Our Curriculum › History & Social Studies › 11th Grade
US Government & Civics
A high school civics course on how American government is built and how it works: the ideas behind the Constitution, the three branches, civil liberties through Supreme Court cases, elections, state and local government, and comparisons with other countries. More than half of the year is applied projects, review and practice.
180 lessons
One a day for a school year
10 units
Each opens to its lessons
Policy research capstone
Paper plus presentation
Standards
Standard high school social studies
What's taught, unit by unit
Ideas behind the systemDays 1–10
Natural rights and social contract theory, reading Locke's Second Treatise, republicanism and popular sovereignty, separation of powers, Federalist No. 51, federalism, republic versus direct democracy, and parliamentary versus presidential systems.
- 1 · Welcome to US Government & Civics: Ideas Behind the System
- 2 · Natural Rights and Social Contract Theory
- 3 · Reading Locke’s Second Treatise (Excerpt)
- 4 · Republicanism and Popular Sovereignty
- 5 · Separation of Powers in Structural Depth
- 6 · Reading Federalist No. 51 (Excerpt)
- 7 · Federalism: Dividing Power Between National and State Governments
- 8 · Comparing Government Systems: Republic vs. Direct Democracy
- 9 · Comparative Government: Parliamentary vs. Presidential Systems
Plus 1 review day, not listed.
The branches and the Bill of RightsDays 11–22
Congress, how the Civil Rights Act of 1964 really became law, the executive branch and presidential powers, the federal courts, Marbury v. Madison, checks and balances, and the First Amendment, Fourth Amendment and due process through case law.
- 11 · The Legislative Branch: Structure and Function
- 12 · How a Bill Becomes a Law: The Civil Rights Act of 1964
- 13 · The Executive Branch: Structure and Function
- 14 · Presidential Powers: Enumerated and Implied
- 15 · The Judicial Branch: Structure and Function
- 16 · Reading Marbury v. Madison (Excerpt)
- 17 · Checks and Balances in Structural Depth
- 18 · The Bill of Rights: Civil Liberties in Depth
- 19 · Interpreting the First Amendment via Case Law
- 21 · Interpreting the Fourth Amendment via Case Law
- 22 · Interpreting Due Process via Case Law
Plus 1 review day, not listed.
Parties, elections, states and the wider systemDays 23–40
Political parties, interest groups, primaries and the Electoral College, federal versus unitary systems, economic regulation, state and local government, Loving v. Virginia, civil liberties versus civil rights, media, polling, bureaucracy, foreign policy and two debates.
- 23 · Political Parties: Structure and Role
- 24 · Interest Groups and Lobbying
- 25 · The Electoral Process: Primaries and General Elections
- 26 · The Electoral College
- 27 · Comparative Government: Federal vs. Unitary Systems
- 28 · Government's Relationship to the Economy: Regulation
- 29 · Structured Debate: A Policy Question
- 31 · State Government: Structure and Powers
- 32 · Local Government: Structure and Role
- 33 · Interpreting the Equal Protection Clause: Loving v. Virginia
- 34 · Civil Liberties vs. Civil Rights
- 35 · The Media's Role in Government
- 36 · Public Opinion and Polling
- 37 · Bureaucracy and Federal Agencies
- 38 · Foreign Policy and the President's Role
- 39 · Structured Debate: Electoral College vs. National Popular Vote
Plus 2 review days, not listed.
Amendments, rule of law and landmark casesDays 41–58
How the Declaration argues, the amendment process and the 19th Amendment, communism, fascism and authoritarian systems, interest group case study, ideology, the federal budget, rule of law, District of Columbia v. Heller, Brown v. Board, Court selection and civic participation.
- 41 · Reading the Declaration of Independence's Argument Structure
- 42 · The Amendment Process
- 43 · Case Study: The 19th Amendment's Ratification
- 44 · Comparative Government: Communism and Fascism
- 46 · Interest Groups: A Case Study
- 47 · Political Ideology: Comparing Conservative and Progressive Views
- 48 · Federal Budget and Fiscal Policy Basics
- 49 · Structured Debate: Term Limits for Supreme Court Justices
- 51 · Comparative Government: Authoritarian Systems
- 52 · The Rule of Law
- 53 · Interpreting the Second Amendment: District of Columbia v. Heller
- 54 · Comparing Competing Interpretations of a Constitutional Clause
- 56 · The Supreme Court's Selection Process
- 57 · Overturning Precedent: Brown v. Board of Education
- 58 · Civic Participation Beyond Voting
Plus 3 review days, not listed.
