Iowa Government
ICC Standards:
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Literacy Standards:
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I Can Statements:
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2015 driving question:
How can I become more involved in state politics to better my community?
focus on today's issues with.....
-IA General Assembly
-Governor
-IA Supreme Court
2014 Driving Question and activities below:
To what extent should the average Iowan take part in the public policy making process at the local and state level and what should they do to monitor the implementation of this public policy? What can you do?
Entry Event: ...start the inquiry process
-At what point do you say, "Okay, I know my rights; I understand what the national and state governments have guaranteed me (unalienable rights, justice, provide for security and order, protect me from internal and external harm, and to provide for the general welfare of our nation) but....." --Do you believe there is a time for you to actually do something about your rights? --How far would you push the legal limits to ensure people in authority are not slowing taking our rights away? |
--For the sake of national security and the health and safety of others; should we willingly give up some rights?
--Do you have the knowledge, skills, and willingness to participate to an adequate degree? --Will you participate with a reasoned commitment to the values and principles of our democracy? --What is happening in our community in which you think our government is not handing at all or not handling well? ?? Example of an idea: Sex Offender Registry -- Should their be classifications on the site? |
Group organization: Set your Norms (expectations) for the group; what bothers you when you work with a group setting? Make sure to write these statements in a positive tone. At the beginning of each day, you will review these Norms each day before group work; if a person is not following the Norms, we will have group meetings and individual meetings with the possibility of the group member being fired from the group.
Individual Blogging: At the end of each day, we will individually blog about the successes and failures of the day's activities. The goal is to reflect on the significant content located within the research as well as how it is related to the driving question; where are you in completing the project. What have you gained thus far?
Individual Blogging: At the end of each day, we will individually blog about the successes and failures of the day's activities. The goal is to reflect on the significant content located within the research as well as how it is related to the driving question; where are you in completing the project. What have you gained thus far?
Need to Know Questions: ..what do we need to know in order to answer the question....
1. If individuals wish to participate, what tools do they need to do so competently and responsibly? 2. What is public policy? 3. What issues are of concern to you? 4. What issues are the general public best suited to deal with? 5. What role should public policy have in dealing with common problems of our society? |
...what else do we need to know to answer the driving question?
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Assigned Reading: An Introduction to Public Policy |
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#1 Formative Task: Understand Iowa's Constitution and Iowa's General Assembly
1. Structure overview
2. Preamble - purpose? What does it say? 3. Articles... Why does Article I deal with topics from the Bill of Rights? Review the rest of the Articles.... Similarities/Differences with the U.S. Constitution? |
1. Composition 5. Staffs and Services
2. Committees 6. Nonpartisan Agencies 3. Rules 7. Capitol Building 4. Process (cont to VI.) |
1. What is currently going on in both Houses?
2. Who controls each House? What impact is that having on the passage of bills? 3. Who is your Representative and Senator in Des Moines? What does the districting map look like - how is Iowa broken up? 4. What were the topics of some laws passed by the 84th General Assembly? 5. What is on the debate calendar for today? - Anything of interest to further pursue? 6. What is going on in the Standing Committees of the Senate and House? Anything of interest to further pursue? 7. If you had an idea for a bill, should you go directly to the Senator or Representative or should you first contact a lobbyist? Check out the registered lobbyists; is there one you would want to contact for your public policy idea? 7. For fun, scroll to the bottom and click on 'View Moderated Responses' in Public Input: Improving State Government. See what people are writing about... |
Topics:
SF 295 Main Street Tax Cut,
HF 215 Education Reform and Funding,
S 3155 and HF 604 Community College Investment
Task:
Starting with the links below and using your educational Twitter account search Iowa House Democrats and Republicans, identify how Senators Schoenjahn and Breitbach and their respective parties differ in opinion regarding the three bills. Identify where the current bills are in the lawmaking process and prepare questions
regarding the passage of each. Do you have an opinion? Give it some thought.
SF 295 Main Street Tax Cut,
HF 215 Education Reform and Funding,
S 3155 and HF 604 Community College Investment
Task:
Starting with the links below and using your educational Twitter account search Iowa House Democrats and Republicans, identify how Senators Schoenjahn and Breitbach and their respective parties differ in opinion regarding the three bills. Identify where the current bills are in the lawmaking process and prepare questions
regarding the passage of each. Do you have an opinion? Give it some thought.