American Politics Camp: Games About How Our Government Works

How does a bill become a law?  How do elections work?  Why do media organizations print the type of stories that they do?  How do all the pieces work together to produce the American system of national government?

This multi-day course will cover the main actors and functions of American government through a game I designed, "Statesmen, Muckrakers, and Public Servants:  A Game About American Politics."  In between each class, students look over a narrated PowerPoint which will fill them in on the basic details of our daily topic and the basic rules of the game.  

Each game is a combination of strategy and role-playing.  Students will be given a new role each day with different goals and abilities.  Students earn points by making tough decisions and being a little bit lucky.  I serve in the role as game master - making sure students understand their position and how the games work and moving the game along.

Day 1:  Interest Groups - Students will represent one of three powerful interest groups attempting to get a favorable law passed.  They will need to decide whether and how they win over office holders, the public, or both.

Day 2:  The Media - Learners will be editors and reporters working for TV, print, or Internet news organizations.  Publishing stories about scandals, gaffes, and drama will bring in the readers but makes everyone less informed.  Which will they choose?

Day 3:  Congress - Students will play members of Congress attempting to get a bill passed into law.  This is an expansion of the game in my other class ("How the Sausage is Made"); this version of the game sees a bill through from inception to getting signed into law by the President.

Day 4:  President - Learners will be nominees in a Presidential election.  In the primaries, both Democrats and Republicans need to cater to their more activist voters but then race back to the center for the general election.  Losers of the primary contest will need to decide if they want to help their party's nominee out or focus on their own reelection

NOTE:  In order to make sure this class is fun, safe, and productive with everyone, parents and learners should familiarize themselves with the Outschool Community Standards before signing up for this class and follow them once class starts (https://support.outschool.com/en/articles/16039-community-standards).   I reserve the right to move students to the waiting room or remove them from class if they depart from the standards.