Civics & Government · 9th Grade

Active learning ideas

The Permanent Campaign

Active learning works because the permanent campaign blurs the line between governance and campaigning, making abstract concepts tangible. By analyzing real data, debating real cases, and simulating decision-making, students see how constant fundraising, polling, and media management shape every policy choice in modern politics.

• Common Core State Standards
• C3: D2.Civ.7.9-12
• C3: D2.Civ.11.9-12

• 20–50 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Socratic Seminar
• 35 min · Pairs

Data Analysis: Fundraising Timelines

Students receive a simplified dataset showing the fundraising schedules of a senator versus a House member and map when money was raised relative to their terms in office. They identify patterns and draw conclusions about how electoral calendars might shape legislative priorities and the allocation of staff attention.

Analyze the implications of the 'permanent campaign' for governance.

Facilitation Tip

During Fundraising Timelines, circulate the room to help students notice patterns in the data before they reach conclusions.

What to look for

Provide students with a hypothetical scenario: 'A mayor proposes a new tax to fund infrastructure repairs.' Ask them to write two sentences explaining how the 'permanent campaign' might influence the mayor's decision-making process, considering fundraising needs and public opinion.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 02

• Fishbowl Discussion
• 40 min · Whole Class

Fishbowl Discussion: Governance vs. Campaign Mode

A small inner circle debates whether the permanent campaign harms democratic governance or simply reflects democratic accountability, while the outer circle listens and prepares counterarguments. Roles rotate so all students participate in both positions, ensuring the discussion covers the full range of perspectives before the class draws conclusions.

Explain how constant fundraising and polling affect policy decisions.

Facilitation Tip

In the Fishbowl Discussion, remind students to ground their arguments in specific examples from the readings or cases they’ve studied.

What to look for

Pose the question: 'How does the need for constant fundraising affect the types of legislation politicians are willing to support or oppose?' Facilitate a class discussion where students can share examples and debate the trade-offs between electoral concerns and public service.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Activity 03

• Case Study Analysis
• 50 min · Small Groups

Case Study Analysis: A Bill's Journey

Small groups trace a specific piece of legislation from introduction to floor vote, mapping news coverage and fundraising activity around key votes and procedural moves. Groups present their findings, identifying any evidence of political timing and discussing whether that timing affected the bill's content or passage.

Evaluate the impact of this phenomenon on public trust in elected officials.

Facilitation Tip

For A Bill’s Journey, pause periodically to ask students to predict what might happen next based on the political pressures they’ve identified.

What to look for

Present students with a short news clip or article about a politician's recent activity. Ask them to identify one action that exemplifies the 'permanent campaign' and one action that is purely governing. They should briefly explain their reasoning for each.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Decision-Making
• Self-Management

Activity 04

• Think-Pair-Share
• 20 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Structural Reforms

Students individually propose one structural reform -- such as a campaign finance rule, a term length change, or an independent redistricting measure -- to reduce permanent campaign dynamics, explaining the problem it addresses. Pairs evaluate each other's proposals for feasibility and unintended consequences before sharing with the class.

Analyze the implications of the 'permanent campaign' for governance.

Facilitation Tip

During Think-Pair-Share, assign roles so quieter students have space to contribute and sharper students must explain their reasoning clearly.

What to look for

Provide students with a hypothetical scenario: 'A mayor proposes a new tax to fund infrastructure repairs.' Ask them to write two sentences explaining how the 'permanent campaign' might influence the mayor's decision-making process, considering fundraising needs and public opinion.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers should treat this topic as a lens to analyze power and incentives in government, not just a historical trend. Avoid framing it as partisan; instead, focus on structural pressures like fundraising costs and media cycles that push politicians toward constant campaigning. Research suggests students grasp these dynamics better through iterative analysis—first identifying tactics, then testing their effects on governance, and finally debating trade-offs. Keep discussions grounded in concrete examples to prevent abstract debates.

Successful learning looks like students consistently connecting campaign tactics to governing decisions, not just identifying them in isolation. They should explain how electoral pressures influence policy, weigh trade-offs between public service and campaign needs, and critique the permanent campaign’s effects on democracy with evidence from the activities.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• Students often claim politicians have always campaigned constantly, suggesting this is nothing new.

  During Data Analysis: Fundraising Timelines, guide students to compare pre-1970s fundraising data with modern timelines, highlighting the shift in scale and institutionalization.

• Students assume fundraising doesn’t affect policy because politicians vote their conscience.

  During Case Study: A Bill’s Journey, have students map donor interests alongside legislative changes to test whether fundraising pressures shift positions or attract aligned donors.

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Methods used in this brief

• Socratic Seminar
• Fishbowl Discussion
• Case Study Analysis
• Think-Pair-Share