Religion and American Politics

Maria Rioux provides this list of online resources for the Catholic homeschool student studying American government. This is an excellent additional reading list for any Homeschool Connections student who is taking one of our government or law courses.

Click on the title to read:

The Secularization of the West by Richard John Neuhaus

Living Within the Truth by Archbishop Chaput

The Vocation of Christians in American Public Life by Archbishop Chaput

John F. Kennedy's Houston Address to Protestant Ministers

It is interesting to juxtapose Barack Obama's second inaugural with JFK's Houston address.

Barack Obama's Innaugural Address 2013

High School: American Elections: Democracy in Action

I have great news to share! Due to popular demand, we've opened up a second American Elections course on Mondays. You can now choose to take it on Fridays or Mondays -- whichever one best fits your homeschool schedule.

Here are all the details for the Monday course:

GOVERNMENT: AMERICAN ELECTIONS; DEMOCRACY IN ACTION 

(click on course title for registration information)

Class dates: Monday, Oct. 8 to Nov. 12, 2012.
Total classes: 6
Starting time: 4:00 pm Eastern (3:00 Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of American government.
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th
Suggested high school credit: 1/2 semester Government (For additional credit, see our other government courses -- both live and recorded.)
Fee: $90 for all 6 classes.  
Instructor: Ed Rivet, MPA
Course description: This 6-week course will explore the "ins and outs" of the American electoral process, with a special emphasis on the upcoming presidential election. We'll begin class 5 weeks prior to the November election, with our last class a wrap up, just 3 days after we've elected a new president. (Well... hopefully we won't have a repeat of the year 2000 "hanging chad" debacle.) Along with weekly lectures, there will be some interactive features during the class time. Perhaps we'll have a little "prognostication" contest on the outcome of certain elections.
Course outline:
Week 1: Elections: Overview of Constitution & Laws
Week 2: Comparisons: Local v. State v. National Elections; Partisan v. Nonpartisan; Jungle Primaries; U.S. System v. other countries
Week 3: The Electoral College - Should It Stay or Should It Go?
Week 4: Anatomy of Campaigns: Operations, PACs & Super PACs, Polls & Pundits
Week 5: How Issues, Incidents & Outside Events Affect Campaigns
Week 6: Post-election Analysis - What drove the results? How accurately did we foresee the results? What are the implications of the results?
Course materials: Provided free by the instructor or online.
Homework: Students will have a variety of "home"work assignments – reading, research, some essays, etc. Students are going to be STRONGLY encouraged to volunteer at least a couple hours of their time to any candidate or issue campaign of their choice during the 6-week period. Essays graded by the instructor. 

Instructor biography: Ed Rivet has a B.S. in Pre-Law and Public Policy and a Master’s in Public Administration both from Michigan State University. For 23 years Mr. Rivet has served as the Right to Life of Michigan’s Legislative Director. He has written and helped enact dozens of laws, including the nation’s first complete ban on human cloning, and banning assisted suicide in the face of the assault on human life by Jack Kevorkian and Geoffrey Fieger. Mr. Rivet has done countless media interviews, appearing in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, plus live interviews on CNN and Good Morning America.

Equipment requirements: Classes are online, live, and interactive. Students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with microphone.
Misc: Mr. Rivet will be available via email in between classes for questions and comments.
Recordings of classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.
Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.

GOVERNMENT: AMERICAN ELECTIONS; DEMOCRACY IN ACTION 

(click on course title for registration information)

High School: American Elections: Democracy in Action

Happy Fourth of July everyone!!!! Before heading out to celebrate the birth of our country, I want to share this new course we just scheduled this week. After all, American Elections fits right into Independence Day.

Mr. Rivet's government classes are very engaging, interesting, and even fun. I hope you'll take advantage of this special course designed with the 2012 Presidential Election in mind. Get high school credit while learning about your civic duty as an American citizen!

