American Government/Civics

Syllabus:

Section 1:The Origins of American Government and the Role of Citizens

In this section the students will learn about:

• Different types of government that existed in the past, as well as the present.
• The reasons for why it is important to study government, particularly in a democratic political system like the United States.
• The basic structure of American government and civic engagement: who governs and the role of civic participation and engagement in American government.
• The historical context in which the U.S. government was created, including the pre-revolutionary period, the intellectual roots of the American political system, and the early Articles of Confederation that preceded the U.S. Constitution.
• The historical context for the creation of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, as well as the core features of both founding documents.
• The concept and application of federalism in American government, as laid out in the U.S. Constitution.

Lessons:

• What Is Government and Why Should We Study It?
• Politics, Power, and Participation in American Government
• The Origins of the U.S. Constitution
• The U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights
• American Federalism

Section 2: Individual Agency and Action

In this section, you will learn about:

• The civil liberties guaranteed to Americans, as laid out in the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights
• The origins of civil liberties in the U.S. context.
• The concept of civil rights and the struggle to secure equal civil rights for discriminated groups in the United States.
• How citizens participate in American government⁠ by running for office and voting for candidates.
• How public opinion interacts with and influences American politics.
• Political socialization: the process by which citizens usually form political beliefs and preferences.

Lessons:

• Civil Liberties
• Civil Rights
• Campaigns, Elections, and Voting
• Public Opinion and Politics

Section 3: Institutions of American Government

In this section, you will learn about:

• The structure and role of Congress; the process of Congressional elections; and the legislative process.
• The design of the executive branch, the presidential election process, and the roles and responsibilities of the presidency.
• The design and evolving role of federal courts in the United States since the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
• The evolution of public administration in American government and key functions performed by bureaucratic agencies.
• The division and balance of power between state and local government, as well as their varying roles and responsibilities.

Lessons:

• Congress
• The Presidency
• The Courts
• The Bureaucracy
• State and Local Government

Section 4: Mediating Institutions in American Government

In this section, you will learn about:

• How the media are organized in the United States, the function of the media in a free society, the evolution of the media, and the impact of the media on American politics.
• How political parties formed in the United States, including the evolution of the two-party system, and growing political polarization along party lines.
• What public and private interest groups are, and how they interact with and impact the political process in the United States.
• The 21st-century technological revolution: how technology has changed and continues to change the political arena and is transforming the way governments govern.

Lessons:

• The Media
• Political Parties
• Interest Groups and Lobbying
• Politics and Technology

Section 5: Public Policy and Civic Engagement in a Changing Democracy

In this section, you will learn about:

• What public policy is, the individuals and groups who play a role in shaping public policy, and the process in the United States that a policy must navigate to go from idea to implemented public policy.
• Domestic policy in the United States, including a broad range of issues related to the economy, environment, and education.
• The national budget and tax issues that serve as the fiscal foundation for creating any public policy in the United States.
• The objectives and strategic application of American foreign policy, as well as the officials and agencies that shape foreign policy.
• The expanding roles and civic responsibilities of Americans in a dynamic democracy.
• The importance of critical thinking skills and civic engagement in a democracy.

Lessons:

• Shaping Public Policy in the United States
• Domestic Policy in the United States
• Foreign Policy and National Security
• Civic Engagement in a Changing Democracy