• Home
  • product
  • Honors American Government Online Course
Thinkwell's American Government with Professors Gerald Rosenberg, Matthew Dickinson & Mark Rom Video Screenshot

Honors American Government Online Course

$159.00 


Optional course additions (check box to select):
Printed Notes $55.99 View details

Thinkwell's Honors American Government

Thinkwell's Honors American Government course is equivalent to a one-semester college course and is taught by renowned political science professors from prestigious universities. There are no prerequisites, making it a great choice for most high school students.

Learn from dozens of 10-minute videos (no textbook required) and hundreds of online exercises.  If you're interested in taking the AP exam, check out this version here.

The Printed Notes (optional) are the Honors American Government course notes from the Online Subscription printed in color, on-the-go format. 

Course Features

Video Lessons

182 engaging 5-15 minute lesson videos
View Sample

Lesson Plan

Detailed, 36-week lesson plan and schedule
View Lesson Plan

Assessments

Automatically graded exercises and tests with step-by-step feedback
View Sample

Notes

Concise, illustrated course notes for each topic
View Sample
What Parents Are Saying. . .
"After my initial course purchase I liked Thinkwell courses so much that I purchased American Government, Microeconomics, Physics 1 and Calculus AB. The quality of the teaching and the bios of the professors were the main reasons I settled on Thinkwell as opposed to other online courses. The full price of the course was reasonable compared to other online courses."
– Melinda D
"Both kids really like the videos. I have purchased American Government, Algebra 1 for my younger child and AP chemistry for my older student. I am very happy with each one. The notes for government are awesome and no book is needed there. Also I couldn't believe how quickly the Thinkwell folks responded to my email when I messed up assigning my older student to his classes initially. I will most definitely purchase from them again. "
– Shawn M
"My daughters are both using Thinkwell AP American Government this year. We've used Thinkwell for two other courses (College Microeconomics and Precalculus). The curriculum is ideal for students who need to hear a lecture and not only read material (although one daughter prefers to print out the transcript to read). It's also ideal for self-paced work, providing a daily lesson plan, practice tests, and tests. We prefer Thinkwell to other online courses.”
– LeAnn M
Course Overview

What you get

  • 12-month, online subscription to our complete Honors American Government course
  • Day-by-day course lesson plan
  • 180+ course lessons, each with a streaming video
  • Illustrated notes
  • Automatically graded exercises with correct answer feedback
  • Chapter & Practice tests, a Midterm & Final Exam
  • Illustrated notes....and more!

How it works

  • Purchase Thinkwell's Honors American Government through our online store
  • Create an account username and password which will give you access to the online Honors American Government course section
  • Activate your 12-month subscription when you're ready
  • Login to the course website to access the online course materials, including streaming video lessons, exercises, quizzes, tests and more
  • Access your course anytime, anywhere, from any device
  • Your work is automatically tracked and updated in real-time
  • Grade reports and certificates of completion are available at request
Thinkwell's Honors American Government Authors
Gerald Rosenberg, Mark Rom, and Matthew Dickinson

Gerald Rosenberg University of Chicago

Gerald Rosenberg is an associate professor of political science at the University of Chicago, where he also directs the American Politics Workshop and lectures at the law school. He holds a Masters Degree in Politics and Philosophy from Christ Church, Oxford University and has a law degree from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. from Yale.

Mark Rom Georgetown University

A three-time winner of his school's Outstanding Faculty Member Award, Mark Rom is an associate professor of government and public policy at Georgetown University. He received his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Wisconsin and worked for four years as a senior social science analyst for the General Accounting Office.

Matthew Dickinson Middlebury College

Matthew Dickinson is an associate professor of political science at Middlebury College. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard. A specialist on the presidency, he is the author of Bitter Harvest: FDR, Presidential Power and the Growth of the Presidential Branch.

