Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2012
Abstract
This article provides an overview of major campaign finance laws in the United States and then describes an engaging method for preparing students to discuss these laws and related issues. The authors suggest that educators first frame the issue by presenting background information about recent developments in campaign finance laws and innovative efforts to change them. After that, they recommend that educators introduce a guiding question about whether or not a constitutional amendment designed to limit political campaign contributions should be ratified. Students can then consider their own answers to this question by exploring a variety of pre-selected documents (listed in the article, with a link where they can be accessed) and participating in a structured academic controversy discussion. The article also describes methods of guiding and assessing students' learning during these experiences.
Recommended Citation
Levy, Brett L.M. and Hartwick, James M. M., "Teaching about Big Money in Elections: To Amend or Not to Amend the U.S. Constitution?" (2012). Educational Theory and Practice Faculty Scholarship. 27.
https://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/etap_fac_scholar/27
Terms of Use
This work is made available under the Scholars Archive Terms of Use.
Comments
Publisher Acknowledgement
This is the Publisher's PDF of the following article: Hartwick, J. M. M. 1., & Levy, B. L. M. (2012). Teaching about Big Money in Elections: To Amend or Not to Amend the U.S. Constitution? Social Education, 76(5), 236–241.