Online Class: American Government 101

Course Lessons

• Lesson 1. Introduction to American Government

  The lesson will include why, when, and how the American Government came about.

• Lesson 2. The Constitution

  This lesson will cover the framework of the Constitution, the structure, and what the Constitution does for the individual.

• Lesson 3. The Legislative Branch

  This lesson will cover the structure of the legislative branch. Topics will focus on the organization of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

• Lesson 4. The Judiciary Branch

  The organization of the federal courts and the state courts

• Lesson 5. The Executive Branch

  This lesson will focus on the Executive Branch of the Government highlighting the powers and duties of the president and of the extensive executive departments.

• Lesson 6. American Political Culture

  The November 2008, presidential elections in the United States offered the clearest demonstration of the current American political culture.

• Lesson 7. Public Opinion

  There are several types of democracies and while the U.S. certainly incorporates many democratic ideas into its government, our nation is best described as a republic.

• Lesson 8. Elections and Campaigns

  Public opinion polls may influence policy and steer our elected officials on a desired path of results, but the single most important element of the democratic process is the campaign and election process.

• Lesson 9. Interest Groups

  An interest group is a collection of people who share similar beliefs and endeavor to educate the general public about an issue.

• Lesson 10. Civil Liberties

  The freedoms extended to individuals, which are commonly referred to as civil liberties or civil rights, have changed and evolved throughout our history, and they continue to change on an almost daily basis.

• Lesson 11. Political Participation

  Throughout its entire history, the United States has been home to some of the most politically active peoples of the world

• Lesson 12. Political Parties

  A political party is an organization dedicated to the advancement of a specific political platform, or a set of beliefs on a wide range of issues.

• Lesson 13. The Media

  The media, which is today comprised of television, radio, newspapers, the Internet, and countless other sources of information, has played a vital role in American government since the country's founding.

• Lesson 14. Social Welfare

  There are a variety of social welfare programs in the United States today, economic programs, health-related services, housing development programs, and many others.

• Lesson 15. The Policy Making Process

  In this lesson, we will examine the full process of policy making, from a law's origination to the required presidential signature.

• Lesson 16. U.S. Economic Policy

  The economic policies of the United States are driven and influenced by a wide variety of factors: laws, the Constitution, lobbyists, the global economic climate, and, ultimately, the will of the people.

• Lesson 17. U.S. Foreign Policy

  The all-encompassing goal of U.S. Foreign Policy is to ensure the safety of American citizens and the international community.

• Lesson 18. U.S. Environmental Policy

  In addition to enacting laws that protect Americans' safety, environmental policy must be future-focused to assure that future generations will benefit from today's decisions.