Government: American Elections; Democracy in Action 

(click on course title for registration information)

Class dates: Fridays, Oct. 5 to Nov. 9, 2012.
Total classes: 6
Starting time: 11:30 am Eastern (10:30 Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of American government.
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th
Suggested high school credit: 1/2 semester Government (For additional credit, see our other government courses -- both live and recorded.)
Fee: $80 if you register on or before Aug. 1, 2012. $90 if you register after Aug. 1 for all 6 classes. 
Instructor: Ed Rivet, MPA
Course description: This 6-week course will explore the "ins and outs" of the American electoral process, with a special emphasis on the upcoming presidential election. We'll begin class 5 weeks prior to the November election, with our last class a wrap up, just 3 days after we've elected a new president. (Well... hopefully we won't have a repeat of the year 2000 "hanging chad" debacle.) Along with weekly lectures, there will be some interactive features during the class time. Perhaps we'll have a little "prognostication" contest on the outcome of certain elections.
Course outline:
Week 1: Elections: Overview of Constitution & Laws
Week 2: Comparisons: Local v. State v. National Elections; Partisan v. Nonpartisan; Jungle Primaries; U.S. System v. other countries
Week 3: The Electoral College - Should It Stay or Should It Go?
Week 4: Anatomy of Campaigns: Operations, PACs & Super PACs, Polls & Pundits
Week 5: How Issues, Incidents & Outside Events Affect Campaigns
Week 6: Post-election Analysis - What drove the results? How accurately did we foresee the results? What are the implications of the results?
Course materials: Provided free by the instructor or online.
Homework: Students will have a variety of "home"work assignments – reading, research, some essays, etc. Students are going to be STRONGLY encouraged to volunteer at least a couple hours of their time to any candidate or issue campaign of their choice during the 6-week period. Essays graded by the instructor.

Instructor biography: Ed Rivet has a B.S. in Pre-Law and Public Policy and a Master’s in Public Administration both from Michigan State University. For 23 years Mr. Rivet has served as the Right to Life of Michigan’s Legislative Director. He has written and helped enact dozens of laws, including the nation’s first complete ban on human cloning, and banning assisted suicide in the face of the assault on human life by Jack Kevorkian and Geoffrey Fieger. Mr. Rivet has done countless media interviews, appearing in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, plus live interviews on CNN and Good Morning America.

Equipment requirements: Classes are online, live, and interactive. Students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with microphone.
Misc: Mr. Rivet will be available via email in between classes for questions and comments.
Recordings of classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.
Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.

Government: American Elections; Democracy in Action 

(click on course title for registration information)

High School Constitutional Law Course: Supreme Court Jurisprudence I

Constitutional Law: Supreme Court Jurisprudence I 

(click on course title to register)

Class dates: Thursdays, Sept. 13 to Dec. 13, 2012. No class Oct. 25 and Nov. 22.
Total classes: 12
Starting time: 1:00 pm Eastern (Noon Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisite: At least one semester of American Government (Unlimited Access!) or equivalent.
Suggested grade level: 11^th to 12^th
Suggested high school credit: 1 full semester
Fee: $175 if you register on or before Aug. 1, 2012. $195 if you register after Aug. 1 for all 12 classes.
Instructor: Alison Stanley, JD
Course description: Students will explore many different facets of America’s highest court, such as:
-- Where does the Supreme Court get its power?
-- What IS the power of the Supreme Court vis-à-vis the executive and legislative branches?
-- How does a case get to the Supreme Court?
-- What are the ways a Justice can interpret the Constitution (e.g., strict construction)?
-- How is a Justice nominated to the Supreme Court?
-- What has the Supreme Court held regarding abortion?
-- What is due process?
-- What criminal procedure rights has the Supreme Court carved out?

In answering these questions, the U.S. Constitution as well as the following cases will be examined in depth: Marbury v. Madison, Ex parte Merryman, Miranda v. Arizona and Roe v. Wade. Other cases not listed will also be explored.

Course materials: To be announced.
Homework: Graded by the instructor. 

Instructor biography:

Alison Stanley has a B.A. from Michigan State University and a law degree from the University of Michigan. She loves to study history, especially how it pertains to legal and political issues of today. Mrs. Stanley is a mother of five children, all who have been homeschooled at some point.

Equipment requirements: Classes are online, live and interactive. Students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with microphone.

Misc:
Mrs. Stanley will be available via email in between classes for questions and comments.
Recordings of classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.
Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.

