10-02T20:11:00.000-07:002010-12-14T20:07:34.970-08:00Video Blogger hired by PoliticoAt the risk of beating a dead horse... You know you have the traditional media scared when they hire you:<br />
<blockquote>James Kotecki, one of YouTube’s most popular political video bloggers has been hired by the respected Politico.com (an online and paper daily focused on political news). Kotecki began posting videos to YouTube from his Georgetown University dorm room in late January, 2007. Three months later, he hosted Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) in the first-ever dorm room interview with a Presidential candidate. He has since interviewed a total of seven Presidential candidates including former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), and Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-Ark.). He has appeared on CNN, Fox News, NPR, and the BBC, and he has been profiled by The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Yahoo! News, and US News and World Report.</blockquote><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IOzoN4Ldb8w"><param name="wmode" value="transparent">Here are two videos to help you understand just who this guy is: <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cNB-Nhs3wo8"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cNB-Nhs3wo8" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IOzoN4Ldb8w" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br />
<br />
The story from Politico can be found here: <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1007/6142.html">http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1007/6142.html</a><br />
<blockquote></blockquote>Michael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166287681843145732.post-55432927438550035662007-10-01T20:19:00.000-07:002010-12-14T20:13:37.793-08:00This Week in AP U.S. Gov #6The sixth week is here. Many of you are probably thinking that grades are coming soon, so let's start this "this week" there...<br />
<br />
Unit 1 Exam - 100 points in the gradebook: take your m/c and frq scores, add them, divide by 65 and you'll get your score. So, if you're score was the class average of 47.7 you get 72.3 points in the gradebook.<br />
<br />
What else is in the gradebook? Well, you've got two chapter reading quizzes (ch. 1 & 2), three weeks of blogging, several sets of homework points, and this week you'll pick up quiz points on Thur/Fri and another week's worth of blog points on Friday.<br />
<br />
We're starting Unit 2, Political Beliefs and Behaviors this week. We'll be learning how people get their ideas about government and politics. How did your friend become a bleeding heart liberal? How did your other friend become a family values conservative? Why is public opinion split on so many issues? We'll answer these questions and many more in the next few weeks.<br />
<br />
I'll be posting the Unit 2 Basics soon. Don't wait 'till the last minute this time! I'm going to toss in a wrinkle called the "Unit Basics Quiz". You love it...<br />
<br />
~Mr. G.Michael James Gwaltneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11607238622123946714noreply@blogger.com0