Civics & Government

About this course

This elective is a full high school course in American government, taught from a Christian understanding of authority. It opens with the question of why government exists at all, working through Romans 13, the purpose and the limits of civil power, the rule of law, and where rights come from. From there it moves through the Declaration of Independence and the Revolution, the Constitutional Convention and the design of the Constitution, Congress and the lawmaking process, the presidency and its limits, the federal courts and judicial review, federalism and the state, county, and city governments closest to home, the Bill of Rights and the duties of citizenship, elections and voting, and finally the Christian's own calling in civic life. Each lesson opens with a verse from the King James Bible.

The course is 10 units of 10 lessons each, 100 lessons in all, self-paced rather than tied to a daily schedule. A lesson is a short reading, most of them 300 to 900 words, followed by a ten-question multiple-choice quiz that grades itself. There is nothing to buy and no hands-on work required. The prose is plain and defines its terms as it goes, so a student who has not yet studied American history can follow it, though it will mean more to one who has.

A word about perspective, since this is a subject where that matters. The course teaches that civil government is ordained by God for order and justice, and just as plainly that its authority is limited and that conscience before God comes first. Where faithful Christians have long disagreed, it sets the views side by side and leaves the conclusion to you and your family. Unit 1 and Unit 10 both walk through the range of Christian positions on voting, office-holding, oaths, and military service, and Unit 10 gives an honest hearing to the historic Anabaptist two kingdoms understanding of church and state, including nonresistance. Unit 9 covers elections in the ordinary way: how they work, the Electoral College, the parties, registering to vote, and how to read a campaign advertisement critically, without arguing for any party or candidate. Present-day partisan controversies are left alone, and one lesson is given to civility in political disagreement. The content is entirely American, so a family outside the United States would be reading it as a study of another nation's system.

What the course covers

• The biblical basis and the limits of civil authority
• The Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution
• The Constitution, separation of powers, and checks and balances
• Congress, committees, and how a bill becomes a law
• The presidency, the cabinet, and executive power
• The federal courts, judicial review, and landmark cases
• Federalism and state, county, and city government
• The Bill of Rights and the responsibilities of citizenship
• Elections, the Electoral College, and political parties
• Two kingdoms theology and historic Anabaptist views of government

What your student will be able to do

• Trace a bill from introduction through committee, floor votes, and presidential action
• Explain how separation of powers and checks and balances hold each branch in bounds
• Identify which level of government, federal or state or local, handles a given matter
• Recognize your rights in a courtroom and your everyday civic responsibilities
• Weigh a campaign message for evidence, funding source, and missing context
• Compare differing Christian views on civic engagement and talk them over with your family

Scope and sequence

All 10 units of Civics & Government for Grade 9, in the order they are taught.

Inside the course

These photographs appear in the lessons themselves, not just on this page. Every one is freely licensed and credited to its photographer at the foot of this page.

Every lesson, by title

All 100 lesson titles are listed here — nothing is withheld until you download. Open a unit to read its contents.

One whole lesson, exactly as it comes

This is a real lesson taken from the middle of the course — the teaching text, the practice, the homework, and the first three quiz questions with their answers. It is not a marketing excerpt.

Unit 6: The Courts & Justice: From Trial to Supreme Bench · Lesson 1

Why an Independent Judiciary Matters

An independent judiciary is one of the most important protections any free society can have. When we talk about judicial independence, we mean that judges make decisions based on the law and the facts of a case, not on pressure from politicians, wealthy people, or anyone else seeking to abuse power. But why does this matter so much? What does an independent court system actually do for ordinary citizens like you?

The Problem Without Independence

Throughout history, many nations have suffered under judges who could not act independently. In such places, if a ruler disliked someone, he could simply order a judge to punish that person—not because they broke any law, but because the ruler wanted revenge or wanted to eliminate an enemy. Without independent judges, there is no real justice. There is only the will of those in power.

Proverbs 29:4 tells us exactly this truth: "The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it." A nation becomes strong through fair judgment. But it falls into ruin when leaders make decisions based on bribes or personal interest rather than justice.

Why Separation of Powers Protects Freedom

America's founders understood history's hard lessons about power and corruption. They deliberately designed our government with three separate branches: legislative (Congress), executive (President), and judicial (courts). Each branch checks the others. The President cannot simply declare someone guilty. Congress cannot force judges to rule a certain way. And judges cannot create laws by themselves. This separation of power means that no single person or small group can gather all authority into their hands.

The judicial branch's primary job is to interpret the law fairly and protect people's rights under the Constitution. This mission requires independence. Judges must be free from political pressure so they can focus on what the law actually says and whether government officials are following constitutional limits.

How America Protects Judicial Independence

Federal judges in America receive lifetime appointments. Once a president nominates a judge and the Senate confirms them, that judge cannot be fired simply because a president disagrees with their decisions. This arrangement protects judges from political retaliation. A judge is free to rule fairly without fear of losing their job.

State judges have different systems—some are elected by voters, others are appointed—but the principle remains: we want judges thinking about the law and justice, not about pleasing powerful people who might punish them.

How Independence Affects Your Daily Life

You may never argue a case in court, but judicial independence shapes your everyday freedoms. If police search your home, is it legal? An independent judge decides. If the government wants to punish you, can it do so without a fair trial? An independent court system ensures fair process. If someone breaks a contract with you, can you get justice? Courts decide such disputes fairly.

Without judicial independence, these protections vanish. The powerful could crush the weak without consequence. The government could act without restraint. Our founders understood that freedom requires more than inspiring words in law books—it requires judges willing to uphold those laws, even when someone powerful wants them ignored.

The first three of this lesson's 10 questions

What does judicial independence mean?

1. Judges are free to ignore the Constitution whenever they choose
2. Judges make laws instead of interpreting existing laws
3. Judges answer only to the President of the United States
4. Judges make decisions based on law and facts, not pressure from powerful people

Show the answer

Answer: Judges make decisions based on law and facts, not pressure from powerful people

According to Proverbs 29:4, what destroys a nation?

1. A judicial branch that is too powerful
2. Citizens who refuse to accept court decisions
3. Too many judges making decisions
4. Leaders who receive gifts and make decisions based on them instead of justice

Show the answer

Answer: Leaders who receive gifts and make decisions based on them instead of justice

Why did America's founders create three separate branches of government?

1. So judges could have the most power
2. So Congress could always override the courts
3. So the President could control the courts
4. So each branch would check the power of the other branches

Show the answer

Answer: So each branch would check the power of the other branches

Another 7 questions follow in the lesson itself, each one graded the moment it is answered.

What you will need

Drawn from the materials named across all 100 lessons of this course. Most families already own most of it.