Monday, December 1st

Class worked on taking notes on The Bill of Rights using the graphic organizer and the video's available at: http://www.annenbergclassroom.org/page/the-story-of-the-bill-of-rights

The following handout was given to students to help them plan their studies for the next several weeks.

Rights and Responsibilities

Government Class Overview Winter 2014

Over the next several weeks we will be studying the Bill of Rights in Depth. To help you plan for success and avoid studying logjams, I’m providing a general outline and due dates for readings.

For the next three weeks (until winter break) we will be focusing on the 1^st Civil Liberties of the 1^st Amendment. A detailed outline is below.

During this unit there will be several quizzes. The major project will be an annotated and illustrated guide to the 1^st Amendment. This guide book will illustrate the “do’s and don’ts” (or what you can do and not do based on the 1^st Amendment; and what our governments can and can not do based on the 1^st Amendment.) The best guide-books will help others understand the balances between individual freedoms and being part of a society created by the 1^st Amendment and how it has been interpreted; excellent work will show the limits of governmental power and influence on speech; the press; religion; and assembly.

When we return from break we will focus on how or justice system is operates to protect the rights of individuals; during this time we will also study the 2^nd Amendment and the “Right to Bare Arms.” You will get more details on this unit when we return from break.

Due Date	Assignment	Focus Study Questions
Tuesday / Wednesday December 2/3	“The Unalienable Rights” Am. Government  532-536	How are rights limited? How does Federalism (the role of states) affect individual rights? How does the 9th Amendment guarantee individual rights?
Thursday / Friday December 4/5	“Freedom of Religion” Am. Government  537-545	Describe “the wall” created by the “establishment clause.” How does the 2nd Amendment impact education and schools? How has the “Free Exercise Clause” been applied by the Supreme Court?
Monday December 8	Quiz on Religious Freedom / Review Quiz	What areas of the 2nd Amendment do you need help understanding?
Tuesday / Wednesday December 9/10	“Freedom of Speech and Press” Am. Government  546-550	This reading focuses on individuals’ right to speech: What are the two basic purposes of the guaranties of free expression? How and why has the Supreme Court limited seditious speech and obscenity?
Thursday / Friday December 11/12	“Freedom of Speech and Press” Am. Government  540-553	This reading focuses the rights of a free press (reporting) and commercial speech: Describe “Prior Restraint” and when it can and can not be imposed. Describe “press confidentiality.” Understand the meaning and application of: “Symbolic Speech” and “commercial speech”
Monday December 15	“Freedom of Assembly and Petition” Am. Government  555-558	What are the rights of assembly and petition guaranteed by the Constitution? What limits can b places on time, place, and manner of assembly? How are the freedom-of-assembly issues different on public versus private property? According to the Supreme Court what does the freedom of association mean?
Tuesday / Wednesday December 16/17	Quiz on Speech and Assembly / Review Quiz	What concepts do you need clarification on?
Thursday / Friday December 18/19	Final Project: 1st Amendment Guide Book Test on Religious; Speech; and Assembly Freedoms	Please see the handout on this assignment. Please consider (I mean actually do) parts of this assignment as the unit progresses. See me during tutorial; or make an appointment to see me after school if you need any help.