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  Civics: Course Content Outline

Themes

Throughout this course, a number of themes related to citizenship and civic life are woven into the content units described above. These themes include:

• the rights of the individual vs. the rights of society
• the sources of political and economic power decision making: who, why, and how?
• how we know what we think we know: the sources of our beliefs
• making "the system" work for you: public resources for private citizens
• not just "rights": the responsibilities of citizenship

1. The idea of government

What governments do, and do not do; why not anarchy?; the varieties of political organization, an overview; tyranny and fascism, with a focus on the Nazis and the Holocaust .

2. The U.S. Constitution

Historical background; the idea of a federal state; the plan of our government; our rights as citizens, with an emphasis on the Bill of Rights.

3. Making Laws

A study of the legislative process, and the structure of our local, state, and national legislatures; who are the people who represent us; how can citizens affect lawmaking?

4. The Judicial Branch

The structure of our court systems; key issues in the Supreme Court; the trial process; crime, punishment, and law enforcement.

5. The American President

The powers and limitations of the office of President; theelectoral process (unit will coincide with the '96 national elections); the idea of policy, and an look at major domestic and foreign policy issues involving the Executive Branch.

6. Issues in Global Citizenship

The inter-dependence of global political, economic, social, and environmental systems; the United Nations and the role of the U.S. as "world cop."

7. Education

Public education in America; decision making in our school district; issues in education today.

Check out all the links to internet resources on politics and social issues

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