Constitutional Law: Supreme Court Jurisprudence I 

(click on course title to register)

Summer School: Local Government for High School

How cool would it be to take a local government course with a city mayor?! Well, we think it would be way cool and so we've set it all up for you!  This June you can take one of our famous summer boot camps with Phillip Campbell, Mayor of Howell, MI. Mayor Campbell will introduce high school students to the the hows and whys of local government. This is not one to miss!  Please scroll down for all the details and the link to sign up!

Summer Boot Camp: Local Government 101

(click on course title to register)

Class dates: Monday through Thursday, June 11th - 14th, 2012
Total classes: 4
Starting time: Noon Eastern (11:00 am Central(
Duration: 55 minutes
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 10th to 12th grade
Fee: $40 if you register on or before April 1, 2012. $50 after April 1st for all 4 classes.
Instructor: Mayor Phillip Campbell (Howell, MI)
Course description: A nuts n' bolts breakdown of how your local City or township government functions, taught by the Mayor of Howell, MI. This is a great addendum or precursor to Homeschool Connections' other government courses.
Course outline:
Monday: Origins: The beginning of local government in America in law, practice and theory.
Tuesday: People, Operations and Services: The people who make a local government run, and what kinds of services local governments provide to their residents.
Wednesday: Decision Making and Funding: How local governments make decisions, take action and find money to pay for their operations.
Thursday: Participation: Why don't more people participate in local government and what opportunities exist for you to get involved with your local government?
Course materials: Any course materials will be available free online or provided by Mayor Campbell
Homework: Daily quizzes

Misc.
Mayor Campbell will be available via email in between classes for questions and comments.
Recordings of classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.
Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.

Summer Boot Camp: Local Government 101

(click on course title to register)

Government / Law for High School

Government/Law: Introduction to Law; Fundamentals of the American Legal System

(click on course title for registration page)

Class dates: Fridays, January 13 to March 9
Total classes: 9
Starting time: Noon Eastern (11:00 am Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Fee: $115 if you register on or before November 1, 2011. $145 after Nov. 1 for all 9 classes.
Instructor: Jason Negri, MS JD
Prerequisite: None. However, American Government is recommended
Suggested high school credit: 2/3 semester credit for government or law. Additional reading can be assigned by the parent for a full semester credit.
Suggested grade level: 11th to 12th grade
Course description: An introduction to the legal system that surrounds us, governs us and influences us every day, even if we're not aware of it. This course will give a basic understanding of some fundamental concepts of the American legal system and will review some of the different areas of law.
Course outline:
Week 1: Foundations of the law; jurisprudence; history; interplay of law and government, natural law, legal positivism
Week 2: Law in America: structure, process, Constitution and Bill of Rights, Judicial review
Week 3: Criminal Law
Week 4: Torts
Week 5: Torts, cont.
Week 6: Contracts
Week 7: Property
Week 8: Legal concepts related to life issues: privacy, liberty; Griswold v. Connecticut; Roe v. Wade; Planned Parenthood v. Casey; Cruzan v. Director, MO Dept. of Health; Vacco v. Quill
Week 9: Final Class; Summary
Course materials: Law 101 (3rd ed.) by Jay M. Feinman; various cases; other materials found free online or as a pdf from the instructor.
Homework: 1 to 2 hours of preparatory reading and homework per week on average.


Instructor biography: Jason Negri is the Assistant Director of the Patients Rights Council, a think tank dedicated to opposing the spread of doctor-prescribed suicide and euthanasia. He earned his BA in history and French, and his MS in education administration from Franciscan University of Steubenville, and his JD from Ave Maria School of Law as a member of its inaugural class. Mr. Negri is a practicing attorney in Michigan, where he lives with his wife and 4 children.

Equipment requirements: Classes are online, live and interactive. Students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with microphone.
Misc:
Mr. Negri will be available via email in between classes for questions and comments.
Recordings of classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.
Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.

Government/Law: Introduction to Law; Fundamentals of the American Legal System

(click on course title for registration page)

American Government for Homeschoolers

Update: This live course has concluded and is available now as a recorded course through our Unlimited Access! Service. This is a great way to learn at your own pace when your schedule allows. To subscribe or learn more: Middle and High School Catholic Online Classes

Advanced American Government will be starting a week later than originally scheduled.  So, if you'd like to join us, there is still time. While it is recommended that students take Mr. Rivet's introductory government course first, it is not required. Any student with a basic understanding of government and has a desire to learn and work can handle this course. They may have to go back and fill in a detail or two to help make sense of a few things, but much of the material stands alone. So, Government I is not critical to doing well. We hope to see at noon Eastern on Friday, September 16th!

