Credits: 1

Course Description:

In Government, the focus is on the principles and beliefs upon which the United States was founded and on the structure, functionalism, and powers at the national, state, and local levels. A significant focus of the course is on the U.S. Constitution, its underlying principles and ideas, and the form of government it created. Students analyze major concepts of republicanism, federalism, checks and balances, separation of powers, popular sovereignty, and individual rights, and compare the U.S. system of government with other political systems. Students identify the role of government in the U.S. free enterprise system and examine the strategic importance of places to the United States. Students analyze the impact of individuals, political parties, interest groups, and the media on the American political system, evaluate the importance of voluntary individual participation in a democratic society, and analyze the rights guaranteed and the culture of the United States. Students examine the relationship between governmental policies that encourage scientific research and use critical-thinking skills to create a product on a contemporary government issue.