Applied projects, review and practice testsDays 59–95
Mostly practice: teaching checks and balances and federalism, Loper Bright and agency power, Truman and executive power, how the ADA passed, writing a model bill, a local issue, a mock trial, a ballot measure and campaign platform, with many review sets and timed tests.
- 59 · Practicing a Comprehensive Mixed Government Review Set
- 61 · Explainer Project: Teaching Checks and Balances
- 62 · Applied Project: Loper Bright v. Raimondo and Agency Power
- 63 · Applied Project: Truman, FDR, and the Limits of Executive Power
- 64 · Mixed Government Review: Philosophy, Branches, and Case Law
- 66 · Applied Project: How the Americans with Disabilities Act Became Law
- 67 · Reviewing Common Errors in Constitutional Analysis
- 68 · Mixed Government Review: Federalism, Treaties, and Case Law
- 69 · Timed Practice Assessment: Foundations Through the Courts
- 71 · Applied Project: Writing a Model Bill
- 72 · Applied Project: Analyzing a Local Government Issue
- 73 · Explainer Project: Teaching Federalism
- 74 · Practicing a Comprehensive Mixed Government Review Set 4
- 76 · Applied Project: Attending or Reviewing a Public Meeting Recording
- 77 · Reviewing Common Errors in Case-Law Analysis
- 78 · Practicing a Comprehensive Mixed Government Review Set 5
- 79 · Timed Practice Assessment: Elections, Comparative Government, and Civics
- 81 · Cumulative Review: Political Philosophy and the Branches
- 82 · Cumulative Review: Civil Liberties and Case Law
- 83 · Cumulative Review: Elections and Political Participation
- 84 · Cumulative Review: Comparative Government and Economics
- 85 · Timed Practice Assessment: The Halfway Comprehensive
- 86 · Halfway-Year Growth Reflection
- 87 · Explainer Project: Teaching the Amendment Process
- 88 · Applied Project: A Mock Trial Case Study
- 89 · Practicing a Comprehensive Mixed Government Review Set 6
- 91 · Applied Project: Analyzing a Ballot Measure
- 92 · Applied Project: Writing a Campaign Platform
- 93 · Explainer Project: Teaching the Electoral Process
- 94 · Mixed Government Review: Federalism, Checks, and Elections
Plus 7 review days, not listed.
Policy capstoneDays 96–105
Choosing a modern policy question, researching competing perspectives, forming an original position, writing the full analysis, preparing and delivering a presentation, and analyzing a political cartoon.
- 96 · Capstone Prep: Choosing a Modern Policy Question
- 97 · Capstone: Researching Competing Perspectives
- 98 · Capstone: Forming an Original Analytical Position
- 99 · Capstone: Writing Up the Full Analysis
- 101 · Capstone: Presentation Prep
- 102 · Capstone: Presentation Delivery
- 103 · Applied Project: Analyzing a Political Cartoon
- 104 · Practicing a Comprehensive Mixed Government Review Set 8
Plus 2 review days, not listed.
More cases, comparisons and reviewDays 106–140
Comparing news coverage, US and foreign constitutions, international organizations, a civic action plan, Bush v. Gore, the Pentagon Papers, the Warren versus Roberts Courts, plus error-checking, cumulative reviews and timed practice assessments.
- 106 · Applied Project: Comparing 2 News Sources' Coverage of the Same Event
- 107 · Reviewing Common Errors in Policy Analysis
- 108 · Practicing a Comprehensive Mixed Government Review Set 9
- 109 · Timed Practice Assessment: Elections Through Capstone Topics
- 111 · Applied Project: Comparing US and 2 Foreign Constitutions
- 112 · Applied Project: Analyzing International Organizations
- 113 · Reviewing Common Errors in Comparative Government Analysis
- 114 · Practicing a Comprehensive Mixed Government Review Set 10
- 116 · Applied Project: Writing a Civic Engagement Action Plan
- 117 · Explainer Project: Teaching the Bill of Rights
- 118 · Practicing a Comprehensive Mixed Government Review Set 11
- 119 · Timed Practice Assessment: A Full-Year Mixed Set
- 121 · Applied Project: Bush v. Gore and the 2000 Election
- 122 · Applied Project: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers
- 123 · Reviewing Common Errors in Federalism Analysis
- 124 · Practicing a Comprehensive Mixed Government Review Set 12
- 126 · Applied Project: Comparing the Warren and Rehnquist/Roberts Courts
- 127 · Reviewing Common Errors in Civil Liberties Analysis
- 128 · Practicing a Comprehensive Mixed Government Review Set 13
- 129 · Timed Practice Assessment: A Full-Year Mixed Set 2
- 131 · Cumulative Review: Political Philosophy and the 3 Branches
- 132 · Cumulative Review: Civil Liberties, Case Law, and Elections
- 133 · Cumulative Review: Comparative Government and Civic Engagement
- 134 · Explainer Project: Teaching Comparative Government Systems
- 136 · Timed Practice Assessment, Part 1: Foundations Through Civil Liberties
- 137 · Timed Practice Assessment, Part 2: Elections Through Capstone Applications
- 138 · Common Error Review: US Government's Trickiest Topics
- 139 · Week 14 Progress Reflection: Growth in US Government
Plus 7 review days, not listed.
