This course is the first half of a rhetorical level course intended to introduce the student to the major themes and functions of the government, and particularly United States government.  This course will involve both writing and reading.  We will be reading a full-range of primary documents from each topic we study.  You will be learning how to read, think about, analyze, argue with, and present ideas about political science and to connect events to the larger trends and themes in world history.  This class is taught at a standard level, however, I am able to offer additional work as well as AP designation on your transcript if you would like your student to take this class at an AP level, as I am AP authorized--please contact me about this option.

This class is a discussion-based, interactive format. Each week you will be responsible for reading background material and assigned primary documents.  You will be expected to write a reading response for each of your readings.  These reading responses should be 1-2 pages on the background material for each topic.  In class, we will spend much time discussing our reading, putting themes in their historical context and asking questions about the author’s and our own worldviews.  I expect you to come to class prepared to participate in this discussion. You will also be assigned brief presentations.  These presentations will involve researching the biographical information for significant figures and key information for major moments we will study in class. 

Weekly topics:

1-What is the role and function of the government?  Why do we need to study it?, Origins of the ideas of government--Greece and Rome, democracy vs. republic

2-Magna Carta and English precedents, English Civil War and the rule of law, Enlightenment thought

3- Iroquois Confederacy contributed to the creation of the Constitution, Revolutions in history

4-Development of the US government,-Declaration of Independence

5-Problems in the Articles of Confederation/Federalist vs. Anti-Federalists

6-Constitution and Bill of Rights

7-1st president, cabinet, and precedents

8-Test 1

9-Historical development of political parties, Modern day political parties and primaries

10-Electoral college

11-Civil Rights and challenges to the Constitution

12-Amendments 

13-Presentations on the Amendments

14-Legislative branch

15-Test 2