United States Government Honors

The United States Government Honors advanced course is designed to provide the student with a comprehensive understanding of the operation of the American political system. It includes the study of general concepts used to interpret U.S. politics and the processes of government that help shape our political landscape. Students will learn about the constitutional underpinnings of the United States government, the institutions of national government and how they operate, how citizens develop their political beliefs and behaviors, how political parties function, how interest groups and mass media affect our system, what makes up our public policy and who makes decisions, and how to protect our civil rights and liberties. Students will develop analytic perspectives for interpreting and critical thinking skills for evaluation and understanding, and they will be able to explain basic assumptions.

This 3-week semester course is offered for first time credit, for credit grade replacement, or for non-credit enrichment in preparation for taking the course in the future. Please check with your school regarding credit from outside institutions.

Session dates:
Session 1B: 6/09/25 - 6/27/25 (12:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.) (EST) - 0.50 credit - Online Only
Session 2B: 6/30/25 - 7/18/25 (12:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.) (EST) - 0.50 credit - In Person Broward or Online
Session 3B: 7/21/25 - 8/08/25 (12:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.) (EST) - 0.50 credit - Online Only

Mrs. Adriana Rappa is a bilingual, Florida certified teacher at American Heritage, with sixteen years of experience in secondary history. A South Florida native, she earned her Bachelor's degree in History from FAU. Following her passion to educate the next generation about social sciences, including history, government and economics, Mrs. Rappa addresses all learning styles when facilitating the curriculum to ensure she actively engages and reaches all students.

Harry Torres has been teaching at American Heritage School for the past 11 years. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Florida International University. He has spent 16 years in education, teaching a variety of social studies courses in grades 6-12. As a part of the American Heritage faculty, he has had the privilege of successfully preparing hundreds of seniors for the AP Macroeconomics exam.

A class may be canceled if fewer than 6 students enroll, and a specific teacher is not guaranteed. It is the parents’ responsibility to check with their child's school when seeking credit for a course. For online courses, the students’ cameras MUST be turned on at all times, and attendance is mandatory. To protect the privacy rights of all, there is absolutely no videotaping or recording by students during the course. Students must be age appropriate for the course, and all students must adhere to proper online etiquette. For online courses, young children must be supervised by a parent at all times.