U.S. Government and Politics
Class Time: 12:35 - 1:35
Grade Level: 11th - 12th
* The class is designed for juniors and seniors but sophomores who are capable of junior/senior level work may register for the course.
Instructor: Diane Harvey
Contact Information: diane.m.harvey6@gmail.com
Course Description: The United States possesses the world’s oldest, written constitution. From the moment of its conception, it presented new concepts and challenges in governing. Over the next 200 years, an astounding array of political, cultural, and technological changes would dramatically transform the nation. Through it all, the essential framework of the republic created by the 55 delegates who met in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787 would endure with only minor alterations. The government they created is the same one that carried the nation through the Civil War, economic depressions, world wars, and domestic upheavals. The basic principles it was built upon still continue to guide America as we confront new challenges posed by the 21st century.
In this course, we will discuss: 1) the ideas and philosophies behind the Constitution; 2) the institutions and structures it created; and 3) the debates and questions which have continued to evolve from it. We will begin by exploring the political thought surrounding the Founding and the form of government established by the Constitution in 1787. In light of the 2024 elections in November, we will spend the fall months studying the election process and the actors in the system including the American public, political parties, interest groups, and the media. We will then turn our attention to the branches of government and their roles in the American political system today. The final months of the course will be devoted to an examination of civil liberties, civil rights, public policymaking, and the future of American government. These topics will be examined within a historical framework so as to more fully appreciate the development of our political system and gain a greater understanding of its current operation.
This class will be highly interactive with a large degree of class participation. Students should come to class with all readings completed in order to fully contribute to our class discussions. In addition to tests and quizzes, there will be small group projects, debates, and short research assignments designed to engage students and encourage a deeper understanding of the American political system.
Tuition: $400
Class size: Minimum of 8
Course Materials: American Government: Institutions and Policies, 14th ed. by James Q. Wilson, John J. Dilulio, Jr., and Meena Bose, ISBN: 978-1285195100 (Purchase used on Amazon Marketplace)
* All other materials will be online or provided as handouts.
Teacher Qualifications: Diane Harvey is a former Assistant Professor of Government at George Mason University. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English and Political Science in 1993 and earned her doctorate in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland in 1998, specializing in American Government and Political Behavior. While completing her doctorate, she taught numerous undergraduate classes for the university and was a recipient of their Excellence in Teaching Award. Upon completion of her doctorate, she served as assistant professor and internship director in the political science department at George Mason University. She took an "early retirement" from academia to homeschool her four children, but she has returned to the classroom in recent years to teach courses in government, history, and literature to local high school students.