PO 2005 - American Government

”We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union…” These are the first words of the United States Constitution, the country’s most important government document. What did the framers of this document envision as a “more perfect union?” In this course, you will explore the result of their vision-the American government. You will discover how the founders created a democracy based upon the ideals of liberty, equality, and self-government. You will explore how the government is structured and how it operates, and you will examine the three branches of government-legislative, executive, and judicial-that make up the system of checks and balances. You will find that although the Constitution in principle grants certain rights and liberties to the people, many groups have not been allowed those rights in practice and have had to fight for them. But as you will discover, the very nature of the United States government means that the people have a voice, and that the Constitution is a living document, because it can be adapted and amended to change with the times. 3 credits