We The People

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We The People

US 1 AP

Introduction to CGI

Sociology

Department of the Arts

New Jersey and You

 




Contact Mr. Wingren

Resources for Writing


College Recommendation Request Form

Community Service Form

Department Log

Mentoring Log


Mr. Wingren Goes to Washington

Mr. Wingren Goes to Ireland

Mr. Wingren Goes to Spain






 

TODAY IN HISTORY

Mr. Manos' Website!

 



 

 


 

 

 

Detail of West Pediment inscription


This Week:

Mr. Riordan Takes Over!


I have never been more proud as a teacher

Congratulations to my Seniors for placing second in the state.

State Competition @ Rutgers University February 4th, 2013


State Questions 2012-2013

We the People Website @ Center for Civic Education

(you'll find the presentation rubric, score sheet, etc...  INCLUDING THE TEXTBOOK COMPANION SITE, here)

 


 Resources

 

How to cite sources links:

Law Links:

Constitution Search

Federalist Papers Search!

Try the Political Compass

FactCheck.org - Annenberg Political Fact Check

The Constitution

 Constitution Center

Constitution Roadmap

Constitution Facts

USConstitution.org

FoundingFathers.info

Federalist Papers or here...


"Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action" -George Washington - Respond in 250 Words

Due Monday/Tuesday Sept 24/25


Welcome Seniors to your Final Year in CGI

I am looking forward to working with you all. We will be working hard so that we can improve on last years senior class in the National WePrincipal Seymour  Skinner the People program. I know most of you and I know your talents and I am confident that we will do well this year.

After the WTP competition, we will be devoting the second half of the year focusing on Constitutional Law and preparing for the AP Government and Politics Exam.

Please make good use of this website. I will post syllabi, homework, papers, class notes and announcements. Also you can e-mail me from here. I will not accept any late work so if you are absent, this website can be a lifesaver.

Course Description: This is the capstone course of the Civics and Government Institute. It combines the Advanced Placement Government and Politics curriculum with the nationally renowned "We the People" curriculum. In so doing, it will provide students with a unique analytic perspective on the foundations and evolution of government and politics in the United States. The course, then, is concerned with the nature of the American political system, its development over the past two hundred plus years, and how it continues to function today. It examines in detail the structure and function of the Constitution, the principal processes and institutions through which the political system functions, and the creation and implementation of public policy. 

As a component of the course, some of the students will be involved in a simulated congressional hearing which will allow the students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of Constitutional principles. This hearing will be on a statewide basis, which may lead to the national annual competition in Washington D.C.

Click here to learn more about the "We the People" program.

2012-2013 Course Description


Natural Rights Philosophy

"Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you." ~Pericles (430 BC)

Locke

 

John Locke

Read his works

 

 

 

Thomas Hobbes

Read His Works

 

 

 

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Read His Works

 

 

 

 

 

Immanuel Kant

Read His Works

 

 

 

 

 

John Stuart Mill

Read His Works

 

 

 

 


Assignments Coming up...

“Democracy, unchecked rule by the masses, is sure to bring arbitrary redistribution of property, destroying the very essence of liberty” -200 word response to this statement:

"Democracy is the process by which we get ourselves organized to perform capitalism". 250 word response.

"Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action" -George Washington - 250 Word Response to this quote

-"Democracy Matters are Frightening in our Time" ~Cornel West

Write a 250 word reply to this introduction


Bring your "We the People" book with you everywhere!

Take part in the this EXTRA CREDIT opportunity to help Mr. Wingren decorate the room.

Take a picture of yourself with your "We the People" book somewhere interesting, funny or odd and hand it in.


Classical Republicanism & Natural Rights... An American Recipe.

Classical Republicanism

What important principle was Washington acknowledging when he resigned his commission at the end of the Revolution?

Which is which?

Classical Republicanism vs. Natural Rights Philosophy

Who were the founding fathers? And, do we admire them? Put your gloves on people!

Great Reading on Classical Republicanism

Classical Republicanism

The Common Good. Is that Possible?

