South Dakota State Government Project

MDU Overview

JASON FERSDAHL

THEMES:

My MDU will take place in Government class. It will be a multi-disciplinary unit involving College Prep English, English IV, and senior level Computer classes. The theme will be “South Dakota Government”.

OBJECTIVES:

1. Students will produce four letters using proper formal letter writing format. Two of the letters will go to each of the sponsors of the bills the students will research and two of the letters will go to the legislators of their home district.

2. Students will address four basic questions in their letters: 1) Why was this bill sponsored? 2) How will the bill change existing law? 3) How will the bill affect young people? 4) Do you think the bill will become law? Why/why not?

3. Students will practice Internet research skills by utilizing the Legislative Research Council to track their bills through the South Dakota Legislature.

Objectives Students Will Be Responsible For In My MDU

I. Bill Research

A. Students will be required to choose one Senate bill and one House bill to follow through the South Dakota Legislature. The bill should be of interest to them and must be approved by the teacher.

B. Students will be required to keep a journal of their bills including the following ideas

1. The original text of the bill

2. Any amendments made to the bill

3. The history of the bill status

4. A summary of how the bill will effect existing law

5. Their opinions on the bill.

II. Letter Writing

A. Students will create four letters to be written to the sponsors of each bill and their district Senator or representative.

1. The letters will be written in formal letter format that will be assessed by the English teacher and myself.

B. Students will address four basic questions in their letters.

C. Letters will be written encouraging a response from the legislators

III. Research

A. Students will use the Internet to research their bills of choice. They will use the Legislative Research Council’s Bill Directory to follow the bills through the legislative process.

B. Students will utilize the Internet for valuable research and comprehend its value for future use.

South Dakota Government Content Standards Covered In My MDU

Students will:

1. Analyze the interrelationships and structures of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches with regard to the constitutional requirements and institutional procedures; the legislative process; judicial review; the hierarchy of the federal court system; the presidential powers including expressed and implied; executive departments, regulatory bureaucracies, and agencies; and the impact of bureaucracies and government agencies on the U.S. constitutional system.

2. Analyze local public issues and distinguish between state and local governments including cities, counties and towns.

3. Develop the skills needed for informed participation in public affairs by analyzing public issues, evaluating candidates for public office, evaluating the performance of public officials, and communicating with public officials.

4. Explain and give current examples of how political parties, interest groups, the media, and individuals influence the policy agenda and decision-making of government institutions.

5. Analyze current issues confronting local, state, and national governments in terms of perennial challenges to democracies, including conflicts between majority rule and minority rights, individual rights and the public interest, levels of taxation and the expectation of public services, and state and national authority in a federal system.

Timeline for South Dakota Government Project

Week 1:

Day 1: -Introduce Project: Expectations, Requirements, and Assessment

-Begin Researching Bills

Day 2: -Continue Researching Bills

-Have Bills Chosen and Recorded with Teacher

Day 3: Letter Writing

Day 4: Letter Writing

Week 2: