​

Monday, 3/30

Tuesday, 3/31

Wednesday, 4/1

Thursday, 4/2

Friday, 4/3

GOVT

​

​

Find out what bill passed the House & the Senate & was signed by President Trump which offers “relief” in connection with the coronavirus situation. Write a paragraph naming the bill & listing three things that the bill does for the American people.

Write a paragraph that includes the following: What is the job of the Speaker of the House? (We talked about this.) Who is the current Speaker of the House? Name something from the coronavirus relief bill you looked up on 4/2 that the current Speaker wanted in the bill.

ECON

​

​

​

Name the bill passed by Congress & signed into law by President Trump in connection with coronavirus relief. Write a paragraph naming three things the bill does in an attempt to help the economy/Americans in connection with their economic situation.

Write a paragraph describing how the local economy is being affected by the coronavirus. Please relate to and include concepts that we have discussed in class, such as supply and demand.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Monday, 4/6

Tuesday, 4/7

Wednesday, 4/8

Thursday, 4/9

Friday, 4/10

GOVT

How many U.S. Senators are there? How many U.S. Senators does each state have? What is the role of the Senate “Majority Leader”? Who is the current Senate Majority Leader and what state does he represent? Which party controls the Senate now & what is the party breakdown (How many Democrats are there in the Senate & how many Republicans are there in the Senate?)

Write a paragraph explaining why and how the Senate and the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. disagreed with regard to the coronavirus relief bill that was recently passed. How did they resolve those differences?

Write a paragraph describing the parts of the coronavirus relief bill that Democrats and Republicans easily AGREED on. Why were these aspects easier to get into the bill than the stuff they disagreed on that you discussed for the 4/7 enrichment paragraph? Explain.

We have discussed the jobs that the federal/national government has and the jobs that the states have under FEDERALISM. “FEMA” is a part of the federal government. Review/write a paragraph about the role of FEMA under federalism and discuss the things they’re doing during the coronavirus pandemic. Explain.

NO ENRICHMENT, GOOD FRIDAY, EASTER FRIDAY, HAPPY EASTER!

ECON

We have talked about the “unemployment rate” in class. What is meant by the “unemployment rate”? Write a paragraph describing how the unemployment rate might change during the coronavirus pandemic in the USA and other countries.

​

Write a paragraph describing how workers in the Rockford area are being affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Which goods and/or services are being hardest hit by this situation? Which goods & services industries are being least affected? Explain.

Since restaurants are not allowed to be open for seating, how are restaurants still able to meet the “demand” for food and beverages in the Rockford area? Do you think the demand will be higher or lower? What about supply? Explain.

We have used the WalMart Corporation for examples of many of our economic concepts. We have extensively discussed how WalMart meets “demand” and how they “supply” goods & services. Explain how & why you think that the methods WalMart uses to meet demand will be more or less “efficient” and workable during the coronavirus pandemic. You may use examples we talked about in class as well as real-world experiences that you’ve had recently or in the past. Be sure to explain and make the connection to “supply and demand.”

NO ENRICHMENT, GOOD FRIDAY, EASTER FRIDAY, HAPPY EASTER!

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Monday, 4/13

Tuesday, 4/14

Wednesday, 4/15

Thursday, 4/16

Friday, 4/17

GOVT

Explain what is meant by a bicameral legislature. Name the 2 parts of the national legislature. Name the 2 parts of the state of Illinois’ legislature in Springfield.

What is the title of the leader of the executive branch in the state of Illinois? What is the name of the person who currently holds this position, what is his party affiliation, and how long has he had this job? What did he do before he had this job?

Explain what Gov. Pritzker has been doing to address the coronavirus pandemic in the state of Illinois.

How has President Trump been communicating with the American people regarding the coronavirus? What types of things has President Trump supported in order to address the coronavirus pandemic?

When President Trump has press briefings on the coronavirus, who else is there and what do they talk about?

ECON

Explain what has happened to the demand curve for “hydroxychloroquine” during recent weeks. How would this have affected the price of hydroxychloroquine if the normal laws of supply & demand are in effect? what has happened to the demand curve for “hydroxychloroquine” during recent weeks. How would this have affected the price of hydroxychloroquine if the normal laws of supply & demand are in effect?

​

Last week, Beef-A-Roo was selling 12 ounce shakes for $1 per shake. How did this affect the demand for shakes? Explain using the “law of demand” concepts we discussed in class.

When the price of shakes at Beef A Roo went back up to its normal price, what happened to the demand for shakes? Explain using the law of demand concepts we discussed in class.

