Foundations of Freedom

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. – Psalm 33:12
2022/2023 Syllabus

General Objectives
By the end of the program, you should be able to:
  • Explain why government is necessary and discuss the Bible’s teachings on the subject.
  • Discuss the impact of biblical values in early American society, education and government.
  • Identify basic differences between major forms of government.
  • Distinguish between a republic and a democracy.
  • Discuss the historical consequences surrounding the Constitution as well as the significance of it as a unifying document.
  • Explain how the Constitution has helped to preserve our core American values, restrain man’s sinful nature, and limit government.
  • Discuss the development, organization and functionality of the political party system.
  • Explain the structure and powers of the three branches of government.
  • Summarize the historical and modern-day methods of carrying out America’s foreign policy.
  • Effectively engage the political process in prayer, service, and activism.
    • Homework
    Students are expected to stay current on chapter reading assignments, Section Quizzes, Student Activity assignments. Homework assignments are due the day they take the chapter test in class.

    Homework should be completed with minimal parental input.

    Student Activities will be emailed for each chapter
    Testing
    There are 18 chapter tests in the BJU curriculum, but no mid-term or final test. Tests consist of multiple choice, short answer, true/false, and 1-3 essay questions. Students should be able to complete tests in 30-40 minutes. REMEMBER – all of the items in RED on the PowerPoint slides will appear on the tests…but they are not the ONLY things on the test!
    Grades
  • 18 Chapter Tests = 70% of the final grade
  • Section Quizzes & Student Activities = 20% of the final grade
  • Class Participation = 10% of the final grade
    • I usually give 3-5 extra-credit assignments throughout the school year. Some examples are:
  • Watch and critique a political debate
  • Watch and critique the President’s State of the Union speech
  • Watch and critique a political movie (your choice, age appropriate)
  • Attend a city government meeting and report on the experience
    • I usually give anywhere from 10-20 extra-credit points per opportunity which get added to the overall test scores.
    Required Materials
    Textbook: American Government for Christian Schools (3rd Edition) by Tim Keesee, BJU Press, Greenville SC.
    Tests & Student Activities: These are provided in class and/or by email.
    Class Notebook: Taking notes, storing papers/assignments, graded tests.
    Contact Information
    If you have any questions, need some advice, or just want to share your comments on Foundations of Freedom, please contact me at:
    Email: [email protected]
    Website: www.thestevenobleshow.com
    Address: P.O. Box 99162, Raleigh NC, 27624
    Mobile: (919) 669-8293
    Detailed Class Schedule
    Week of 8/23 
    Chapter 1: The Only Sure Foundation
    Homework due before class:
    • Read chapter 1
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Ch. 1 Section Quizzes
    • Student Activity: “Paul’s Example”
    • Study for test!
    • Begin reading chapter 2
    • Pray for our leaders: Federal (visit www.pray1tim2.org)
    Week of 8/30 
    Chapter 2: Forms of Government (part 1)
    TEST: Chapter 1
    • Taken at the beginning of class
    • Collect Ch. 1 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Complete reading of chapter 2
    • Work on Chapter 2 Section Quizzes
    • Work on Student Activity: “Systems of Government”
    • Pray for our leaders: State
    Week of 9/6
    Chapter 2: Forms of Government (part 2)
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Study for test!
    • Complete Ch. 2 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    • Begin reading chapter 3
    • Pray for leaders: Local
    Week of 9/13 
    Chapter 3: Christian Beginnings in America (part 1)
    Special Note: I lecture and teach this chapter using the 2nd Edition of the textbook, which I believe does a much better job of unpacking our Christian heritage in America as well as its influence on the overall direction of the nation’s founding. That being said, I strongly recommend that you use both my lecture (the previous edition) as well as the Chapter 3 material in the 3rd Edition. This information is so critical that we all need more of it…not less. The test will be based on the lecture, only.
    TEST: Chapter 2
    • Taken at the beginning of class
    • Collect Ch. 2 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Complete reading of chapter 3
    • Work on Section Quizzes
    • Work on Student Activity: “Wall of Separation”
    • Pray for Leaders: Federal
    Week of 9/20
    Chapter 3: Christian Beginnings in America (part 2)
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Study for test!
    • Complete Ch. 3 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    • Begin reading chapter 4
    • Pray for our leaders: State
    Week of 9/27
    Chapter 4: Constitutional Beginnings (Part 1)
    TEST: Chapter 3
    • Taken at the beginning of class
    • Collect chapter 3 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Complete reading of chapter 4
    • Work on Section Quizzes
    • Work on Student Activity: “The Role of States”
    • Pray for our leaders: Local
    Week of 10/4
    Chapter 4: Constitutional Beginnings (Part 2)
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Study for test!
    • Complete Ch. 4 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    • Begin reading chapter 5
    • Pray for our leaders: Federal
    Week of 10/11     
    Chapter 5: The Constitutional Cornerstone (part 1)
    TEST: Chapter 4
    • Taken at the beginning of class
    • Collect Chapter 4 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Complete reading chapter 5
