| WEEK | TOPIC | READINGS | ASSIGNMENT |
| 1: Aug. 6, 2020 (online) | Introduction, Syllabus | Section 1.1, "American Government" | Discussion of Syllabus, Textbook, Briefing Papers, and Weekly Assignments |
| 2: Aug. 13, 2020 | American Government and Civic Engagement | Sections 1.2 and 1.3, "American Government" | Question 14 (p. 33, Question 16 (p. 33), due noon, Aug. 10; Discussion of Readings |
| 3: Aug. 20, 2020 (online) | The Constitution and Its Origins | Chapter 2, "American Government" | Critical Thinking Question 16 (p. 67), Critical Thinking Question 22 (p. 68), due noon, Aug. 17; Discussion of Readings |
| 4: Aug. 27, 2020 | American Federalism | Chapter 3, "American Government" | Critical Thinking Question 21 (p. 104), Critical Thinking Question 24 (p. 105), due noon, Aug. 24; Discussion of Readings |
| 5: Sept. 3, 2020 | Civil Liberties | Chapter 4, "American Government" | Critical Thinking Question 23 (p. 152), Critical Thinking Question 25 (p. 152), due noon, Oct. 31; Discussion of Readings | 6: Sept. 10, 2020 | Civil Rights | Chapter 5, "American Government" | Critical Thinking Question 17 (p. 196) and Should the United States provide reparations to African Americans to compensate for the nation's history of slavery? Due noon, Sept. 7; Discussion of Readings Briefing Paper Topic Due |
| 7: Sept. 17, 2020 | The Politics of Public Opinion | Chapter 6, "American Government" | Critical Thinking Question 21 (p. 239), Critical Thinking Question 24 (p. 239), due noon, Sept. 14; Discussion of Readings |
| 8: Sept.24, 2020 | Voting and Elections | Chapter 7, "American Government" | Critical Thinking Question 28 (p. 284), Critical Thinking Question 31 (p. 284), due noon, Sept. 21; Discussion of Readings |
| 9: Oct. 1, 2020 | The Media, | Chapter 8, "American Government" | Critical Thinking Question 28 (p. 324), Critical Thinking Question 29 (p. 324), due noon, Sept. 28; Discussion of Readings Test Review Available |
| 10: Oct. 15, 2020 | Test Review Briefing Paper Discussion | ||
| 11: Oct. 23, 2019 | The first test will start Friday at 9:30 a.m. and be in Room 202 of First Cumberland Presbyterian Church. | ||
| 12: Oct. 29, 2020 | Political Parties | Chapter 9, "American Government" | Do you think the United States will ever have a multi-party system of government rather than a two-party system? Why? Critical Thinking Question 17 (p. 364) Due Oct. 26, noon, Discussion of Readings |
| 13: Nov. 5, 2020 | Interest Groups and Lobbying | Chapter 10, "American Government" | Critical Thinking Question 22 (p. 400), Critical Thinking Question 24 (p. 400), due noon, Nov. 2; Discussion of Readings |
| 14: Nov. 12, 2020 | Congress | Chapter 11, "American Government" | Review Question 18 (page 443), Critical Thinking Question 26 (page 443), due noon, Nov. 9. Discussion of Readings Test Review Available |
| 15: Nov. 19, 2020 | The Presidency, The Courts | Chapter 12-13, "American Government" | Discussion of Readings, Test Review |
| 16: Dec. 3, 2020 | Briefing Paper Draft Due Nov. 30, noon, Briefing Paper Due Test | ||
| 17: Jan. 7, 2021 | Fundamental Economic Concepts | Chapter 1, "Economic Principles and Practices" | Explain why the study of economics is important. Due noon, Jan. 4, Discussion of Readings |
| 18: Jan. 14, 2021 | Fundamental Economic Concepts | Chapters 2 and 3, "Economic Principles and Practices" | Capitalism versus socialism became an issue in the 2020 presidential election. Provide details about the candidates and issues involved in this debate. Due noon, Jan. 11, Discussion of Readings |
| 19: Jan. 21, 2021 | Microeconomics: Prices and Markets | Chapters 4 and 5, "Economic Principles and Practices" | Discuss the effects of U.S. tariff policy in 2019 on supply and demand issues. Provide at least two examples. Due noon, Jan. 18, Discussion of Readings |
| 20: Jan. 28, 2021 | Microeconomics: Prices and Markets | Chapter 6 and 7, "Economic Principles and Practices" | Discuss why and how governments in the United States may intervene in the price system. Provide at least three examples. Due noon, Jan. 25, Discussion of Readings |
| 21: Feb. 4, 2021 | Economic Institutions and Issues | Chapters 8 and 9, "Economic Principles and Practices" | If you were an elected official who wanted to increase tax revenues, which of the following taxes would you prefer to use: individual income, sales, property, corporate income, user fees, VAT, or flat? Provide reasons for your decision. Due noon, Feb. 1, Discussion of Readings Test review available |
| 22: Feb. 11, 2021 | Economic Institutions and Issues | Chapters 10 and 11, "Economic Principles and Practices" | Test review |
| 23: Feb. 18, 2021 | Test | ||
| 24: Feb. 25, 2021 | Macroeconomics: Performance and Stabilization | Chapter 12, "Economic Principles and Practices" | Which of the factors that contribute to
income inequality do you think has the most impact? Explain your answer. Due noon, Feb. 22, Discussion of Readings |
| 25: March 4, 2021 | Macroeconomics: Performance and Stabilization | Chapter 13, "Economic Principles and Practices" | Discuss the causes of the Great Recession that began in 2008. Due noon, March 1, Discussion of Readings Discussion of Second Briefing Paper |
| 26: March 11, 2021 | Macroeconomics: Performance and Stabilization | Chapter 14, "Economic Principles and Practices" | What factors led to the development of the Federal Reserve System? Due noon, March 8, Discussion of Readings |
| 27: March 18, 2021 | Macroeconomics: Performance and Stabilization | Chapter 15, "Economic Principles and Practices" | What federal fiscal policies were issues in 2020 presidential campaigns? Due noon, March 15 Discussion of Readings |
| 28: March 25, 2021 | The Global Economy | Chapter 16, "Economic Principles and Practices" | What were arguments of President Donald Trump to justify his tariff policies? Due March 22, Discussion of Readings |
| 29: April 8, 2021 | The Global Economy | Chapter 17, "Economic Principles and Practices" | How do you think the
economic growth of developing countries will affect you and your family in the future? Due noon, April 5, Discussion of Readings |
| 30: April 15, 2021 | The Global Economy | Chapter 18, "Economic Principles and Practices" | What have been arguments of President Donald Trump to oppose "globalizatin" in his economic policies and actions? Due noon, April 12, Discussion of Readings |
| 31: April 22, 2021 | Briefing Paper Draft Due, April 19, noon, Review, Briefing Paper Due |
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| 32: April 29, 2021 | Final Exam |