The national government is spending a lot of money as relief related to the coronavirus. Where does this money come from? What if the government does not have enough $ to do all the things it wants? Where does it get the $ then?

What new restrictions has the government (both national and state/local) been putting on local businesses? Explain why/how you think these restrictions are or are not fair/appropriate.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Monday, 4/20

Tuesday, 4/21

Wednesday, 4/22

Thursday, 4/23

Friday, 4/24

GOVT

Write one paragraph explaining the significance and impact of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case of BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION (1954). [We talked about this in class. If you don’t remember anything, you’ll need to look it up.]

Write one paragraph explaining the significance and impact of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case of MARBURY V. MADISON (1803). [We talked about this in class. If you don’t remember anything, you’ll need to look it up.]

​

Write one paragraph explaining the significance and impact of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case of MCCULLOCH V. MARYLAND (1819). [We talked about this in class. If you don’t remember anything, you’ll need to look it up.]

​

Write one paragraph explaining the significance and impact of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case of DRED SCOTT V. SANDFORD (1857). [We talked about this in class. If you don’t remember anything, you’ll need to look it up.]

​

Write one paragraph explaining the significance and impact of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case of SCHENCK V. UNITED STATES (1919). [We talked about this in class. If you don’t remember anything, you’ll need to look it up.]

ECON

What is a FREE MARKET economy? How are prices set in a free market economy? Does the USA have a free market economy? [We talked about this in class. If you don’t remember anything, you’ll need to look it up.]

​

​

What is a COMMAND economy? How are prices set in a command economy? Give two examples of countries that have a command economy. [We talked about this in class. If you don’t remember anything, you’ll need to look it up.]

​

What is a TRADITIONAL ECONOMY? Is there a price system in a traditional economy? Give one example of a traditional economy from the modern world or from history. [We talked about this in class. If you don’t remember anything, you’ll need to look it up.]

​

How is HYPERINFLATION different from “inflation”? Why was there hyperinflation in the 1920s in Germany? What caused this situation, and do you think it could ever happen in the USA? [We talked about this in class. If you don’t remember anything, you’ll need to look it up.]

​

Are you able to tell me what the current UNEMPLOYMENT RATE is or give me an estimate of what it currently is (approximately)? Is the unemployment rate going up, going down, or remaining steady? Why?/Explain. [We talked about “unemployment rate” in class. If you don’t remember anything, you’ll need to look it up.]

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Monday, 4/27

Tuesday, 4/28

Wednesday, 4/29

Thursday, 4/30

Friday, 5/1

GOVT

Which branch of the national government is discussed in Article I of the Constitution? Describe THREE powers/jobs of this branch that are listed/discussed in Article I (1) of the Constitution.

Which branch of the national government is discussed in Article II of the Constitution? Describe THREE powers/jobs of this branch that are listed/discussed in Article II (2) of the Constitution.

Which branch of the national government is discussed in Article III of the Constitution? Describe and explain THREE powers/jobs for this branch that are discussed in Article III (3) of the Constitution.

In Article IV (4) of the Constitution, we find the FULL FAITH & CREDIT CLAUSE. What is the purpose of this language? Explain how it is relevant and/or how it has been used/applied in the USA during our history.

In Article IV (4) of the Constitution, we find the PRIVILEGES & IMMUNITIES CLAUSE. What is the point/purpose of this language? Explain/discuss how this language has been relevant and/or how it has been used/applied in the USA’s history.

ECON

Describe the economy/economic system in the country of NORTH KOREA. How are the wants & needs of the people met? Does this economic system do a good job of meeting the needs of the people? Discuss/explain.

​

Describe the economy/economic system in the country of Mexico. How are the wants & needs of the people met? Does this economic system do a good job of meeting the needs of the people? Discuss/explain.

Explain what is meant by a MONOPOLY (Do not refer to the game, please.). If a particular product is part of a market called “monopoly,” what does this mean? Give an example of a monopoly in the USA. Do you think a monopoly is good for consumers? Why/why not? Explain.

Explain what is meant by MONOPOLISTIC COMPETITION. If a particular product is part of a market called “monopolistic competition,” what does this mean? Do you think a market that is considered “monopolistic competition” is good for consumers? Why/why not? Explain.

Overall, do you think it is better for consumers if there is MORE competition amongst producers/suppliers or LESS competition? When are consumers best served, getting more products at lower prices? Explain/discuss.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Monday 5/4

Tuesday 5/5

Wednesday 5/6

Thursday 5/7

Friday 5/8

GOVT

How many “states” were there when the nation was formed? How many states are there now? Is Puerto Rico a state? Is GUAM a state? Article 4, Section 3 of the Constitution discusses the admission of new states. What is one condition that was required for a new state to be admitted (We talked about this in class)? Who/What is “in charge” of admitting new states according to Article 4, Section 3? Why hasn’t Puerto Rico been admitted as a state yet? What about Guam?

