Civics and American Government

Course Description and Essential Knowledge

This course is designed to give the student a better understanding of the framework of government on both the national and local level. Through the course you will gain a deeper understanding of your own political thought, and the thoughts of those in power. We will also spend a lot of time discussing current events.

Textbooks

We will utilize 2 digital textbooks for this course. These are: 

Young Voices – Available: https://youngvoicestext.org/

American Government – Available: http://www.ushistory.org/gov/

Units of Study:

Unit 1: Introduction to Government

Unit 2: Foundations of American Government 

Unit 3: The Constitution & Federalism 

Unit 4: Political Parties & Ideology 

Unit 5: Campaigns and Elections 

Unit 6: The Legislative Branch 

Unit 7: The Executive Branch 

Unit 8: The Judicial Branch 

Unit 9: Civil Liberties 

Unit 10: Foreign Policy and Comparative Government 

Unit 11: State & Local Government

Goals of the Course          

1. Students will acquire knowledge of Civics and American Government including specific names, terms, and concepts.
2. Students will weave together the skills and content of civics, history, and geography and learn how they affect each other.
3. Students will consider multiple perspectives, weigh evidence, and make sound judgments about the contemporary world.
4. These processes build student confidence as critical thinkers.
5. Learners will leave prepared for advanced level courses in the social sciences and some of the analytical tasks common to the 21st century work world.