Government

Government is a one semester class covering federal, state, and local government as well as contemporary issues in government.

Students will understand the background, basis, and operation of American government on all levels. The course will begin with the Biblical basis of government and move to a brief examination of the origins of our US system of government. We will then examine in detail the Article I (Legislative), Article II (Executive) and Article III (Judicial) powers in the Constitution, as well as the role of the bureaucracy in the modern state. Next, we will examine the role of state and local government and taxes and spending. Finally, we will review the other articles as well as engage in a brief overview of the Bill of Rights and other constitutional amendments. The instructor will add relevant current events in what will be very lively class discussions.

Students will be expected to read approximately 30 pages of material each week (part textbook, part original source material), complete 15 weekly open-book, take-home quizzes, attend a local government meeting (e.g., Sullivan County Board of Supervisors meeting, Bristol City Council meeting), memorize a short passage of scripture, and complete three closed-book, parent-proctored unit exams.

Students should expect to spend 2-3 hours per week outside of class time preparing for this course.

Parents are encouraged to engage their students in conversation on these intensely political issues and to explore the relevance of God’s Word to our political system. Parents should ensure that students complete the weekly reading assignments and take-home quizzes and proctor the unit exams.

U.S. History is recommended, but not required, as a prerequisite for this course. Students must be capable of high school level work and be prepared for robust class discussions.

This course is worth 1/2 credit of high school Social Science. Parents are responsible for managing the transcript for their student. The teacher will communicate the end-of-course grade within 2 weeks of the final class date.