GED® Social Studies: Civics & Government
Civics and Government is the largest part of the GED® Social Studies test -- about half of the questions. This deep-dive course explains how American democracy is designed and why: its founding principles, the three branches, the Constitution and federalism, the levels of government, how laws are actually made, and how citizens take part.
📚 Course Curriculum
Before the rules, come the ideas. American government rests on a few big principles, many borrowed from Enlightenment thinkers, about where power should come from. …
Open trial session →To stop any one person or group from gaining too much power, the Constitution splits the federal government into three branches — separation of powers …
Open trial session →The Constitution (1787) is the supreme law of the land. It opens with the Preamble ('We the People...'), sets up the three branches, and explains …
Open trial session →Government in the U.S. operates on three levels, each handling different parts of daily life. Many share a similar three-branch shape. Federal (national) — based …
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Most laws follow a clear path through Congress. Understanding it shows checks and balances in action. [[figure:bill_to_law A bill must pass both houses of Congress …
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In a representative democracy, citizens shape government mainly by choosing leaders in elections — and by staying involved between them. Political parties are groups that …
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Course Syllabus
Course Outcomes
📝 Practice Questions
12 interactive questions with instant feedback and explanations.
Enroll for free to unlock the full practice bank after the trial sessions.