Capital City High School

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the origin, organization, politics and policymaking process of the United States and state governments. It fulfills the educational requirements of Missouri state law. The course is a college-level, nonpartisan introduction to key political concepts, ideas, institutions, policies, interactions, roles, and behaviors that characterize the constitutional system and political culture of the United States. Students will study U.S. foundational documents, Supreme Court decisions, and other texts and visuals to gain an understanding of the relationships and interactions among political institutions, processes, and behaviors. They will also engage in disciplinary practices that require them to read and interpret data, make comparisons and applications, and develop evidence-based arguments. In addition, they will complete a political science research or applied civics project.

Course Objectives

The objective of this course is to help the student learn the basic information about American government and become more informed in the political process.

Course Goals

Upon successful completion of this course students should be able to:

1. Describe the influence of the U.S. constitution on the origin and development of the American political, social, and economic systems.
2. Identify and explain the constitutionally derived functions and powers of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the U.S. and Missouri governments.
3. Describe and explain the American system of federalism and the relationship of the national and state governments and their relative influence and impact on the citizens.
4. Describe and comprehend the American political process as to: political parties, political campaigns, elections, and collective and individual voter behavior in a representative democracy.
5. Describe and explain the role of conventional and special interest groups and political parties in legislative and political processes.
6. Define the U.S. economic system and the role of the government in that system.
7. Describe the policy formulation process in the Federal Government in the areas of domestic and foreign policy.  Differentiate between the systemic and “real world” policy formulation processes.
8. Describe the history and evolution of the changing dynamics in the international affairs arena and their influences on foreign policy development in the U.S.
9. Explain the evolution and policy development of individual rights and liberties in U.S. history.

Required Texts (provided by teacher)

American Democracy Now 6th ed. by Brigid Harrison and Jean Harris

Recommended (not required) Texts

AMSCO Advanced Placement: United States Government and Politics, 2019 by David Wolfford

ISBN-13: 9781531112837

Kaplan AP US Government & Politics Prep Plus by Kaplan Test Prep

ISBN-13: 9781506203386

Student Evaluation  

The final grade will be a composite of an evaluation of the student’s performance in such exercises as tests, outside assignments, attendance, participation in classroom activities, and discussion.

Course Weighting Scale  

Exams/Tests/Papers/Projects

         70%

Homework/Participation/Opportunities

         20%

Term Final Exam

         10%