Why should you care about power, politics, and government?

Why should you care about power, politics, and government? **Please take a sheet of paper and write a 1-2 sentence response to this question. 1

Preview Follow these steps to complete a “personal power assessment.” • For example, • Me – Question 1 • Mr. Juracka • Ms. Columbe • Dr. Torres • Chase Bank • State of Il • Etc,etc. • Me – Question 2 • My kids • My students? • Make a list of all the individuals and institutions, that have power over you. For each item, briefly describe how it has power over you. • Now make a list of all the individuals and institutions in which you have power. For each item, briefly describe how you have power. 2

Reading Read Section 1.1. Then, respond to these questions: • What viewpoint did many colonial Americans hold about government? • Does this attitude continue to be held by contemporary Americans? • Why do you think there is a mistrust of government? • Is government a “necessary evil” or even necessary at all? 3

The Chip Game You will be playing a game in which you trade colored chips. Follow these rules to play: • For each round, you will have two minutes to trade your chips. All trades—including those in progress—must stop when the time is up. • After trading, the student with the most points will be asked to make a rule for the next round. That rule will apply only to the next round. I will randomly give you some chips of different colors to play the chip game. 4

The Chip Game: Round 1 You may begin trading. You have two minutes!!!! 5

The Chip Game: Round 1 All trades must stop now! Use these points to calculate the point value of your chips: White = 10 points Blue = 25 points Yellow = 50 points Purple = 100 points Who has the most points? Now the student with the most points will make a rule for the next round. The new rule cannot end all trading and will apply only to the next round of trading. I will write this new rule on the board so everyone can see it. Remember, this new rule only applies to the next round. 100 Points 50 Points 25 Points 10 Points 6

The Chip Game: Round 2 Let’s play another round of trading. You may begin trading. All trades must stop now! Calculate your points. Who has the most points? Now the student with the most points will make a rule for the next round. The new rule cannot end all trading and will apply only to the next round of trading. I will write this new rule on the board so everyone can see it. Remember, this new rule only applies to the next round. 7

The Chip Game: Round 3 Let’s play another round of trading. You may begin trading. All trades must stop now! Calculate your points. Who has the most points? Now the student with the most points will make a rule for the next round. The new rule cannot end all trading and will apply only to the next round of trading. I will write this new rule on the board so everyone can see it. Remember, this new rule only applies to the next round. 8

Experiential Exercise Please write a brief summary of the following: • What happened to you during the game? • What happened in the class during the game? • What do you think this game was about? • Based on this experience, how would you define power? • Why might power be related to a course on American politics and government? 9

Using your text, please define the terms on the handout and provide an example for each. Chapter 1 Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Power, Politics, and You Read the “Power, Politics and You” section of the chapter on page 16 and 17. Then respond to the following questions: • According to Alvin Toffler, what are the three kinds of power? Give an example of each. • Which of these three kinds is the highest quality of power? • Why should you care about knowledge as a kind of power? 15

Force Wealth Knowledge Knowledge is the highest quality of power and also the most democratic (anyone can learn and understand) 3 Kinds of Power

Processing • In a group of 3, read the quotations about power. • Assign each quotation a “truth ranking” from 1 to 5 (1 = never true, 5 = always true) • Select the quote that you like best and explain why. (Pick a presenter) 17

Processing “ Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men. ” Martin Luther King Jr. Strength to Love, 1963 The quote above is… 1 2 3 4 5 Never True Seldom True Sometimes True Often True Always True 18

Processing “ Power tends to corrupt, andabsolute power corrupts absolutely. ” Lord Acton Letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton, 1887 The quote above is… 1 2 3 4 5 Never True Seldom True Sometimes True Often True Always True 19

Processing “ It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it. ” Aung San Suu Kyi “Freedom from fear” speech, 1990 The quote above is… 1 2 3 4 5 Never True Seldom True Sometimes True Often True Always True 20

Processing “ ” Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. Mao Zedong The quote above is… 1 2 3 4 5 Never True Seldom True Sometimes True Often True Always True 21

Processing “ Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. ” Ronald Reagan First Inaugural Address, 1981 The quote above is… 1 2 3 4 5 Never True Seldom True Sometimes True Often True Always True 22

Processing “ When I despair, I remember that all through historythe ways of truth and love have always won. Therehave been tyrants, and murderers, and for a time theycan seem invincible, but in the end they always fail. ” Mohandas Gandhi The quote above is… 1 2 3 4 5 Never True Seldom True Sometimes True Often True Always True 23

Processing “ When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. ” Jimi Hendrix The quote above is… 1 2 3 4 5 Never True Seldom True Sometimes True Often True Always True 24

Processing “ This country has been strip-mined by rich and powerful interests. If you don’t like what they’re doing, don’t just sit there. ” Ralph Nader 1992 The quote above is… 1 2 3 4 5 Never True Seldom True Sometimes True Often True Always True 25

Processing “ The men who create power make an indispensable contribution to the Nation’s greatness, but the men who question power make a contribution just as indispensable. ” John F. Kennedy Speech at Amherst College, 1963 The quote above is… 1 2 3 4 5 Never True Seldom True Sometimes True Often True Always True 26

Why should you care about power, politics, and government?