U.S. Government, Book 2

U.S. Government, Book 2, consists of six parts that address major aspects of the practical workings of our government as opposed to its general structure. Part 1, The Political Process and Elections, focuses on general political philosophies, parties, and presidential elections. Part 2, Focus on Foreign Policy, concentrates on the end of the Cold War, the relationship between the United States and the United Nations, and the importance of the development of a global economy. Part 3, Economics and the Federal Government, deals with the tax structure, the need for tax reform, Social Security, and the budgetary process. Part 3, Influencing the Federal Government, emphasizes the role, techniques, and effects of special interest groups. Issues such as homelessness, environmental concerns, energy problems, and welfare reform are addressed. Part 5, State and Local Governments, examines the roles of state and local governments and the critical problems, such as prison reform, privatization, and the trend toward regional government, facing our states and cities. Part 6, Individual Involvement in Government, illustrates the importance of an informed electorate and why involvement in government is crucial to the effective functioning of a democracy. Lessons include The Role of Third Parties, The Global Economy, Creating a Balanced Budget, Lobbyists, The Trend towards Regional Government, and Why Don’t More Americans Vote?

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.