We Borrowed More than Just Ideas!


American Exceptionalism

American Exceptionalism Explained

American Exceptionalism : A Double Edged Sword By Seymour Martin Lipset


Articles of Confederation

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shays' Rebellion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



American Exceptionalism

19th Century Sentiment. Have we taken it too literally?


Enter the Government & Politics Chat Room

Enter your name, but you don't need to write anything for profile.




Democracy in Action

Issues in Action

Links of Democracy in Action:


African Americans of the United States Congress

Check out this link

Interesting Article about Illegal Aliens

Brand New Due Process Case

Federalist No. 78 - The judiciary

Founding Fathers?

What did they really do at the Philadelphia Convention?


"Founding Fathers"?

What were their intentions and for whom?

Did these people intend to create the country that we have today?

What led them to this?

Did "the people" have a say?

What about the "Founding Mothers"?

Founding Fathers

Which is it?


Great link to the Background Documents to American Government:


Bill of Rights

Interesting Bill of Rights Website

 

 

"The Declaration of rights is like all other human blessings alloyed with some inconveniences...But the good in this instance vastly outweighs the evil."

"If we cannot secure all our rights, let us secure what we can."

Letter from Jefferson to James Madison,

dated March 15, 1789

Afghan Women's Bill of Rights

 

 

 

 

 

Are we overreacting here?

 

 


Establishment Clause, Separation of Church & State and the History of Religion in American Government

 

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" -US Constitution

Great Establishment Clause Site

Thomas Jefferson argued for "a wall of separation between church and state."


Bill of Rights Under Fire: The Second Amendment

"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."
patriot

  • What do these 27 words mean?

  • Do they need to be modernized?

  • What exactly IS a "well regulated Militia"?

  • What does the Supreme Court Say?

  • What do the States Say? click Here

  • Is gun control a violation of the Constitution?

Second Amendment Links

Gun Control Links

 

 


Public Policy Questions


Turnitin.com Instructions

Class ID Login

MWF:

TRF:

Password: We Will Discuss in Class

 


Try this First Amendment Quiz


Polls and Public Opinion

20 Questions to ask about Poll Results


Is Popular Rule Possible?

Debate Discussion

What's the Matter with Kansas


Intro to American Exceptionalism

American Exceptionalism Essay

Given what you have learned about the premise of American Exceptionalism, explain through a 500 word essay, how the United States have extended the concept from the original belief of deToqueville. Also, include other examples of how "exceptionalism" may have been used as justification for certain actions throughout history. Please use the article, American Exceptionalism : A Double Edged Sword By Seymour Martin Lipset (on web) as a frame of reference.

Due: Friday April 27th


The American Political Landscape

  • State and Local Identity

  • What effects ones politics

  • The Politics of Influence


Midterm Review


 


In-House

January 17th, 2013


2012-2013 Course Description

January 7-11

December 10-14

December 3-7

November 26-30

November 12-16

October 22-26

October 15-19

October 9-12

October 1-5

September 24-28

September 18-21

September 10-14


Washington's FAREWELL ADDRESS Questions

Washington's FAREWELL ADDRESS Reading

John Locke Reading!

Declaration of Independence and Questions

Declaration of Ind. Did you know fact sheet

Unit 1 Terms

Unit 2 Terms for Quiz

Articles of Confederation Reading

Constitutional Clauses

3/5th Compromise & Great Compromise Reading

"A More Perfect Union"

 "A More Perfect Union Questions"

American Exceptionalism Explained

AP Government & Politics Review Questions

NJ v. TLO Reading and Questions

Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier Reading and Questions

 


"Exploring The Constitution" Handout

"About the Constitution" Handout

HISTORICAL  DOCUMENTS

An Interesting History of Biological Weapons

Business Big Ten Interactive Chart

If you have questions about Terrorism, check out this site


Basic Rules for Citation

How To properly Cite your Sources

Great Outline Site for those of you taking the AP Exam!