Steeleville High School -Government

Prerequisites: 12 th grade enrollment

Level: 12 th grade

Credits: .5

Course Description

American government is a required senior social science class that discusses the influences, creation, and development of the United States government.

Course Objectives/ Goals:

∙Students will read and interpret the founding documents of the U.S. government.

∙Students will understand the concept of popular sovereignty and how the organization of the U.S. government reflects this principle.

∙Students will understand the process involved in elections and campaigns.

∙Students will know what impacts political participation and voter behavior.

∙Students will know their basic rights granted to them by the U.S. Bill of Rights.

Course Outline:

∙Principles of Government

The government and its purposes, the origins of government, the power and form of government

∙Beginnings of American Government

English influence, The Colonies and the Beginnings of Independence, The Confederation Period, Creating and Ratifying the Constitution

∙The Constitution

Basic Principles, Structure of the Constitution, The Amendment Process,

∙ Federalism

Federalism and the Constitution, Federal and State Responsibilities, The Changing Nature of Federalism

∙Political Parties

Party Systems and Party Roles, America’s Two-Party System, Parties in American History, Minor Parties

∙Elections and Campaigns

The Electoral Process and Elections, Campaigns, Campaign Financing

∙Political Participation and Voter Behavior

Political Participation, Voting Rights and Eligibility, Low Voter Turnout, Factors influencing voting

∙Public Opinion and Mass Media

Political Ideologies, Forming and Measuring Public Opinion

∙Interest Groups

Formation of Interest Groups, Types of Interest Groups, How Interest Groups Work

∙Congress and the Legislative Branch

Structure and Powers of Congress, Organization and Membership of Congress, How a Bill Becomes a Law, Controversial Issues

∙The Presidency

The Office of Presidency, Presidential Selection and Succession, Presidential Powers and Leadership

∙The Executive Branch and the Bureaucracy

The Federal Bureaucracy, Civil Service and the Power of the Bureaucracy

∙The Courts and the Judicial Branch

Foundations of the Judicial System, Organization of the Federal Courts, the Supreme Court

∙1 st Amendment Freedoms

Bill of Rights and Basic Freedoms, Freedom of Religion, Freedom Speech and Press, Freedom of Assembly and Petition

∙Rights of Due Process

The Principle of Due Process, Citizenship in the United States, Rights of Persons Accused of Crimes, Property and Privacy Rights

∙Civil Rights

Civil Rights for Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Civil Rights for Women, Civil Rights for all Americans, Affirmative Action

Teaching Methods:

This class is taught through lecture, discussions, guided readings, analyzing primary source documents, projects, presentations, and Supreme Court case studies.

Assessment:

Students are assessed through reading quizzes, group work, Supreme Court case studies, mock trials and exams.

Textbook:

Wood, Ethel & Stephen C. Sansone, American Government: A Complete Coursebook.Wilmington, MA: Great Source Education Group, 2000.



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Prerequisites: 12 th grade enrollment Level: 12 th grade Credits: .5 Course Description American government is a required senior social science class that discusses the influences, creation, and development of the United States government. Course Objectives/ Goals: ∙Students will read and interpret the founding documents of the U.S. government. ∙Students will understand the concept of popular sovereignty and how the organization of the U.S. government reflects this principle. ∙Students will understand the process involved in elections and campaigns. ∙Students will know what impacts political participation and voter behavior. ∙Students will know their basic rights granted to them by the U.S. Bill of Rights. Course Outline: ∙Principles of Government The government and its purposes, the origins of government, the power and form of government ∙Beginnings of American Government English influence, The Colonies and the Beginnings of Independence, The Confederation Period, Creating and Ratifying the Constitution ∙The Constitution Basic Principles, Structure of the Constitution, The Amendment Process, ∙ Federalism Federalism and the Constitution, Federal and State Responsibilities, The Changing Nature of Federalism ∙Political Parties Party Systems and Party Roles, America’s Two-Party System, Parties in American History, Minor Parties ∙Elections and Campaigns The Electoral Process and Elections, Campaigns, Campaign Financing ∙Political Participation and Voter Behavior Political Participation, Voting Rights and Eligibility, Low Voter Turnout, Factors influencing voting ∙Public Opinion and Mass Media Political Ideologies, Forming and Measuring Public Opinion ∙Interest Groups Formation of Interest Groups, Types of Interest Groups, How Interest Groups Work ∙Congress and the Legislative Branch Structure and Powers of Congress, Organization and Membership of Congress, How a Bill Becomes a Law, Controversial Issues ∙The Presidency The Office of Presidency, Presidential Selection and Succession, Presidential Powers and Leadership ∙The Executive Branch and the Bureaucracy The Federal Bureaucracy, Civil Service and the Power of the Bureaucracy ∙The Courts and the Judicial Branch Foundations of the Judicial System, Organization of the Federal Courts, the Supreme Court ∙1 st Amendment Freedoms Bill of Rights and Basic Freedoms, Freedom of Religion, Freedom Speech and Press, Freedom of Assembly and Petition ∙Rights of Due Process The Principle of Due Process, Citizenship in the United States, Rights of Persons Accused of Crimes, Property and Privacy Rights ∙Civil Rights Civil Rights for Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Civil Rights for Women, Civil Rights for all Americans, Affirmative Action Teaching Methods: This class is taught through lecture, discussions, guided readings, analyzing primary source documents, projects, presentations, and Supreme Court case studies. Assessment: Students are assessed through reading quizzes, group work, Supreme Court case studies, mock trials and exams. Textbook: Wood, Ethel & Stephen C. Sansone, American Government: A Complete Coursebook.Wilmington, MA: Great Source Education Group, 2000.