US Government 1 Mr.

Ring
Unit 3: Civic Participation and Skills

Unit Theme: How the American people govern themselves at national, state and local levels of government is the basis for this
course. Students can impact issues addressed by local governments through service learning and senior projects.

Unit Topic: Civic Involvement
Students can engage societal problems and participate in opportunities to contribute to the common good through
governmental and nongovernmental channels.

Content Statements / Text References

AG 01. Opportunities for civic engagement with the structures of government are made possible through political and public
policy processes.
McGraw-Hill: Networks; Chapter 9-Lesson 1: Who Can Vote pp. 268-275
McGraw-Hill: Networks; Chapter 9-Lesson 2: Elections and Campaigns pp. 277-283
McGraw-Hill: Networks; Chapter 10-Lesson 1: Forming Public Opinion pp. 290-296

AG 02. Political parties, interest groups and the media provide opportunities for civic involvement through various means.
McGraw-Hill: Networks; Chapter 8-Lesson 1: History of Political Parties pp. 248-253
McGraw-Hill: Networks; Chapter 8-Lesson 2: Political Parties Today pp. 254-261
McGraw-Hill: Networks; Chapter 10-Lesson 2: The Mass Media pp. 297-301
McGraw-Hill: Networks; Chapter 10-Lesson 3: Interest Groups and Lobbying pp. 303-308

AG 03. Issues can be analyzed through the critical use of information from public records, surveys, research data and policy
positions of advocacy groups.
Refer to classroom materials

AG 04. The processes of persuasion, compromise, consensus building and negotiation contribute to the resolution of conflicts
and differences.
Refer to classroom materials

Essential Questions:
EQ 3.1 What roles do people play in the political process?
EQ 3.2 What shapes public opinion and how does it influence political action?

Vocabulary:
Political Party Two-Party System Third Party
Platform National Committee Caucus
Precinct Political Machine Direct Primary
Closed Primary Open Primary Plurality
Majority Public Agenda Leak
Watchdog Prior Restraint Libel
Malice Shield Law Non-Partisan
Apathy Ballot Suffrage
Voter Turnout Rate Polling Place Issue
Initiative Referendum Recall
Electoral College Popular Vote Mass Media
Political Action Committee (PAC) Public Opinion Interest Group
Public Opinion Poll Pollster Lobbyist

Need to Know Stuff:
- How is voter behavior measured?
- What factors impact ones voting behavior?
- What are generalized characteristics of people who typically vote either Republican or Democrat?
- What are reasons why people do not vote?
- What factors shape public opinion?
- Describe some challenges in measuring public opinion.
- Explain the polling process.
- How do different forms of mass media affect politics and public opinion?