Alpha Centauri: A Democracy is Born!

Project Weighting 70 marks

Objectives:
So far in this unit we have been learning about what social programs are and how they are
paid for, as well as gaining an understanding of the federal parties of Canada and their
political platforms.
In this project you will be given the opportunity to put this knowledge in action. Your colony
has been growing since you first established it. Though you were once all powerful, the
citizens have asked for a democratic government and now to retain power over your colony
you will need to create a political party with a political platform that includes information on
social programs and taxation strategy.
Go on and win that election!

Tasks:
1. Create your political party name, logo, and slogan.

2. Decide how much you will charge for income tax (percentage of wages).
a. Is your income tax progressive? (yes or no and explanation)
b. What percent do you charge for people, small businesses, and corporations?
o Create a bar graph to visualize the percentage breakdown.

3. Decide how much you will charge for sales tax (percentage of cost of item).

4. Create your political platform what policies will you be implementing if elected?
a. What types of social programs will you implement? (Must have three).
o Who benefits from each social program, why?
o Who would be against at least 1 of the social programs, why?
o Explain how your social programs will deliver a good quality of life of everyone
in the colony.
b. What other domestic, foreign policies will you implement? (Must have three. Pg 287
for inspiration).

5. Create a pie chart that visualizes how you will be spending the taxes that you collect.
This includes the percentage of money you will be putting towards each social program,
the environment, military, and anything else you would like. (pg 282 for inspiration).

Rubric:
Excellent

Satisfactory

Poor

Demonstrati
on of class
knowledge
20 marks

Information is
comprehensive and
accurate,
demonstrating a
thorough and
perceptive
understanding.

Information is valid,
but general
demonstrating an
acceptable
understanding.

Information is
overgeneralized or
superficial, demonstrating
a confused
understanding.

Clear
analysis of
taxation
model
15 marks

Analysis of ideas is
sophisticated and
effective.

Analysis of ideas is
general and
acceptable.

Analysis of ideas is
confused and/or
contradictory.

Clear
analysis of
Social
Programs
15 marks

Analysis of ideas is
sophisticated and
effective.

Analysis of ideas is
general and
acceptable.

Analysis of ideas is
confused and/or
contradictory.

Logical
argument
10 marks

Convincing, logical
arguments with
specific evidence.

Adequate
arguments with
relevant evidence
that may be
incomplete.

Simple
assertions/questionable
logic with limited
evidence

Communicati
on, including
citation
5 marks

Vocabulary is
precise, confident
control of sentence
structure. Citations
are accurate.

Vocabulary is basic,
errors do not
interfere with
communication.
Citations are
acceptable with a
few errors.

Imprecise/ inappropriate
vocabulary, errors hinder
communication. Citations
are limited with many
errors.

Overall
creativity
5 marks

Use of images and

formatting leads to
an engaging
document.

Use of images and

formatting leads to a
document that is
matter of fact.

Use of images and

formatting is limited
and/or confusing.