Hello Class,
Hope you are enjoying your break. For those of you working on the extra credit assignment (the forty FRQ's), if you are looking for missing pages, they can be found at:
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/usgov/samp.html?usgovpol
Remember, this FRQ assignment will be due before May 3rd (the date of the test). It's all or nothing-no partial credit.
I just received an email from the Whole Foods lady. She said she will donate 250 cookies to our cause. This would help pay for all students who had to pay extra $73 ($86-$13=$73) for our class. For those nine students who would like to participate to raise the $657 we will need to sell the cookies next week. Let me know if you are interested. I'll poll you in class on Tuesday. Continue to enjoy the Break!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Finishing Off Fiscal and Monetary Policy
Hi Class. On Monday, we will finish off Fiscal and Monetary Policy by taking a multiple choice quiz (10 questions) which can be f0und on my workspace at: http://www.mtbarclay.com/mrbarclaysgovernmentclassalisalhighschool200708/id13.html
Right next to the quiz is a link that offers a short and concise explanation of both Fiscal and Monetary policies. Take a look at it. It may be helpful review for those AP Econ students and certainly for our students not taking AP Econ.
For the rest of the week, I will focus on Environmental Policy and Foreign Policy. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Right next to the quiz is a link that offers a short and concise explanation of both Fiscal and Monetary policies. Take a look at it. It may be helpful review for those AP Econ students and certainly for our students not taking AP Econ.
For the rest of the week, I will focus on Environmental Policy and Foreign Policy. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Friday, March 19, 2010
2008 Fiscal and Monetary Policy DBQ Student Response
a) Fiscal Policy refers to the budget and revenue, or taxing and spending.
b) The Executive Branch draws up and proposes a budget for each fiscal year, which is generally the basis for federal spending (though it is usually passed in altered form).
c) Congress ultimately controls fiscal policy; all bills for raising or appropriating money must go through it.
d) Monetary Policy is the amount of money in the market; it is used by the Fed to control interest rates.
e) One reason the Federal Reserve Board (or Fed) is given independence in monetary policy is to prevent political interference. For this reason the Chairman is given a 6-year term rather than changing with each new president. He or she is supposed to be a technocrat rather than a political appointee. Another reason for the Fed's independence is to allow for swift action. It's much easier for a small board to respond immediately to a problem than for a 535-member Congress.
b) The Executive Branch draws up and proposes a budget for each fiscal year, which is generally the basis for federal spending (though it is usually passed in altered form).
c) Congress ultimately controls fiscal policy; all bills for raising or appropriating money must go through it.
d) Monetary Policy is the amount of money in the market; it is used by the Fed to control interest rates.
e) One reason the Federal Reserve Board (or Fed) is given independence in monetary policy is to prevent political interference. For this reason the Chairman is given a 6-year term rather than changing with each new president. He or she is supposed to be a technocrat rather than a political appointee. Another reason for the Fed's independence is to allow for swift action. It's much easier for a small board to respond immediately to a problem than for a 535-member Congress.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
2002 Sample Response on Social Policy: Due Tomorrow in Class
This Answer Earned Full Credit on the Exam in 2002
A) The figure shows that, since 1965, the government has decreased its spending on benefits for children while increasing these for the elderly. In 1965, about 37% of welfare spending was spent on children which decreased to less than 25% by 1985. In contrast, the elderly received 21% of benefits in 1965 which increased to 33% in 1985.
B) Two main factors explain this trend. First is the growing population of older people. While it has not yet peaked, it has definitely been expanding. Second is that the elderly have a much larger say in government than children. The elderly vote in high numbers while children cannot vote and their younger parents vote less than the elderly. The elderly also have political action committees to promote their causes while children don't.
C) Because elderly people vote more and are increasing in size, representatives pay more attention to what the elderly want since representatives know they need the support of the elderly to be re-elected. Political activism causes the concerns of the elderly to be heard more, so politicians spend more money on the elderly to make them happy. This money has to come from someplace so so cuts are made from programs of less vocal people like children. Also, even if the government was not increasing the amount of benefits per person, the number of elderly persons is going up, so spending would increase on them, while children in comparison, have not been expanding as fast in the general p0pulation.
B) Two main factors explain this trend. First is the growing population of older people. While it has not yet peaked, it has definitely been expanding. Second is that the elderly have a much larger say in government than children. The elderly vote in high numbers while children cannot vote and their younger parents vote less than the elderly. The elderly also have political action committees to promote their causes while children don't.
