Governeithers and Governors
AP US Government and Politics
How many U.S. states have Democratic governors?
How accurate was your prediction?
What surprised you most about this map?
Why do you think the GOP has such an advantage in governorship?
What is one consequence of this staggering GOP advantage?
What is one geographical pattern in the map?
Under some circumstances government can appoint people to serve in the national government. What positions may governors appoint?
Under what circumstances may they make these appointments?
What party controls the governor's mansion (the governor) and the legislature in your state and how has that personally impacted you?
Governors make state policy and lead their state executive branches. What is one other way that governors can impact national politics and policy?
Under the Articles of Confederation, the states were almost like little countries. Today, under the Constifreakingstution states have a lot less power. In the future do you think states will cease to exist?
How does this map related to federalism?
Do you think the US would be better off to have more of a unitary government (with concentration of power at the national level)?
What is one positive impact of the fact that we have state governments and governors and don't just leave all the power to the national government?
How do you think this map looks for Republican control of state legislatures?*
What is one power of state legislatures that impacts US national elections?
Considering that Republicans control the White House, the Senate, the House, the Supreme Court (majority conservative), and the majority of state governments, would it be fair to say that the US is a Republican country?
There are many more Democrats than Republicans in the U.S. How do you explain the difference in electoral numbers and in electoral outcomes?
Learning Extension
Read the Daily Kos article about state governments and how the Trump presidency may alter the state government map in 2018.
Action Extension
Contact your Governor and ask them to do the following: visit your classroom (really, this would be cool and if it is near election time - it always is - they might just do it), make your state great again, send you a photograph, write you a letter, lend you a key to the state, and make a proclamation declaring you the best dressed person in the entire state and entitling you to 15% off at McDonald's before 11 am every Tuesday. Share the results in class or online.
*Bonus Maps
