Teacher Facilitation Guide

Program Overview
The Democratic Process is a research-based curriculum that focuses on democracy, both in the United States and abroad. Students view video interview segments featuring four people who have powerful opinions about democracy and the role the individual must play in order to make it work. These interviews serve as a springboard for students' own research. A list of online resources is provided to support student research.

Viewing/Facilitation Strategies

Introduce the Democratic Process topic and video segments. Ask students to share examples of their current knowledge, experiences, and questions related to topics such as world democracies, constitutions, civil responsibility, school community, various election systems and campaign finance reform.
View the video segments as a class, in small groups, or individually.
Facilitate student selection of one of the research projects listed below which fits their interests and grade level.

Research Project Overview

Grades 7-9

Student Academic Standards

Students understand the essential characteristics of limited and unlimited governments.
Students understand the major characteristics of systems of shared powers and of parliamentary systems.
Students understand the importance of Americans sharing and supporting certain values, beliefs, and principles of American constitutional democracy.
Students understand the differences and similarities between world democracies.
Students understand what democracy means to them.
Students understand the connection between civic participation and democracy. .
Students assess the level of civic involvement in their school community, developing a survey and slide show.
Students gather and use information for research purposes.

Projects and Investigations:

World Democracies
In the video segments, Consumer Crusader Ralph Nader says, "The constitution is not just a parchment to be saluted on the Fourth of July, it's a document that gives you living rights and responsibilities which we should take hold of." Write the word "democracy' on a piece of paper, create a cluster of words and phrases that come to mind when you think of democracy. Use this cluster to compose a brief definition of democracy. Then, compare your definition to the one in the dictionary. Next, use the Resource Links to investigate democracies throughout the world, comparing and contrasting "parliamentary democracies" and "republican democracies." What shape and forms does democracy take? What makes up a constitutional state? What problems are faced by a democratic state? Chose one foreign democratic nation and read that nation's constitution, comparing it to the Constitution of the United States. Research the framers of that nation's constitution. Choose phrases or passages that you feel highlight the essence of the document and put them into your own words, creating a multimedia poster that explains the country's ideology.

In Your Own Backyard
Take a moment to think about the community where you spend much of your time: school. Do you feel that the democratic process is at work in your school? Should it be a democracy? Is there is a bond between people who are different from each other? Can you think of anything that would make your school community stronger? Who makes decisions for your school? Does your school have elected student officials? Are different student groups represented equally in student government? How do other students feel about these questions? Conduct a survey of students in your school in order to assess the level of community involvement in school civic life (try to ask only yes/no questions for the survey). Ask students if you can take their picture for your presentation, assuring them that they're survey responses will remain anonymous. Analyze your survey results. Do students feel involved in the school community? Is there "civic equality" among ages and genders of students? Write a summary of your findings and present it to the class, along with a slide show of diverse student portraits.

Grades 9-12

Student Academic Standards

Students understand the essential characteristics of limited and unlimited governments.
Students understand the major characteristics of systems of shared powers and of parliamentary systems.
Students understand the importance of Americans sharing and supporting certain values, beliefs, and principles of American constitutional democracy.
Students compare the judicial and electoral processes and institutions of selected foreign countries to those of the United States.
Students understand the campaign finance reform debate.
Students gather and use information for research purposes

Projects and Investigations:

Comparing Elections and Systems
In the video segments Mikhail Gorbachev says, "If I win a free election then I will have a double victory. If I lose there will only be one victory, but democracy will exist and that is the main thing." In the United States, we've seen how close an election can be. Using the Resource Links, research the judicial and electoral processes and institutions in one of the following countries: England, Japan, Ivory Coast, Mexico, India, Egypt, Israel, Indonesia, Germany, China, Russia, or Yugoslavia. How often are elections held? What positions do people elect officials to? Who runs the electoral process? Who ensures that elections are free and fair? What type of government does the country have? Does it have separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches? What are the basic responsibilities of each branch of this government? Compare this country's election and electoral system with that of the United States, creating a multimedia chart of their similarities and differences.

Political Cartooning
Political Cartoons have enjoyed a long tradition in world politics. Check out the political cartoon link provided in the resource links. Then create your own political cartoon on one of the following topics:

Campaign Finance Reform:
One of the most heated debates in Washington today is the question of campaign finance reform. Using the Resource Links, investigate this issue. Is campaign finance reform important in securing a true democracy? Make a list of major donors to the Bush and Gore campaigns of 2000. How much money did each of them raise? Do you think some groups use campaign donations as a way to exert influence? Learn about the campaign finance reform legislation that is being proposed. Finally, create a political cartoon depicting your views on this issue.

Two Parties Too Many?:
In the video segments, Dr. Robert H. Schuller says he is "sick and tired" of the United States "being divided left and right, conservative and liberal..." What are your feelings about the two party system? Using the Resource Links, investigate the differences between the Republican and Democratic platforms. Then research other party platforms, i.e. the Green, Libertarian and Labor Parties. Why do you think most national elections are dominated by the two major parties?

Take your cartoon a step further and animate it!

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