Description:
Responsible citizenship means more than just paying taxes. It means understanding the principles and practices of government. It also means defining personal beliefs as to what good government is. In this course, the student will take on the role of a Washington D.C. intern and spend time working throughout the nation’s capital with all three branches of the government- and beyond. As the student progresses through the internship he/she will gain a greater understanding on the history of the country's beginnings, and knowledge of how government functions at the local, state and national levels.

The purpose of this course is to help the student become an informed and active citizen. In part, the Constitution asserts that, “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed.”

Major topics and concepts include: Origins of Modern Government and Types of Government; Enlightenment Influences; Declaration of Independence; Articles of Confederation; The Constitution; Branches of Government, Checks and Balances and Federalism; Judicial Branch, the Court System, and the Supreme Court; The Amendments and the Bill of Rights; Jury Duty; Civil Rights, Civil Liberties and the Patriot Act; The Legislative Branch, Powers of Congress and Congressional Elections; Role of Political Parties and Interest Groups; How a Bill Becomes a Law; The Executive Branch, Presidential Elections and the Cabinet; The Media and Politics; Foreign, Domestic and Economic Policy; Modern Day Presidents and Presidential Impeachment; State Governments and State Constitutions; Citizenship and the Rights and Responsibilities of United States Citizens; Voting Rights and Responsibilities; Function and Role of Local Governments.

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