Thinkwell Honors American Government

Thinkwell's Honors American Government
Thinkwell's Honors American Government course is equivalent to a one-semester college course and is taught by renowned political science professors from prestigious universities. There are no prerequisites, making it a great choice for most high school students.

Learn from dozens of 10-minute videos (no textbook required) and hundreds of online exercises.

Thinkwell's Honors American Government Table of Contents

1. Constitutional Principles

• 1.1 The Foundations of Government
• 1.1.1 An Introduction to Government
• 1.1.2 Why Government?
• 1.1.3 Who Governs?
• 1.1.4 Political Power
• 1.2 Political Culture
• 1.2.1 An Introduction to Political Culture
• 1.2.2 The Foundations of American Culture
• 1.2.3 Unity and Diversity
• 1.2.4 Video Biography: What Is Government?
• 1.3 The History of the Constitution
• 1.3.1 Britain and the Colonies
• 1.3.2 The Articles of Confederation
• 1.3.3 The Constitutional Convention
• 1.3.4 Final Steps to a Federal Government
• 1.3.5 The Road to Ratification
• 1.4 The Constitution in Action
• 1.4.1 The Bill of Rights
• 1.4.2 Checks and Balances
• 1.4.3 Amending the Constitution
• 1.5 Why Federalism?
• 1.5.1 Three Democratic Systems of Government
• 1.5.2 The Pros and Cons of Federalism
• 1.6 Federalism in Action: Divided Powers
• 1.6.1 Federalism Today
• 1.6.2 Federalism Through History
• 1.6.3 Hot Topic: The Federal Trump Card: The Commerce Clause
2. Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

• 2.1 An Introduction to Civil Liberties and Rights
• 2.1.1 The Creation of Rights
• 2.1.2 Equality of Opportunity Versus Equality of Results
• 2.1.3 Equal Protection Under the Law
• 2.2 First Amendment Rights
• 2.2.1 Freedom of Religion
• 2.2.2 Freedom of Expression: Criticizing the Government
• 2.2.3 Freedom of Expression: Pornography and Cyberspeech
• 2.2.4 Hot Topic: Hate Speech: Right to Free Expression or Invitation to Violence?
• 2.2.5 Freedom of Expression: A Free Press
• 2.2.6 The Right to Assemble
• 2.3 The Individual and Rights
• 2.3.1 Individual Freedoms Versus the Common Good
• 2.3.2 The Right to Privacy
• 2.3.3 Hot Topic: Email Privacy
• 2.3.4 The Individual in the Criminal Justice System
• 2.3.5 The Rights of the Accused
• 2.4 Additional Guarantees Under the Bill of Rights
• 2.4.1 Second Amendment: The Right to Bear Arms
• 2.4.2 Hot Topic: The Second Amendment and the Roberts Court
• 2.5 The African-American Struggle for Rights
• 2.5.1 Slavery and the Civil Rights Movement
• 2.5.2 The Struggle for Civil Rights: 1900–1950s
• 2.5.3 Civil Rights Legislation: 1960s and Later
• 2.5.4 Case Study: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
• 2.6 Civil Rights and Other Groups
• 2.6.1 Women and the Struggle for Rights
• 2.6.2 Rights Revolution: The Expansion of Rights
• 2.6.3 Hot Topic: Sexual Harassment
3. People and Politics

• 3.1 Public Opinion
• 3.1.1 What Is Public Opinion?
• 3.1.2 Political Socialization: Opinion and the Individual
• 3.1.3 Looking at Opinion Polls
• 3.2 Participation and Social Capital
• 3.2.1 Translating Opinion into Action
• 3.2.2 Who Participates?
• 3.2.3 The Importance of Participation: Social Capital
• 3.3 Mobilizing for Action
• 3.3.1 Organizing to Participate
• 3.3.2 Social Movements
• 3.3.3 Case Study: Same-Sex Marriages
• 3.3.4 Case Study: Same-Sex Marriage, Recent Developments
• 3.4 Interest Groups and Political Action Committees
• 3.4.1 Interest Groups and Their Impact on Politics
• 3.4.2 PAC Power
• 3.4.3 The Art of Lobbying
• 3.4.4 Regulating Organized Groups
4. Choosing Representatives

