Democracy in Theory and Practice

Rationale

This unit will cover the many facets of the presidency: the history, job responsibilities and the election (past and present) in great detail. While Kenwood Academy students have an interest in the general election process, they have a vested interest in the current election for many reasons; locality of one candidate, race, historical background, and the general outcome of the election.

It is my goal through this ten week unit, Road to the White House (divided into two, five week sub units: The Presidency and Campaign for the Presidency), that students will gain a better understanding of all aspects of surrounding the election and job of the presidency, so that they can better understand the current election. My greatest hope is that this unit will allow the students to make educated, calculated decisions as informed citizens, when carrying out their civic responsibility.

After completion of this unit, students will have learned many aspects of the presidency and the election process, and use that knowledge to participate in a study and debate about this years presidential election. Students in small groups of no more then five will research one campaign issue being discussed and debated by the candidates. The groups will find the current US policy/stance on this issue and any laws that support it. Students will research each candidates stance on the issue and how the candidate plans to implement it when president. In doing the research, the group will decide a compromised policy would be the most effective for their local constituents and the US as a whole. The group will also poll local community members to find their stance on the issue, and why they feel that way. Through data analysis of media coverage and opinion polls, students will ascertain why the candidates have taken this stance.

The information that the students gather will allow them to participate in a debate with Yale National Teaching Initiative classes around the country, who will be completing a similar project. As students from classrooms across the country share the concerns of their specific constituents, all students will gain a deeper appreciation of how complex and multidimensional these issues truly are - as complex and multidimensional as the office of the presidency itself.

Essential Questions:

1. Is the system of electing a President democratic?
2. Why has the election and role of the President changed over time?
3. Has society's view of the office of the President changed?
4. Has the office of the President evolved into an absolute ruler?
5. How is political opinions formed and are those opinions based on social groups from birth, or values that people fall under.
6. How does political opinion affect legislation, or does legislation affect political opinion?
7. How does political opinion affect political participation and action?
8. Why does the US have very low voter participation as compared to other western democracies?
9. How the US can get more citizens to be active in political participation, by voting, and be informed when doing so.
10. What is the mass media and how does it cover the news?
11. How is the ownership aspect of the media regulated to ensure factual, non-bias information to the public?
12. What is the current primary and general election process of the US and is it democratic?
13. How has this year's election exhibited all these theories?