Virginia and U.S. Government

This course examines the origins and workings of the United States and Virginia governments. Students analyze the United States and Virginia Constitutions and the structure and operation of our federal system, including policy-making, economics, foreign affairs and civil rights. Students explore the impact of the general public, political parties, interest groups and the media on policy decisions. Further, the United States’ political and economic systems are compared with the economic systems of other nations, with an emphasis on the relationship between economic and political freedoms. An economics unit covers the United States’ market system, the fundamentals of supply and demand and the role of government in the economy.