Voices & Votes

by Kasparek, Jonathan

• ISBN13: 9780870203633
• ISBN10: 0870203630
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-01-30
• Publisher: Wisconsin Historical Society

Summary

Voices and Votes: How Democracy Works in Wisconsinby Jon Kasparek is the sixth book in the Wisconsin Historical Society's New Badger History series aimed at upper elementary and middle school classrooms. The eight chapters interweave history and civics, providing a comprehensive overview of state, tribal, and local governance in Wisconsin. The accompanying teacher's guide by Bobbie Malone encourages students to compare and contrast historical circumstances with current events, so that young learners come to understand both the differences and the continuities in our evolving democratic society. Distributed for the Wisconsin Historical Society Press

Author Biography

Jon Kasparek is a lecturer at the University of Wisconsin—Waukesha.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Making Democracy Work	viii
How Does Government Work?	2	(18)
Questions to Think About	3	(1)
Government Has Different Levels	4	(5)
Why Do We Have to Have All These Levels of Government?	9	(5)
Government Can Change	14	(4)
Why Did Wisconsin Want to Become a State?	18	(1)
Looking Back	19	(1)
The Wisconsin Constitution	20	(16)
Questions to Think About	21	(1)
Constitutions Define Basic Rights and Responsibilities	22	(3)
Constitutions Describe Government	25	(2)
Constitutions Can Change . . . Sometimes	27	(1)
The Need for Consensus	28	(2)
The Story of Wisconsin's Constitution	30	(5)
Looking Back	35	(1)
State Government and Tribal Government	36	(20)
Questions to Think About	37	(1)
The Legislative Branch	38	(9)
The Executive Branch	47	(2)
The Judicial Branch	49	(3)
Checks and Balances	52	(2)
Tribal Governments	54	(1)
Looking Back	55	(1)
Government Working for the People	56	(14)
Questions to Think About	57	(1)
Teaching the People	58	(6)
Protecting Our Resources	64	(1)
Travel Around the State	65	(1)
Keeping Business Safe and Fair	66	(1)
Looking Back	67	(3)
Local Government	70	(14)
Questions to Think About	71	(1)
County Government	72	(5)
Municipal Government for Cities, Villages, and Towns	77	(6)
Looking Back	83	(1)
Who Are the Voters in Wisconsin?	84	(14)
Questions to Think About	85	(1)
Defining ``the People''	86	(2)
Women Demand the Right to Vote	88	(5)
African Americans' Struggle for the Vote	93	(2)
American Indians and the Question of Citizenship	95	(2)
Looking Back	97	(1)
Political Parties and Elections	98	(14)
Questions to Think About	99	(1)
Political Parties in Wisconsin	100	(4)
Political Parties in Wisconsin History	100	(1)
The Republican Party Is Born	100	(1)
The Progressives	101	(2)
Political Parties in Wisconsin Today	103	(1)
Elections in Wisconsin	104	(7)
Fall Elections	104	(4)
Spring Elections	108	(1)
Presidential Elections	109	(2)
Looking Back	111	(1)
Voices for Change	112	(12)
Questions to Think About	113	(1)
Our Communities/Ourselves	114	(1)
Students Organize for Change	114	(5)
Changes Take Time	119	(1)
Jumping In with Strong Feelings	120	(2)
Looking Back	122	(2)
Glossary	124	(13)
Index	137