1. Writing Activity

EXPLORING THE ESSENTIAL QUESTION Why do people create, structure, and change governments? Take the role of a candidate for the local school committee. Write a short speech stating your plans for improving the school system. Pair with another student and take turns delivering your speeches. After each pair of speeches, the class will vote for its preferred candidate. 2. 21st Century Skills

WRITE A BLOG ENTRY Use a reliable Internet site to watch a video of a debate between two candidates for national or state office. Take notes on the plans outlined by the candidates. Decide, based on those plans, which candidate you support. Write a blog entry that identifies the candidates, the office they seek, and your preferred candidate. Explain your choice. 3. Being an Active Citizen

Do you plan to register to vote? Do you plan to vote? You have to be 18 to vote, but it is never too early to practice. Go to your state's Web site and download a voter registration form. Complete it. Write a paragraph explaining whether it was easy or difficult to do. 4. Understanding Visuals

Look at the cartoon. Answer these two questions: (1) What is the message of the cartoon? (2) Do you agree with the message? Explain why or why not. 5. Directions: Answer the questions in the spaces provided.

CHECKING FOR UNDERSTANDING

Match each of these terms with its definition. 1. suffrage 2. political action committee 3. winner-take-all system 4. polling place 5. ballot 6. Electoral college 7. canvass 8. issue 9. recall 10. apathy A. a special election in which citizens can vote to remove a public official from office B. the location where voting is carried out C. a lack of interest D. a matter of debate or dispute E. a group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president F. to seek votes from voters G. political organization established by a corporation, labor union, or other special-interest group designed to support candidates by contributing money H. the right to vote I. the list of candidates for which you cast your vote J. a system in which the candidate who wins the popular vote in a state usually receives all of the state's electoral votes 6. Describing How was the expansion of voting rights to African Americans, women, and younger citizens accomplished? 7. Listing What three steps are involved in the voting process? 8. Explaining How does your vote affect the way your community, state, and country are run? 9. Specifying In the initiative process, what must happen before a proposed law or amendment is placed on the ballot for voter consideration? 10. Stating How are the members of the Electoral College determined? 11. Describing How is a political party's candidate for the presidential election chosen? 12. Determining Cause and Effect Why is voter preparation such a critical component of the voting process? 13. Analyzing Why do you think voter turnout rate is often well below 50% in American elections? 14. Defending Do you think the Supreme Court overstepped its authority with its ruling in Bush v. Gore? Why or why not? 15. Comparing and Contrasting How are initiatives and referendums alike and different? 16. Reasoning How does the "winner-take-all" system make it possible for a candidate in a presidential election to win the popular vote but still lose the election? 17. Making Inferences Why do you think that huge donations contributed to a candidate's election campaign by a Political Action Committee (PAC) might be criticized? 18. Speculating Why is it important for voters to closely examine the content of advertisements promoting political candidates. DBQSHORT RESPONSE

"The people are not qualified to exercise [carry out] . . . the executive department, but they are qualified to name the person who shall exercise it. With us, therefore, they choose this officer every four years."

Thomas Jefferson, letter to a French friend (1789 ) 19. Interpreting What is Jefferson saying about the role of "the people" in elections? 20. Forming an Opinion Do you agree with Jefferson's statement? In a few sentences, explain why or why not. 21. Informative/Explanatory Candidates use many methods, including policy papers, campaign Web sites, ads, speeches, and debates, to communicate their ideas to voters. Which method would you use as a candidate? Why? DBQ ANALYZING DOCUMENTS

Directions: Analyze the document and answer the questions.

"The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any State by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax."

U.S. Constitution, Twenty-fourth Amendment, ratified in 1964 22. Analyzing What is the purpose of this amendment? A. to reduce taxes B. to protect voting rights C. to regulate voter registration D. to change the rules for the Electoral College 23. Identifying Which best describes elections the amendment affects? F. presidential primaries G. state and national elections H. state and local elections I. elections for federal office Now answer each of these questions and make it sound like an 8th grader wrote them and make the answers very quick