Government and Economics   2023-2024

Mr. Stucky

CLASS CODE: vk3nzat
Texts and Other Resources: 
Available online through Google Classroom

Supplies: You will need a reliable writing utensil, such as a pen or pencil for your own notes. You will not be graded on your notes directly, but some tests may be open notes, but closed book. It is in your best interest to keep orderly, easy-to-read notes for your own studying and test-taking purposes. 

In addition, if you’d like to contribute to the classroom supplies, we will always need paper towels, tissues, scrap paper, and the like. 

Objectives: Together students will learn and analyze concepts and standards of government in the United States, making sure to incorporate current events. In January, students will begin to learn and apply concepts in Economics and how the study of economics is important in understanding government decision-making. 

Towards these goals, students will complete in-class activities that relate to selected readings, writing exercises, debate topics, and take tests on the materials. 

Grading: 

• Classwork:                                                                            25%
• Writing:                                                                                  30%
• Participation:                                                                         25%
• Tests:                                                                                     20%

Extra Credit: I will come up with a special project each quarter after progress report grades are set that will allow you a 10 point bump on your lowest grade. 

Participation: Students will get a participation grade each week. As this is designed to encourage discussion, the grades will be on a sliding scale. If a student doesn’t participate for that week, they will receive a 75% for that week. If they make a handful of points ina week, they will earn an 85%, if they participate multiple times per week (10 or so) they will receive a 95%, and if they regularly drive discussions, they will receive a 105%. 

Behavior: For the lecture part of the class, I expect everyone to come to class in a learning state of mind. That means that every student has a writing utensil, a notebook for notes, and pays attention during the lecture. I will ask questions to review what topics we go over, and if you are unable to answer the question due to inattentiveness, I will make a deduction from your participation grade for the week. 

Conduct in Class: Students will learn how the government operates, theories about how it should operate, and ways that it gets things done. (or doesn’t, as intended by the drafters of the Constitution.) To that end, a respectful, lively, debate is expected. However, no one will make fun of, belittle, or hurt others either emotionally or physically for expressing their beliefs or opinions in class. To be sure, the normal societal rules of word choice and topics will be enforced, but as long as an opinion doesn’t encourage violence or doesn’t denigrate a protected minority group, I will encourage open, thoughtful discussion on a wide range of issues. Profanity, or language meant to evoke profanity in the minds of others will not be tolerated. 

Homework: Homework will be assigned through Google Classroom. Please make sure to add the code BLANK to your classroom account through your school email. This will enable us to work together on assignments as needed. Writing assignments and Current events assignments will be managed through Google Classroom as well. 

Absences: It is your duty to check in about absent work. I will update Google Classroom with assignments students worked on for the day. You get one day for every day you are absent to make up the work. For example, if you are absent for three days, you will have three days to make up the work. However, if you are there the day the work was assigned, then absent for the due date, it will be due upon your return to school. 

Communication: Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, especially in the first few weeks of the school year. Hope Charter School’s phone number is 407-656-4673. If you call the office and leave a message, I will do my best to get back to you in a timely manner. My email address is Phillip.stucky@hopecharter.org. Feel free to email me with any questions or concerns, or if you would like to set up an appointment to meet with me. Email is the quickest way for you to reach me and to get a response. 

Skyward: Skyward is where you can check your child’s grades. This system is replacing Progressbook for all of Orange County. We will do our best to keep this up to date. This system is a great tool to see your student’s average grade for every subject, as missing assignments. This is also where you can check your child’s absences and tardies. There have been some difficulties with the county overall in switching programs, so hopefully, it will be a smooth transition at the start of school! This is an invaluable tool and I encourage you to frequently use it! 

GRADES AND LATE WORK POLICY: We will be taking participation grades on a systematic basis based upon those who are paying attention and participating in classwork. I may also give a participation grade when students do group work. Assignments will be graded and returned for review. All assignments are due at the start of class; if they are not turned in at this time, they are considered late. Deadlines will be properly communicated. If the work is assigned on the day that a student is absent, they will have the number of days they are absent plus one to turn in their work upon their return. 

If students receive a zero, you will receive an email from me. The assignment must still be turned in so they still get the benefit of practicing the concept assigned. With respect to papers or extended writing assignments, for each day late, the student will lose a potential 11 percentage points, and will not be accepted after the third day after it is due. 

Fall: Government

1st Unit: Origins and Purposes of Government

• The origin of Government Principles
• Comparative Political Systems
• The role and importance of founding documents
• How the Constitution is structured
• Federalism and how it relates to state and local government
• Political behavior and Mass Media

2nd Unit: Organization of Government

• Organization of the Legislative Branch
• How bills become laws, and how outside groups and impact that process
• Organization of the Executive Branch
• Organization of the Judicial Branch

3rd Unit: Party Politics and how people elect others to power

• History of the Electoral College and why it’s important
• Role of mass media and social media in campaigning
• Importance of polling and the business of polling
• Fundraising at different levels of government

Spring: Economics and Financial Literacy

4th Unit: Fundamental Concepts of Economics

• Economic Systems
• Supply, Demand, and how they each impact prices in a market
• Business Organizations
• Macroeconomics: GDP, measuring Growth, and Labor Markets
• Economics and Public Policy, Fiscal Policy, the FED, and Monetary Policy, (Did I just say the same thing four times? Why not??)

5th Unit: Financial Literacy

• International Marketplace/Globalization
• Income
• Savings, Investing, and Risk Management on a sliding scale
• Debit and Credit
• Budget and Virtual simulation

Sincerely, 
Mr. Phillip Stucky