Outline of topics that will be covered in the class:

Basic intro

The basic settings, basic principles

Historical background: Evolution of the Constitution and its basic principles: federalism, checks and balances, division of powers, legitimacy of the government, political culture, flexible/inflexible constitution?, civil liberties, constitutionalism

3. Outline of the Structure of the Government – Key players

Federal v. State
Executive: President, Office of the White House, Departments
Legislative: Congress
Judiciary: Courts
Bureaucracy

- basic structure, who does what, basic requirements for elections into the office.

- explain structure of departments, White House Office

4. Elections

nominations, primaries, general elections, delegates vs. electors, electoral college
Who can vote?

5. The Executive Branch