NOTICE: This is an older course recorded with Adobe Connect and/or Vimeo recordings. We are currently working to replace the recordings with new Zoom recordings.  Please don't hesitate to email us at homeschoolconnections@gmail.com with any questions.

Dear Student,

This course is scheduled to be retired on Nov 30, 2024.  You may continue using this course; however, we highly suggest moving to the new, updated course.  

https://moodle.homeschoolconnectionsonline.com/course/view.php?id=4191#section-0

 Please check out the Live courses here: https://caravel.homeschoolconnections.com/catalog/

Total Classes: 12

Duration: 55 minutes

Prerequisite: None

Suggested Grade Level: 9th to 12th grade

Suggested Credit: 1 full semester Government

Instructor: Alison Stanley, JD

Course Description: This course will present students with an in-depth look at the foundations, institution, organization, operation, and policies of the United States' government. In Part Two, students will survey the civil rights and civil liberties guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and explore how the judiciary has interpreted the First, Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments.  The structure, rules, and influence of the media, including an examination into media bias, will also be investigated.  At the end of the year, students will be challenged to undertake a comparative study of political systems. By comparing and contrasting political institutions and processes of other countries, students will be able to derive important generalizations. 

This course will closely follow the AP curriculum and students are encouraged to take the AP or CLEP test after the completion of this course.

Course Outline: 

Class One - Rights of the Accused

Class Two - Roe v. Wade and Its Progeny

Class Three - Civil Rights

Class Four - Civil Rights (cont'd.)

Class Five - Public Opinion and Polling

Class Six - Political Ideologies and Voting

Class Seven - Political Parties

Class Eight - Elections

Class Nine - The Media

Class Ten - Interest Groups

Class Eleven - AP Exam Hints and Tips

Class Twelve - Review

Course Materials: All materials provided free. Students will be reading the United States Constitution and other foundational documents, portions of the Federalist Papers, landmark Supreme Court cases, and other relevant materials provided by the instructor. 

Homework: Expect to spend roughly two hours a week outside of class reading the assigned weekly course materials, completing automated quizzes (for immediate feedback), and writing an occasional essay. There will be a final exam at the end of the semester.