The Federal Bureaucracy 📝

🎯 Learning Targets

• Define the role of the Executive Office of the President
• Explain the importance of executive departments
• Describe some of the major independent agencies
• Explain the need for the civil service system
• Explore the process of carrying out the law

⏰ What We Did

• Used Lesson 8, Part 2 instructional notes to define organizations within the executive branch and identify the characteristics of the bureaucracy

⚙️ Resources

• The Federal Bureaucracy (A-24)

💻 Homework

• Watch and take notes on Lesson 8, Part 3: Presidents and Power, before class on Tuesday

"The Roles of the President" Graphic Organizer 📝

🎯 Learning Targets

• Explain how the Constitution limits the power of the President
• Describe the President's role as head of the executive branch
• Summarize the President's role in military affairs and foreign policy
• Explain how the President influences the legislative and judicial branches
• Identify presidential roles created by tradition

⏰ What We Did

• Used Lesson 8, Part 1 instructional notes to complete a graphic organizer identifying and explaining each of the seven roles played by the president of the United States

⚙️ Resources

• The Roles of the President (A-23)

💻 Homework

• Watch and take notes on Lesson 8, Part 2: The Organization of the Executive Branch, before class tomorrow

The Roles of the President 🦅

🎯 Learning Targets

• Explain how the Constitution limits the power of the President
• Describe the President's role as head of the executive branch
• Summarize the President's role in military affairs and foreign policy
• Explain how the President influences the legislative and judicial branches
• Identify presidential roles created by tradition

⏰ What We Did

• Watched and took instructional notes on Lesson 8, Part 1: The Roles of the President
• Used Lesson 8, Part 1 instructional notes to complete "Presidential Trivia" individually, then as a group through Kahoot!

⚙️ Resources

• Lesson 8 Instructional Notes
• Lesson 8, Part 1: The Roles of the President
• Presidential Trivia (A-22)

Lesson 7 Lesson Review 7️⃣

🎯 Learning Targets

• Review the key concepts covered in Lesson 7 of Civics

⏰ What We Did

• Began working on Lesson 7 Lesson Review

⚙️ Resources

• Civics ✮ Lesson 7 Lesson Review (LR-7)

Sequencing ⏩

🎯 Learning Targets

• Describe the ways the minority party in Congress can stop passage of a bill
• Explain how the House and Senate reach compromises
• Describe how a bill can "die" in committee
• Analyze the advantages of our lawmaking process

⏰ What We Did

• Discussed the answers to last week's "Studying a Bill"
• Read an account of a fictional senator's diary regarding the passage of a bill and sequenced the events

⚙️ Resources

• Sequencing (A-21)

How a Bill Becomes a Law 📄

🎯 Learning Targets

• Describe the ways the minority party in Congress can stop passage of a bill
• Explain how the House and Senate reach compromises
• Describe how a bill can "die" in committee
• Analyze the advantages of our lawmaking process

⏰ What We Did

• Watched Schoolhouse Rock! I'm Just a Bill
• Discussed and reviewed the legislative process used to enact a law
• Used the instructional notes from Lesson 7, Part 4 and the provided handout to answer questions on the legislative process

⚙️ Resources

• Schoolhouse Rock! I'm Just a Bill
• How a Bill Becomes Law (H-5)
• How a Bill Becomes a Law: Reading a Diagram (A-20)

Studying a BIll 📝

🎯 Learning Targets

• Describe the ways the minority party in Congress can stop passage of a bill
• Explain how the House and Senate reach compromises
• Describe how a bill can "die" in committee
• Analyze the advantages of our lawmaking process

⏰ What We Did

• Used the instructional notes from Lesson 7, Part 4: Following a Bill in Congress, to examine a bill

⚙️ Resources

• Studying a Bill (A-19)

Who's Who in Congress ✅

Late Start Day 🕣

🎯 Learning Targets

• Describe the major congressional leadership posts and explain how they are filled
• Summarize the role of committees in Congress

⏰ What We Did

• Discuss the answers to yesterday's "Who's Who in Congress" assignment, identifying the current officeholders in congressional leadership positions

💻 Homework

• Watch and take notes on Lesson 7, Part 4: Following a Bill in Congress, before class tomorrow

