Government & Civics curriculum

A civics and government curriculum covering constitutional principles, institutions, federalism, civil liberties, civil rights, elections, media, public policy, and civic participation.

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High school civics / AP U.S. Government bridge

Government & Civics curriculum

A civics and government curriculum covering constitutional principles, institutions, federalism, civil liberties, civil rights, elections, media, public policy, and civic participation.

Pacing

8 units, 16-28 weeks self-paced

Units

8 unit sequence

Practice

32 checked answers

Support

Self-paced or tutor-guided

Outcomes

Explain how government power is structured, limited, contested, and used.
Read civic texts, data, court cases, and policy arguments critically.
Participate in civic life with evidence instead of slogans.

Unit sequence

Built for independent progress first, then tutor support where the student gets stuck.

01
Constitutional foundations
- Use popular sovereignty, separation of powers, checks and balances, and rule of law.
- Explain founding debates and constitutional compromise.
Practice: Annotate a constitutional passage and identify the principle it uses.
Unit work plan
1. 1
  Source study
  Start with American Government 3e and Humanities textbooks. Take notes until you can explain: Use popular sovereignty, separation of powers, checks and balances, and rule of law.
2. 2
  Worked attempt
  Produce the assignment artifact: Annotate a constitutional passage and identify the principle it uses.
3. 3
  Checked answers
  Complete the PeerTutor checks below and correct misses before moving on.
4. 4
  Tutor handoff
  Bring your attempted work, the exact missed check, and one question about: Explain founding debates and constitutional compromise.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Source analysis
In Constitutional foundations, a firsthand document from the time being studied is a what source?
Evidence reasoning
Which explanation is strongest?
a claim supported by specific evidence and contexta claim with no sourcea list of dates onlya personal opinion with no support
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the Government & Civics unit "Constitutional foundations"?
Explain legislative, executive, and judicial roles.Explain founding debates and constitutional compromise.Use popular sovereignty, separation of powers, checks and balances, and rule of law.Compare national, state, and local powers.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Constitutional foundations" before asking a tutor for help?
Skip the unit and start a new subject.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Annotate a constitutional passage and identify the principle it uses.
02
Federalism and institutions
- Compare national, state, and local powers.
- Explain legislative, executive, and judicial roles.
Practice: Trace one policy problem across levels and branches of government.
Unit work plan
1. 1
  Source study
  Start with American Government 3e and Humanities textbooks. Take notes until you can explain: Compare national, state, and local powers.
2. 2
  Worked attempt
  Produce the assignment artifact: Trace one policy problem across levels and branches of government.
3. 3
  Checked answers
  Complete the PeerTutor checks below and correct misses before moving on.
4. 4
  Tutor handoff
  Bring your attempted work, the exact missed check, and one question about: Explain legislative, executive, and judicial roles.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Source analysis
In Federalism and institutions, a firsthand document from the time being studied is a what source?
Evidence reasoning
Which explanation is strongest?
a claim supported by specific evidence and contexta claim with no sourcea list of dates onlya personal opinion with no support
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the Government & Civics unit "Federalism and institutions"?
Explain founding debates and constitutional compromise.Explain legislative, executive, and judicial roles.Compare national, state, and local powers.Use popular sovereignty, separation of powers, checks and balances, and rule of law.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Federalism and institutions" before asking a tutor for help?
Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.Trace one policy problem across levels and branches of government.Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Skip the unit and start a new subject.
03
Congress and lawmaking
- Explain representation, committees, parties, leadership, and bill passage.
- Analyze incentives that shape lawmaking.
Practice: Map how a bill becomes law and where it can fail.
Unit work plan
1. 1
  Source study
  Start with American Government 3e and Humanities textbooks. Take notes until you can explain: Explain representation, committees, parties, leadership, and bill passage.
2. 2
  Worked attempt
  Produce the assignment artifact: Map how a bill becomes law and where it can fail.
3. 3
  Checked answers
  Complete the PeerTutor checks below and correct misses before moving on.
