Project Description

Course description:
The American experiment has protected our God-given freedoms in ways that we take for granted and make us the envy of the world. It is our duty as Americans to be engaged and informed citizens – and this class will help each student become just that!

By the end of the course, students will understand features of the United States political system, such as Federalism, the branches of government, the Electoral College and political parties. As a class will explore the United States Constitution and its importance to the survival of our Republic. Students will not only understand the concepts and ideas presented to them, but also be able to apply them to a vast number of situations in the future.

Prerequisite:  10th – 12th Grade Class, US History and Elements of Composition & Literature

*****Book/Reading List*****

Prior to First Class: Please come prepared to the first class, having read the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution: Preamble, Articles I-VII and the Bill of Rights. This is the year of the Presidential election; all students are expected to keep up to date with election coverage of not only the Presidential election but also House and Senate seats.

Readings and Books: For this course we will not use a traditional textbook. Instead, we will rely heavily on primary sources as well as select secondary readings to aid in further analysis. Students should have a library card, or have access to one, and create a Hoopla account by visiting https://www.hoopladigital.com/home or downloading the Hoopla app on a mobile device.

Democracy in America – Alexis De Tocqueville – Signet Classics Version
Purchase at Amazon

Plunder and Deceit – Mark Levin
Purchase at Amazon

Economics in One Lesson – Henry Hazlitt*
Purchase at Amazon
Online PDF available here

*This book has an expired copyright and is available online in PDF format that may be accessed using a mobile device such as a phone or tablet. If you prefer, or do not have access to a device that you are able to bring to class, you may purchase the book in hard copy.

Course Resources:
Federalist Papers  http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/fed.asp
Articles of Confederation  http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/artconf.asp
The Virginia Plan  http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/vatexta.asp
The U.S. Constitution  http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/usconst.asp
Declaration of Independence  http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/declare.asp
Freedom House – Freedom of Expression rankings  http://www.freedomhouse.org 

Larry J. Sabato, Director, UVA Center for Politics  http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/