Applications Open! Enroll for Summer 2027 at 2026 Tuition Pricing Until Sept 30
Debate constitutional power and propose civic action in this 2-week government program for high school students on Georgetown University’s campus.
Course Description
Who has the authority to act when Americans disagree about rights, policy, or public priorities? Students approach that question by examining the constitutional structure of the federal government and connecting it to current domestic and foreign issues. Discussion emphasizes critical understanding, respectful disagreement, and the relationship between public events and course concepts.
The course moves through the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, including congressional lawmaking, presidential power, federal agencies, checks and balances, and the Supreme Court. Students analyze major cases and explore the Bill of Rights through an assigned-amendment presentation. They also consider barriers to civic participation and the responsibilities of active citizens in a democratic society.
A civic-engagement presentation asks each student to identify something they would like to change or improve. Classmates then evaluate whether the legislative, executive, or judicial branch has the constitutional or practical authority to address it. Visits to the United States Capitol and a local courthouse let students question Senate staff and a judge, connecting classroom analysis to institutions in action.
This two-week course takes place at Georgetown University. The course is available to residential and commuter students. Beyond class, students connect focused academic work with campus life, growing independence, and clearer direction about what students may want to study or pursue next. The program is developed by Georgetown University and offered in partnership with Summer Discovery.
What Will You Do?
• Examine the powers and limits of Congress, the presidency, and the federal courts
• Analyze checks and balances and significant Supreme Court cases
• Investigate freedoms protected by the Bill of Rights
• Present the importance of an assigned constitutional amendment
• Debate current issues through respectful, evidence-based civil discourse
• Develop a civic-engagement presentation about a desired change
• Visit the United States Capitol and a local courthouse
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Explain how constitutional powers and checks shape the three federal branches
• Analyze civil liberties and current issues using course evidence
• Present a realistic civic action and identify which institutions can address it
Students leave with completed civic presentations, direct exposure to government institutions, stronger analysis and discussion skills, and greater clarity about continued study, a possible major, or a pathway in law, policy, government, or civic work.
Why American Government Skills Matter?
Studying American government helps students move from reacting to a headline toward analyzing who has power, what limits apply, and which institution can respond. Comparing branches, constitutional provisions, and court decisions strengthens reasoning because students must connect a claim to legal structure and evidence.
Civil discourse adds another essential skill. Students practice listening to competing interpretations, asking precise questions, and explaining disagreement without dismissing the person speaking. Civic presentations also require them to turn a concern into a realistic pathway for action. These habits support history, social science, debate, writing, and everyday citizenship, where informed participation depends on understanding both principles and practical authority.
Who Should Attend?
This course is for high school students who have completed 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade and are interested in American government, constitutional law, current events, civil liberties, public policy, or civic participation. It suits students who want to understand how institutions work and how people can engage them.
Participants should be ready to discuss potentially controversial topics respectfully, connect news and observations to course material, prepare short presentations, and ask thoughtful questions during off-site visits. No particular political viewpoint is expected, and students are not required to disclose personal positions or experiences. Curiosity, preparation, and a willingness to examine competing interpretations will help students contribute to a serious and constructive classroom.
Recommended by More Than 4 out of 5 Students
Based on students surveyed in 2026 about Summer Discovery High School programs at Georgetown University campus.
Why Georgetown University?
Studying American government on Georgetown University’s campus places students in Washington, D.C., close to the institutions, advocacy groups, media organizations, and public debates that continually test constitutional ideas. The setting makes questions about power, rights, conflict, representation, and democratic decision-making feel immediate without assuming that every class activity leaves campus.
Students learn alongside peers with similar interests, navigate a new environment, and gain independence through everyday choices and responsibilities. Time outside class helps them experience the broader rhythm of university life while considering which public questions and possible directions matter to them. For families, the program offers a combination of substantive academic exploration, personal growth, and clearer insight into whether government, law, policy, history, or civic leadership may be worth pursuing further.
Summer Discovery Certificate of Completion
After successfully finishing this course, you will be awarded a certification completion for your accomplishment.
*This is a preview, not what you will receive