How America Works

About this class

What you’ll learn

By the end of the term, 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

Topics covered

• 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

How the class works

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.

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.

What the term may include

These are intentions for the term, not guarantees. Excursions and guests depend on scheduling and on the group — what happens in class every week is the part you can count on.

• Possible excursionCity Hall, to observe local government in session
• Possible excursionA local courthouse, to observe the judicial system in operation
• Possible excursionA community board meeting, to see civic deliberation firsthand
• Possible guestElected officials at the local, state, or federal level
• Possible guestCommunity leaders and advocates
• In classMock legislative session with public comment
• In classPrimary source analysis: the Constitution, local laws, and sample ballots

When it meets

Tuesdays, 1:00pm – 2:30pm, at 1350 6th Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10019.