Real-world case studies and reviewDays 141–160
The 2018-2019 government shutdown, the FDA and thalidomide, the Equal Rights Amendment's long fight, a state school phone policy debate, comparing presidential doctrines, a personal civic value essay, mixed review sets and timed assessments.
- 141 · Applied Project: The 2018–2019 Government Shutdown
- 142 · Applied Project: The FDA and the Thalidomide Case
- 143 · Common Error Review: The Electoral Process
- 144 · Comprehensive Mixed Government Review, Set 14
- 146 · Applied Project: The Equal Rights Amendment’s Long Fight
- 147 · Explainer Project: How the Judicial Branch Is Structured
- 148 · Comprehensive Mixed Government Review, Set 15
- 149 · Timed Practice Assessment, Set 3: Random Full-Year Mix
- 151 · Applied Project: Analyzing a Recent State-Level Policy Debate
- 152 · Applied Project: Comparing 2 Presidential Doctrines
- 153 · Reviewing Common Errors in Analyzing Political Ideology
- 154 · Practicing a Comprehensive Mixed Government Review Set 16
- 156 · Applied Project: Writing About a Personal Civic Value
- 157 · Explainer Project: Teaching the Electoral College
- 158 · Practicing a Comprehensive Mixed Government Review Set 17
- 159 · Timed Practice Assessment: A Full-Year Mixed Set 4
Plus 4 review days, not listed.
Full-year cumulative reviewDays 161–170
A three-part review of the whole course, a comprehensive timed final, a project teaching federalism and checks and balances, a growth reflection, a look ahead to Economics, and more mixed practice sets.
- 161 · Full-Year US Government Cumulative Review, Part 1
- 162 · Full-Year US Government Cumulative Review, Part 2
- 163 · Full-Year US Government Cumulative Review, Part 3
- 164 · Timed Practice Assessment: The Comprehensive Final
- 166 · Explainer Project: Teaching Federalism and Checks and Balances
- 167 · Full-Year Civic Understanding Growth Reflection
- 168 · Practicing a Comprehensive Mixed Government Review Set 18
- 169 · Looking Ahead: Economics Next Year
Plus 2 review days, not listed.
Final review, presentation & celebrationDays 171–180
Two last reviews, preparing and giving a short year-end presentation, three celebration days (a favorite case, government around you), a bridge to Economics, a day on putting the year to use as a citizen, and a closing congratulations.
- 171 · Final Review: Political Philosophy and the 3 Branches
- 172 · Final Review: Civil Liberties, Elections, and Comparative Government
- 173 · Preparing Your Year-End Government Presentation
- 174 · Delivering Your Year-End Government Presentation
- 175 · Celebration Day: Reflecting on a Year of US Government!
- 176 · Celebration Day: A Favorite Case Study Challenge
- 177 · Celebration Day: Government All Around You
- 178 · Looking Ahead: Government's Bridge to Economics
- 179 · From Student to Citizen: Putting This Year to Use
- 180 · Congratulations! You Completed US Government & Civics!
By the end of the year, your child can
- Explain how natural rights and social contract ideas shaped the Constitution
- Describe how the three branches check and balance each other
- Analyze a Supreme Court case on speech, search or equal protection
- Explain how primaries, the Electoral College and interest groups shape elections
- Compare presidential and parliamentary systems, and democratic and authoritarian ones
- Research a modern policy question and present an evidence-based position
Other 11th Grade subjects: Algebra II · English 11: Literature · English 11: Composition & Grammar · Physics