Get an American Government Certificate

Whether you’re a new American, aspire to work in politics, or looking to brush up on how American government systems function, this course will provide you with a strong foundation to start from.

Through an exploration of relevant institutions, processes, real world examples and interactive exercises, this course will equip you with a strong foundation in American government that will serve you well whatever your future plans may be.

What Happens in the American Government Certificate Course

The American Government Certificate Course is an online learning program with recommended readings from the textbook (American Government:3e). This course is self-directed, which means you may study and complete assignments at times that are most convenient for you from the comfort of your own home.

This part-time American Government Certificate Course has a recommended completion date of 7 weeks from the start of the program, however, you may choose to complete the course in as little as 2 weeks or as long as 14 weeks, depending on your schedule.

The American Government Certificate Course has been created to allow you to complete it without teaching assistance. However, if you have questions or need assistance, you can receive help from a Faculty Member throughout the 7 weeks of the course. Your Faculty Member is a valuable resource person who can provide you with personal teaching assistance to help you succeed in the course.

Course Topics

The American Government Certificate Course has been developed to meet high academic standards, ensuring that as a graduate you can display with pride the American Government Certificate you will earn from the International Association of Professions Career College (IAP Career College).

American Government and Civic Engagement

• What is Government?
• Who Governs? Elitism, Pluralism, and Tradeoffs
• Engagement in a democracy

The Constitution and its Origins

• The Pre-Revolutionary Period and the Roots of the American Political Tradition
• The Articles of Confederation
• The Development of the Constitution
• The Ratification of the Constitution
• Constitutional Change

American Federalism

• The Division of Powers
• The Evolution of American Federalism
• Intergovernmental Relationships
• Competitive Federalism Today
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Federalism

Civil Liberties

• What Are Civil Liberties?
• Securing Basic Freedoms
• The Rights of Suspects
• Interpreting the Bill of Rights

Civil Rights

• What Are Civil Rights and How Do We Identify Them?
• The African American Struggle for Equality
• The Fight for Women’s Rights
• Civil Rights for Indigenous Groups: Native Americans, Alaskans, and Hawaiians
• Equal Protection for Other Groups

The Politics of Public Opinion

• The Nature of Public Opinion
• How Is Public Opinion Measured?
• What Does the Public Think?
• The Effects of Public Opinion

Voting and Elections

• Voter Registration
• Voter Turnout
• Elections
• Campaigns and Voting
• Direct Democracy

The Media

• What is the Media?
• The Evolution of the Media
• Regulating the Media
• The Impact of the Media

Political Parties

• What Are Parties and How Did They Form?
• The Two-Party System
• The Shape of Modern Political Parties
• Divided Government and Partisan Polarization

Interest Groups and Lobbying

• Interest Groups Defined
• Collective Action and Interest Group Formation
• Interest Groups as Political Participation
• Pathways of Interest Group Influence
• Free Speech and the Regulation of Interest Groups

Congress

• The Institutional Design of Congress
• Congressional Elections
• Congressional Representation
• House and Senate Organizations
• The Legislative Process

The Presidency

• The Design and Evolution of the Presidency
• The Presidential Election Process
• Organizing to Govern
• The Public Presidency
• Presidential Governance Direct Presidential Action

The Courts

• Guardians of the Constitution and Individual Rights
• The Dual Court System
• The Federal Court System
• The Supreme Court
• Judicial Decision-Making and Implementation by the Supreme Court

State and Local Government

• State Power and Delegation
• State Political Culture
• Governors and State Legislatures
• State Legislative Term Limits
• County and City Government

The Bureaucracy

• Bureaucracy and the Evolution of Public Administration
• Toward a Merit-Based Civil Service
• Understanding Bureaucracies and their Types
• Controlling the Bureaucracy

Domestic Policy

• What Is Public Policy?
• Categorizing Public Policy
• Policy Arenas
• Policymakers
• Budgeting and Tax Policy

Foreign Policy

• Defining Foreign Policy
• Foreign Policy Instruments
• Institutional Relations in Foreign Policy
• Approaches to Foreign Policy

What Is Included in the American Government Certificate Course

This all-inclusive American Government Certificate Course Online package includes:

• Registration for the American Government Certificate Course Online
• Lifetime access to course materials
• Access to a Faculty Member to provide you with personal teaching assistance
• Textbook: American Government: 3e (e-book edition)
• Downloadable American Government Certificate personalized with your name and the seal of the International Association of Professions Career College which you may print
• (Optional) Opportunity to order official certificates printed on fine linen paper and embossed with the gold seal of the college
• (Optional) 2026 membership in the IAPO International Organization of Business Professionals for only US$ 2.99 per month