    • Work on Ch. 5 Section Quizzes
    • Work on Student Activity: “The General Welfare”
    • Pray for: ELECTIONS? LEADERS IN GENERAL?
    Week of 10/18
    fall break
    Week of 11/1       
    Chapter 6: Federalism
    TEST: Chapter 5
    • Taken at the beginning of class
    • Collect Chapter 5 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Complete reading of chapter 6
    • Complete Section Quizzes & Student Activity: “Federalism’s Development”
    • Begin reading Ch. 7
    • Pray for Leaders: State
    Week of 11/8            
    Chapter 7: State and Local Government (part 1)
    TEST: Chapter 6
    • Taken at home previously
    • Collect Ch. 6 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Complete reading of Ch. 7
    • Work on Section Quizzes
    • Work on Student Activity: “Leviathan”
    • Pray for Leaders: Local
    Week of 11/15          
    Chapter 7: State and Local Government (part 2)
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Study for test!
    • Complete Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    • Begin reading Ch. 8
    • Pray for Leaders: Federal
    Week of 11/22 
    thanksgiving break
    Week of 11/29   
    Chapter 8: The Structure of Congress (part 1)
    TEST: Chapter 7
    • Taken at the beginning of class
    • Collect Ch. 7 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Complete reading of Ch. 8
    • Work on Section Quizzes
    • Work on Student Activity: “Your Rep’s/Senator’s Committee Assignments”
    • Pray for Leaders: State
    Week of 12/6         
    Chapter 8: The Structure of Congress (part 2)
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Study for Ch. 8 Test!
    • Complete Ch. 8 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    • Begin reading Ch. 9
    • Pray for Leaders: Local
    Week of 12/13
    Chapter 9: The Power of Congress (part 1)
    TEST: Chapter 8
    • Taken at home over break – open book!
    • Collect Ch. 8 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    Homework during Christmas Break:
    • Complete reading of Ch. 9
    • Work on Section Quizzes
    • Work on Student Activity: “Destructive Dependence”
    • Pray for Leaders: Federal
    12/20 -1/2
    Christmas Break
    Week of 1/3
    Chapter 9: The Power of Congress (part 1)
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Study for test!
    • Complete Sections Quizzes & Student Activity
    • Begin reading Ch. 10
    • Pray for Leaders: State
    Week of 1/3
    Chapter 9: The Power of Congress (part 2)
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Study for test!
    • Complete Sections Quizzes & Student Activity
    • Begin reading Ch. 10
    • Pray for Leaders: State
    Week of 1/10
    Chapter 10: The Presidency – Road to the White House (part 1)
    TEST: Chapter 9
    • Taken at the beginning of class
    • Collect Ch. 9 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Complete reading of Ch. 10
    • Work on Section Quizzes
    • Work on Student Activity: “Presidential Qualifications & Qualities”
    • Pray for Leaders: Local
    Week of 1/17
    Chapter 10: The Presidency – Road to the White House (part 2)
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Study for test!
    • Complete Ch. 10 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    • Begin reading Ch. 11
    • Pray for Leaders: Federal
    Week of 1/24
    Chapter 11: America’s Highest Office
    TEST: Chapter 10
    • Taken at the beginning of class
    • Collect Ch. 10 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Study for test!
    • Complete reading of Ch. 11
    • Work on Section Quizzes
    • Work on Student Activity: “The Proper Attitude”
    • Begin reading Ch. 12
    • Pray for Leaders: State
    Week of 1/31
    Chapter 12: The Federal Bureaucracy (part 1)
    TEST: Chapter 11
    • Taken at the beginning of class
    • Collect Ch. 11 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Complete reading Ch. 12
    • Work on Section Quizzes
    • Work on Student Activity: “The Cabinet”
    • Pray for Leaders: Local
    Week of 2/7
    Chapter 12: The Federal Bureaucracy (part 2)
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Study for test!
    • Complete Ch. 12 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    • Begin reading Ch. 13
    • Pray for Leaders: State
    Week of 2/14
    Chapter 13: Foreign Policy (part 1)
    TEST: Chapter 12
    • Taken at the beginning of class
    • Collect Ch. 12 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Complete reading Ch. 13
    • Work on Section Quizzes
    • Work on Student Activity: “Global Interventionism”
    • Pray for Leaders: Local
    Week of 2/21
    Chapter 13: Foreign Policy (part 2)
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Study for test!
    • Complete Ch. 13 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    • Begin reading Ch. 14
    • Pray for Leaders: Federal
    Week of 2/28
    Spring Break
    Week of 3/7
    Chapter 14: The Judiciary (part 1)
    TEST: Chapter 13
    • Taken at the beginning of class
    • Collect Ch. 13 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Complete reading of Ch. 14
    • Work on Section Quizzes
    • Work on Student Activity: “Criteria for Supreme Court Justices”
    • Pray for Leaders: State
    Week of 3/14
    Chapter 14: The Judiciary (part 2)
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Study for test!
    • Complete Ch. 14 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    • Begin reading Ch. 15
    • Pray for Leaders: Local
    Week of 3/21
    Chapter 15: Civil Rights and Responsibilities (part 1)
    TEST: Chapter 14
    • Taken at the beginning of class
    • Collect Ch. 15 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    Homework During Spring Break
    • Complete reading of Ch. 15
    • Work on Section Quizzes
    • Work on Student Activity: “Separation of Church and State”
    • Pray for Leaders: Federal
    Week of 3/28

