Holding Govt Accountable

Spring 2022: #1 through #8

Week 1: Student Power

By the completion of this learning unit, you will be able to:

Define student power
Identify at least 1 opportunity to exercise your student power on campus
Identify at least 1 opportunity to exercise your student power off campus

Week 2: Local Government

By the completion of this learning unit, you will be able to:

Define local government
Identify at least 1 type of local government
Identify at least 1 opportunity to get involved in local government

Week 3: A Semester in Sacramento or DC

By the completion of this learning unit, you will be able to:

Identify a California State University or University of California program that allows you to live and learn in the State Capitol
Identify a California State University or University of California program that allows you to live and learn in Washington D.C.

Week 4: “The Building” = California State Capitol

By the completion of this learning unit, you will be able to:

Define “The Building”
Identify at least one website were Sacramento-area jobs are posted
Identify at least one job opportunity working in the State Capitol

Week 5: State Boards and Commissions

By the completion of this learning unit, you will be able to:

Explain what State Boards and Commissions are
Describe the Appointments process
Identify at least one State Board or Commission you would be interested in attending, speaking at, or serving on

Week 6: “The Hill”

By the completion of this learning unit, you will be able to:

Define “The Hill”
Search congress.gov for legislation
Search federalregister.gov for regulations
Identify part of the information ecosystem of The Hill
Identify a job opportunity on The Hill
Example of holding the Congress accountable

Week 7: “What?! There’s a Manual?”

By the completion of this learning unit, you will be able to:

Explain the US Government Manual
Identify the major sections of the manual
Describe how the manual can be used to hold the government accountable

Week 8: Congressional Oversight of U.S. Foreign Policy

By the completion of this presentation, you will be able to:

Explain how the rock-paper-scissors game is an analog to the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives and the White House
Identify at least 2 types of foreign policy
Identify at least 2 executive branch departments or agencies that conduct foreign policy
Identify at least 1 congressional committee

Spring 2022: #9 through #16

Week 9: Holding the President Accountable

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

Describe how to Contact the White House
Explain how Congress holds the President accountable
Explain how public can give comments on Executive Branch regulations
Explain how re-election elections allow the public to hold the President directly accountable

Week 10: Holding State Government Accountable

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

Identify California Legislative Information website
Explain how state legislation is presented
Describe where to contact state-level elected officials

Week 11: Democratic Accountability

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

Explain why elections are the clearest form of democratic accountability
Describe how democratic accountability is strained during times of polarization and division

Week 12: Interaction between the State and Federal Government

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

Define federalisms
Explain how the federal government and state governments interact

Week 13: Holding the State Courts Accountable

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

Explain the structure of California’s state court system
Explain the demographics of California state court judges and justices
Describe how voters weigh in on the retention or selection of judges and justices

Week 14: Holding the Federal Courts Accountable

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

Explain the structure of U.S. federal court system
Explain the demographics of federal judges and justices
Describe how voters weigh in on the selection of judges and justices
Describe recent example of congressional oversight the Courts
Describe recent example of public protests of the Courts

Week 15: Holding Local Governments Accountable

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

Define local governments
Describe the organization of a city or county or special district government
Identify one local government that you would want to offer a public comment to about an issue you care about
Define LAFCOs
Describe the role of county civil grand juries

Week 16: The Absence of Accountability

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

Explain a world where there is an absence of accountability
Describe how accountability vacuums are filled
Identify how engagement by low-propensity constituents changes the accountability matrix
Explore a case study of accountability, or lack thereof