4.1 American Culture

American Culture Week 4.1
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This lesson contains 27 slides, with interactive quizzes, text slides and 2 videos.

time-iconLesson duration is: 90 min

Items in this lesson

American Culture Week 4.1

Slide 1 - Slide

 Learning Aims
After this lesson you will be able to:
  • demonstrate your knowledge of the American political system
  • explain what role Americans feel that their government should play in their life
  • discuss how American values affect how the US government functions

Slide 2 - Slide

Warming up Activity
Get your device ready and see how much you can remember from last period

Slide 3 - Slide

Which is not one of the three branches of government
A
Legislative
B
Judicial
C
Executive
D
Constitutional

Slide 4 - Quiz

What makes up the Legislative branch?
A
President and Vice President
B
Congress and Senate
C
The Supreme Court
D
The President and Cabinet

Slide 5 - Quiz

How long does a Supreme Court Judge serve?
A
For life
B
Until a new president is elected
C
For four years
D
For forty years

Slide 6 - Quiz

How many members belong to the senate?
A
50
B
275
C
100
D
75

Slide 7 - Quiz

Slide 8 - Video

Why can't a US president have total authority?

Slide 9 - Open question

Slide 10 - Video

Which parts of the government are at conflict?
Which branch(es)?

Slide 11 - Open question

Federalism
  •  The US consists of 50 states which each have their own government with an executive (governor), a house of representatives and a senate, and a state court system.
  • Each level of government, federal and state, has certain powers, some powers are shared by both.

Slide 12 - Slide

Expert Group Reading Assignment
  1. In expert groups, read a section of the article in American Ways
  2. Summarize your section and answer the assigned question
  3. Present your section to the group in Teams

  • According to the Constitution, the federal government only has limited powers.
  •  However, from the Civil War onwards the federal government has become increasingly powerful.

Slide 13 - Slide

Check your understanding
Get your smartphone and see how many questions on the chapter you can answer.

Good luck!

Slide 14 - Slide

1. Americans do not want to have a strong national government because
A
they are afraid of their political leaders
B
they are afraid it will put limits on their individual freedom
C
they are more concerned with national glory

Slide 15 - Quiz

2. The Constitution of the United States
A
gives by far the most power to Congress
B
gives by far the most power to the president
C
tries to give each branch enough power to balance the others

Slide 16 - Quiz

3. The president of the United States
A
has the power to make official treaties with foreign governments without the approval of congress
B
can veto a law that has been passed by congress
C
is elected if his political party wins most of the seats in Congress

Slide 17 - Quiz

4. The Bill of Rights
A
explains the rights of Congress and the rights of the president
B
guarantees citizens of the United States specific individual rights and freedoms
C
is part of the Declaration of Independence

Slide 18 - Quiz

5. The American ideal of the free individual
A
was exemplified by the farmers and the frontier settlers in the late 1700s and early 1800s
B
was exemplified by the businessmen before the Civil War of the 1860s
C
caused the national government to grow in size and strength during the late 1800s

Slide 19 - Quiz

6. The number of electoral votes a candidate receives
A
is determined by who wins the total popular vote nationwide
B
is determined by the electoral votes of the states the candidate wins
C
is equal to the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives

Slide 20 - Quiz

7. Which of the following statements is true about the 2000 presidential election?
A
George W. Bush bacame president in 2000 because he won a plurality of votes nationwide
B
The Supreme Court played a major role in the 2000 election
C
Jeb Bush played an important role in the election because he was governor of California

Slide 21 - Quiz

8. Stronger Gun Laws are favoured by
A
the National Rifle Association
B
most of the American people
C
very few Americans

Slide 22 - Quiz

9. Which statement about lobby groups is not true?
A
They have become less powerful in recent years
B
They try to influence the government and public opinion
C
They have caused the government to get larger

Slide 23 - Quiz

10. Which statement about the traditional beliefs of the political parties is false?
A
The Democrats believe that government should play a major role in solving society's problems
B
The Republicans believe that business and free market can solve society's problems
C
The Republicans and the Democrats basically agree about the role of government and they have the same political beliefs

Slide 24 - Quiz

 Check Learning Aims
Can you:
  • demonstrate your knowledge of the American political system?
  • explain what role Americans feel that their government should play in their life?
  • discuss how American values affect how the US government functions?

Slide 25 - Slide

What is your opinion of today's lesson?

Slide 26 - Open question

Next Lesson
  1. Read page 126-136 (chapter 6) of American Ways 

But first, enjoy your vacation!

Slide 27 - Slide