Fostering academic excellence and biblical virtue to equip students for lives as local and global Christian servants.

U.S. Government (One Semester)

Course Catalog ID:
3793
Subject Categories:
Government
Description

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.

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.

“I loved this course!! At the beginning of the year, I wasn’t into government and politics that much, and honestly expected this to be one of my least favorite classes. But it’s turned out to be one of my favorites! I went from knowing practically nothing to actually understanding and appreciating discussion of national and international government. I have so greatly enjoyed the in-class lectures, because they were discussed next to current events which made the material much more interesting and relevant. Even if you don’t like the subject of government and politics, you might be surprised by how much fun you have in this class!”

Anna B
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Student

“I found this course to be a really good overview of the U.S. government, especially with the readable textbook. I also really enjoyed the lectures, as the teacher knows how to make things fun while explaining complicated issues. He also makes connections to current events and educated guesses about the future, which I found very valuable.”

Ariel S
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Student

“This course taught me the important basics of U.S. government, and I am able to leave this class with a well-rounded understanding of how America works. The teacher is a wonderful lecturer and challenges his students to think for themselves.”

Lindy H
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Student

“Knowing about our government is so important as teenagers get older and must vote and have opinions. I never really was interested in or understood the U.S. government, but this class really helped me want to understand my government and think about what my views are on what is going on in the world. I never thought that I would like this class so much. The teacher is amazing and all the assignments and projects are very interesting. So, I definitely recommend taking this class!”

Ketsia C
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Student

“This course covers the Constitution, our job as U.S. citizens, the moral implications of policy, and much more. Before I took this class, I knew very little about the Supreme Court, the motives of politicians, and the opinions of the founding fathers and their intentions for the Constitution. Now, after the class, I have a much more robust understanding of how and why our government operates the way it does and, more importantly, how to fix it. If you want to learn how to change the U.S. for the better, I highly recommend this class. The teacher is also super fun and engaging. He knows almost too much about the federal government.”

Zane E
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Student

“When I started U.S. Government, I knew little about the functions and state of America’s government. Through this class, not only have I learned how and why the government acts, but also the role that I play in government. I learned that as an individual, I should learn as much as I can about the government to be able to influence it for good, but my more important responsibility is to pray for those in authority over me.”

Lawrence C
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Student
Reviews from Students and Parents