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Syllabus: US Government/Economics
Teacher: Mr. Beaty (e-mail: [email protected])
Website: www.brentbeaty.weebly.com
Bibliography:
Textbook – Magruder’s American Government (Prentice Hall, 2006)
Textbook – Economics: Principles in Action (Prentice Hall, 2001)
Various Handouts throughout the year
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The Government/Economics class is based on the premise that our government and our economy are
thoroughly intertwined and inseparable. The course descriptions below are separated as one semester
courses in the California standards, but we will learn them together throughout the year. Our goal is to help
the students to become more informed citizens and voters, as well as more informed consumers.
Government Course Description
Students in grade twelve pursue a deeper understanding of the institutions of American government.
They compare systems of government in the world today and analyze the life and changing interpretations
of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the current state of the legislative, executive and judicial branches
of government. An emphasis is placed on analyzing the relationship among federal, state and local
governments. This course represents the culmination of your civic literacy as you prepare to vote,
participate in community activities and assume the responsibilities of citizenship.
The major emphasis of this course is a comprehensive study of the basic institutions, principles, and
practices of Government. Instruction covers basic concepts that underlie the United States’ democratic
system of government and its operation. We will apply these concepts at both the local/state and national
levels; promote informed voter and civic decision making; acquaint students with major political theories
and prominent theorists; and emphasize how government influences the lives of ordinary citizens.
The course also includes an analysis of the United States in a global perspective. American’s views
of the world, and the world-view of America will be a major topic of investigation. We will also tie the
study of government to the study of economics, and discuss the economic consequences of politics and
government.
Representative Performance Skills (These are only examples of what is expected of our students)
• Read, interpret, and analyze maps, models, diagrams, graphs, charts, tables, pictures, and political
cartoons.
• Understand and utilize the specialized language used in government and social studies.
• Evaluate the accuracy of information obtained from computer programs, films, printed materials,
radio, television, and videos.
• Combine ideas, concepts, and information in new ways; make connections between seemingly
unrelated ideas.
• Work cooperatively with others and contribute to group work.
Economics Course Description
The major emphasis of this course is a comprehensive study of the basic institutions, concepts,
principles, and practices of economics. Instruction covers basic economic concepts that underlie the United
States market system and its operations. We will apply these concepts at both the micro and macro levels;
promote informed voter and consumer decision making; acquaint students with major economic theories
and prominent economists; and emphasize how economics influences the lives of ordinary citizens.
The course also includes an analysis of the American free-enterprise system. Included is instruction
on the international dimensions of economics and the "global" economy. Throughout this course
measurement concepts and methods involving tables, charts, graphs, ratios, percentages, and index numbers
are introduced to students. This will add to their understanding of the relationships between economic
variables.
In the end, Economics is the study of human behavior as much as it is the study of financial and
commercial interactions between people and within societies. We will cover many aspects of economics,
including psychology, markets, scarcity, factors of production, consumer economics, macro-economics,
US Govt./Econ 2/4
micro-economics, monetary policy, Keynesian economics, capitalism, socialism, and communism. We will
focus on the American economy and the political consequences of the economy.
Some basic Economic concepts to be covered include: scarcity, trade-offs, markets, international
cooperation, decision-making, and cost-benefit analysis.
Some Representative Objectives
• Analyze the relationship between the Great Depression and the ideas of Keynesian economic theory that
shaped the current welfare state.
• Evaluate the impact of the free enterprise system on the development of the United States.
• Evaluate how geographical factors affect competition and market structure in a capitalist economic system.
• Apply the economic concept of cost-benefit to a contemporary issue and its impact on business,
investments, and employment.
• Compare and contrast a market economy and a command economy in addressing the basic economic
questions.
• Apply the principles of American civic values and citizen rights and responsibilities to reach an informed
decision on economic issues.
Some Representative Performance Skills
• Locate, understand, and interpret information in primary and secondary sources.
• Read, interpret, and analyze maps, globes, models, diagrams, graphs, charts, tables, pictures, and political
cartoons.
• Understand and utilize the specialized language used in economics and social studies.
• Evaluate the accuracy of information obtained from computer programs, films, printed materials, radio,
television, and videos.
• Combine ideas, concepts, and information in new ways; make connections between seemingly unrelated
ideas.
• Describe how social, organizational, and technological systems operate.
• Work cooperatively with others and contribute to group work.
My Only Rule and its Corollary
Allow everyone to learn, including yourself. Do not interfere with learning. Tardies, failure to bring
the textbook or supplies, or failure to participate are just some of the ways to interfere with learning.
(School Rules regarding plagiarism, academic honesty and integrity, absences and tardies, and behavior also
still apply.)
