U.S. Government, Book 1

U.S. Government, Book 1, consists of six parts that address major aspects of the theory behind the structure and operation of our government. Part 1, Foundations, examines the principles upon which our democratic form of government is founded. Lessons show how the Founding Fathers used their understanding of political theory and the American experiences with government under the British and under the Articles of Confederation to create a new democratic republic. Part 2, Human Rights, provides an overview of the Bill of Rights and deals in greater detail with the meaning of several of our most important freedoms. Part 3, The Legislative Branch, examines the structure and function of Congress. Part 4, The Executive Branch, covers the many roles of the president and the checks and balances on the powers of the president as exercised by the Congress and Supreme Court. The range of activities the national government controls today, including the Cabinet and executive departments, are also explored. Part 5, The Judicial Branch, examines the federal court system, beginning with an overview of the structure of the courts and their responsibilities. Part 6, Public Policy, helps students to define and understand the concept of public policy. Lessons include Equal Protection under the Law; The Civil Rights Act of 1964, The Impact of Congressional Investigations, Supreme Court Operation, and Government Regulation and the Environment.

About the Series:

Social Studies curriculum units contain complete lesson plans with preliminary and follow-up work, teacher notes with background and rationale, ready-to-use worksheets, and suggested answers for student questions. These materials encourage the development of thinking , reading, speaking, research, and writing skills as well as critical thinking skills such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.