Videos from Class

Current Events #5

Economist Wolves Article

An article about wolves in Idaho might seem like a bit of a non-sequitor. However, we will watch a film about federalism early in the school year and the release of wolves in Idaho is a topic covered in that film. Please look for the role that the federal and state governments have played in this debate.

The Economist British Riots

The Economist is a British newspaper (magazine) so I decided to use their coverage of the British riots to give you some background on this issue.

The Economist Debt Article

Here is an article that summarizes what happened with the debt deal as well as the economic and political implications.

Washington Post Straw Poll Article

Here is some background on the Iowa Straw Poll and the impact is has on the presidential race

Boston Globe Straw Poll Results

Now that you read the background information on the Straw Poll, here is the impact it had on the Republican presidential nomination

Boston Globe Presidential Announcement

The Republicans have yet another candidate and this one might shake up the race.

Reuters Health Care Ruling Article

Finally, there is yet another ruling on the healthcare law.

Current Events #4

New York Times

Congress tends to have the lowest approval rating of all three branches of the federal government, but this is a new low in their approval rating. Please read the article to see reasons why the public feels so negatively towards Congress.

The Boston Globe

The downgrading of the nation's credit rating had never happened before. Sadly this is not a historic moment anyone hoped to see.

The Economist

Here is a summary of the debt deal and the political impact of it.

Boston Globe Mystery Donation Article

The Boston Globe Mystery Donation Solved

A PAC is a Political Action Committee. After the Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission case the rules on political fundraising changed quite a bit. This first article summarizes the mystery of the donation and the second article explains who the donor was.

I hope all of you are enjoying your summer break!

Current Events Articles #3 All Things Debt

New York Times Background Article

I know these issues are really confusing for high school students who HAVEN'T completed the AP Government course yet. If this were happening during the school year we could discuss it in class and I could answer your questions. Since we can't do that, this article might help you understand the crisis. Understanding some vocabulary will help. Try to understand the following terms: deficit, budget, debt limit, default, and national debt.

New York Times House Budget Plan Article

Legislation must be passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate and then signed by the President. The House passed a budget plan, the Senate rejected it, so the President will not even deal with it.

New York Times Budget Plans

Here is a history of the plans offered by various members of Congress. You do not need to memorize the different plans, be able to identify the major differences among them and the points that are preventing compromise.



This week the President used his access to the media to address the nation directly. If you missed it (as many did because it is summer) please watch the address on C-Span.



Speaker of the House Boehner also used the media to respond to the President. If you missed it, please watch it on C-Span.

Washington Post Article on Senate vote

The Senate is going to try to solve this situation with a vote on Sunday. This article is an update on that process.

Current Events Articles #2

Boston Globe Campaign Finance Article

Campaign finance is an important part of our curriculum. The Citizens United v. FEC case significantly changed the campaign fundraising landscape. This article helps your understand some of the impact these changes are having on our current election cycle.

New York Times Betty Ford Article

Here is a detailed summary of Betty Ford's life. She passed away this week and as you can imagine First Ladies still impact the political process, even though they aren't elected.

New York Times Caylee's Law

This is an interesting example of how current events, citizens, and the media can influence what legislation becomes part of the public agenda.

Boston Globe NASA article

NASA is part of the bureaucracy and is a great example of the many accomplishments and potentially failures of our federal bureaucracy.

Summer Current Events #1

There's a lot going on right now in the world of government. Here are some articles that will help you will these current issues:

Gay Marriage Article

Whether you agree or disagree with gay marriage, the issue is great for illustrating the concept of federalism. This is one of the first ideas we will cover when we return in the Fall. Federalism allows for a national government and state government to operate at the same time. This means that states can determine for themselves who can marry.

Supreme Court Article

The Supreme Court tends to release the most controversial decisions at the end of their session. The Supreme Court session ends right about when our school year ends. So, here is a controversial decision for you to read about.

Whitey Bulger Article

I don't think current events would be very current if I didn't include an article about the FBI finding Whitey Bulger. Look for how the government is involved in this story that you've probably read a lot about.

Debt Ceiling Article

The questions about the debt ceiling and budget are going to be debated all summer. So, I am sure this is the first of many articles about this subject I will send you.

Presidential Address on Libya