12th+U.S.+Government


 * Course description**

Government is inexorably entangled and enmeshed with our rights, freedoms and privileges and to the degree that we value such things, it is an integral part of our lives. Given this important interaction that government has with citizens, it seems reasonable to say that one ought to understand how the government works and the exact nature of its synergy with you. What it can and cannot do with respect to citizens. And more than that, it is important to know how to turn what is a one way interaction for many, into a dialogue. One can show her approval for a measure that she likes or her disapproval of something that she disagrees with. Or even let it be known if the government does something she believes to be illegal and have the knowledge to make that evaluation. The purpose of this class is to provide students with a functional knowledge of the US government as well as knowledge of certain theoretical and philosophical issues relevant to the government. The hope is that students will be able to use these facts to understand and interpret different governmental actions and that an exploration of theoretical and philosophical questions will help them develop informed opinions about said actions.

Students will develop this knowledge first by studying the constitution in order to derive an understanding of how the government works. Our study of the constitution will be supplemented by an American Government textbook which will fill in some of the the holes left by the Constitution. And in some cases we will discuss the differences between the way the government was intended to function and the way that it does function and whether those are changes necessitated by time and or the growth of the country or otherwise. The details that most directly influence them and the larger conceptual themes of our government. Secondly, students will be introduced to theoretical and philosophical issues as they relate to the different parts of the government we study. The purpose of political philosophy and political theory is to augment the way we understand and think about politics and government. The point of this study is not for students to come out with any one opinion, but to come away from the study with an informed opinion that influences how they view government and the tools to continue to develop and evaluate those opinions and views.

**Resources used**
Heineman, Robert et al. //American Government.// McGraw-Hill, 1995.

**Evaluation**
 Students will be evaluated on the basis of tests, essays, debates and discussions.