Description

This is a Live Course for the 2024 Fall Semester.

Civics: American Government’s History and Structure is a discussion-based class that will study the American system of government by exploring the Biblical basis for civics, a brief history of civil liberty, the English common law system, and America’s founding documents. Students will complete weekly readings and write answers to discussion questions for class. Students will also have an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of civics through occasional quizzes and a paper on a Supreme Court case at the end of the semester.

This is a course that students of Dave Raymond’s American History won’t want to miss!

The live course consists of:

• 14 weekly classes with lecture and discussion (see schedule below)
• Weekly homework: discussion questions graded on a pass/fail basis
• Quizzes: approximately every 3 lessons and graded objectively
• Final Paper: submitted for grading
• Final grade submitted to parents for their records

The class will meet weekly over Zoom on Thursdays, from 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM Central Standard Time, according to the schedule below. The format will be lectures and discussion each week.

Course Prerequisites

None, although a course in American History is recommended.

Required Books

• You will need a copy of the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and all Amendments. You can obtain an attractive print copy here. The Library of Congress has a good website with photos and transcripts of the original.
• You will also need Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville. I strongly recommend the copy edited by Richard D. Heffner.
• All other readings will be found online.

Scope/Sequence

1st Quarter

• Civics in Antiquity
• The Common Law I
• The Common Law II
• The Founding Period I
• The Founding Period II
• The Founding Period III
• The Constitution I

2nd Quarter

• The Constitution II
• The Constitution III
• The Bill of Rights I
• The Bill of Rights II
• Constitutional Amendments
• Democracy in America I
• Democracy in America II

Schedule of Class Meetings

All Thursdays, all scheduled from 2:15 PM – 3:15 PM Central Standard Time.

1. Aug 29
2. Sep 05
3. Sep 12
4. Sep 19
5. Sep 26
6. Oct 03
7. Oct 10
8. Oct 17 Fall Break (no class meeting)
9. Oct 24
10. Oct 31
11. Nov 07
12. Nov 14
13. Nov 21
14. Nov 28 Thanksgiving Break (no class meeting)
15. Dec 05
16. Dec 12

What if I can’t attend the live Zoom sessions?

All the sessions will be recorded and posted for enrolled families to watch at their convenience. You can use the recordings to review or catch up if you missed a session.

Families who can’t make the schedule above can still participate in the class assignments and group discussions by watching the recordings and submitting the assignments to Dave.

Credit: Half-Credit in High School Civics/Government

Ages: 14+ (This course is taught at the high school level.)

Dave Raymond lives in rural Middle Tennessee with his wife and 6 children where he has taught the humanities for the past 20 years. He teaches the disciplines of history, literature, composition, and Latin through Quiller Tutorials.