OBJECTIVES
This unit is
designed to help
teachers explain the
workings of federal,
state and local
state political
institutions and
processes to middle
school and high
school students. The
program's generic
format is designed
for teachers to
borrow, amend, edit,
and enlarge, as they
deem necessary, for
their classrooms.
With adaptations and
modifications the
activities are
appropriate for use
in Middle School 7th
and 8th grade Social
Studies and American
History courses and
for High School
Civics and United
States History at
all levels.
ANTICIPATORY
ACTIVITIES
Election
Simulation Game
In this simulation
game students take
roles as candidates,
campaign staff,
legislators,
lobbyists, and
voters to construct
a working
understanding of the
importance of
political and
economic activism in
a republican form of
government.
Voting Chain
Activity
A short introduction
into campaign
finance that
visually
demonstrates the
importance and power
of each vote in an
election.
LESSON PLANS
Connecticut
Legislature Viewing
Activity
In the wake
of the 2010 U.S.
Supreme Court
decision in Citizens
United v. Federal
Election Commission,
the Connecticut
General Assembly
sought to modify
existing law in
order to comply with
the Citizens United
mandates which
relaxed corporate
restrictions on
contributions and
added new
accountability.
HB 5556 included
changes affecting,
the Citizens'
Election Program
(CEP), the State
Elections
Enforcement
Commission (SEEC),
and certain
nominating and
absentee voting
procedures. The
following activity
uses video of
abridged debate from
the 2012 Connecticut
General Assembly
Senate session to
place your students
in the center of the
issue.
-
Activity
-
Office of
Legislative
Research Bill
Summary
pdf
-
CT-N Legislative
Video HB 5556
watch it now: mp4
Mock Press
Conference
Student groups
participate in a
simulated press
conference
presenting their
position on campaign
finance and respond
to questions. This
lesson offers
students the
opportunity to
examine opposing
viewpoints, analyze
material, and
develop solutions to
a complicated issue.
The Election of
1896
The 1896
presidential
election was one of
the most exciting
and complicated in
U.S. history. Coined
the "Gilded" age,
there was a large
economic and
political divide
that surrounded the
election giving way
to various political
factions. In this
lesson students will
analyze political
parties, construct
the platforms, and
apply historical
concepts to today.
SUPPORT MATERIALS
Campaign Finance
Reform Timeline
word
|
pdf
Connecticut
Senatorial Districts
Map
pdf
Campaign Finance
Glossary
word |
pdf
Sources for
Consultation
word |
pdf
The CT-N Campaign
Finance Unit was
developed and edited
by:
Victor W. Geraci,
Ph.D. and Paul
Petterson, Ph.D.
|
