Open Education Resources (OER)

Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research.

A Blog by James Stavridis, Dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University.

This book is a comprehensive introduction to the vital subject of American government and politics.

The leader of Britain's Conservative Party says we're entering a new era -- where governments themselves have less power (and less money) and people empowered by technology have more.

The public is losing faith in democracy, says British MP Rory Stewart. In this important talk, Stewart sounds a call to action to rebuild democracy, starting with recognizing why democracy is important -- not as a tool, but as an ideal.

Videos about how government works in the United States.

The focus of this course includes "the core concepts of the American system of government, the workings of its myriad of actors and agencies, the key components of “politics” in the American system,and how American government shapes and influences the individual freedoms and rights of its citizens."

In this course, we examine major texts in Western political thought, where authors pose difficult questions about the political community, social order, and human nature. How do our views about human nature and history inform government design? We explore how Plato, Machiavelli, and Rousseau responded and how these philosophers contributed to the broader conversation about human needs, goods, justice, democracy, and the ever-changing relationship between the citizen and the state.

This course will serve as an introduction to American government and politics, exploring core concepts, political behavior, governing bodies, the making of policy, and more.

This course takes a look at basic governmental concepts, including the effect they have on Social Security and Medicare coverage. From the Social Security Administration.

In Crisis of Nations, students learn how countries work together to solve international problems. As the leader of their own country, students will have to make tough choices about how to use military, espionage, and economic resources to serve both the best interests of their own country and the larger global community.

iCivics prepares young Americans to become knowledgeable, engaged 21st century citizens by creating free and innovative games and educational materials.

The Redistricting Game allows players to experience the realities of one of the most important (yet least understood) aspects of our political system. The game provides a basic introduction to the redistricting system, and allows players to explore the ways in which abuses can undermine the system, and provides information about reform initiatives.

This course analyzes the development of the United States Congress by focusing on the competing theoretical lenses through which legislatures have been studied. In particular, it compares sociological and economic models of legislative behavior, applying those models to floor decision-making, committee behavior, political parties, relations with other branches of the Federal government, and elections. An MIT Open Courseware class.

This course provides students with an introduction to the basic institutions of American government, especially as established in the constitution, and with an introduction to currents of thought among social scientists about the workings of U.S. politics. An MIT Open Courseware class.

This course will examine public opinion and assess its place in the American political system. The course will emphasize both how citizens' thinking about politics is shaped and the role of public opinion in political campaigns, elections, and government. An MIT Open Courseware class.