Course Description
United States Government and Citizenship
The goal of this semester long course is to foster informed, responsible participation in public life. Knowing how to be a good citizen is essential to the preservation and improvement of United States democracy. Upon completion of this course the student will understand the major ideas, protections, privileges, structures, and economic systems that affect the life of a citizen in the United States political system. This course is recommended for seniors due to their proximity to voting age.
"I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not
enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to
inform their discretion." Thomas Jefferson, 1820
Content topics commonly treated in the course include:
• Political Systems/Types of Government
• American Constitution
o Federal/State Relationship
o Structure of Law
o Judicial Review
• Political Party Development
• Three Branches of Government
o President and Executive
o Congress and Legislative
o Judicial Court System
• Function of Government Bureaucracy
• State and Municipal Government
• Corruption in Government
• Individual Rights and Freedoms
• Responsibilities of Citizenship
• Elections/Democratic Process
o Campaign Structure
o Advertisement
• Democracy and Economy
• Political Spectrum
o Political Analysis
o Platform Development
The goal of this semester long course is to foster informed, responsible participation in public life. Knowing how to be a good citizen is essential to the preservation and improvement of United States democracy. Upon completion of this course the student will understand the major ideas, protections, privileges, structures, and economic systems that affect the life of a citizen in the United States political system. This course is recommended for seniors due to their proximity to voting age.
"I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not
enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to
inform their discretion." Thomas Jefferson, 1820
Content topics commonly treated in the course include:
• Political Systems/Types of Government
• American Constitution
o Federal/State Relationship
o Structure of Law
o Judicial Review
• Political Party Development
• Three Branches of Government
o President and Executive
o Congress and Legislative
o Judicial Court System
• Function of Government Bureaucracy
• State and Municipal Government
• Corruption in Government
• Individual Rights and Freedoms
• Responsibilities of Citizenship
• Elections/Democratic Process
o Campaign Structure
o Advertisement
• Democracy and Economy
• Political Spectrum
o Political Analysis
o Platform Development