Presidential Approval and Public Opinion
Investigate how public opinion shapes presidential decision-making and the strategies presidents use to influence public support.
Key Questions
- Analyze the factors that influence presidential approval ratings.
- Explain how presidents use the 'bully pulpit' to shape public opinion.
- Critique the ethical implications of presidents prioritizing public opinion over principled decision-making.
Common Core State Standards
About This Topic
This topic traces the long struggle for gender equality, from the Seneca Falls Convention to the ratification of the 19th Amendment and beyond. Students examine the legal evolution of 'Equal Protection' for women, including the impact of Title IX on education and the failed attempt to pass the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). They also learn about the different 'levels of scrutiny' the Supreme Court uses to evaluate discrimination cases.
For 12th graders, this topic highlights how the definition of 'equality' has expanded over time. It connects to modern issues like the gender pay gap and representation in leadership. This topic comes alive when students can physically model the patterns of legal argument by applying 'intermediate scrutiny' to fictional cases of gender-based laws.
Active Learning Ideas
Formal Debate: The ERA Today
Students research the original arguments for and against the Equal Rights Amendment. They debate whether the amendment is still necessary in the 21st century or if existing laws (like the 14th Amendment) provide enough protection.
Inquiry Circle: Title IX Audit
Students research their own school or a local university's compliance with Title IX. They look beyond sports to examine how the law handles issues like STEM education, sexual harassment, and pregnant students' rights.
Think-Pair-Share: Scrutiny Levels
Provide students with three laws: one based on race, one on gender, and one on age. They must discuss why the Court treats these differently (Strict vs. Intermediate vs. Rational Basis) and if they agree with this 'hierarchy' of protection.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Common MisconceptionThe 19th Amendment gave all women the right to vote in 1920.
What to Teach Instead
While it banned gender-based voting restrictions, many women of color remained disenfranchised due to Jim Crow laws. Peer investigations into the 'Suffrage for Whom?' question help students see the intersectional nature of the movement.
Common MisconceptionTitle IX is only about women's sports.
What to Teach Instead
It applies to *any* educational program receiving federal funds. Peer-led 'Title IX Fact-Finding' helps students realize it covers everything from admissions to protection against sexual assault on campus.
Suggested Methodologies
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Intermediate Scrutiny'?
Why did the Equal Rights Amendment fail?
How can active learning help students understand gender equality?
What was the significance of Reed v. Reed?
Planning templates for Civics & Government
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