The 14th Amendment defines citizenship as anyone who is ___________ or _______________ in the United States.

The scenario below describes a family living overseas:

Jamal was born in New Jersey. He joined the army and was sent to Germany. He married Jada, an American he met in Germany. Jamal and Jada had a son. When Jamal left the army, he and his family returned to the U.S.

What happened to Jada and Jamal's son when he tried to enter the United States?

• A. He was allowed to enter the country because he is an American citizen by birth.
• B. He was allowed to enter the country after passing the naturalization test.
• C. He was granted resident alien status because he had not been naturalized.
• D. He was sent back to Germany because he was not an American citizen

Create a T-Chart and correctly sort the following "activities" as either an obligation or a responsibility:

List the basic steps in the Naturalization Process.

Explain the difference between a Natural Born Citizen and a Naturalized Citizen.

(Hint: Jus Soli, Jus Sanguinis etc)

What form of government is being described in the scenario below?

• A few military leaders take control of a country and hold all power.  The citizens have no say in the government and only the few military leaders can change things.

Which statement correctly describes communism?

• A. The central government controls all economic planning.
• B. Workers are considered to be the lowest social class.
• C. Property ownership is determined by family status.
• D. Wealth is distributed according to social class.

Define/explain the following systems of government:

• Unitary
• Federal
• Confederal

Define/explain the following forms of government:

• Constitutional Monarchy
• Absolute Monarchy
• Direct Democracy
• Republic

The following is an example of what SYSTEM of government? Why?

• Japan has a strong central government. The legislative branch in Japan is called The Diet. The executive branch is led by the Prime Minister and lower ministers. The 47 provinces, or states, of Japan rely on the central government for money and support.

America is considered a ____-______ system.  The Two major parties are the _____________ & ______________.

In the modern political system, which issue represents a basic disagreement between Republicans and Democrats?

• A. the responsibilities of government
• B. the frequency of national elections
• C. the legality of the U.S. Constitution
• D. the support for the U.S. military soldier

The conversation below is part of a political discussion.   

---------------------------

Lou: I am going to vote for the candidate who will support cutting government spending.

Bob: Yes, we spend too much on some programs.

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Which party’s candidates are these voters most likely to support?  

Match the core beliefs statement with the proper third party:

• A.  The federal government should control all production and supply of goods and the workers should control their own lives and destinies.
• B.  The only purpose of the federal government is to protect freedom; this party believes in individual freedom.
• C.  People should own and control all businesses through democratically controlled public agencies (these are agencies that are created based on the people’s choice/election) or other groups

(Third Party Word Bank: Communist Party, Libertarian Party, Socialist Party)

Name at least three ways in which citizens can engage in the political process.

What are the requirements to become the president of the United States?

What are the requirements to become a member of the US House of Representatives (A Congressman) and the US Senate (A Senator)?

Joe decides he wants to become a senator for the state of Florida and states he will run in the upcoming election.  Joe is 28 years old, lives in Georgia, but works in Tallahassee at the Department of Education.  He has a college degree and is well liked by all of this co-workers and friends.

Is Joe qualified to become a senator for the state of Florida?

Based on the chart below, which candidate would a twenty-year-old college student who is currently working at a hospital and is looking to purchase a home most likely support?

Based on the government system in the United States, which individual activity is used to directly influence legislative decisions?

• A. watching political debates on television
• B. discussing political issues at work
• C. collecting opinions for a yearbook
• D. gathering signatures for a petition

______________ is a preference, opinion or attitude that favors one way of thinking or feeling over another

What is a Political Action Committee (PAC) and how do they influence the government?

__________ is the spreading ideas or information for the purpose of helping or hurting an institution, a cause, or a person.  See an example below:

Explain law of blood and law of soil.

Which candidate would be eligible to run for the US Senate?

• Candidate A: Jane, a 43 year old woman, who was born, raised, and lives in California, and who wants to represent the state of New Mexico.
• Candidate B: Jim, a 32 year old man from Florida, who immigrated to the United States with his parents when he was 5 years old, became a citizen when they did and wants to represent the state of Florida.

Born or Naturalized

A. He was allowed to enter the country because he is an American citizen by birth.

1. Become a permanent resident of the US (obtain a visa)
2. Meet all the requirements of the naturalization process (live in the US for 5 years, be at least 18yo, know how to read, write, and speak English, be of good moral character)
3. Fill out an Application for citizenship
4. Interview with a USCIS Official
5. Take the Citizenship Test
6. Take the Oath of Allegiance!

• A natural born citizen is one whose citizenship is not granted by law or by any act of a sovereign, but comes naturally to the person from birth according to principles that don't depend on laws or decisions of a sovereign country.  For example: law of blood and law of soil.
• A naturalized citizen is one whose citizenship is granted as a political act—by law or by the decision or act of a sovereign.  In the US this comes when a person fulfils all the requirements within the naturalization process.

An Oligarchy

A. The central government controls all economic planning.

• Remember...Communism is a form of government in which a single ruling party owns and controls all production and distribution of goods. Economic planning includes the buying, selling, and production of goods and services.

• Unitary: A system of government where almost all power is given to the central (national) government.
• Federal: A system of government where the power is shared between the central (national) government and the states.
• Confederal: A system of government where the power is given to independent states.

• Constitutional Monarchy: A form of government where power is held by one person who has been born into the ruling family. The Monarchs power is limited by the countries constitution.
• Absolute Monarchy: A form of government where power is held by one person who has been born into the ruling family. The Monarchs power is unlimited and they hold ALL the power.
• Direct Democracy: A form of government that means “rule by the people”.
• Republic: A form of government in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.

Because the central government has all of the power, Japan is an example of a unitary system of government

• Two-party system
• Democrats and Republicans

A. the responsibilities of government

• Remember: Core differences between political parties’ ideas about government are based on their views of the role and involvement of government in modern society.

The Republican Party

A: Communist Party

B: Libertarian Party

C: Socialist Party 

Answers will vary but can include:

• attending town hall & school board meetings
• voting in elections
• promoting candidates 
• registering voters 
• working the polls
• writing letters to elected officials
• circulating petitions
• etc...

• Be at least 35 yo
• Natural Born Citizen of the US
• Live in the US for at least 14 years

House of Reprepresenatives (Congressman)

• 25 yo
• Live in the state your represent
• Be a US Citizen for at least 7 years

US Senate (Senator)

• 30 yo
• Live in the state your represent
• Be a US Citizen for at least 9 years

No!

• Joe is to young (he is only 29)
• Joe doesn't live in the state he will represent (he lives in Georgia)

A twenty-year-old college student who is currently working at a hospital and is looking to purchase a home will most likely support Candidate B because Candidate B supports tax breaks for first-time homeowners, supports increasing federal funds for higher ed, and opposes cutting Medicare benefits. 

D. gathering signatures for a petition

• NOTE: This activity will allow individuals to directly influence the lawmaking process by gathering signatures to make a written request to the government showing that many citizens support or discourage specific government actions.

Bias

PACs are a type of organization that pool campaign contributions (funding/money) from members and donates those funds to campaign financially support candidates, ballot initiatives, and/or legislation in a way to influence the government.

Propaganda!

• law of blood - a person's citizenship at birth is the same as that of his or her biological mother or father
• law of soil – a person's citizenship at birth is determined by the country where he or she was born

Candidate B