The Republic of the United States of America

 

            This purpose of this instructional unit is for students to become more aware of the election process as a critical part of representative democracy in the United States, the reasons this process exists as it presently stands, and some of the changes this process has undergone since the Constitution was originally adopted.  With hope, this will allow students to take a more critical and involved look at the election system and the way the United States represents its public.

            The intended audience is a senior level high school government class.  Students have some knowledge of U.S. History from previously taken required coursework, but little prior knowledge is taken for granted.  The unit, located early in the course, will serve as an introduction to the concept of republican government and what questions and conflicts must be addressed to have a functioning republican government in the United States.  As such, it can serve as a point to launch a critical look at more specific topics like the Bill of Rights, Civil Rights, Suffrage, Political Parties and the Election Process.

            The unit is designed to be presented by a teacher to a class or a group of students with use of a computer projection system.  The teacher will advance the screens, transition and explain the content and concepts behind the presented information to better facilitate student understanding.  Though some of the screens are self-explanatory, it is understood that more explanation is necessary for maximum student understanding.  The presentation can (and should) be divided into sections that are more easily manageable for classroom use. 

           

 Objectives:

 

1. Twelfth grade government students will define the term republic aloud in class.
2. Twelfth grade government students will be able to explain in class to fellow classmates the debate behind the Great Compromise.
3. Twelfth grade government students will list in writing on a quiz at least two groups of people that were historically denied the right to vote and the legislation that later gave them the right to vote. 
4. Twelfth grade government students will identify aloud in class the requirements to be three of the following: Congressperson, Senator, Vice-President, President, and Elector.
5. Twelfth grade government students will identify in writing the manner (popular election or election by means of electoral college) by which Congresspersons, Senators, and Presidents are elected today.

 

 

As this presentation became fairly lengthy, it became necessary to put it into three separate presentations.  For the purposes of an in person presentation, they are easily linked, yet with the web that became more difficult.  Hence, links to each of the three components are given here.

 

Link to Republic I

Link to Republic II

Link to Republic III