Participating in Government Project
The goal of this project is to increase community involvement, your awareness of how government works and allow you to participate in small civic actions. It also gives you the opportunity to actively voice concerns and participate in the democratic process. Simply completing activities does not give you the grade listed. Quality of work will be taken into consideration, as well as effort. For reflections of activities, they should be typed - one page minimum (single spaced) in length and detail what you experienced as well as how the activity helped you better understand government. It should highlight specific components of the course that relate to the activity. Ex: For volunteering on a campaign, you would want to show how it helped you understand the election process, including campaigns, etc.
Required Components (The first three will be due for the midterm = 25 points)
How to Earn a Grade
Your grade will be determined based on the reflections as well as the amount of effort put into this project. You are welcome to do more than the required number to better ensure the grade that you want.
Required Components (The first three will be due for the midterm = 25 points)
- Polling Data & Analysis (will be done in class)
- Campaign Website Analysis (will be done in class)
- I Side With Quiz Analysis (will be done in class)
- Letter to a Public Official (will be done in class)
How to Earn a Grade
Your grade will be determined based on the reflections as well as the amount of effort put into this project. You are welcome to do more than the required number to better ensure the grade that you want.
- To earn an A grade, you will have two options. Option 1 is to complete 1 Tier I activity and 1 Tier II activity. Option 2 is to complete 4 Tier II activities.
- To earn a B grade, you will need to complete 3 Tier II activities.
- To earn a C grade, you will need to complete 2 Tier II activities.
- Campaign Volunteer - Contact a campaign office (city council, mayor, Congress, President, School Board, etc.). Spend at least 3 hours volunteering with them. Take pictures to show your activities and write a 1 page reflection. You must get a letter on campaign letterhead or an official email from the campaign with your name, dates, hours and activities.
- Youth Court - Temecula offers young people the opportunity to serve as jurors or lawyers for juvenile offenders who waive the traditional hearing and sentencing procedures. These are usually first time offenders for nonviolent crimes such as shoplifting and vandalism. Due to the confidential agreement signed in order to participate, your reflection must not include specifics on any case, but can describe how you felt participating, what you learned about the criminal justice process, etc. In order to apply to be a juror or lawyer, please contact Cpl Matt Mozingo at 951-461-6323 or [email protected]. Applications are available in the office. Please verify your attendance with a signed letter from the officer in charge or an email with your name and date attended. Youth Court is held the second Thursday of the month from 5:30-8:30 pm.
- Voter Registration Video - Create a voter registration campaign. Survey a group of at least 20 people to find out if they vote and why/why not. Then make a 5-10 minute video to convince young people to vote in the next election. Note: 2-3 people may work on this activity together, but each must write their own reflection of the experience. And each must have a visible role in the video. Survey copies will be turned in. Get signed permission from anyone else who appears in your video and submit that as well.
- Census 2020 Video - In April 2020, the census, a required count of all the people in the US, begins. If people do not complete the count, our state could lose a tremendous amount of money. You will need to research the census and make a 5-10 minute video to convince people to participate in the census. Note: 2-3 people may work on this activity together, but each must write their own reflection of the experience. And each must have a visible role in the video. Get signed permission from anyone else who appears in your video and submit that as well. Research notes will be submitted.
- Student Poll Worker (Spring Semester Only) - March 3, 2020 is the California Primary Election. Sign up to work as a poll worker. This is an all day job and pays you $100. There is an application. Please see Mrs. Myers if you are interested in it. Your reflection should include what you learned about the election process.
- Civic Action Project - If you have an additional idea, but do not see it listed, you may propose a civic action project related to an area of interest. Please see Mrs. Myers for how to complete this option. You must get permission first.
- Attend a City Council or TVUSD School Board Meeting - You must stay for at least an hour, take notes on the agenda and get your notes signed by an official person. Please take a picture of you at the meeting that shows your attendance. Then choose one issue that was discussed and type a summary of the issue and your personal reflection/opinion on the topic.
- City Council Meetings (41000 Main Street) - 9/10, 9/24, 10/8, 10/22, 11/12
- School Board Meetings (31340 Rancho Vista Road) - 9/3, 9/17, 10/1, 10/15, 11/5
- Campaign Rally or Town Hall Event - Spend at least one hour and record notes of what you see and hear. Describe the event in detail. Take pictures and ensure at least one of them is of you and can verify your attendance. An example might be a selfie with the speaker in the background. If you have a ticket for entry, please submit that as well. Write a one page reflection of the event.
- Interview a Government Employee - There are many different types of government employees. Examples include police, firefighters, city employee, postal worker or military personnel. Find one and conduct an interview. This person must have been in their government job for at least 6 months. Develop 7-10 questions that you can ask them. These should include what they do, job satisfaction, respect on the job, opportunities for advancement, etc. Once the interview is conducted, you will write a reflection on what you learned. You will also be required to submit a transcript of the interview (questions and answers), as well as a signed agreement that the person agreed to the interview. Cannot be a new employee.
- Watch a Presidential Debate - There will be several debates between the Democratic candidates for President. There are no Republican debates scheduled at this time. Watch one for at least an hour. A handout will be given to you. Complete the handout (can be handwritten) and write an analysis. Tentative dates are 9/13, as well as one in October & one in November.
- Citizen Interviews - You will need to interview 2 people: someone who is at least 40 years of age and a student at CHS (cannot be enrolled in government currently). A form will be given to you with questions to ask. You will need to secure the signature of the interviewees. You will also need to write a one page reflection including how the information relates to what we have been studying in class, as well as similarities and/or differences between the two people’s responses.
- Political Ideology Interview - You will need to interview 3 people: one who identifies as a Republican, one who identifies as an Independent and one who identifies as a Democrat. Must be a non CHS student. A form will be given to you with questions to ask. You will need to secure the signature of the interviewees. You will also need to write a one page reflection including how the information relates to what we have been studying in class, as well as similarities and/or differences between the three people’s responses.
- Witness a Naturalization Ceremony - When someone becomes an American citizen, there is a special ceremony. If you can locate one to attend, you should take a picture of yourself there that shows your attendance, get a signature from a government official on a program or agenda and write a reflection of what you learned.
- Interview a New Citizen - Find someone who has become naturalized recently (since 2017) and interview them. A form will be given to you with questions to ask. You will need to secure the signature of the interviewees. You will also need to write a one page reflection including how the information relates to what we have been studying in class and the naturalization process.
- Courtroom Visit - Visit a courtroom for at least 1 hour when court is in session. Take notes on the court process, anything interesting you hear and write a one page reflection on how this relates to what we study in class about the judicial branch, criminal justice process, amendments, etc. Please get a signature and a picture of you at the courthouse to verify attendance.
- Additional Civic Action Activity - If you have an additional idea that would be equivalent to one of these components, you may bring it to Mrs. Myers as a proposal. Do not assume it will be accepted. You must get permission first!