Description: This is a one semester college level course for students who wish to take a challenging course in U.S. Government and Politics. In addition to covering the essential elements of government, this course extends the study in many areas: the philosophical and historical background of American government; an analysis of political parties, interest groups, the media, and public opinion, and the examination of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the national government. Using a college text, the emphasis is upon critical thinking, independent study, and research.