Government and Politics: Civics for the American Experiment

How does the structure of government influence the process of lawmaking and reflect the will of the people?

How does the division of power and shared responsibilities between federal and state governments affect the authority and purpose of government at each level?

How does the structure of government influence the process of lawmaking and reflect the will of the people?

What is the legitimate exercise of executive powers?

What is the role of courts in the American constitutional order?

How do we work through existing civic and political institutions to achieve a healthy civic society?

How do individuals, groups, and government interact to protect and promote civil rights and civil liberties in the United States?

How do civic virtues ensure a healthy civil society and constitutional republic?

What role does a constitution play in establishing a framework for governing a community, and how does it protect the rights and responsibilities of its members?

Is the Supreme Court the best branch of government to protect civil liberties?

How did John Locke’s ideas influence the Founding principles in the Declaration of Independence?

How did the Articles of Confederation limit the effectiveness of the new government?  

Why are different powers exercised at the national, state, and local levels of government?

How does federalism enable local self-government to balance the needs of the common good, address viewpoint diversity, and promote civic virtues within a community?

What are past and contemporary (modern) examples of federalism? How does federalism create tension across the levels of government?

How does this case study illuminate key concepts and processes in government and politics?

How does the structure of government impact the way decisions are made in society?

What is the relationship between gerrymandering, the concept of representation, and the principle of consent of the governed?

What does it mean to be represented in government?

How can members of Congress best represent their constituents?

How are my views and values represented in the American government?

How can the people ensure their local interests are represented at the national level?

Examine the significance of the Presidential Oath of Office.

What are the constitutional roles of the president? What skills and civic virtues are necessary for the person in this role?

Study the purpose of executive orders and their historic use. Explore common themes and what constitutes a valid use of executive power.

Explore the Presidential roles of Commander-in-Chief, Chief Diplomat, Chief Executive, and Chief Legislator.

Explore the historical expansion of presidential war powers and analyze the increasing trend of unilateral military decision-making and its impact on the constitutional balance of power.

How have presidents interpreted their role as Commander-in-Chief?

Explore the mechanisms and impacts of governmental regulations on societal and economic structures.

Does the federal bureaucracy wield too much power in the U.S. constitutional republic?

How does a peaceful transition of power help maintain the Constitution?

How have presidents used communication technologies, such as social media, to shape public views about policy goals?

What role does the Supreme Court play in the United States constitutional order?

Explore how practicing civic virtues reinforces the Founding principles and shapes political parties, voting, media, and civil society.

How can a community balance diverse needs and interests to achieve a solution that reflects the will of We the People?

Explore how modern campaigns utilize more than policies to elect candidates.

How do PACS and super PACs aid in financing political campaigns?

How do the components of the U.S. presidential electoral process function and rely on active political participation by citizens?

How has the expansion of voting rights helped shape and secure participation in democracy?

How well do interest groups represent the voices, concerns, and needs of citizens while working to connect the people and the government?

What significant role(s) does the media play in democracy?

How have various forms of media provided citizens with political information and influenced the ways in which people participate politically?

Introduce the rights protected by the first amendment.

How has the Second Amendment been interpreted by the Supreme Court, and what factors have influenced the constitutional understanding of the Second Amendment?

What are various perspectives on gun rights and gun control?

How does the concept of cruel and unusual punishment realtes to the death penalty?

How has the death penalty as it relates to the Eighth Amendment has changed over time?