American Government B
Course Description
This course introduces students to the American political system. The course examines the structure and operation of the institutions of the U.S. federal government; deepens students' awareness of the role of citizens, interest groups, political parties, and politicians within the American political system; builds an understanding of the role of politics and strategy in the operation of government; and understand how they impact the processes that occur within the system. Further, the course explores and instills a sense of civic duty and citizen participation. It will examine the structure and operation of the institutions of the U.S. federal government; deepen students' awareness of the role of citizens, interest groups, political parties, and politicians within the American political system; build an understanding of the role of politics and strategy in the operation of government; and understand how they impact the processes that occur within the system. Further, the course explores and instills a sense of civic duty and citizen participation.
American Political Values and Interest Groups
Learn this: I will learn how interest groups influence our American political values
Do this: I will create a project that shows that I know about:
the early American political values
what an interest group is.
how interest groups operate within our federal and state governments.
how interests groups driven the discussion and change in our American political values
Grow from: I will respond to teacher feedback.
Congress
Learn this: I will learn how our the United States Congress operates (Article 1 of the US Constitution)
Do this: I will create a project that shows that I know about:
What is the role of Congress.
What are the enumerated powers of Congress
What are the implied powers of Congress
Different committees and roles of different congressional members
Grow from: I will respond to teacher feedback.
Presidency and Executive Branch and Courts
Learn this: I will learn how the United States Constitution develops our Executive and Judicial branches (Article 2 and 3 of the US Constitution).
Do this: I will create a project that shows that I know about:
What is the role of the Executive branch?
What are the enumerated powers of the Executive branch?
What are the implied powers of the Executive branch?
Different organizations within the Presidential Cabinet and how their powers are limited
What is the role of the US Judicial system (District courts to Supreme Court)?
How the Supreme Court has fulfilled their role?
Grow from: I will respond to teacher feedback.
Social and Foreign Policy
Learn this: I will learn how the US policy influences our global world.
Do this: I will create a project that shows that I know:
What influences the United States foreign policy?
How does the United States foreign policy shape the world?
What shapes the United States social policy?
Why is US social, economic and foreign policy so important to the rest of the world?
Grow from: I will respond to teacher feedback.