Project 2
Evaluation 32
Civics (SSTH 001 057)
Be sure to include ALL pages of this project (including the directions and the assignment) when you send the project to your teacher for grading. Don’t forget to put your name and I.D. number at the top of this page!
This project is worth 100 points. It will count for 12 percent of your course grade.
Project Instructions
In Unit 3, you learned about the three branches of the federal government—Congress (which makes laws), the president (who carries out laws), and the judiciary (which interprets laws). In this project, you will do some research about each branch of government. Answer each question in an essay of at least 300 words (one page, typed and doubled spaced.) Begin typing your essays in the space provided at the end of this document (scroll down.)
- Use a website, newspaper, or other source to find a bill that Congress (either the House of Representatives or the Senate) discussed in the last year. (https://www.congress.gov/ provides easy-to-read summaries of bills.)
Explain the bill, noting the power(s) of Congress that it shows. (Refer to Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution on pages 105–106 of your textbook). Share your own opinion about the bill.
Be sure to note the name of the bill at the start of your essay.
33 points possible.
11 points: Briefly summarize the action or provision the bill proposes. (Be sure to use your own words. Copying and pasting is plagiarism and will result in a failing grade.)
11 points: Explain which power(s) of Congress the bill shows. By enacting the bill, Congress would be using which power(s)? Refer to something in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. (If the bill proposes an implied power, why is it necessary and proper?)
11 points: Do you support the bill? Why or why not? Answers will vary, but you should express an opinion.
- Use a website, newspaper, or other source to research something the president of the United States did in the last year. (https://www.whitehouse.gov/ is a reliable source.)
Summarize the situation and what the president did. Explain which role the president fulfilled in this situation (chief executive, chief diplomat, commander in chief, etc.). How well do you think the president handled this situation?
33 points possible.
11 points: Summary of the situation and what the president did. (Be sure to use your own words.)
11 points: Explain the role the president fulfilled, and why this situation is an example of that role. (Refer to the discussion of presidential roles on pages 196–198 of your textbook.)
11 points: Offer your own opinion about how the president handled the situation. Briefly explain your opinion.
- Use a website, newspaper, or other source to research a recent decision by the Supreme Court of the United States. What issue did the ruling address, and what did the court decide? What is your opinion of this ruling?
(https://www.supremecourt.gov/ lists recent decisions. For an easy-to-read summary of a ruling, go to http://www.scotusblog.com/ and search for the case you are studying.)
Be sure to note the name of the case you are discussing.
34 points possible.
11 points: Explain the main issue or argument in the case. (Be sure to use your own words.)
11 points: Explain the court’s ruling or decision. (Be sure to use your own words.)
12 points: Share your own opinion about the court’s ruling. Do you agree? Why or why not? Answers will vary, but you should express an opinion.
Project Submission
To submit the project, save this project assignment document. Use the course number, your name, and the project number in your file’s title:
SSTH001057_YourNameHere_Project2.doc
Go to your course management system to upload your project file.