About the Course

This course covers key points that contribute to the American experience, with special attention to governmental issues.

The book offers two kinds of end-of-chapter questions for students:

●      Review Questions: Basic recall questions from every chapter module are either open-choice or MCQ format.

●      Critical Thinking Questions: Advanced-level conceptual questions allow students to showcase their understanding by applying their knowledge from every chapter module. These questions require out-of-the-box reasoning and thinking concerning advanced concepts.

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US Government – Term 1

Chapter 1: Founding the USA

1.1 Colonial Influences on American Government
1.2 Enlightenment Thinkers and Natural Rights
1.3 The Road to Independence
1.4 The Declaration of Independence
1.5 Articles of Confederation – Structure and Weaknesses
1.6 The Constitutional Convention
1.7 The Great Compromise and 3/5 Compromise
1.8 Ratification and the Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist Debate
1.9 Written Questions
1.10 Fill in the Blanks
1.11 Multiple Choice Questions

Chapter 2: The Constitution of the United States

2.1 Structure and Preamble of the Constitution
2.2 Principles of the Constitution (Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, etc.)
2.3 The Bill of Rights and Individual Liberties
2.4 The Amendment Process
2.5 Interpreting the Constitution – Judicial Review
2.6 Notable Supreme Court Cases (Marbury v. Madison, etc.)
2.7 Written Questions
2.8 Fill in the Blanks
2.9 Multiple Choice Questions

Chapter 3: Federalism

3.1 Definition and Evolution of Federalism
3.2 Division of Powers (National, State, and Concurrent)
3.3 The Supremacy Clause and Necessary and Proper Clause
3.4 McCulloch v. Maryland and the Expansion of Federal Power
3.5 Grants-in-Aid and Fiscal Federalism
3.6 Modern Debates Over Federalism
3.7 Written Questions
3.8 Fill in the Blanks
3.9 Multiple Choice Questions

Chapter 4: Branches of U.S. Government

4.1 Overview of the Three Branches
4.2 Legislative Branch – Structure, Powers, and Processes
4.3 Executive Branch – Powers of the President and the Cabinet
4.4 Judicial Branch – Federal Court System and Judicial Authority
4.5 Checks and Balances in Action
4.6 The Role of Bureaucracy
4.7 Written Questions
4.8 Fill in the Blanks
4.9 Multiple Choice Questions

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US Government – Term 2

Chapter 1: Political Parties in the United State

1.1 History of Political Parties in the USA
1.2 Creation of Political Parties
1.3 Democratic-Republican Party
1.4 The Democrats and Republicans Split
1.5 Grassroots Campaigning
1.6 Slavery Becomes a Political Issue
1.7 Emancipation Proclamation
1.8 Economic and Industrial Growth
1.9 The Great Depression
1.10 The New Deal
1.11 The Democratic Party Dominates U.S. Politics
1.12 The Two-Party System
1.13 Other Political Systems
1.14 Cons of a Two-Party System
1.15 Becoming a Third-Party Candidate
1.16 Difficulties Running as a Third-Party Candidate
1.17 Role of Political Parties in the US
1.18 A Major Party Nomination
1.19 Citizen Involvement
1.20 Special Interest Groups
1.21 Presidential Candidates
1.22 A Democracy or a Republic
1.23 Written Questions
1.24 Multiple Choice Questions

Chapter 2: Civil Rights and Liberties

2.1 The Bill of Rights
2.2 Understanding the First Amendment
2.3 Gun Rights & the Second Amendment
2.4 The Right to Not Be Punished Cruelly
2.5 Terrorist Attacks and the Invasion of Privacy
2.6 Why Police Recite the Miranda Rights
2.7 Social Media Giants Censor Speech
2.8 Freedom of Religion
2.9 The Ten Commandments Removed
2.10 No Religious Laws
2.11 First Amendment Protects Non-Religious People
2.12 Right of Conscience Rule
2.13 Right to Assemble Peacefully
2.14 Protestors Cannot Obstruct the Public
2.15 How, When, and Where Free Speech Can Be Restricted
2.16 Freedom to Petition for a Redress of Grievances
2.17 Freedom of Speech, Even if It Is Offensive to Others
2.18 Written Questions
2.19 Multiple Choice Questions

Chapter 3: Domestic Policies

3.1 Domestic Policies
3.2 Four Categories of Domestic Policies
3.3 Kinds of Domestic Policies
3.4 Politics and Domestic Policies
3.5 Bureaucratic Organization
3.6 Characteristics of a Bureaucracy
3.7 Unconstitutional Public Policies
3.8 U.S. Presidents Impact Domestic Policy Laws
3.9 President Johnson’s Great Society Program Policies
3.10 Vietnam War and Public Backlash
3.11 President Nixon’s Public Policies
3.12 Evolution of Social Security
3.13 Social Security and the Great Depression
3.14 Social Security Act is Signed into Law
3.15 Financing Social Security
3.16 Other Amendments to Social Security
3.17 1939 Amendment
3.18 1950 Amendment
3.19 Social Security for People with Disabilities
3.20 Amendments in the 1960s
3.21 1972 Amendments Expand Social Security
3.22 Taxation of Social Security
3.23 Disability Benefits Reform Act of 1984
3.24 Current Financial Status of Social Security
3.25 Social Security Numbers
3.26 Evolution of Education Policy
3.27 States Are Responsible for Education
3.28 From 1600s to 1800s – Educational Opportunities for Boys and Girls
3.29 Politics Influence Education
3.30 Reforms in the Education Movement
3.31 The End of Segregation
3.32 The Nation at Risk Report and the Education System
3.33 A Nation at Risk 20 Years Later
3.34 More Educational Opportunities
3.35 Department of Education Fiscal Budget
3.36 Online Learning
3.37 Written Questions
3.38 Multiple Choice Questions

Chapter 4: Foreign and Defense Policies

4.1 Defense Policy
4.2 Atomic Bombs Are Dropped on Japan
4.3 Hopeful Change After WWII
4.4 Commander in Chief of the Military
4.5 Department of Defense and the Secretary of Defense
4.6 2023 National Defense Authorization Act
4.7 Foreign Policy
4.8 Presidential Power in Foreign Affairs
4.9 The National Security Council and CIA
4.10 Terrorist Attacks of 9/11 Impact Foreign and Defense Policies
4.11 “Freedom at War with Fear” – President Bush’s Speech
4.12 Foreign Policy on Exports and Imports
4.13 Written Questions
4.14 Multiple Choice Questions