Students will learn the following in this course.

CLASS 1 CHAPTER SUMMARY - THE CONGRESS:

Understanding the constitutional powers of Congress enables citizens to participate more easily in the political process. This class provides such understanding to students through its examination of the following:

 The origins of Congress
 Congressional elections
 The powers and functions of Congress
 A comparison of the bodies of Congress
 The legislative process
 The structure and powers of legislative leadership
 Decision making in Congress from the perspective of political parties, interest groups, the president, and constituents
 The people and their representatives (demographics of Congress)
 A re-examination of Congress’ role in American politics

CLASS 2 CHAPTER SUMMARY - THE PRESIDENCY:

Understanding the constitutional powers of Presidency enables citizens to participate more easily in the political process. This class provides such understanding to students through its examination of the following:

 Presidential elections
 Presidential roles in domestic and foreign policy
 The structure of the executive branch
 Key offices that influence the president in making and carrying out public policy
 The order of presidential succession
 The constitutional and statutory sources of presidential power
 Public approval
 The evolution of presidential powers
 An evaluation of presidential leadership
 The role of women in the White House

CLASS 3 CHAPTER SUMMARY - THE JUDICIARY:

Understanding the constitutional powers of Congress enables citizens to participate more easily in the political process. This class provides such understanding to students through its examination of the following:

 The origins of the U.S. judiciary
 The basis of U.S. law, including common law and code law
 The sources of U.S. law, including constitutions, statutes, judicial decisions, executive orders, and administrative law
 The structure of the federal court system
 The selection process of federal judges
 The processes of decision-making by the U.S. Supreme Court
 The notion of judges as policy makers
 Checks and balances that apply to the courts

CLASS 4 CHAPTER SUMMARY - U.S. DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN POLICY:

Understanding the constitutional powers of Congress enables citizens to participate more easily in the political process. This class provides such understanding to students through its examination of the following:

 The types of public programs by which government provides for its citizens’ basic needs
 Income security programs
 Health care policy
 Environmental protection policy
 Energy policy
 Homeland security policy
 Immigration policy
 The tools of foreign policy, including diplomacy, trade and economic policies, and military options
 The agents responsible for creating foreign policy, including the executive and legislative branches, as well as the media, interest groups of other nations, and private individuals
 A historical perspective from the ratification of the Constitution until World War II
 An analysis of the postwar era and the United States’ emergence as a world superpower
 A post-9/11 foreign policy and national security analysis
 A discussion of the future challenges confronting United States foreign policy

I have been teaching college/university and law school students since 2005 in the areas of law, political science/government, and criminal justice. I have the ability to present these topics in an age appropriate manner to students from age 11 to 18. In addition, I have 15 years of law practice and subject matter expertise in the material presented. I have first-hand knowledge and expertise in the subject matter and in the area of critical reading, analysis and synthesis. The material is designed to develop analysis skills that will advance students' critical thinking and effective problem-solving abilities.

Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the U.S. Constitution.