American Government Course Outline

American Government is founded on the principle that students need to gain a basic civic understanding to be effective American citizens. Therefore, this course outline focuses on the major topics that can give students this basic understanding.

• Principles and Origins of American Government
  • Three Branches of Government
  • Popular Sovereignty
  • Limited Government
  • Separation of Powers
  • Checks and Balances
  • Judicial Branch
  • Federalism
• The Constitution
• Political Parties
• Voters and Voter Behavior
• Elections
• Public Opinion and the Mass Media
• Interest Groups
• The Legislative Branch
  • House of Representatives
  • Senate
  • Congressional Powers
  • Congressional Organization
  • How a Bill Becomes a Law
• The Executive Branch
  • The Presidency
  • Presidential Powers
  • The Bureaucracy
• The Judicial Branch
• Civil Liberties
  • First Amendment Rights
  • Protecting Freedoms
• Civil Rights