Thinkwell's Honors American Government Table of Contents
Open All
Close All

1. Constitutional Principles

1.1 The Foundations of Government
1.1.1 An Introduction to Government
1.1.2 Why Government?
1.1.3 Who Governs?
1.1.4 Political Power
1.2 Political Culture
1.2.1 An Introduction to Political Culture
1.2.2 The Foundations of American Culture
1.2.3 Unity and Diversity
1.2.4 Video Biography: What Is Government?
1.3 The History of the Constitution
1.3.1 Britain and the Colonies
1.3.2 The Articles of Confederation
1.3.3 The Constitutional Convention
1.3.4 Final Steps to a Federal Government
1.3.5 The Road to Ratification
1.4 The Constitution in Action
1.4.1 The Bill of Rights
1.4.2 Checks and Balances
1.4.3 Amending the Constitution
1.5 Why Federalism?
1.5.1 Three Democratic Systems of Government
1.5.2 The Pros and Cons of Federalism
1.6 Federalism in Action: Divided Powers
1.6.1 Federalism Today
1.6.2 Federalism Through History
1.6.3 Hot Topic: The Federal Trump Card: The Commerce Clause

2. Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

2.1 An Introduction to Civil Liberties and Rights
2.1.1 The Creation of Rights
2.1.2 Equality of Opportunity Versus Equality of Results
2.1.3 Equal Protection Under the Law
2.2 First Amendment Rights
2.2.1 Freedom of Religion
2.2.2 Freedom of Expression: Criticizing the Government
2.2.3 Freedom of Expression: Pornography and Cyberspeech
2.2.4 Hot Topic: Hate Speech: Right to Free Expression or Invitation to Violence?
2.2.5 Freedom of Expression: A Free Press
2.2.6 The Right to Assemble
2.3 The Individual and Rights
2.3.1 Individual Freedoms Versus the Common Good
2.3.2 The Right to Privacy
2.3.3 Hot Topic: Email Privacy
2.3.4 The Individual in the Criminal Justice System
2.3.5 The Rights of the Accused
2.4 Additional Guarantees Under the Bill of Rights
2.4.1 Second Amendment: The Right to Bear Arms
2.4.2 Hot Topic: The Second Amendment and the Roberts Court
2.5 The African-American Struggle for Rights
2.5.1 Slavery and the Civil Rights Movement
2.5.2 The Struggle for Civil Rights: 1900–1950s
2.5.3 Civil Rights Legislation: 1960s and Later
2.5.4 Case Study: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
2.6 Civil Rights and Other Groups
2.6.1 Women and the Struggle for Rights
2.6.2 Rights Revolution: The Expansion of Rights
2.6.3 Hot Topic: Sexual Harassment

3. People and Politics

3.1 Public Opinion
3.1.1 What Is Public Opinion?
3.1.2 Political Socialization: Opinion and the Individual
3.1.3 Looking at Opinion Polls
3.2 Participation and Social Capital
3.2.1 Translating Opinion into Action
3.2.2 Who Participates?
3.2.3 The Importance of Participation: Social Capital
3.3 Mobilizing for Action
3.3.1 Organizing to Participate
3.3.2 Social Movements
3.3.3 Case Study: Same-Sex Marriages
3.3.4 Case Study: Same-Sex Marriage, Recent Developments
3.4 Interest Groups and Political Action Committees
3.4.1 Interest Groups and Their Impact on Politics
3.4.2 PAC Power
3.4.3 The Art of Lobbying
3.4.4 Regulating Organized Groups

4. Choosing Representatives

4.1 Political Parties: History and Origins
4.1.1 Political Parties and Their Functions
4.1.2 The American Two-Party System
4.1.3 A History of Political Parties in the U.S.
4.1.4 Case Study: Why No Socialism in America?
4.2 Political Parties Today
4.2.1 The Model of Responsible Party Government
4.2.2 Party Structure
4.2.3 Nominating
4.2.4 Parties and Money
4.2.5 The Changing Role of the National Convention
4.2.6 Hot Topic: Reform Party: New Party or Personal Vehicle?
4.3 Election Campaigns
4.3.1 Organizing to Run for Election
4.3.2 Campaign Strategy in the Primaries
4.3.3 Campaign Strategy in the General Election
4.3.4 Campaign Techniques, Part I
4.3.5 Campaign Techniques, Part II
4.3.6 Campaign Finance
4.3.7 Hot Topic: Campaign Finance Reform
4.3.8 Hot Topic: Update on Campaign Finance
4.4 Elections and Voting
4.4.1 Voter Turnout
4.4.2 Case Study: The Election of 1800: The Bitter Battle
4.4.3 Case Study: The Disputed Election of 1876
4.4.4 The Issues
4.4.5 Voting Decisions
4.4.6 Nonvoting
4.5 The Media and Politics
4.5.1 Media Influence on Elections
4.5.2 Media Bias
4.5.3 Influencing Elections and Shaping Public Opinion
4.5.4 Video Biography: Negative Campaign Ads

