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Which books are essential to earn a half credit for government?


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I have some books on hand and would like to see if reading these would be enough to give dd a half credit in government. (I'm planning her high school years.)

 

Here is what I have available:

Democracy in America

The Words We Live By Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution

The Federalist (Assuming I only need some of these?)

Common Sense

+ speeches and documents

 

Am I missing anything?

What would you add or take away?

Thanks!

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Your list certainly covers the source documents aspect of a government credit, but what are you using as your overall "spine" or resource for factually explaining things like:

- election process, campaigning, and political parties

- how the House & Senate are organized and specific roles such as Speaker of the House, Majority Leaders, Minority Whips, etc

- how a bill becomes law

- the bill of rights and the development of civil liberties

- the checks and balances of the 3 branches (legislative,

- the executive branch duties and executive agencies (what they do, how they are organized)

- the President's cabinet and what each cabinet member oversees

- the judicial branch and key cases

 

Check out the table of contents to The Complete Idiot's Guide to American Government for a list of topics typically covered in a Government course. Or, maybe use the free online resource of Hippocampus American Government as your spine. Or, you could learn the spine material in a very hands-on way by participating in either the Teen Pact program, or the YMCA's Youth & Government program, if either are available in your area.

 

 

Also, do you have anything to give you a brief overview about other forms of government and a little background of how those other forms of government have actually played out in the world and through history? Check out this list from the History Guy for ideas of types of governments.

 

 

And finally, while I do think the above 2 items would be important to include as part of a Government credit, Richard Maybury's book Are you Liberal, Conservative or Confused? could be more of a fun, fast read extra on political parties and a very general overview to liberal/conservative, left/right, socialism, communism, democracy, republic.

Edited by Lori D.
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