Civics & American Government

Course Syllabus

Civics & American Government Calendar

Course Description and Essential Knowledge

The purpose of this course is not simply to learn the structure and function of our government, but to analyze political decisions. We will study not only how our laws are made, but why they are made and how those decisions affect our lives (especially as Catholics). It is important to understand how the Constitution of the United States frames and guides our government, while making room for new situations and interpretations. We will study court cases (past and present), economic policies, political parties, Political Action Committees (PACs), public opinion, and various other forces that shape our complex and fascinating government. You should walk away from this course with more than enough political, governmental, and economic information to enable you to make informed decisions as participating and responsible members of society. We will also spend a lot of time discussing current events for students to gain competency in media literacy.