Current Events in American Politics

Grading the Government/Preamble Project

The preamble can be seen as a list of goals for our federal government to fulfill. These are:

  • To form a more perfect union
  • Establish justice
  • Ensure domestic tranquility
  • Provide for the common defense
  • Promote the general welfare
  • Secure the blessings of liberty

This raises two questions:

  1. What do these mean?
  2. How well does the government do at achieving the goals?

For the first part of this project, you will decide what the goals mean for us today. Once you have done this, you will grade the government on how well it has achieved each of the goals. To support your grade, you will need to provide a news article that reflects this grade. We will spend two class periods in the computer lab, finding articles that you will need. Once you have found the article, you will summarize it and explain how it supports the grade you gave for that goal. Ultimately, you will submit 6 articles attached to 6 summaries, all stapled together. You must also include an overall grade for the government with an explanation for that grade. Attached is an example of what you should submit as well as the grading rubric that I will use.

This project is due byWednesday, September30. As this is the assessment for unit 1, no late papers will be accepted.

Grading the Government/Preamble Project

“2 Bronx Men Charged In Scarsdale, White Plains, Yonkers Burglaries

Scarsdale police: Three-month investigation led to indictments, arrests. “By William Demarest

A three-month investigation has led to the arrest of two Bronx men in connection with several burglaries in Scarsdale, White Plains and Yonkers, according to Scarsdale police.

Michael Maietta, 49, and Michael Donofrio, 47, have been charged in connection with the September 2011 burglary of a Greenacres Avenue home. They are both charged with second-degree burglary, third-degree grand larceny and third-degree criminal mischief based on an indictment by a Westchester County grand jury.

Maietta and Donofrio are also charged with second-degree burglary for incidents in White Plains and Yonkers, and second-degree attempted burglary for an incident in Yonkers.

Scarsdale Det. Mark Thomas worked with detectives from White Plains, Yonkers, Bronxville and New York City and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office in the investigation. A Scarsdale police investigation of the two men is continuing.

Donofrio was ordered held in the Westchester County Jail on $300,000 bail, while Maietta was ordered held without bail pending a court hearing.

Goal #3: Ensure domestic tranquility

This means to keep things peaceful within our country.

“2 Bronx Men Charged In Scarsdale, White Plains, Yonkers Burglaries

Scarsdale police: Three-month investigation led to indictments, arrests. “By William Demarest

Summary: This article discusses the arrest of two men for burglaries they are accused of committing in White Plains, Scarsdale, and Yonkers. The police departments from all three municipalities worked together and investigated the crimes for three months.

Grade: A

According to the article, the police arrested men who are accused of committing burglary, and now that they have been arrested, our homes are safer.

Preamble Project Grading Rubric(70 possible points)Name______

Goal / Article (2) / Summary (4) / Your grade(4) / Total
To form a more perfect union
Establish justice
Ensure domestic tranquility
Provide for the common defense
Promote the general welfare
Secure the blessings of liberty

Overall grade & why (10)