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US Government and Politics

Free US Government and Politics study guide: 5 units with summaries, key ideas, flashcards and 25 practice questions with step-by-step solutions.

Lines up with: AP US Government and Politics; CLEP American Government.

Units

1. UNIT 01

   Foundations of American democracy

   The Constitution balances majority rule with protections against tyranny through separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism.
2. UNIT 02

   Interactions among branches of government

   Congress, the president, the courts and the bureaucracy share power and constantly check one another.
3. UNIT 03

   Civil liberties and civil rights

   Civil liberties protect individuals from government; civil rights guarantee equal treatment, both shaped by the courts.
4. UNIT 04

   American political ideologies and beliefs

   Americans form political beliefs through socialization, which polls measure and ideologies organize into views on government's role.
5. UNIT 05

   Political participation

   Citizens participate through voting, parties, interest groups, campaigns and the media, each shaping who gets elected and what government does.