Article 4, Section 4 of the Constitution discusses the guarantee that every state will have a “republican” form of government. Discuss what this means.

Articles 5 and 7 of the Constitution discuss amending the Constitution. What is one way/route/process that an amendment could be proposed and ratified? Be sure to explain how an amendment is PROPOSED and how an amendment is RATIFIED. What does it mean when an amendment is RATIFIED?

Article 6 of the Constitution discusses the “supremacy of the national government”. What does this mean? Give an example of a scenario where the “supremacy clause,” as it’s called, would come into play.

What topic is addressed in the 2nd amendment to the Constitution? Discuss why/how this amendment has been somewhat (very?) controversial in recent history. Explain.

ECON

In recent weeks, the federal/national government has spent trillions of dollars in an effort to help alleviate the effects of the coronavirus. Do you think this is a good idea or should the states have to figure things out themselves? Explain.

​

What is the “national debt”? How much is the “national debt”? How is the national government able to spend more money than it possesses? Do you think it’s good to grow the national debt? Why/why not? Discuss.

In recent days, a large number of persons have “filed for unemployment” benefits. How many people in the USA, so far, have sought out unemployment benefits? What do you think this indicates?

Name two restrictions that Governor Pritzker has put on businesses in Rockford. What impact(s) have these restrictions had on the businesses’ ability to earn income? Do you agree that these restrictions have been needed? Do you think the restrictions you named should continue? If so, for how long? Explain.

For a recent economics assignment, I asked you to discuss competition in the economy. Some stores will “price match” when you are shopping. What does this mean? Why are they willing to do this if the store doing the price matching makes less money? Please relate your answer to the laws of demand and supply.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Monday 5/11

Tuesday 5/12

Wednesday 5/13

Thursday 5/14

Friday 5/15

GOVT

What does the 3rd amendment to the Constitution say? Is this part of the Bill of Rights? Do you think the 3rd amendment is still relevant today? Explain.

What does the 4th amendment to the Constitution say? Explain a situation with the police where th 4th amendment would be relevant. Are you required to allow the police to search your car if you are stopped? What would be a circumstance where you WOULD be required to allow the police to search your car? Discuss/explain.

Summarize an important concept from the 5th amendment to the Constitution. Explain/discuss a situation where the 5th amendment to the Constitution would be relevant to a person who is under arrest.

Summarize the 10th amendment to the Constitution. Why did the Framers include the 10th amendment? What were they worried about? (We discussed this in class.) How does the 10th amendment relate to the concept called FEDERALISM? Discuss.

When was the 14th amendment to the Constitution passed? What major event in US History had ended in 1865 which is relavant to the 14th amendment? What does the phrase “due process” mean (from the 14th amendment)? Discuss. (We talked about this in class.) NO MORE REMOTE LEARNING ASSIGNMENTS FOR THIS CLASS--ALL SENIORS.

ECON

While some businesses have had to let employees go, stores like Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, and Costco have been HIRING. Explain why this is happening. Have the government’s restrictions affected this pattern? Why/how?

​

The national government has been discussing a spending program where the national government pays for roads, bridges, and other “infrastructure” improvements/projects to the tune of possibly $2 trillion worth of spending. Why would the government do this at this time? Do you think it’s a good idea? How will this affect the unemployment rate and the economy generally? Explain/discuss.

At the start of the pandemic, many persons were concerned that hospitals would be overrun with coronavirus patients and that the healthcare system would not be able to meet this “demand” for health services.. Has this happened? Many hospitals have actually been firing/furloughing nurses and other health care workers. Why do you think this is happening? What restrictions has the government put in place which have affected the ability of health care systems (like MercyHealth, Swedish-American, etc.) to make money? Discuss.

During this pandemic (as well as before the pandemic), the economy has been/is doing better in some states than others. Why do you think this is happening? How is Illinois’s economy doing compared to nearby states like Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri? Explain/discuss.

President Trump and other government officials are discussing putting additional tariffs and other restrictions on goods coming in from China. What is a tariff? Why would the USA put tariffs on items coming from China when that means Americans and American businesses will pay higher prices for these items? Do you think these tariffs are a good idea or a bad idea, and WHY? Explain/Discuss. NO MORE REMOTE LEARNING ASSIGNMENTS FOR THIS CLASS--ALL SENIORS.

​

​

​

​

​

​