Monday, November 30th

Class used the video from the Anneberg Institute to learn about the story of The Bill of Rights and to begin to get expert explanations for what is provided for by each amendment.

The class began by discussing Executive Order #9066.

Students received the following handouts describing the current unit and final project:

Rights and Responsibilities

Government Class Overview Winter 2015

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. You should read the assigned sections of the text BEFORE class, as there will be little study time during class.

For the next two weeks (until winter break) we will be focusing on the Civil Liberties of the 1^st Amendment. A detailed outline is below. You should, however, be familiar with the content and liberties provided by all 10 Amendments of the Bill of Rights before going on break. We will spend the first week back examining the 2^nd Amendment and the 14^th Amendment in more detail.

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 Bear Arms.” You will get more details on this unit when we return from break. There will be a test on Amendments 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 and 14 in early January.

Due Date	Assignment	Focus Study Questions
Monday November 30th	“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?
Wednesday December 2nd	“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?
Friday December 4th	Quiz on Religious Freedom / Review Quiz	What areas of the 1st Amendment do you need help understanding?
Friday December 4th	“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?
Tuesday December 8th	“Freedom of Speech and Press” Am. Government  550-553	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”
Tuesday December 8th	“Freedom of Assembly and Petition” Am. Government  555-559	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?
Thursday December 10th	Quiz on Speech and Assembly / Review Quiz	What concepts do you need clarification on?
Monday December 14th	Innocent Until Proven Guilty Am. Government  564-583	How does the Constitution protect citizens from the power of the state? What is our legal system designed to protect?
Wednesday December 16th	Crime and Punishment Am. Government  585-588	What is justice? “An eye for an eye?”
Friday December 18th	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.
January 2016	2nd and 14th Amendments	“Right to bear arms?” Civil Rights

1^st Amendment Final Project: 1^st Amendment guide Book

Due Friday December 18

Name _________________________________________ Date ________________ Period _________

We are currently studying the 1^st Amendment Guarantees for Religious Freedom; Free Speech; Free Press; and for Assembly.

You are to create a “guide book” or other document that clearly illustrates and explains what is guaranteed to the citizens of the United States and what is excluded and limited either to individuals or to governments.

Your guide should be understandable by someone who has not studied the issues in depth. The project should indicate knowledge and understanding of the “Focus Study Questions” given in the unit overview.

Your guide should include illustrations or other clear examples of what individuals and governments can do, and what they cannot do.

Free Speech Means A Person Can	Examples or Cases	Free Speech Does Not Allow	Examples or Cases
Argue against the actions of the President.		Government to punish someone for criticizing the government.
Say offensive things in public.		A person to scream, “Fire!” in a school hallway.

There are other ways of setting up your guidebook; this is just one example.

This project is worth 100 points.