American Government

In this course, students will develop a rich understanding of American democracy by reading and discussing philosophical writings that influenced America’s Founding Fathers (Plato, John Locke), foundational documents of the United States (Articles of Confederation, Federalist & Antifederalist Papers), the Constitution, and prominent Supreme Court decisions. Students will learn about the “nuts and bolts” of how our government works (e.g., the three branches of government and how a bill becomes a law), while also digging deeper and interacting with the philosophical ideals that inspired our Founding Fathers. By the end of the course, students can expect to know how our government works, articulate the major camps in American political thought, and understand the crucial role that they, as citizens, play in the democratic system.

This course also parallels and thus pairs well with Schole’s Upper School American Literature and American History: Humanitas courses or it can be taken independently for those needing a required American Government credit.

NOTE: this is a once a week course that runs throughout the school year, and is the equivalent of a semester long course.

Quarter 1

**Forms of Government **

1. By looking at Plato’s _Republic _we will ask: What is government and what should the central aim of a government be?
2. The ideal form of government, and how they might pursue justice and wellbeing of the people.
3. By looking at John Locke’s _Second Treatise on _Government we will understand the development of democracy and its differences from previous forms of government.

Quarter 2

The Constitution

1. An in-depth study of the Constitution, how it’s organized and helps government to function.
2. Constitution test, Bill of Rights quiz in-class presentation & research project (Declaration of Independence), and term paper #1.

Quarter 3

The Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers and the Early Republic

1. Readings of a number of the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers.
2. A look at few early instances where the roles and powers of the three branches of government were shaped and tested.

Quarter 4

The Supreme Court and the Present Day

1. What does the American system look like today and how has history unfolded in the 20th and 21st centuries?
2. Examine select Supreme Court Decisions, regarding the role of each branch of government, and compare with the ideals espoused by the Founding Fathers.

• Computer: You will need a stable, reliable computer, running with a processor with a speed of 1 GHz or better on one of the following operating systems: Mac OS X with Mac OS 10.7 or later; Windows 8, 7, Vista (with SP1 or later), or XP (with SP3 or later). We do not recommend using an iPad or other tablet for joining classes. An inexpensive laptop or netbook would be much better solutions, as they enable you to plug an Ethernet cable directly into your computer. Please note that Chromebooks are allowed but not preferred, as they do not support certain features of the Zoom video conference software such as breakout sessions and annotation, which may be used by our teachers for class activities.
• High-Speed Internet Connection: You will also need access to high-speed Internet, preferably accessible via Ethernet cable right into your computer. Using Wi-Fi may work, but will not guarantee you the optimal use of your bandwidth. The faster your Internet, the better. We recommend using a connection with a download/upload speed of 5/1 Mbps or better. You can test your Internet connection here.
• Webcam: You may use an external webcam or one that is built in to the computer. Webcam Recommendations: Good (PC only) | Best (Mac and PC)
• Headset: We recommend using a headset rather than a built-in microphone and speakers. Using a headset reduces the level of background noise heard by the entire class. Headset Recommendations: USB | 3.5mm
• Zoom: We use a web conferencing software called Zoom for our classes, which enables students and teachers to gather from around the globe face to face in real time. Zoom is free to download and easy to use. To download Zoom:
  1. Visit zoom.us/download.
  2. Click to download the first option listed, Zoom Client for Meetings.
  3. Open and run the installer on your computer.
  4. In August, students will be provided with instructions and a link for joining their particular class.
• Scanner: In this class, students frequently submit homework assignments by scanning pages from their workbooks. Students and/or their parents should have easy access to a scanner and the ability to use it.