Supplies
• Spiral bound notebook – the bigger the better. This will be your primary note-taking, idea
forming, essay-rough-drafting, everyday-go-to connection to this class. Get used to having a notebook with
you throughout your academic career.
• A loose-leaf notebook for handouts, exam tips, essay tips, etc.
• A favorite pen, or two. Notes, essays, and research will be done primarily in pen.
• A couple of pencils for multiple-choice tests.
• A really good eraser. Those pink rubber erasers are no good. Get a good ‘plastic’ eraser.
Academic Integrity
It is expected that all students abide by the La Canada Honor Code. Each student is expected to
do his/her own work except where I have given explicit instructions that collaboration is permitted.
This includes test taking, homework, class assignments, and the original composition of essays and
term papers. There is no distinction between giving or receiving unauthorized help – one who helps
another to cheat is as guilty as the one who benefits from the cheating. All work submitted by
students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. The following criteria are considered to
be cheating:
• Claiming credit for work that was not the product of one’s own effort.
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• Submitting work to more than one teacher for course credit, without prior approval.
• Forging or falsifying of any school records or forms.
A violation of the Honor Code will lead to a zero on the assignment, a U in Citizenship, a phone
call home, discipline office referral and the student may also be referred to the Student Honor Court.
Class Expectations
• Read, study, and take notes every night. Failure to do so will make understanding our discussions
more difficult. You are expected to take notes everyday while reading the text, essays, and documents, while
listening to class lectures and discussions, and while studying.
• Read the text, and any related material frequently, think about your reading everyday, write about
Government copiously (by hand with a pen), discuss Government with everyone, think some more, read
some more, and discuss some more. This is the best way to really ‘get’ Government.
• Connect what you read in Government to what you read in the newspaper or what you see on
television, or the movies, or online. Look for the ‘real’ story. Everything is connected!
• Bring your book and notebooks to class everyday. Failure to do this will lower your citizenship
grade and it will impede your understanding of Economics.
Grades
Your grade will be based on quizzes, tests, homework, projects, and research. You are also expected
to participate in all class activities. Failure to succeed in any of these requirements could jeopardize your
grade in the class.
Chapter Tests – Your lowest score is dropped
50%
Homework/Projects/Research/Activities/Essays
20%
Participation
10%
Final Exam (Cumulative each semester)
20%
100%
100-92.5 – A
92.4-90 – A89.9-85.5 – B+
85.4-81.5 – B
81.4-80 – B79.9-75.5 – C+
74.4-71.5 – C
71.4-70 – C69.9-58.5 – D
58.4 and below – F
Grades will not be rounded, and your grade will not be curved.
Makeup Work/Late Work/Tardy Policy
The new district absence/tardy policy is much more stringent. Do not miss class! The nature of
this class demands daily attendance. Bleeding from the head, hospitalization, uncontrollable vomiting,
contagious diseases, and serious family issues are the only acceptable absences. Tardies are not only
frowned upon, they are costly to your grade. Pop quizzes cannot be taken by unexcused tardy
students. Pop quizzes due to absences cannot be made up. The pop quiz grade will be marked as a
ZERO but it will be replaced by the next pop quiz grade. Absent students are expected to have covered
the material as if they were not absent. It is the student’s responsibility to make up all work (except
pop quizzes). I will not “chase you down” to remind you of missed work. Assignments will only be
accepted late for up to one week past due date, but the grade will be reduced by 50%. All work not
made up during this time will be scored as a “0.” Your grade will reflect the amount of time that you
commit to reading, thinking, discussing, and writing.
The only exceptions to this rule are school related absences and tardies. Since school activities
are known well in advance, you are responsible for getting any homework assignments that you miss.
Additionally, tests must be made up immediately upon returning to class.
Keep this syllabus with you at all times!
US Govt./Econ 4/4
Key Concepts in Government
• Civic Duty and Citizenship
• Civil Liberty
• Civil Rights
• Power
• Legislative Power
• Executive Power
• Judicial Power
• Connections between Economics and Government
• Trade
• Standard of Living
• Philosophies of Government
• Monetary and Fiscal Policy
• Public Policy
Key Concepts in Economics
•Scarcity
• Land
• Labor
• Capital
• Entrepreneurship
• Opportunity Costs
• Economic Systems
• Incentives
• Trade
• Specialization
• Markets and Prices
• Supply and Demand
• Competition
• Economic Institutions
• Money
• Interest Rates
• Income
• Standard of Living
• Government
• Monetary and Fiscal Policy
• Public Policy
• Gross Domestic Product
• Unemployment
• Inflation
When you understand these concepts, and you are able to connect them, you are ready to
move to the next level.