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Open Congess

OpenCongress helps you track all the actions by your elected officials and what people are saying about them.

GovTrack

GovTrack.us is a tool by Civic Impulse, LLC to help the public research and track the activities in the U.S. Congress, promoting and innovating government transparency and civic education through novel uses of technology. You'll find here the status of U.S. federal legislation, voting records for the Senate and House of Representatives, information on Members of Congress, district maps, as well as congressional committees and the Congressional Record.

Opensecrets

OpenSecrets.org is your nonpartisan guide to money’s influence on U.S. elections and public policy. Whether you’re a voter, journalist, activist, student or interested citizen, use our free site to shine light on your government. Count cash and make change.

Project Votesmart

• Voting Records
• Biographical & Contact Information --
• Issue Positions (Political Courage Test) --
• Interest Group Ratings --
• Public Statements --
• Campaign Finances --

St Petersburg Times Truthometer

PolitiFact is a project of the St. Petersburg Times to help you find the truth in American politics. Reporters and editors from the Times fact-check statements by members of Congress, the White House, lobbyists and interest groups and rate them on our Truth-O-Meter.

Annenberg Fact Check Site

We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit "consumer advocate" for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. We monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases. Our goal is to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding.

Course Outline

• Course Abstract
• Course Assignments
• Course Schedule and Topics

Congressional Internships

Annenberg video case studies Please go to this site and create an account.

Here is a source on what an annotated bibliography is and how to make one .

Course Abstract

This course presents a survey of the origin and development of the U.S. government. It covers the structure of the Confederacy, Federalist papers, and functions of Congress, the Presidency and Courts as well as Interest Groups, Civil Liberties, Political Parties and Political Policy.

Assignment Types

You will be asked to do two types assignments in this class:

• Weekly Quizzes, ...................................................................50%
• Bluebooks..............................................................................50%

Extra Credit can be discussed on an individual case by case basis. A more liberal policy was being abused.

Text:

Martin .et. al. Government in America

On line readings.

Course Policies

1. Come to class on time. If you come in late on a consistent basis I will call you out in front of class for an explanation--it will embarrass you and not me.
2. No talking with one another while I am lecturing--I will dismiss you right out of class the first time and lower your grade .1 each time after that. If you have a question ask me. If it is not about class, don't talk about it.
3. No playing with your laptops, pdas, phones or homework from other classes during my class. -I will dismiss you right out of class the first time and lower your grade .1 each time after that.
4. No plagiarizing on written assignments. I provide no grace on this. I will fail you and recommend you for disciplinary action the first time you turn in a paper which is group written or palgiarize from another source. I do not even allow you to study as a group in preparation for you papers--I want each papers to reflect your individual thought, analysis and writing. I will have absolutely no mercy on this.

Daily News

It is required that you read a newspaper about politics every day. I recommend the NY Times or the Washington Post the LA Times or the Wall Street Journal as very good on National News coverage.

I also recommend that you read an "alternative" political news source. Alternative can be about:

• Specific issues (AARP Newsletter),
• Points of view (In These Times, Mother Jones, National Review)
• or from foreign countries (The Economist or The Guardian).