Semester Civics Exploration: US Government, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and More!

In this civics / social studies class, we will explore the three branches of United States government (legislative, executive, judicial); we will discuss the checks and balances between the Congress, the President, and the Supreme Court; we will explore both hidden gems and problematic elements of the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights; we will explore the First Amendment; and we will compare the American government to another country, the United Kingdom (UK).

This is the agenda for this 8 week semester civics course:
(1) Legislative Branch – US Congress (House of Representatives and Senate)
(2) Executive Branch – President, Vice President, and Cabinet (Departments/Agencies of the US Government)
(3) Judicial Branch – Supreme Court and lower Courts; separation of powers; checks and balances between the 3 branches of government
(4) A deep dive into the First Amendment of the US Constitution (free speech, religious freedom, protest)
(5) Hidden Gems in the US Constitution (Presidential veto override, interstate travel, voting rights)
(6) Problematic Elements of the US Constitution (slavery, the 13th Amendment, the Electoral College)
(7) Hidden Gems in the Bill of Rights (rights of property owners, right of the accused, personal privacy)
(8) A Comparison of the US and UK government structure

No supplies needed. There will be no printouts, no homework, and no assessment. This is an interactive class which utilizes the question and answer format, collaborative discussions, and student observations. Each learner should be prepared to participate in order to get the most from the class – students can participate verbally or in a chat with the teacher. No prior knowledge or experience is needed, but we will draw on any knowledge or experience that students bring to class.

In order to facilitate learning and maintain a classroom free of distraction, no filters will be permitted, no backgrounds may be used (except for blur), and no emojis may be used other than a raised hand. After learner verification, video can be on or off. Chat will be closed except for student/teacher messaging.

*Please check the section you're interested in to confirm whether the class is 8 daily sessions over a two-week period or once per week for 8 weeks.