American Government
Online Course Study Guide
Course Objectives
1. Analyze the nature and purpose of government.
2. Analyze the organization, function, and relationships of U.S. federal and state governments.
3. Explain the origins of democratic ideas and philosophies.
4. Analyze the political beliefs of the country's founders and the influence of these ideas on the
development of the United States.
5. Summarize the articles, sections, and amendments of the U.S. Constitution.
6. Assess the impact of the component parts of the U.S. Constitution on American political processes.
7. Compare and contrast the U.S. and state constitutions.
8. Analyze various case studies using U.S. Constitutional principles.
9. Debate civil liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution and by the 14th
Amendment.
10. Analyze the role and impact of political parties, media, and interest groups on policy and the U.S.
political process.
11. Evaluate the federal and state nomination and election processes to determine if they are an
effective and efficient way to choose government leaders.
12. Evaluate the impact of budgeting, taxation, and basic problems of finance on national, state, and
local governments.
13. Analyze the impact of courts and the judiciary on public policy.
Page 1 of
80
,14. Prepare oral and visual presentations on multiple selected topics using information from the ITT
Tech Virtual Library.
Page 2 of
80
,GRADING
CATEGORY WEIGHT # of
Occurrence
Forum 30% 10
Analysis 20% 4
Short 20% 6
Answer
Quiz 20% 4
Final Exam 10% 1
Total 100% 25
Page 3 of
80
, WEEK 1: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
OBJECTIVES
1. Analyze the nature and purpose of government.
3. Explain the origins of democratic ideas and philosophies.
4. Analyze the political beliefs of the country's founders and the influence of these ideas on the
development of the United States.
5. Summarize the articles, sections, and amendments of the U.S. Constitution.
8. Analyze various case studies using U.S. Constitutional principles.
9. Debate civil liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution and by the 14th
Amendment. Forum
1.1 (2.0 hours)
Title: Illegal Immigrants and U.S. Politics
Respond to the following questions:
a. Is the purpose of the government to take care of all people within its boundaries, or
should it take care only of its citizens? Explain.
b. What are your thoughts on the Arizona law SB 1070, which aims to curtail illegal
immigration? Are laws like this constitutional and the best solution to the immigration
issue?
Page 4 of
80
Online Course Study Guide
Course Objectives
1. Analyze the nature and purpose of government.
2. Analyze the organization, function, and relationships of U.S. federal and state governments.
3. Explain the origins of democratic ideas and philosophies.
4. Analyze the political beliefs of the country's founders and the influence of these ideas on the
development of the United States.
5. Summarize the articles, sections, and amendments of the U.S. Constitution.
6. Assess the impact of the component parts of the U.S. Constitution on American political processes.
7. Compare and contrast the U.S. and state constitutions.
8. Analyze various case studies using U.S. Constitutional principles.
9. Debate civil liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution and by the 14th
Amendment.
10. Analyze the role and impact of political parties, media, and interest groups on policy and the U.S.
political process.
11. Evaluate the federal and state nomination and election processes to determine if they are an
effective and efficient way to choose government leaders.
12. Evaluate the impact of budgeting, taxation, and basic problems of finance on national, state, and
local governments.
13. Analyze the impact of courts and the judiciary on public policy.
Page 1 of
80
,14. Prepare oral and visual presentations on multiple selected topics using information from the ITT
Tech Virtual Library.
Page 2 of
80
,GRADING
CATEGORY WEIGHT # of
Occurrence
Forum 30% 10
Analysis 20% 4
Short 20% 6
Answer
Quiz 20% 4
Final Exam 10% 1
Total 100% 25
Page 3 of
80
, WEEK 1: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
OBJECTIVES
1. Analyze the nature and purpose of government.
3. Explain the origins of democratic ideas and philosophies.
4. Analyze the political beliefs of the country's founders and the influence of these ideas on the
development of the United States.
5. Summarize the articles, sections, and amendments of the U.S. Constitution.
8. Analyze various case studies using U.S. Constitutional principles.
9. Debate civil liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution and by the 14th
Amendment. Forum
1.1 (2.0 hours)
Title: Illegal Immigrants and U.S. Politics
Respond to the following questions:
a. Is the purpose of the government to take care of all people within its boundaries, or
should it take care only of its citizens? Explain.
b. What are your thoughts on the Arizona law SB 1070, which aims to curtail illegal
immigration? Are laws like this constitutional and the best solution to the immigration
issue?
Page 4 of
80