And now, introducing Mr. Rivet, our government instructor. (Make sure to watch to the end for a good laugh!)



Note: This is a FREE course. We only ask that you come to class with the same commitment you would come with if you had to pay the regular $140 fee.

To learn more: Advanced American Government for Catholic Homeschoolers

To register: Advanced American Government with Mr. Rivet

Advanced American Government (Online High School)

Update: This live course has concluded and is available now as a recorded course through our Unlimited Access! Service. This is a great way to learn at your own pace when your schedule allows. To subscribe or learn more: Middle and High School Catholic Online Classes

Government: Advanced American Government

(click on course title to register)

Class dates: Fridays, September 9 to November 4, 2011
Total classes: 9
Starting time: Noon Eastern (11:00 am Central)
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Fee: FREE. Regularly $140 for all 9 classes.
Instructor: Ed Rivet
Prerequisite: Government, Democracy, and Citizenship or other introduction to American government.
Suggested grade level: 10th to 12th
High school credit: 3/4 of a semester credit. To give full credit, add reading assignments from Mr. Rivet's supplemental reading list plus an essay on the book(s).
Course description: Building on the fundamentals from the prerequisite course, this course will delve deeper into political and economic theory. There will be a deeper review of constitutional (common) law developed by our courts and a deeper exploration into the legislative process. There will be more emphasis on class participation each session, with less straight lecturing.
Course outline:
Class 1: The Interrelationship of Legal-Political-Economic Theories
Class 2: Marxism-Communism and Socialism
Class 3: Democracy - Greek, Roman, American, Parliamentary
Class 4: Constitutional Rights Revisited - Due Process of Law
Class 5: Law & Order: Crime, Punishment & Justice
Class 6: Impact of Litigation - Public & Private
Class 7: Legislative Roles and Authorities
Class 8: The Heart of Making Laws
Class 9: Synthesis of Theory & Practice
Homework: Much more essay-based assignments than prerequisite course - analysis and articulation that shows a grasping of the subject matter. Students will study specific pending legislation in detail and propose their own bills.
Course materials: All materials are provided FREE by the instructor.

Equipment requirements:
Classes are online, live and interactive. Students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with microphone.

Misc:
Mr. Rivet will be available via email in between classes for questions and comments.
Recordings of classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.
Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.

Government: Advanced American Government

(click on course title to register)

High School American Government Online Class

Update: This live course has concluded and is available now as a recorded course through our Unlimited Access! Service. This is a great way to learn at your own pace when your schedule allows. To subscribe or learn more: Catholic Homeschooling

Government: Government, Democracy, and Citizenship with Ed Rivet (Feb. 11 to Apr. 8)
(click on title to register)

Mr. Rivet's introductory government course has been one of our most popular. The students even started a Mr. Rivet Fan Club on Facebook. We get a lot of Seton and MODG students in this course as it helps meet their requirements for U.S. Government. We're really excited to be able to offer it again.

Course Description:
American government has been called the most radical experiment in self-governing in human history based on its unique system of democracy and citizen involvement. Learn how the fundamental elements of American government are supposed to work, how they actually work, and the role and responsibility each citizen has in our government and our future."

Instructor's Biography:
Ed Rivet has a B.S. in Pre-Law and Public Policy and a Master's in Public Administration both from Michigan State University. He served three years as a legislative aide in the Michigan House of Representatives. For 21 years Ed has served as the Right to Life of Michigan's Legislative Director. He has written and helped enact dozens of laws, including the nation's first complete ban on human cloning, and banning assisted suicide in the face of the assault on human life by Jack Kevorkian and Geoffrey Fieger. Ed was the director of the state of Michigan's largest all-volunteer citizen petition drive which also was the state's most accurate petition drive ever, 97.3% valid signatures. Ed has done countless media interviews, appearing in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, plus live interviews on CNN and Good Morning America.

Price: $140 for all 9 classes. There is a $20 Early Enrollment Discount if you enroll before November 1, 2010.