    Chapter 15: Civil Rights and Responsibilities (part 2)

    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Study for test!
    • Complete Ch. 15 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    • Begin reading Ch. 16
    • Pray for Leaders: Federal
    Week of 4/4
    Chapter 16: The Party System (part 1)
    TEST: Chapter 15
    • Taken at the beginning of class
    • Collect Ch. 15 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Complete reading of Ch. 16
    • Work on Section Quizzes
    • Work on Student Activity: “Washington’s Farewell Address”
    • Pray for Leaders: State
    Week of 4/11
    Chapter 16: The Party System (part 2)
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Study for test!
    • Complete Ch. 16 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    • Begin reading Ch. 17
    • Pray for Leaders: Local
    Week of 4/18
    Chapter 17: Campaigns & Elections (part 1)
    TEST: Chapter 16
    • Taken at the beginning of class
    • Collect Ch. 16 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Complete reading of Ch. 17
    • Work on Section Quizzes
    • Work on Student Activity: “The Role of New Media in Political Campaigning”
    • Pray for Leaders: Federal
    Week of 4/25
    Chapter 17: Campaign & Elections (part 2)
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Study for test!
    • Complete Ch. 16 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    • Begin reading Ch. 18
    • Pray for Leaders: State
    Week of 5/2
    Chapter 18: Public Policy & Politics (part 1)
    TEST: Chapter 17
    • Taken at the beginning of class
    • Collect Ch. 17 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    Homework due NEXT week:
    • Complete reading of Ch. 18
    • Work on Section Quizzes
    • Work on Student Activity: “Mass Media Cartoon”
    • Pray for Leaders: Local
    Week of 5/9
    Chapter 18: Public Policy & Politics (part 2)
    Test: Chapter 18
    • Taken together in class
    • Collect Ch. 18 Section Quizzes & Student Activity
    Final Discussion
    • What were some course highlights?
    • How do you feel about your role as a Christian living in America?
    • What do you think you should do with what you have learned in Foundations of Freedom?
    • Close in prayer over these points and be sure to pray for our elected officials!