5. Political Institutions

5.1 Congress: Our Representatives
5.1.1 A Bicameral Legislative Body
5.1.2 Getting Elected to Congress
5.1.3 Staffs, Perks, and Specialized Offices
5.1.4 Roles of Legislators
5.1.5 Hot Topic: Term Limits
5.2 Congress in Action
5.2.1 Characteristics of the Two Houses
5.2.2 The House
5.2.3 The Senate
5.2.4 How a Bill Becomes Law
5.2.5 Evaluating Congress
5.3 The Office of the President
5.3.1 Being President
5.3.2 Presidential Leadership
5.3.3 The Presidential Staff and Advisers
5.3.4 Hot Topic: Presidential Pardons
5.4 The Roles of the President
5.4.1 Legislative Agenda Setter
5.4.2 National CEO
5.4.3 A World Leader
5.4.4 Hot Topic: Edith Wilson as Petticoat President
5.4.5 Party Leader
5.4.6 Hot Topic: Presidential Character
5.5 The Powers of the President
5.5.1 Powers and Privileges
5.5.2 Checks and Restraints on Presidential Power
5.5.3 Hot Topic: Executive Privilege
5.5.4 Hot Topic: Presidential War Powers
5.6 Divided Government
5.6.1 Controlling Extremes
5.6.2 Lobbying the President and Congress
5.6.3 Hot Topic: The Electoral College
5.7 The Federal Bureaucracy
5.7.1 The Federal Bureaucracy
5.7.2 Hot Topic: The Department of Homeland Security
5.7.3 Policymakers and Implementers
5.7.4 Budgetmaking
5.7.5 Controls on Bureaucracy
5.7.6 Reform Efforts
5.7.7 Case Study: The IRS
5.8 The Federal Court System
5.8.1 Court Powers and Restraints
5.8.2 Prosecution and Defense in Federal Courts
5.8.3 Case Study: Roe v. Wade and the Abortion Movement, Part I
5.8.4 Case Study: Roe v. Wade and the Abortion Movement, Part II
5.9 The Supreme Court
5.9.1 Appointing the Court
5.9.2 Leadership on the Supreme Court
5.9.3 Process and Calendar
5.9.4 Early Decisions That Defined Federal Power
5.9.5 Case Study: Affirmative Action
5.9.6 Case Study: Incorporation
5.9.7 Hot Topic: The Bush Appointments, 2001–2006
5.9.8 Hot Topic: The Obama Appointments

6. Public Policy

6.1 Policymaking
6.1.1 Purpose and Policymaking
6.1.2 Policy Development
6.1.3 Changing Public Policy
6.1.4 The Media and Governance
6.1.5 Case Study: School Vouchers
6.2 Economic Policy
6.2.1 Theories of Economic Policy
6.2.2 Tax Policy
6.2.3 How the Budget Influences Policy
6.2.4 Understanding Debts, Deficits, and Surpluses
6.2.5 Case Study: U.S. Debts, Deficits, and Surpluses
6.2.6 Managing the Economy
6.2.7 Case Study: The Credit Crisis of 2008
6.2.8 The Global Economy and the U.S.
6.2.9 Case Study: Energy Policy
6.2.10 Case Study: Environmental Policy
6.3 Social Policy
6.3.1 Promoting the General Welfare
6.3.2 Social Policy and Poverty
6.3.3 Senior Citizens
6.3.4 Health Care
6.3.5 Hot Topic: Health-Care Reform
6.3.6 Education
6.3.7 Hot Topic: Invisible Welfare
6.4 Foreign Policy: An Introduction
6.4.1 U.S. Foreign Policy: Pre–20th Century
6.4.2 U.S. Foreign Policy: 20th Century and Beyond
6.5 Foreign Policy: The Cast of Characters
6.5.1 The U.S. President
6.5.2 Influences on Presidents' Behavior
6.5.3 The United Nations
6.5.4 Treaties and Alliances
6.6 The Post-Cold War Era
6.6.1 Consequences of the Collapse of the USSR
6.6.2 Defense Issues
6.6.3 Hot Topic: 9/11 and the War on Terror
6.6.4 Hot Topic: The Iraq War
6.6.5 Foreign Aid
6.6.6 Hot Topic: The World Trade Organization: Corporate Power Run Rampant?