Dates and Time:
This is a nine-week course. Classes will begin Friday, February 11, 2011 and meet every Friday through April 8, 2011. The time will begin 12:00 PM Eastern Time and end at 1:15 PM.

Enrollment Period:
Enrollment is currently open.

Misc. Details:
All coursework will be provided by the instructor or available online for free. Homework and research projects will be given and graded. (Though Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.) Mr. Rivet will be available via email in between classes to answer questions and take comments.

Equipment requirements:
Students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with microphone is highly recommended. If you do not own a headset, you can find them for a reasonable price at Amazon. A web cam is NOT required.

Comments from Mr. Rivet's Past Students:

"The class was fantastic! I really enjoyed it!"

"Thanks for teaching this class ... I really enjoyed it and I felt like it gave me a better understanding of my government."

"I loved this class!"

"NICE JOB!!!!! I really enjoyed the class and I am thankful I did it. The course gave me a basic yet essential understanding of how our government works that I never had before. Thanks a bunch!"

To register, go to: Government: Government, Democracy, and Citizenship with Ed Rivet. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Register button and then follow the instructions. We take Visa and Master Card. If you prefer to pay by check, please don't hesitate to email me.

High School Online Class: Advanced American Government

Update: This live course has concluded and is available now as a recorded course through our Subscription Service. This is a great way to learn at your own pace when your schedule allows. To subscribe or learn more:Adult and High School Catholic Online Classes

Government: Advanced American Government

(click on above title for registration)

Class dates: Fridays, September 10 to November 5, 2010
Total classes: 9
Starting time: Noon Eastern (11:00 am Central) Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Fee: $160 for entire 9-week course. $20 Early Registration Discount before August 1, 2010
Instructor: Ed Rivet
Prerequisite: Government, Democracy, and Citizenship (recorded) or other introductory American government course.
Suggested grade level: 10th to 12th
High school credit: 3/4 of a semester credit. To give full credit, add reading assignments from Mr. Rivet's supplemental reading list plus an essay on the book(s).
Course description: Building on the fundamentals from the prerequisite course, this course will delve deeper into political and economic theory. There will be a deeper review of constitutional (common) law developed by our courts and a deeper exploration into the legislative process. There will be more emphasis on class participation each session, with less straight lecturing.
Course outline:
Class 1: The Interrelationship of Legal-Political-Economic Theories
Class 2: Marxism-Communism and Socialism
Class 3: Democracy - Greek, Roman, American, Parliamentary
Class 4: Constitutional Rights Revisited - Due Process of Law
Class 5: Law & Order: Crime, Punishment & Justice
Class 6: Impact of Litigation - Public & Private
Class 7: Legislative Roles and Authorities
Class 8: The Heart of Making Laws
Class 9: Synthesis of Theory & Practice
Homework: Much more essay-based assignments than prerequisite course - analysis and articulation that shows a grasping of the subject matter. Students will study specific pending legislation in detail and propose their own bills.
Course materials: Online resources, a couple books that are readily available in libraries or cheap on Amazon, etc. (TBA August 1, 2010)
Equipment requirements:
Students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with microphone.
Misc:
Mr. Rivet will be available via email in between classes for questions and comments.
Recordings of classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.
Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.

Government: Advanced American Government

(click on above title for registration)

Homeschool High School US Government

Update: This live course has concluded and is is currently available as a recorded course through our Subscription Service. This is a great way to learn at your own pace when your schedule allows.To subscribe or learn more: Adult and High School Online Classes

Mr. Rivet's introductory government course has been our most popular. The students even started a Mr. Rivet Fan Club on Facebook. We get a lot of Seton and MODG students in this course as it helps meet their requirements for U.S. Government. We're really excited to be able to offer it again and will start next week.

Course Description:
American government has been called the most radical experiment in self-governing in human history based on its unique system of democracy and citizen involvement. Learn how the fundamental elements of American government are supposed to work, how they actually work, and the role and responsibility each citizen has in our government and our future."

