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 …
🔒 Enroll to unlock this session.
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 …
🔒 Enroll to unlock this session.
In a representative democracy, citizens shape government mainly by choosing leaders in elections — and by staying involved between them. Political parties are groups that …
🔒 Enroll to unlock this session.
Course Syllabus
This self-paced GED® Social Studies course follows a 6-lesson sequence. Work through the modules in order so that each skill supports the next.
Course sequence
Module 1 - Lessons 1-3
- Foundations of American Democracy
- The Three Branches in Depth
- The Constitution, Federalism & Rights
Module 2 - Lessons 4-6
- Levels of Government: Federal, State & Local
- How a Bill Becomes a Law
- Elections, Parties & the Citizen's Role
Practice and completion
- Use worked examples and lesson practice to check understanding after each module.
- Review incorrect answers, explain the correction, and repeat weak skills.
- Complete the available mixed or final course practice to demonstrate readiness.
Course Outcomes
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
- Explain the important civic, historical, economic, or geographic ideas in Foundations of American Democracy.
- Analyze sources, evidence, and data related to The Three Branches in Depth.
- Compare perspectives and draw supported conclusions about The Constitution, Federalism & Rights.
- Apply source-based reasoning to questions involving How a Bill Becomes a Law.
- Connect Elections, Parties & the Citizen's Role with other course themes in mixed practice.
- Use feedback and answer explanations to diagnose and correct mistakes.
- Complete mixed, exam-style practice with clearer reasoning and greater independence.
📝 Practice Questions
12 interactive questions with instant feedback and explanations.
Enroll for free to unlock the full practice bank after the trial sessions.