AP Government Unit 8 Schedule

Congress and Special Interest Groups(Chapter 12 & 11)

*Book readings always REQUIRE notetaking*

Overriding Questions

1. How do Interest Groups positively AND negatively influence the legislative process?

2. How does hyperpluralism influence the law making process?

3. How has Congress changed over time?

4. How has Congress struggled with the President for power since the founding?

Name: ______Hour: ___ AP European History – Mr. W.B. Brooks

# / Assignment Title / Due Date / Points Possible
U8HW1 / Read Chapter 12/11 and take notes (Due by end of 3rd day of Unit)
U8HW2 / Making Policy Project / 50
U8HW3 / Reading – “Strom Thurmond” (Read Textbook page 376 first) / 50
U8HW4 / Congressional Statement / 50
U8HW5 / Article – Dold / 50
U8HW6 / Test Corrections (Only required for those that scored BELOW 80% on Unit Summative)
U8CL1 / Jigsaw Activity for Chapters 17, 18, 19, 20 / 150
U8CL2 / Reading Quiz (Only Over Textbook Chapters)
U8CL3 / Unit Summative / Exam (MC, FRQ, DBQ – Possible Formats)
RJ / Unit Reading Journal (Completed By 3rd Day of Unit)
RG / Reading Groups (Done In Class On Day Before Unit Exam)
Unit 8 - Congress
and Special Interest Groups / Readings: Edwards, George C.,et all. Government in America: Chapter 12 and 11
And other supplemental readings
from other various sources
Areas of Study:
The Job (role)
The Members
Advantages of Incumbency
Open Seats
American bicameralism
Congressional Leadership
The Committees and Subcommittees
Caucuses
Congress and Democracy – American in Perspective: Malapportionment
Pluralism and Group Theory
Elites and the Denial of Pluralism
Hyperpluralism
Lobbying and Electioneering
Type of Interest Groups – Economic, Equality, Consumers, etc.
Assignments:
See Schedule for Unit (Above)

After studying this Unit, students should be able to:

• Describe the essential roles and functions of a senator and a representative.

• Examine the role of money in congressional elections—where it comes from, how it is used, and what influence or effect it has.

• Summarize both the advantages and disadvantages of PACs’ growing influence.

• Contrast organizational style and procedures in the House of Representatives with those of the Senate.

• Identify the major leadership positions in the House and Senate and summarize the functions of each office.

• Review the four types of congressional committees and explain how they control the congressional agenda and guide legislation.

• Determine the significance of legislative procedures like the filibuster and oversight.

• Outline the process by which a bill would move through the legislative process, from introduction to the point where it is sent to the president.

• Contrast three theories of the role of a legislator: trustee, instructed delegate, and politico.

• Appraise the influence of lobbyists and interest groups on the legislative process.

• Identify both representative and unrepresentative aspects of Congress.

• Examine the effect that the U.S. Congress has had on the scope of government.

• Distinguish the essential differences between interest groups and political parties.

• Understand three basic theories of interest group politics: pluralist theory, elite theory, and hyperpluralist theory.

• Determine the factors that tend to make an interest group successful.

• Differentiate between a potential group and an actual group, and determine how the free-rider problem applies.

• Explain how interest groups try to shape public policy and how lobbyists represent interest groups in influencing the legislative agenda.

• Describe various types of interest groups.

• Explain why the authors of the textbook say that the problems of honest lobbying now appear to outweigh the traditional problems of dishonest lobbying.

• Summarize the implications for the size of government that are generated by the power of PACs and special interest groups.

• Analyze the appropriate role of interest groups within a democratic environment.

From Unit VIII – Congress & Interest Groups (Chapter 12 and 11).

Name: ______Hour: ___ AP Gov’t & Politics – W.B. Brooks

U8HW2:Making Policy

Pretend you are priming to become a politician in Congress. In order to fully understand the lawmaking process follow the legislative journey.

Otto Van Bismark once said, “Anyone who loves law or sausage should not watch either being made.”

You will be asked to carefully disregard Bismark’s warning and follow a particular piece of legislation facing our current 112thCongress. The Internet has made this significantly easier. Follow the guidelines below and complete by the date provided in class. GO to the following site: Link to “Bills/Resolution” “By popular/short title” and find a current piece of legislation that strikes your fancy. Make sure to pick a bill that interests or affects you. Once you identify a particular piece of legislation perform the following tasks

1). Title of legislation (Include its origination.appropriate number- HR# or SB#)

2). Key sponsors (note the particular political party of the sponsors)

3).Bill summary (Brief paragraph explaining the contents)

4). Legislative history (Walk us through the process, its evolution if you will)

5). Current status of the bill

6). Personal reaction (brief paragraph in which you respond to the legislative process)

U8HW3:Strom Thurmond

Read page 376 in your textbook to get a glimpse of Strom Thurmond. Next, read the Newsweek article to do a brief reasoning about why many consider him an “Icon of American Government.” (To find the article, search Newsweek and type “Strom Thurmond” in the search box. (Select the article by Weston Kosova titled, Strom Thurmond: Home On The Hill—Or Over It? (It can also be downloaded from my teacher page).

Be sure to include highlights and lowlights of his life and other aspects that make him a “sensation in government.” Also, your paper needs to include why he is relected, despite his age.

One page, typed, front side only.

Aternate Choices:

Alternate choice#1, you may do Senator Robert Byrd instead of Senator Thurmond.

Alternate choice#2, you can answer any of the questions from Bush’s Book (Chapter 9,13, or 14)

Alternate choice#3, you can asnwer any of the questions from Obama’s Book (Chapter 4 or 5).

U8HW4:Congressional Unit Focus Question

Directions: Complete the following. Please be specific and in-depth.

“The structure of Congress is so complex that it seems remarkable that legislation gets passed at all. Because of the bicameral division of Congress, bills have two sets of committee hurdles to clear. Moreover, recent reforms have decentralized power, so that the job of Congress is harder than ever.” Evaluate this observation by analyzing all of the following: the informal and formal organization of Congress, the leadership and committee systems, and the congressional legislative process. (Note: You will need to read Chapter 12 (Congress) to understand the “informal and formal organization.”)

1). List two arguments presented by Mrs. Butler.

2). In a paragraph (250 words minium) respond in depth to her statement.

(Post your answer on the blog site only).

U8HW5:Article: Cutback in Illinois Politicians- Bruce Dold

1). Why are democrats nervous in Illinois?

They could lose a seat in the US House and more people from democrat districts are leaving thereby allowing republican districts to become bigger and possibly spill off into their districts-thus constricting their majority

2). Why, more specifically, are democrats in Chicago nervous? What do they stand to lose a district in Chicago which is mostly democratic?

3). Define racial gerrymandering.

Drawing convoluted boundaries for the sole purpose of creating minority congressional districts.