JCNHS Courses

College U.S. Government

Students can earn both high school and college credit at the same time by paying the college tuition (approximately $213) to Highland Community College. This course functions on two levels: the descriptive and the evaluative. The descriptive level of the course includes knowledge of the total structure of our government (the Constitution, the three main branches of government, the decision-making process, political parties, civil rights, the media, public opinion and policy making). The second level of the course focuses on the evaluation of the above structures through critical thinking and argument. Argument papers are included as part of the course to facilitate evaluation so that students can achieve a degree of independence concerning political questions. The descriptive level provides the factual basis for the course which must be mastered before evaluation can proceed. In the final analysis, however, it is more important to know the reasons why democracy is the best form of government rather than just knowing the mere fact that it is the best form of government.

GRADE: 12