4. 4
  Tutor handoff
  Bring your attempted work, the exact missed check, and one question about: Analyze incentives that shape lawmaking.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Source analysis
In Congress and lawmaking, a firsthand document from the time being studied is a what source?
Evidence reasoning
Which explanation is strongest?
a claim supported by specific evidence and contexta claim with no sourcea list of dates onlya personal opinion with no support
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the Government & Civics unit "Congress and lawmaking"?
Explain representation, committees, parties, leadership, and bill passage.Use popular sovereignty, separation of powers, checks and balances, and rule of law.Explain founding debates and constitutional compromise.Compare national, state, and local powers.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Congress and lawmaking" before asking a tutor for help?
Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.Map how a bill becomes law and where it can fail.Skip the unit and start a new subject.
04
Presidency and bureaucracy
- Explain formal and informal presidential powers.
- Analyze agencies, regulation, and implementation.
Practice: Evaluate one executive action by authority, constraint, and impact.
Unit work plan
1. 1
  Source study
  Start with American Government 3e and Humanities textbooks. Take notes until you can explain: Explain formal and informal presidential powers.
2. 2
  Worked attempt
  Produce the assignment artifact: Evaluate one executive action by authority, constraint, and impact.
3. 3
  Checked answers
  Complete the PeerTutor checks below and correct misses before moving on.
4. 4
  Tutor handoff
  Bring your attempted work, the exact missed check, and one question about: Analyze agencies, regulation, and implementation.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Source analysis
In Presidency and bureaucracy, a firsthand document from the time being studied is a what source?
Evidence reasoning
Which explanation is strongest?
a claim supported by specific evidence and contexta claim with no sourcea list of dates onlya personal opinion with no support
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the Government & Civics unit "Presidency and bureaucracy"?
Compare national, state, and local powers.Explain founding debates and constitutional compromise.Use popular sovereignty, separation of powers, checks and balances, and rule of law.Analyze agencies, regulation, and implementation.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Presidency and bureaucracy" before asking a tutor for help?
Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.Evaluate one executive action by authority, constraint, and impact.Skip the unit and start a new subject.
05
Courts, civil liberties, and civil rights
- Use judicial review, precedent, due process, equal protection, and landmark cases.
- Distinguish liberties from rights.
Practice: Brief a court case with facts, issue, holding, reasoning, and effect.
Unit work plan
1. 1
  Source study
  Start with American Government 3e and Humanities textbooks. Take notes until you can explain: Use judicial review, precedent, due process, equal protection, and landmark cases.
2. 2
  Worked attempt
  Produce the assignment artifact: Brief a court case with facts, issue, holding, reasoning, and effect.
3. 3
  Checked answers
  Complete the PeerTutor checks below and correct misses before moving on.
4. 4
  Tutor handoff
  Bring your attempted work, the exact missed check, and one question about: Distinguish liberties from rights.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Source analysis
In Courts, civil liberties, and civil rights, a firsthand document from the time being studied is a what source?
Evidence reasoning
Which explanation is strongest?
a claim supported by specific evidence and contexta claim with no sourcea list of dates onlya personal opinion with no support
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the Government & Civics unit "Courts, civil liberties, and civil rights"?
Compare national, state, and local powers.Use popular sovereignty, separation of powers, checks and balances, and rule of law.Use judicial review, precedent, due process, equal protection, and landmark cases.Explain founding debates and constitutional compromise.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Courts, civil liberties, and civil rights" before asking a tutor for help?
Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.Skip the unit and start a new subject.Brief a court case with facts, issue, holding, reasoning, and effect.Watch videos without writing or solving anything.
06
Elections, parties, and public opinion
- Explain voting systems, campaigns, polling, parties, interest groups, and media.
- Interpret election and polling data carefully.
Practice: Analyze a poll or election result and state uncertainty and limits.
Unit work plan
1. 1
  Source study
  Start with American Government 3e and Humanities textbooks. Take notes until you can explain: Explain voting systems, campaigns, polling, parties, interest groups, and media.
