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American Government

American Government (Honors or Academic)

Course Outline/Description/Expectations

American Government is a required course in which the students will learn to understand the nature of political institutions and the relationship between citizens and their government at the local, state and national levels. This course will include the topics of participatory citizenship, personal responsibility, and public policy making with the goal of expanding students’ understanding of our government. Student will examine the U.S. Constitution’s effect on our political and cultural climate. They will analyze national leaders, their policies as well as the politics of shaping public policy. Students will learn to think critically about events and issues that have shaped the U.S. political system and affected its place in the global community.

Course Content: Topics covered in American Government include (but are not limited to)

1. The role of government

2. Origins of the U.S. government

3. U.S. Constitution

4. Legislative, Executive & Judicial Branch of government

5. Fundamental freedoms & individual rights

6. Public opinion/ Interest groups/ Political parties/ Electoral process

7. State & Local government

8. Comparing political & economic systems

9. International relations

Grading Scale

Level I = 60%

Level II = 30%

Level III = 10%

Cumulative Final Exam is 20% of Your Total Grade

Student Requirements & Responsibilities

1. Notebook or a section of a notebook dedicated to “American Government”.

2. Two-pocket folder or binder for handouts.

3. Ink pen – All assignments must be done in ink.

4. Text book with you every day in class. Text must be covered by second week of class.

5. Appropriate discussion is encouraged in an orderly fashion.

6. Absences: Make-up work is the student’s responsibility; ask about missed work before or after class. Make-up tests or quizzes will be completed during homeroom or at a scheduled time after school.

7. A student must have a pass to leave the room and have signed out before leaving.

8. One weekly current event summary will be required every Friday at the beginning of class, be prepared to discuss your current event. Specific topics may be assigned throughout the semester.

9. Outside reading, research & assignments will be required.

Weekly Current Event Reports

1. This assignment is due every Friday; if absent the assignment will be due the day the student returns to school.

2. The assignment will consist of a summary of a current event story from a major news source.

3. At the top of each summary there will be the name of your news source; date of the news article; name or title of the article; page or pages from the source.

4. The summary may be typed or hand written, it must be neat, punctuated, no misspelled words, expressed in your own words, and done in ink.

5. The student is required to turn in one Current Event summary each week, but can turn in additional ones up to five for additional points.

6. Length: 1 full page ½ should be a summary of the news article and the last ½ is to be an explanation of your opinion of what you read.

7. News sources that are acceptable: Erie Times News, Time, Newsweek, US News & World Report, New York Times, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Pittsburg Press, News Related Internet sources (i.e. MSNBC, etc.)

8. These summaries must be current major news developments and not sport stories, comics, Anne Landers, etc.

9. We will discuss some of these Current Events in class – be prepared to participate.

10. This is an automatic assignment which is due every Friday.

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