Course Title:  American Government
 
1 Semesters – 5 Credits – 5 Class periods per week
 

Course Description:
Fundamental to a discussion of government in the United States is an understanding of a core of Biblical Truths.  Arguments can be made either way as to the Christian founding of the United States, but it is none-the-less truth that very godly ideas concerning relations between people and their government were included in documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.  With the founding of this nation, it is very evident that God has been faithful.  In His Sovereignty, He established a nation that would have at its core biblical principles, and a nation that would take those principles and impact the world.  Because mankind is depraved, governments were established to check that depravity.  However, since governments are made up of depraved men, checks and balances were placed on the government’s power to protect people from its excesses.  Both the people residing in that nation and the government are required to exercise good stewardship of all areas of influence.  Above all, however, this government must protect Truth and man’s ability to seek the Truth.
 
During the course, students will be required to take notes, read nightly and do various homework assignments.  Participation in class discussion and group work in class will also be necessary.  Journals (bellwork) will engage the students in thought provoking questions that will cause them to analyze the work they read the previous night or discussed the previous day in class.  Current events will allow the students to see the processes of what they are discussing in class played out in real life situations.  Several projects will permit students to take areas of study and delve deeper into those topics.  Students will be regularly assessed using quizzes, chapter tests, unit tests and finals.
 
Course Objectives:          

• Discuss the various roles of governments. 
• Examine the theories of different political scientists and compare with the Bible’s directions to government. 
• Analyze the various parts of the Constitution and discover just what the government is and is not allowed to do. 
• Examine the three branches of our government: the Legislative, Executive and Judicial branches.  Students will describe the functions and jobs of each of these branches, particularly in relation to the law. 
• Examine the Civil Liberties (granted in the Bill of Rights), and Civil Rights (determined largely through legislation), and how the Supreme Court has acted in order to protect the liberties and rights of the citizenry
• Discuss the election processes the various political parties and interest groups and examine how these provide “linkage institutions” for the people to their government.
• Analyze the election/campaign process for determining who will sit in the seats of power from the White House, to the Capitol, to the local mayors. 
• Assess just how well our current government is doing following God’s standards for government and formulate some ideas for making valid changes to the system.

 
Textbook:
 
The Bible
Holt’s American Government.  Kelman.  Holt, Rhinehart, Winston:  2003.
 
Prerequisites:
 
Senior standing and completion of United States History