Course Overview:
Learning about civics gives students the skills and knowledge necessary to be active citizens who have a positive impact on their communities. In this course, students discover the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in the United States. They learn about the structure of the government and how it works at the local, state, and federal levels. This course examines elections, the lawmaking process, and how citizens can impact public policy. Students also discover ways the United States interacts with countries around the world. Geography and economics support the learning of civics in this course. Engaging in this study prepares students to be informed citizens who are ready to participate in American democracy!
Prerequisites:
N/A
Required Materials:
You will need the following items to complete this course:
Free Downloads:
- Java
- Windows Media Player
- Apple iTunes
Syllabus:
Segment 1
- Using Maps
- Geography of the United States
- American Culture
- Effective Citizenship
- Naturalization
- Enlightenment
- Principles of American Democracy
- Declaration of Independence
- The U.S. Constitution
- Analyzing Historical Documents
- Structure and Functions of the Federal Government
- Checks and Balances
- The Bill of Rights
- The Amendment Process
- Federalism
- State and Local Governments
- Rule of Law
- The Lawmaking Process
- The U.S. Court System
- Jury Trials
- Local Government and Activism
Unit 1: Citizenship
- 01.00 Citizenship Introduction
- 01.01 The United States Defined
- 01.02 American Culture
- 01.03 Interpreting Maps and Data
- 01.04 Citizenship and Ecology
- 01.05 The Making of a U.S. Citizen
- 01.06 Effective Citizenship
Unit 2: Foundations
- 02.00 Foundations Introduction
- 02.01 Influences on the Founding Fathers
- 02.02 Important Documents In Early America
- 02.03 The Declaration of Independence
- 02.04 United States Constitution
- 02.05 Three Branches of Government
- 02.06 Balance of Power
- 02.07 Safeguarding Our Rights
- 02.08 Amending the Constitution
Unit 3: Sharing Power
- 03.00 Sharing Power Introduction
- 03.01 Federalism?
- 03.02 Comparing State and Federal Government
- 03.03 The Rule of Law
- 03.04 The Lawmaking Process
- 03.06 State and Federal Court systems
- 03.07 Trial Jury
- 03.08 Addressing Local Issues
Segment 2
- Influencing Government
- The Media
- Interest Groups
- Landmark Supreme Court Cases
- Political Parties
- Elections
- Analyzing Data
- Comparing the United States and the World
- Cultural Diffusion
- Domestic and Foreign Policy
- Trade and Currency
- International Organizations
- Basic Economic Concepts
- Competition and Entrepreneurship
- Banking in the United States
- Taxes
- Making a Budget
Unit 4: Active Citizens
- 04.00 Active Citizens Introduction
- 04.01 Judicial Review
- 04.03 Rights of the Accused
- 04.04 Freedom of Expression
- 04.05 Monitoring and Influencing Government
- 04.06 Political Candidates and Public Opinion
- 04.07 Election Process
Unit 5: Going Global
- 05.00 Going Global Introduction
- 05.01 Comparing Forms and Systems of Government
- 05.02 Standards of Living
- 05.03 Single Resource v. Diversified Economies
- 05.05 Foreign and Domestic Policies
- 05.06 Currency Exchange and Trade
- 05.07 The United States and International Affairs
Unit 6: American Money
- 06.00 American Money Introduction
- 06.01 Wants, Needs, Availability, and Costs
- 06.02 Entrepreneurs and Incentives
- 06.03 The Role of Competition
- 06.04 The Banking System
- 06.05 Taxes and Budgeting
- 06.07 Borrowing and Lending
