POLITICAL RESEARCH PORTFOLIO

The Issue:  To research, and discover credible reliable information and be able to ascertain the truth and not be manipulated or persuaded without being educated.

Research:  The following will be discussed in class, web sites shared, and info relayed to help students complete the research.   Research the following 13 sections and discuss to the best of your ability.  Please refer to the syllabus for all requirements, formats, and due date.

Section 1:  The following are current controversial political issues in the United States.  Consider this to be a debate on paper, please present both sides of the issue to receive full credit. Answers must be factual and not based solely on opinion. Opinions may be used in the conclusion, however credible info must be provided to support any opinions to receive credit. AIDitional topics may be aIDed during the semester.  This assignment is worth 40 points.

Voter ID laws                                    Agenda 21                          NSA                       Mandatory Vaccines

SEIU and ACORN                              Fast and Furious              ISIS

NDAA / Patriot Act                         Drones                                                Iran deal

Second Amendment                       Benghazi                            Common Core

Section 2:  Research the following forms or theories of government listed below and discuss.

1. Communism B.            Marxist
2. Socialism D.            Monarchy
3. Republic F.            Dictator
4. Totalitarianism H.            Tyranny
5. Anarchy

Section 3:  Examine the following historical documents: the U.S. Constitution, the Articles of Confederation, Declaration of Independence and the Federalist Papers.  Use sources below or site your own sources and complete the following questions for each document and discuss.

http://thomas.loc.gov/

http://archives.gov/

1. Date(s) of Document:
2. Author(s) of Document:
3. What was the purpose, goal or intent?

Section 4:  Research the power struggle between the state and federal government.  Give examples.  What determines who has the Power? Discuss.

Section 5:

1. What is the Federal Reserve?
2. What is the Free Market?
3. Currently the United States is in debt. What is the current debt amount? How did the United States become so far in debt? If you were able to decide the tax structure, what would you choose (flat, fair, progressive) and why?  Should individuals that do not pay into the tax structure be entitled to receive or benefit from taxes? Why? How much of every dollar that you earn should you be entitled to keep?
4. SPENDING: Name 10 things the local, 10 things the state and 10 things the federal government spend the taxpayer’s money on.
5. Create a personal budget, assume you get a job upon graduation, figure out your salary at an entry level position; gross and net, subtract the local, state and federal taxes, the mortgage or rent and home owners insurance, food, pg and e, car insurance and car payment, health insurance and co-pays, vision, dental, gas, phone, cable, internet, prescriptions, household items, necessities (CLOTHING AND PERSONAL ITEMS), if children are included then you must include the cost of raising them (day care, medical expenses etc.)

Section 6:  List local, state and federal politicians currently in office. Include all politicians in your local district, in your state and federal. This includes your school board member, city council member or supervisor.  Not all elected officials are in your district; make sure you only list your elected officials.  List your politician’s name, position, party affiliation.  DO NOT LIST ALL MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Section 7:

President

1. What is an executive order?
2. How many executive orders has your current President signed?
3. Discuss the most unusual order you could find.

Czars

1. List all of the current Czars, their title and salary.
2. How do they obtain their position?

 

Section 8:  Judges

Name local Judges and their party.

Name all Ca Supreme Court Judges and their party.

Name all U.S. Supreme Court Judges and their party.

What power do judges have according to article 3?

 

Section 9: Choose four media news sources to evaluate. Feel free to use any source that we have used in class. Which source gives the consumer more information or covers more topics of importance?   Who owns the media sources?  Which political party do they donate funds to?  Find evidence of bias headings or biased reporting from one left and one right source? Papers must have two left leaning and two right leaning sources. Discuss.

Section 10:  Conduct a poll of 10 people on political issues. Ask 10 political questions of 10 topics. You may use topics discussed in the course as your questions.  List your questions. Questions must be college level questions. Discuss.

Section 11:  Discuss 4 political parties of your choice and their platforms. What have you learned about the different political parties?

Section 12:  Research the following 12 organizations. 6 are from the left and 6 are from the right.  AID 2 of your own.

Move on                                                              Media matters

Tides Foundation                                             Weather underground

Center for American Progress                    Organizing for America

Media research center                                  Freedom works

Heritage foundation                                       Center for Self Governance

Human events                                                  National Review

Section 13:    Research and explain what a bond, prop, absentee ballot, provisional ballot and office block ballot are.  Check California Secretary of State for anything cleared for the next election.  If there is a bond or prop, please list.

 

Conclusion: What have your learned completing this assignment? Discuss.