If you complete this course and do well, you will be able to:

• Define the concept of democracy, direct and representative democracy, and to understand the understand the philosophical concept of U. S. democracy
• Describe the origin and history of the U. S. Constitution and how the Constitution has adapted to our changing society
• Define the concept of Federalism and how the distribution of power between the national and state governments affords possibilities for conflict or cooperation
• Develop possibilities of individual and group participation and why such participation is vital to a free political system
• Understand how public officials, the media, interest groups and political parties compete for setting the political or public agenda
• Understand the principles of elections, campaigns, voting motivation and PACs
• Understand the application of individual rights and the central role of the Supreme Court in its interpretation of these rights