In 200 years the U.S. government went from “revolutionary” to “American experiment” to “leader of the free world.” American liberty has become iconic, yet is still atypical enough that the U.S. is “the land of the free” in the eyes of the rest of the world. Where did the U.S. founding fathers get their unique concept of liberty, and how did they establish our government to protect and preserve it? The purpose of this course is to teach the student how our unique government came to be, how it functions, and what sustains it. We will look at the history of governments in general and the specific background of the U.S. government. We will study the Constitution as originally written and as it is interpreted today. The class will examine the role of the three branches of government (legislative, executive and judicial) and discuss how these branches act as checks and balances on each other. As we study the history of the federal government we will also look at the modern departmental structure, including State, Treasury, Defense, Interior, Agriculture, Labor, and more. Since the federal government supports and depends on state governments, we will cover state and local government structures and how they interrelate with the federal government and each other. And since the U.S. government functions (and leads) in a global setting, we will also study international relations and policies. Finally, the course will consider challenges facing the U.S. and other national governments today. Upon completion of this course, students will understand the history, functions, and relationships of the U.S. federal government in local and global contexts.
U.S. Government (One Semester)
Course Catalog ID:
3793
Subject Categories:
Government
Description
Prerequisites
Grade Levels*:
9, 10, 11, 12
* Enrollment restricted based on Date of Birth and Grad Year (whichever is more limiting). Enrollment outside these levels requires written concurrence from TPS Support.
Notes and Conditions
Suggested Pairing: Pair this course with TPS Constitutional Law for a full year of U.S. Government and Law from a conservative academic perspective. Or pair with TPS Economics for the equivalent of a full-year Civics course as required by many states.
Transcript Planning: This course satisfies state requirements for a U.S. Government course.