 Welcome to Sailor.org's Introduction to American Politics course. My name is Rachel Cohen-Marshall and I'll be your guide through each unit of this course. Here we'll be looking at topics like the founding of the U.S. government, how Americans participate in it, the institutions that make it up, and the rights and liberties that it affords us. Ultimately, the goal of this course is to help you arrive at a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of the forces that shape American government and politics. Democracy doesn't work without participation, and by understanding what goes into it, you can be a more active participant. Now, before we begin, here's a few notes. First, this course will take 104 hours to complete. Also, while each unit has an assessment at the end, your whole grade in the course will come from a two-hour final exam. You need a score of at least 70% on the final to pass and receive a certificate. You'll get your grade as soon as you hit submit. Best of luck to you, and remember to have some fun.