• 4.1 Political Parties: History and Origins
• 4.1.1 Political Parties and Their Functions
• 4.1.2 The American Two-Party System
• 4.1.3 A History of Political Parties in the U.S.
• 4.1.4 Case Study: Why No Socialism in America?
• 4.2 Political Parties Today
• 4.2.1 The Model of Responsible Party Government
• 4.2.2 Party Structure
• 4.2.3 Nominating
• 4.2.4 Parties and Money
• 4.2.5 The Changing Role of the National Convention
• 4.2.6 Hot Topic: Reform Party: New Party or Personal Vehicle?
• 4.3 Election Campaigns
• 4.3.1 Organizing to Run for Election
• 4.3.2 Campaign Strategy in the Primaries
• 4.3.3 Campaign Strategy in the General Election
• 4.3.4 Campaign Techniques, Part I
• 4.3.5 Campaign Techniques, Part II
• 4.3.6 Campaign Finance
• 4.3.7 Hot Topic: Campaign Finance Reform
• 4.3.8 Hot Topic: Update on Campaign Finance
• 4.4 Elections and Voting
• 4.4.1 Voter Turnout
• 4.4.2 Case Study: The Election of 1800: The Bitter Battle
• 4.4.3 Case Study: The Disputed Election of 1876
• 4.4.4 The Issues
• 4.4.5 Voting Decisions
• 4.4.6 Nonvoting
• 4.5 The Media and Politics
• 4.5.1 Media Influence on Elections
• 4.5.2 Media Bias
• 4.5.3 Influencing Elections and Shaping Public Opinion
• 4.5.4 Video Biography: Negative Campaign Ads
5. Political Institutions

• 5.1 Congress: Our Representatives
• 5.1.1 A Bicameral Legislative Body
• 5.1.2 Getting Elected to Congress
• 5.1.3 Staffs, Perks, and Specialized Offices
• 5.1.4 Roles of Legislators
• 5.1.5 Hot Topic: Term Limits
• 5.2 Congress in Action
• 5.2.1 Characteristics of the Two Houses
• 5.2.2 The House
• 5.2.3 The Senate
• 5.2.4 How a Bill Becomes Law
• 5.2.5 Evaluating Congress
• 5.3 The Office of the President
• 5.3.1 Being President
• 5.3.2 Presidential Leadership
• 5.3.3 The Presidential Staff and Advisers
• 5.3.4 Hot Topic: Presidential Pardons
• 5.4 The Roles of the President
• 5.4.1 Legislative Agenda Setter
• 5.4.2 National CEO
• 5.4.3 A World Leader
• 5.4.4 Hot Topic: Edith Wilson as Petticoat President
• 5.4.5 Party Leader
• 5.4.6 Hot Topic: Presidential Character
• 5.5 The Powers of the President
• 5.5.1 Powers and Privileges
• 5.5.2 Checks and Restraints on Presidential Power
• 5.5.3 Hot Topic: Executive Privilege
• 5.5.4 Hot Topic: Presidential War Powers
• 5.6 Divided Government
• 5.6.1 Controlling Extremes
• 5.6.2 Lobbying the President and Congress
• 5.6.3 Hot Topic: The Electoral College
• 5.7 The Federal Bureaucracy
• 5.7.1 The Federal Bureaucracy
• 5.7.2 Hot Topic: The Department of Homeland Security
• 5.7.3 Policymakers and Implementers
• 5.7.4 Budgetmaking
• 5.7.5 Controls on Bureaucracy
• 5.7.6 Reform Efforts
• 5.7.7 Case Study: The IRS
• 5.8 The Federal Court System
• 5.8.1 Court Powers and Restraints
• 5.8.2 Prosecution and Defense in Federal Courts
• 5.8.3 Case Study: Roe v. Wade and the Abortion Movement, Part I
• 5.8.4 Case Study: Roe v. Wade and the Abortion Movement, Part II
• 5.9 The Supreme Court
• 5.9.1 Appointing the Court
• 5.9.2 Leadership on the Supreme Court
• 5.9.3 Process and Calendar
• 5.9.4 Early Decisions That Defined Federal Power
• 5.9.5 Case Study: Affirmative Action
• 5.9.6 Case Study: Incorporation
• 5.9.7 Hot Topic: The Bush Appointments, 2001–2006
• 5.9.8 Hot Topic: The Obama Appointments
6. Public Policy

