About this class

How America Works is a structured civic education course designed for adult learners who want to understand the institutions, processes, and habits of American democracy — and to develop the analytical skills to engage with civic life as informed participants. The course examines federal, state, and local government as interlocking systems; the lifecycle of legislation; constitutional rights and their everyday application; voting and electoral participation; and the channels through which citizens influence policy and hold public officials accountable.

Instruction combines text-based learning with primary-source analysis, structured group discussion of current events, and applied civic experiences in the field. Each week introduces a defined topic, develops the relevant concepts through reading and discussion, and concludes with applied practice — drafting a public comment, analyzing a current news story, or preparing for an upcoming excursion. Field components take learners to City Hall, local courthouses, and community board meetings, where they observe the institutions being studied in operation.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, learners will be able to:

Identify the structure and powers of federal, state, and local government, and explain how they interact
Trace the legislative process from idea through enacted law, citing recent examples
Locate and interpret core constitutional rights, including the protections of the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments
Register to vote, locate a ballot, and evaluate candidates and ballot questions using primary-source materials
Contact elected representatives and submit a public comment in writing or in person
Read a news story critically, distinguishing reporting from opinion and identifying claims that require verification

Methodology

The course follows a civics pedagogy grounded in active citizenship: learners study primary documents (the Constitution, local laws, sample ballots) alongside contemporary cases, and practice civic skills in real settings rather than only studying them in the abstract. Discussion is structured to surface and examine multiple viewpoints.

Topics we cover

The structure of American government: federal, state, and local — what each branch does and where its authority comes from
The legislative process: from idea to draft to enacted law, traced through recent legislation
The Constitution: rights and their limits, with focus on the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments
Voter registration, ballots, and the evaluation of candidates and ballot questions
Local government in practice: city councils, community boards, and constituent services
Communicating with elected representatives in writing, by phone, and in public testimony
Civic participation beyond voting: advocacy, public comment, volunteer governance, coalition work
Media literacy: news, opinion, sourcing, and information verification

Who it's for

For adults who want to understand how government, voting, and civic life work — and to develop the literacy to participate as informed citizens. No prior coursework in government or civics is required.

Who teaches it

Joseph Amodeo

Founder and lead instructor at The Grove. Doctoral student in education policy at the University of Illinois with master's degrees in rehabilitation counseling, public administration, political science, and religious studies, plus eight professional credentials and over a decade of teaching experience at the college and professional level.

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Schedule

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Pricing

$75 per session · 90 min per class. Register for 8 or more sessions across any combination of classes at The Grove and save 15%.

Registration is handled on our secure registration site.

Classes at The Grove are non-credit, personal-enrichment programs offered by Big Apple Coaching LLC. Participation does not confer academic credit, professional certification, or licensure.