INTERNET ASSIGNMENTS
Students will learn more about American politics and government using the Internet. Students will visit a website, obtain political information, and analyze data. You will have one week to complete the assignment. Late submissions will be downgraded 2 points per day beginning the day the assignment is due.
ASSIGNMENT 1 - - Posted: October 2 Due: October 9 (25 points)
Theme: The American President (Part 1) and The Federal Budget (Part 2)
Part 1
Use the Internet Public Library website (www.ipl.org/div/potus/) to answer the following questions. The questions focus on the nine presidents from John F. Kennedy to George W. Bush. Click the name of each president to obtain information.
1. Make a list of the party identification of each president. Which party has been more successful in winning the twelve elections from 1960 to 2004? (3 points)
2. Under "Other Government Positions," what was the last (most recent) government position held by each president? (3 points)
3. Based on your answer to Question #2 above, how would you describe the road to the White House? (3 points)
4. How many presidents served two full terms (8 years)? Note: you can check the years in office under the President's name near the top of the screen. (3 points)
5. What have you learned from Question #4? (3 points)
Part 2
Use the Concord Coalition website (www.concordcoalition.org) to answer the following questions. The questions focus on federal budget spending and income. Click "Educators" at the bottom of the screen, then click "Exercises," then click "Principles and Priorities." Next, click "Download Principles and Priorities" and then click "The Budget Numbers." You will now have access to two tables - - one on Federal Spending and one for Federal Income for 2008. Note: if a registration box appears as you follow these instructions, complete the required sections so you can continue.
1. What are the top three (3) spending items (use % of outlays) in the Federal Budget? What percent of the budget is spent on these three items? (3 points)
2. What are the top two (2) income sources (use % of outlays) in the Federal Budget? What percent of the budget comes from these two income sources? (3 points)
3. Taking into consideration the entire budget, what changes, if any, would you make in Spending and Income and why? (4 points)
ASSIGNMENT 2 - - Posted: November 4 Due: November 11
Theme: Public Opinion
Part 1: Use the Gallup Poll website (www.gallup.com) to answer the following questions.
1. What percent of Americans approve of President Obama's job performance? (2 points)
2. In the "Search box" at the top of the screen, type in "Congressional Job Approval." Using the Oct 6, 2009 data, what percent of Americans approve of the way Congress is performing its job? (2 points)
3. How would you explain the difference in the results found in Questions 1 and 2 above? (5 points)
Part 2: Use the Center for American Women and Politics website (www.cawp.rutgers.edu) to answer the following questions.
1. On the Homepage, under "Women in Elective Office,' use the map of the US with color-coded states. How does Virginia rank in terms of the number of women in the state legislature: high/medium/low (circle one) (2 points)
2. Starting with the Homepage, click "Fast Facts" (top of the screen), scroll down to "Voters" and click "Gender Gap: Voting Choices in Presidential Elections."
- What is the gender gap? Define it. (3 points)
- Using the table, between 1980 and 2008, were women more likely to support the Democratic or Republican presidential candidate? Were men more likely to support the Republican or Democratic candidate? (4 points)
3. Return to the page with "Voters," click "Turnout," and then click "Gender Differences in Voter Turnout." Using the table, "Voter Turnout in Presidential Elections" that includes data for 1964-2004, in what year did the percent of women participating in presidential elections surpass that of male voters? (2 points)
4. What have you learned from Questions 2 and 3? (5 points)
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