Description
Course Objectives and Syllabus: This course is designed to achieve the following objectives, all aligned with California Educational Standards. These objectives emphasize measurable outcomes in knowledge, civic engagement, and critical thinking:
Unit 1: “Foundations of American Government”
- Objective: Understand the principles and documents that laid the foundation for the U.S. government.
- Assignments: Analyze the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and their historical context.
Unit 2: “The Three Branches of Government”
- Objective: Explore the roles and functions of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
- Assignments: Analyze the responsibilities of each branch, study landmark Supreme Court cases, and simulate legislative processes.
Unit 3: “The Bill of Rights”
- Objective: Examine the importance of the Bill of Rights in protecting individual freedoms.
- Assignments: Analyze each amendment of the Bill of Rights, evaluate its significance, and participate in a debate on a contemporary rights issue.
Unit 4: “Elections and Voting”
- Objective: Understand the electoral process, voter rights, and political participation.
- Assignments: Research historical elections, analyze voter turnout data, and create a campaign strategy.
Unit 5: “Political Parties and Ideologies”
- Objective: Explore political parties, ideologies, and their influence on the political landscape.
- Assignments: Analyze the platforms of major parties, research third parties, and participate in a party platform simulation.
Unit 6: “The Media and Public Opinion”
- Objective: Investigate the role of media in shaping public opinion and its influence on government.
- Assignments: Analyze media bias, evaluate the impact of social media on politics, and create a media campaign.
Unit 7: “Congress: The Lawmaking Process”
- Objective: Understand the legislative process, committee work, and the role of Congress.
- Assignments: Analyze the steps of passing a bill, participate in a mock committee hearing, and propose legislation.
Unit 8: “The Presidency and Executive Branch”
- Objective: Examine the powers and responsibilities of the President and the executive branch.
- Assignments: Analyze executive orders, evaluate presidential leadership styles, and simulate a crisis response.
Unit 9: “The Judiciary and Legal System”
- Objective: Explore the federal court system and the role of the judiciary.
- Assignments: Analyze landmark Supreme Court cases, participate in a mock trial, and debate legal issues.
Unit 10: “Civil Liberties and Civil Rights”
- Objective: Understand the protection of civil liberties and the fight for civil rights.
- Assignments: Analyze significant civil rights movements, evaluate current civil liberties issues, and propose policy changes.
Unit 11: “Federalism and State Government”
- Objective: Explore the relationship between federal and state governments.
- Assignments: Analyze federalism in action, evaluate state government structures, and propose state-level reforms.
Unit 12: “Local Government and Civic Engagement”
- Objective: Understand the importance of local government and community involvement.
- Assignments: Analyze local government functions, participate in a community service project, and propose local policy changes.
Unit 13: “Public Policy and Advocacy”
- Objective: Explore the policy-making process and civic engagement in policy advocacy.
- Assignments: Analyze policy issues, create a policy advocacy plan, and present your proposal.
Interactive activities and learning path.
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