Instructor's Biography:
Ed Rivet has a B.S. in Pre-Law and Public Policy and a Master's in Public Administration both from Michigan State University. He served three years as a legislative aide in the Michigan House of Representatives. For 21 years Ed has served as the Right to Life of Michigan's Legislative Director. He has written and helped enact dozens of laws, including the nation's first complete ban on human cloning, and banning assisted suicide in the face of the assault on human life by Jack Kevorkian and Geoffrey Fieger. Ed was the director of the state of Michigan's largest all-volunteer citizen petition drive which also was the state's most accurate petition drive ever, 97.3% valid signatures. Ed has done countless media interviews, appearing in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, plus live interviews on CNN and Good Morning America.

Price: $135

Dates and Time:
This is a nine-week course. Classes will begin Friday, February 12, 2010 and meet every Friday through April 16, 2010 (No class on Good Friday). The time will begin 12:00 PM Eastern Time and end at 1:15 PM.

Enrollment Period:
Enrollment is currently open.

Misc. Details:
All coursework will be provided by the instructor or available online for free. Homework and research projects will be given and graded. (Though Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.) Mr. Rivet will be available via email in between classes to answer questions and take comments.

Equipment requirements:
Students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with microphone is highly recommended. If you do not own a headset, you can find them for a reasonable price at Amazon. A web cam is NOT required.

Comments from Mr. Rivet's Past Students:

"The class was fantastic! I really enjoyed it!"

"Thanks for teaching this class ... I really enjoyed it and I felt like it gave me a better understanding of my government."

"I loved this class!"

"NICE JOB!!!!! I really enjoyed the class and I am thankful I did it. The course gave me a basic yet essential understanding of how our government works that I never had before. Thanks a bunch!"

To register, go to: Democracy, Government, and Citizenship. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Register button and then follow the instructions. We take Visa and Master Card. If you prefer to pay by check, please don't hesitate to email me.

American Government Reading List

Democracy, Government & Citizenship
Supplemental Reading List

This list includes everything from the classic pieces like The Federalist and Common Sense to modern studies of power and government. The contemporary pieces may not be free of various ideological biases of the authors, but they represent the types of works often studied in secular academic institutions and still have value, despite occasional biases.

Be forewarned that some of these books are THICK and intellectual. I’m recommending the book on Thomas More as a study in true statesmanship, character and faith. There are interesting pieces on Presidents Roosevelt, Johnson and Nixon. There are innumerable books on Lincoln, don’t even know where to start in recommending something on him.

The following selections list title, author and a reference page from the homeschooling book For the Love of Literature by Maureen Wittmann. These are books you will likely have to find at your public library (or through inter-library loan).

The Magna Carta, James Daugherty, p. 139
St. Thomas More of London, Elizabeth Ince, p. 150
Paul Revere & the World He Lived In, Ester Forbes, p. 184
Common Sense, Thomas Paine, p. 185
Constitutional Thought of Thomas Jefferson, (from the Constitution & Democracy Series)
David N. Mayer, p. 186
The Federalist, Hamilton, Madison, Jay, p. 186
Democracy in America, Alexis deTocqueville, p. 180 (I quoted this one in class - a classic!!)
The Roosevelt Myth, John T. Flynn, p. 202
Hiroshima, John Hersey, p. 127 (the moral implications of war & nuclear weapons)
The Power Broker, Robert Caro, p. 208 (a study in corruption and power)
The Path to Power, Robert Caro, p. 207 (about LBJ)

Additional Contemporary or Academic Works (try your library or Amazon)

All the President’s Men, Woodward & Bernstein (about Nixon)
*The Brethren (1979), & The Brethren: Inside the Supreme Court (2005), Bob Woodward
The Tempting of America, Robert Bork
+Bureaucracy: What Government Agencies Do & Why They Do It, James Q. Wilson
The Broken Branch, Thomas Mann & Norman Ornstein

*These are inside looks at the U.S. Supreme Court by investigative reporters… interesting
+James Q. Wilson is a preeminent political scientist, this is academic stuff.

Preparing Future Voters, Part Two

In yesterday's post, Maria Rioux mentioned the importance of teaching economics in preparing our children to be leaders in this country. Another important course along this vein is Political Science: Democracy, Government, & Citizenship.

Note that as of today there are only 5 seats left for this course.

American government has been called the most radical experiment in self-governing in human history based on its unique system of democracy and citizen involvement. Learn how the fundamental elements of American government are supposed to work, how they actually work, and the role and responsibility each citizen has in our government and our future.