2. 2
  Worked attempt
  Produce the assignment artifact: Analyze a poll or election result and state uncertainty and limits.
3. 3
  Checked answers
  Complete the PeerTutor checks below and correct misses before moving on.
4. 4
  Tutor handoff
  Bring your attempted work, the exact missed check, and one question about: Interpret election and polling data carefully.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Source analysis
In Elections, parties, and public opinion, a firsthand document from the time being studied is a what source?
Evidence reasoning
Which explanation is strongest?
a claim supported by specific evidence and contexta claim with no sourcea list of dates onlya personal opinion with no support
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the Government & Civics unit "Elections, parties, and public opinion"?
Explain founding debates and constitutional compromise.Compare national, state, and local powers.Use popular sovereignty, separation of powers, checks and balances, and rule of law.Interpret election and polling data carefully.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Elections, parties, and public opinion" before asking a tutor for help?
Analyze a poll or election result and state uncertainty and limits.Skip the unit and start a new subject.Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.
07
Public policy and civic participation
- Compare policy tools, stakeholders, costs, benefits, and tradeoffs.
- Identify practical ways citizens influence outcomes.
Practice: Write a policy memo with evidence, tradeoffs, and a civic action step.
Unit work plan
1. 1
  Source study
  Start with American Government 3e and Humanities textbooks. Take notes until you can explain: Compare policy tools, stakeholders, costs, benefits, and tradeoffs.
2. 2
  Worked attempt
  Produce the assignment artifact: Write a policy memo with evidence, tradeoffs, and a civic action step.
3. 3
  Checked answers
  Complete the PeerTutor checks below and correct misses before moving on.
4. 4
  Tutor handoff
  Bring your attempted work, the exact missed check, and one question about: Identify practical ways citizens influence outcomes.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Source analysis
In Public policy and civic participation, a firsthand document from the time being studied is a what source?
Evidence reasoning
Which explanation is strongest?
a claim supported by specific evidence and contexta claim with no sourcea list of dates onlya personal opinion with no support
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the Government & Civics unit "Public policy and civic participation"?
Explain founding debates and constitutional compromise.Compare national, state, and local powers.Compare policy tools, stakeholders, costs, benefits, and tradeoffs.Use popular sovereignty, separation of powers, checks and balances, and rule of law.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "Public policy and civic participation" before asking a tutor for help?
Skip the unit and start a new subject.Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Write a policy memo with evidence, tradeoffs, and a civic action step.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.
08
AP-style review and civic capstone
- Use required-document and case reasoning.
- Build an argument from claim, evidence, and reasoning.
Practice: Complete a civic issue portfolio with documents, data, stakeholder map, and final argument.
Unit work plan
1. 1
  Source study
  Start with American Government 3e and Humanities textbooks. Take notes until you can explain: Use required-document and case reasoning.
2. 2
  Worked attempt
  Produce the assignment artifact: Complete a civic issue portfolio with documents, data, stakeholder map, and final argument.
3. 3
  Checked answers
  Complete the PeerTutor checks below and correct misses before moving on.
4. 4
  Tutor handoff
  Bring your attempted work, the exact missed check, and one question about: Build an argument from claim, evidence, and reasoning.
Original practice checks
Answer in PeerTutor, then use the explanation or bring the miss to a tutor.
4 checked answers
Source analysis
In AP-style review and civic capstone, a firsthand document from the time being studied is a what source?
Evidence reasoning
Which explanation is strongest?
a claim supported by specific evidence and contexta claim with no sourcea list of dates onlya personal opinion with no support
Unit readiness
Which target best matches the Government & Civics unit "AP-style review and civic capstone"?
Use popular sovereignty, separation of powers, checks and balances, and rule of law.Explain founding debates and constitutional compromise.Compare national, state, and local powers.Build an argument from claim, evidence, and reasoning.
Practice artifact
Which practice artifact should you produce for "AP-style review and civic capstone" before asking a tutor for help?
Watch videos without writing or solving anything.Complete a civic issue portfolio with documents, data, stakeholder map, and final argument.Skip the unit and start a new subject.Memorize vocabulary without checking any examples.