Instructor: Dr. Steve O'Brien
Day and Time: Tuesday and Friday; 11:00am - 12:15pm Eastern
Start Date: June 15th End Date: August 6th
Regina Coeli Academy's American Government course will survey the history of law and political order in America from the European colonial settlement through the revolution against England, and the establishment of a new republic in the image of the classical Roman structure. We will consider the factors at work which lead to the writing of the Constitution, and examine the implications of the compromises brokered during the convention.
The course will also acquaint the student with how the federal system is supposed to work, and the actualities of modern politics and government.
Dr. O'Brien will lead the live meetings, reflecting on historical and philosophical questions raised in the text, and highlighting their relevance to current legal and social issues. American Government is a 9 week course. The book we will be using is The American Democracy 7th edition by Thomas Patterson. There will be two lectures per week. The students will be reading 2 chapters per week. There will be 4 quizzes and one written assignment. The quizzes will be spread out throughout the course one due every two weeks. There will be a one week grace period with no penalty (for quizzes) for those students who may be going away for a few days during the week. The written assignment will be due the last day of class.