C) Because elderly people vote more and are increasing in size, representatives pay more attention to what the elderly want since representatives know they need the support of the elderly to be re-elected. Political activism causes the concerns of the elderly to be heard more, so politicians spend more money on the elderly to make them happy. This money has to come from someplace so so cuts are made from programs of less vocal people like children. Also, even if the government was not increasing the amount of benefits per person, the number of elderly persons is going up, so spending would increase on them, while children in comparison, have not been expanding as fast in the general p0pulation.
Fiscal and Monetary Policy
Class,
Tomorrow I will be talking about Fiscal and Monetary policy in class. There will be a Sabato quiz to start things out on this topic. Please read pages: 669-682 in preparation for the quiz. These pages contain information on economic policy. We are moving ahead "a la carte" for Public Policy. I can't be as linear as I have been for the majority of this year's class. We still have the Civil Liberties and Rights unit which we'll start upon our return from Spring Break.
So, tomorrow we'll start out with the Sabato quiz, I'll have a very brief lecture on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, then I will show you a 30 minute Economics U$A video on the same topic. I will also assign you the FRQ on Fiscal and Monetary Policy (it's also in your packet) which can be found at: http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap08_go_po_us_frq.pdf
See you tomorrow!
Tomorrow I will be talking about Fiscal and Monetary policy in class. There will be a Sabato quiz to start things out on this topic. Please read pages: 669-682 in preparation for the quiz. These pages contain information on economic policy. We are moving ahead "a la carte" for Public Policy. I can't be as linear as I have been for the majority of this year's class. We still have the Civil Liberties and Rights unit which we'll start upon our return from Spring Break.
So, tomorrow we'll start out with the Sabato quiz, I'll have a very brief lecture on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, then I will show you a 30 minute Economics U$A video on the same topic. I will also assign you the FRQ on Fiscal and Monetary Policy (it's also in your packet) which can be found at: http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap08_go_po_us_frq.pdf
See you tomorrow!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
For Monday
For Monday you will be quizzed on Sabato pages: 632-636. There will be testing on Tuesday through Thursday (?) for the CAHSEE so our schedule will be somewhat "fouled up." My goal is to get through the Public Policy Unit with time to spare for Civil Liberties/Civil Rights. Our time is getting shorter.
Continue the reading with Sabato as mentioned above. The other Wilson reading handout (that was given to you on Friday) is for students who really desire to "nail down" public policy concepts. It is optional. Additionally, on Friday I passed out APGOPO questions that were for the readings that you did last Tuesday . Apparently, some of the pages may have been missing. You need to let me know if you are missing pages (the questions on social, economic and foreign policy). You are responsible for getting those questions answered before the next notebook check.
Regarding fundraising for APGOPO waivers, I need more "buy in" from you. I don't sense the urgency that this undertaking requires. I need to know that you are willing to get involved in such things as: (1) selling cookies in front of Wal-Mart on a Saturday (2) making a big poster to advertise where the money is going (i.e. "Fundraising AHS f0r AP Test") (3) someone to take care of the cashbox and to turn it in...etc. This sort of thing would require coordination and extra work. I am willing to help you every step of the way, however, I need to know from you that you will get involved....Let me know!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend and see you Monday!!!
Continue the reading with Sabato as mentioned above. The other Wilson reading handout (that was given to you on Friday) is for students who really desire to "nail down" public policy concepts. It is optional. Additionally, on Friday I passed out APGOPO questions that were for the readings that you did last Tuesday . Apparently, some of the pages may have been missing. You need to let me know if you are missing pages (the questions on social, economic and foreign policy). You are responsible for getting those questions answered before the next notebook check.
Regarding fundraising for APGOPO waivers, I need more "buy in" from you. I don't sense the urgency that this undertaking requires. I need to know that you are willing to get involved in such things as: (1) selling cookies in front of Wal-Mart on a Saturday (2) making a big poster to advertise where the money is going (i.e. "Fundraising AHS f0r AP Test") (3) someone to take care of the cashbox and to turn it in...etc. This sort of thing would require coordination and extra work. I am willing to help you every step of the way, however, I need to know from you that you will get involved....Let me know!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend and see you Monday!!!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Tomorrow's Reading
Class, for tonight read Sabato, pages 620 to 625. There will be a quiz tomorrow as their was today. I will be absent tomorrow. Mr. Cisneros (Juan) will be subbing for me. I want you following the quiz, to work on the APGOPO reading on Public Policy that Hector passed out to you today (the bundled pages). Please do the entire reading and answer the questions in class. Please work INDIVIDUALLY on this assignment. I'll be back on Wednesday....
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