Who's Who in Congress 👤

🎯 Learning Targets

• Describe the major congressional leadership posts and explain how they are filled
• Summarize the role of committees in Congress

⏰ What We Did

• Conducted a web-quest identifying the current officeholders in congressional leadership positions

⚙️ Resources

• Who's Who in Congress (A-18)

How Congress is Organized 🏛

🎯 Learning Targets

• Describe the major congressional leadership posts and explain how they are filled
• Summarize the role of committees in Congress

⏰ What We Did

• Watched and took instructional notes on Lesson 7, Part 3: How Congress is Organized
• Used the Lesson 7, Part 3 instructional notes to answer the following questions in complete sentences:

1. Define Speaker of the House, president pro tempore, majority party, minority party, floor leaders, and whips.
2. What powers and responsibilities does the Speaker of the House have?
3. What is the difference between standing committees and conference committees?
4. Analyze How have political parties influenced the organization of Congress?

⚙️ Resources

• Lesson 7, Part 3: How Congress is Organized

Christmas Vacation — No School 🎄

Clintondale High School is currently on Christmas Vacation. Classes will resume on Monday, January 6, 2025, at 7:35 A.M.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year, Dragons!

Christmas Break Countdown 🎶

⏰ What We Did

• Due to low student census, listened to Christmas music and played classroom games

The Powers of Congress 💪

🎯 Learning Targets

• Describe how Congress uses its powers to meet the goals stated in the Preamble to the Constitution
• Explain how limits on the power of Congress protects the rights of citizens

⏰ What We Did

• Used the instructional notes for Lesson 7, Part 2: The Powers of Congress, assigned yesterday, to answer the following questions in complete sentences:

1. Define budget.
2. Describe two powers that help Congress "promote the general welfare."
3. For what purpose does Congress conduct investigations?
4. Why are bills of attainder and ex post facto laws unfair?
5. Evaluate Do you think the Framers were right in giving "the power of the purse" to Congress rather than to the president? Explain your answer.

The Members of Congress 🏛

Today's class was led by a guest teacher. 🏫

🎯 Learning Targets

• Describe the groups to which a member of Congress is responsible
• Explain the duties of a member of Congress
• Compare the jobs of a representative and a senator
• Summarize the requirements for being a member of Congress and the salary and benefits

⏰ What We Did

• Watched and took instructional notes on Lesson 7, Part 1: The Members of Congress
• Used Lesson 7, Part 1 notes to examine the general public's familiarity with the members of Congress

⚙️ Resources

• Lesson 7 Instructional Notes
• Lesson 7, Part 1: The Members of Congress
• The Legislative Branch (A-17)

💻 Homework

• Watch and take notes on Lesson 7, Part 2: The Powers of Congress, before class tomorrow

Class to Gymnasium 🏀

⏰ What We Did

• Assistant Principal Woods escorted the class to the CHS gymnasium for the hour

Unit 2 Assessment 💯

🎯 Learning Targets

• Assess Civics Unit 2 comprehension

⏰ What We Did

• Completed the Unit 2 Assessment

Unit 2 Review, Part III ♻️

🎯 Learning Targets

• Review Civics concepts introduced in Unit 2

⏰ What We Did

• Reviewed instructional notes and lesson reviews for Lessons 4, 5, and 6 to prepare for the Unit 2 Assessment

Save A Life Tour — 11th Grade 🚗

⏰ What We Did

• Attended a Save A Life assembly in the CHS Conference Center about distracted driving and driving under the influence

Unit 2 Review, Part II ♻️

Late Start Day 🕣

🎯 Learning Targets

• Review Civics concepts introduced in Unit 2

⏰ What We Did

• Reviewed instructional notes and lesson reviews for Lessons 4, 5, and 6 to prepare for the Unit 2 Assessment

Unit 2 Review ♻️

🎯 Learning Targets

• Review Civics concepts introduced in Unit 2

⏰ What We Did

• Reviewed instructional notes and lesson reviews for Lessons 4, 5, and 6 to prepare for the Unit 2 Assessment

⚙️ Resources

• Unit 2 Review

Civics Unit 2 Review Game 🗑

🎯 Learning Targets

• Review Civics concepts introduced in Unit 2

⏰ What We Did

• Conducted a review game, covering practice test questions from Lessons 4, 5, and 6