7. Toward a Changing Democracy

7.1 Citizen Participation in the New Century
7.1.1 A Clash of Values for Governance
7.1.2 Immigration and the New Governance
7.1.3 Political Participation in the New Century
7.1.4 Case Study: The 2000 Election
7.1.5 Case Study: The 2004 Election
7.1.6 Case Study: The 2006 Election
7.1.7 Case Study: The 2008 Election
7.1.8 Case Study: The 2000 Census

8. Appendix: Key Supreme Court Cases

8.1 Key Supreme Court Cases
8.1.1 McCulloch v. Maryland
8.1.2 Miranda v. Arizona
8.1.3 Korematsu v. United States
8.1.4 Marbury v. Madison
8.1.5 New York Times v. Sullivan
8.1.6 City of Indianapolis v. Edmond
8.1.7 Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe
8.1.8 Washington v. Glucksberg
Frequently Asked Questions for Thinkwell's Honors American Government

How do Thinkwell courses work?

1. Your student watches a 5-10 minute online video lesson, completes the automatically graded exercises for the topic with instant correct-answer feedback, then moves on to the next lesson! The courses are self-paced, or you can use the daily lesson plans. Just like a textbook, you can choose where to start and end, or follow the entire course.

When does my 12-month online subscription start?

It starts when you're ready. You can have instant access to your online subscription when you purchase online, or you can purchase now and start later.

Is Thinkwell Honors American Government appropriate for my accelerated student?

Yes, especially for college-bound students. If you are interested preparing for the American Government AP exams®, you’ll want to investigate Thinkwell’s American Government compatible with AP® course.

Does my student get school credit for Thinkwell's Honors American Government?

No, only schools are accredited and Thinkwell is not a school, though many accredited schools use Thinkwell.

Does Thinkwell's Honors American Government meet state standards?

Some states set standards for what topics should be taught in a particular course. Thinkwell does not have a course version for each state. Instead, the course is built to national standards to be inclusive of all states. Websites such as www.achieve.org can help you determine your state's standards.

What if my student needs access to the course for more than 12 months?

You can extend your subscription for $19.95/month.

Can I share access with more than one student?

The courses are designed and licensed to accommodate one student per username and password; additional students need to purchase online access. This allows parents to keep track of each student's progress and grades.

How long does it take to complete Thinkwell's Honors American Government?

The pace of your course is up to you, but most students will schedule one semester.

Can I see my grade?

Thinkwell courses track everything your student does. When logged in, your student can click "My Grades" to see their progress.

How are grades calculated?

The course grade is calculated this way: Chapter Tests 33.3%, Midterm: 33.3%, Final: 33.3%.

What is acceptable performance on the exams?

As a homeschool parent, you decide the level of performance you want your student to achieve; the course does not limit access to topics based on performance on prior topics.

Can I get a transcript?

Yes, there's a final grade report print option in the My Grades section. Contact techsupport@thinkwell.com with any questions.

What if I change my mind and want to do a different course, can I change?

If you discover that you should be in a different course, contact techsupport@thinkwell.com within one week of purchase and we will move you to the appropriate course.

Can I print the exercises?

Yes, but completing the exercises online provides immediate correct answer feedback and automatic scoring, so we recommend answering the exercises online.

Are exercises multiple choice?

The exercises are multiple choice and they are graded automatically with correct answer solutions.

What is Thinkwell's Refund Policy?

We offer a full refund of 12-month subscription purchases within 14 days of purchase, no questions asked. For Essential Review courses, the refund period is 3 days. Optional printed materials are printed on demand and the sales are final.

How does my school review this course?

Should your school need to review a Thinkwell course for any reason, have the school contact techsupport@thinkwell.com and we can provide them access to a demo site.

Similar Products