• 6.1 Policymaking
• 6.1.1 Purpose and Policymaking
• 6.1.2 Policy Development
• 6.1.3 Changing Public Policy
• 6.1.4 The Media and Governance
• 6.1.5 Case Study: School Vouchers
• 6.2 Economic Policy
• 6.2.1 Theories of Economic Policy
• 6.2.2 Tax Policy
• 6.2.3 How the Budget Influences Policy
• 6.2.4 Understanding Debts, Deficits, and Surpluses
• 6.2.5 Case Study: U.S. Debts, Deficits, and Surpluses
• 6.2.6 Managing the Economy
• 6.2.7 Case Study: The Credit Crisis of 2008
• 6.2.8 The Global Economy and the U.S.
• 6.2.9 Case Study: Energy Policy
• 6.2.10 Case Study: Environmental Policy
• 6.3 Social Policy
• 6.3.1 Promoting the General Welfare
• 6.3.2 Social Policy and Poverty
• 6.3.3 Senior Citizens
• 6.3.4 Health Care
• 6.3.5 Hot Topic: Health-Care Reform
• 6.3.6 Education
• 6.3.7 Hot Topic: Invisible Welfare
• 6.4 Foreign Policy: An Introduction
• 6.4.1 U.S. Foreign Policy: Pre–20th Century
• 6.4.2 U.S. Foreign Policy: 20th Century and Beyond
• 6.5 Foreign Policy: The Cast of Characters
• 6.5.1 The U.S. President
• 6.5.2 Influences on Presidents' Behavior
• 6.5.3 The United Nations
• 6.5.4 Treaties and Alliances
• 6.6 The Post-Cold War Era
• 6.6.1 Consequences of the Collapse of the USSR
• 6.6.2 Defense Issues
• 6.6.3 Hot Topic: 9/11 and the War on Terror
• 6.6.4 Hot Topic: The Iraq War
• 6.6.5 Foreign Aid
• 6.6.6 Hot Topic: The World Trade Organization: Corporate Power Run Rampant?
7. Toward a Changing Democracy

• 7.1 Citizen Participation in the New Century
• 7.1.1 A Clash of Values for Governance
• 7.1.2 Immigration and the New Governance
• 7.1.3 Political Participation in the New Century
• 7.1.4 Case Study: The 2000 Election
• 7.1.5 Case Study: The 2004 Election
• 7.1.6 Case Study: The 2006 Election
• 7.1.7 Case Study: The 2008 Election
• 7.1.8 Case Study: The 2000 Census
8. Appendix: Key Supreme Court Cases

• 8.1 Key Supreme Court Cases
• 8.1.1 McCulloch v. Maryland
• 8.1.2 Miranda v. Arizona
• 8.1.3 Korematsu v. United States
• 8.1.4 Marbury v. Madison
• 8.1.5 New York Times v. Sullivan
• 8.1.6 City of Indianapolis v. Edmond
• 8.1.7 Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe
• 8.1.8 Washington v. Glucksberg

Course Features

• Video Lessons: 182 engaging 5-15 minute lesson videos
• Lesson Plan: Detailed, 36-week lesson plan and schedule
• Assessments: Automatically graded exercises and tests with step-by-step feedback
• Notes: Concise, illustrated course notes for each topic

Course Overview

What You Get

• 12-month, online subscription to the complete Honors American Government course
• Day-by-day course lesson plan
• 180+ course lessons, each with a streaming video Illustrated notes
• Automatically graded exercises with correct answer feedback
• Chapter & Practice tests, a Midterm & Final Exam
• Illustrated notes....and more!

How It Works

• Purchase Thinkwell's Honors American Government
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• Create an account username and password, which will give you access to the online Honors American Government course section
• Activate your 12-month subscription when you're ready
• Login to the course website to access the online course materials, including streaming video lessons, exercises, quizzes, tests, and more
• Access your course anytime, anywhere, from any device
• Your work is automatically tracked and updated in real-time
• Grade reports and certificates of completion are available at request

Publisher's Information
Publisher: Thinkwell Homeschool Corporation
Authoring Professors: Gerald Rosenberg, Mark Rom, and Matthew Dickinson
Age Recommendation: 14+
Grade Recommendation: 10th+
Faith-Based: No
Consumable: Yes
Subscription Info: 1-year subscription
System Requirements: Device with internet access
Format: Online course

View 36-week Lesson Plan PDF
View Sample Assessment PDF
View Sample Notes PDF

View "Individual Freedoms versus the Common Good," Part 1 of 2, from Thinkwell's Honors American Government


View "Individual Freedoms versus the Common Good," Part 2 of 2, from Thinkwell's Honors American Government