Civics 101
American Government and Public Participation
Learn How Your Government Works
and How You Can Influence It.
When our schools do bother to teach civics at all, they do it wrong.
This is not your boring high school class.
There's no "express-implied-reserved-delegated-concurrent-magic-super powers nonsense.
Pat uses the U.S. Constitution and current events to teach you how the government works in real life.
American Government and Public Participation is a flexible, basic civics course designed for adult learners
who seek the knowledge and skills to participate more fully in American public discourse and action.
Contact Pat to schedule training for your staff, members, or clients.
Course Description
The American founders designed our system of government to encourage public participation.
While everyone likes to gripe and grumble, few Americans understand how that system works or how to make their participation count.
If "we the people" are going to control our government, then "we the people" need to know how it's supposed to work, and how it actually does work.
If we can do that, then all of our lives will improve.
This course uses the U.S. Constitution to describe how and why our American government works.
Gather a Group
of Organizations
Invite other organizations in your community to share a session with you, to reduce expenses, broaden the discussions, and enhance your experience.
Patricia A. O'Malley
Social Policy & Programs Consulting ~ Community Matters
412-310-4886 ~ info@patomalley-consulting.com
Copyright Patricia A. O'Malley ~ All rights reserved
Established 1993
Political ignorance breeds
political impotence
Tailor the Course
to Your Needs
This course is designed for five two-hour sessions, but can be adapted to as little as a single one-hour session.
We can tailor it for specific audiences.
Regardless of age group, civic experience, or occupation, your staff, members, and clients will benefit from Civics 101.
Course Objectives
American public schools do a remarkably poor job of preparing students to be citizens.
This course explains the structure, function, and language of government to give participants the confidence to stand up for themselves, to contribute to all phases of civic life, and to advocate for issues that are important to them.
Why Should
We Learn Civics?
When you know how legislators make laws, then you can influence the process, and be your own lobbyist.
When you know how to find the text of a bill online, you can read it for yourself to determine which TV talking heads are telling the truth.
When you know how the three branches of government work together, who your government officials are, what they do, and how to contact them, then you can find help when you have problems with government agencies.
And you can make better choices when you vote.
Course Content
The United States Constitution
History · Structure · What's in it What's not in it
The Legislative Branch
Congress · Powers
Committee structure
The Executive Branch
The Presidency · Powers and Duties
Navigating the Bureaucracy
The Judicial Branch
U.S. Court System · Appeals Process
Landmark Cases
Public Participation
Elections and Voting ·
Contact Your Representatives Lobbying, Interest Groups
Protests and Demonstrations
Patricia A. O'Malley
Social Policy & Programs Consulting
Training and Services for agencies working toward social and economic justice