Unit 3: Civil Liberties & Civil Rights

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​Critical Vocabulary: Article I, Enumerated Powers, Implied Powers, Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, Party Leadership, Committee Leadership, Filibuster, Cloture, Hold, Unanimous Consent, Rules Committee, Committee of the Whole, Discharge Petitions, Treaty Ratification, Confirmation Role, Budget Process, Discretionary Spending, Mandatory Spending, Entitlement Programs, Budget Deficit, Pork Barrel Legislation, Logrolling, Gridlock, Gerrymandering, Redistricting, Baker v. Carr, Shaw v. Reno, Divided Government, Trustee, Delegate, Politico, Article II, Veto, Pocket Veto, Commander-In-Chief, Executive Agreement, Executive Order, Signing Statement, Cabinet, Ambassador, White House Staff, Judicial Appointments, Federalist No. 70, 22nd Amendment, Bully Pulpit, Article III, Federalist No. 78, Marbury v. Madison, Precedent, Stare Decisis, Judicial Activism, Judicial Restraint, Iron Triangles, Patronage, Civil Service, Merit System, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Transportation, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Education, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Elections Commission, Security and Exchange Commission, Oversight

Lesson 1: The Legislative Branch

We will analyze how the republican ideal in the U.S. is manifested in the structure and operation of the legislative branch.
This means we will describe the different structures, powers, and functions of each house of Congress.
It also means we will explain how the structure, powers, and functions of both houses of Congress affect the policy-making process.
It also means we will explain how congressional behavior is influenced by election processes, partisanship, and divided government.
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Lesson 2: The Executive Branch

We will analyze how the presidency has been enhanced beyond its expressed constitutional powers.
  • This means we will explain how the president can implement a policy agenda.
  • It also means we will explain how the president’s agenda can create tension and frequent confrontations with Congress.
  • It also means we will explain how presidents have interpreted and justified their use of formal and informal powers.
  • It also means we will explain how communication technology has changed the president’s relationship with the national constituency and the other branches.
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Lesson 3: The Judicial Branch

We will analyze how the design of the judicial branch protects the Supreme Court’s independence as a branch of government, and the emergence and use of judicial review remains a powerful judicial practice.
  • This means we will explain the principle of judicial review and how it checks the power of other institutions and state governments.
  • It also means we will explain how the exercise of judicial review in conjunction with life tenure can lead to debate about the legitimacy of the Supreme Court’s power.
  • It also means we will explain how other branches in the government can limit the Supreme Court’s power.
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Lesson 4: The Bureaucracy

We will analyze how the federal bureaucracy implements federal policies.
  • This means we will explain how the bureaucracy carries out the responsibilities of the federal government.
  • It means we will also explain how the federal bureaucracy uses delegated discretionary authority for rule making and implementation.
  • It also means we will explain the extent to which governmental branches can hold the bureaucracy accountable given the competing interests of Congress, the president, and the federal courts.
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