Twelfth grade students have the opportunity to explore the governing process in a one semester elective course presented in this preliminary draft. The objective of the course is to prepare students for full citizenship responsibilities by giving them a realistic understanding of the processes of governing in the United States. Focus is upon process education techniques with primary emphasis on the decision making process. Since previous sequential programs have familiarized students with basic theory and structure of government, the emphasis here is upon using skills and techniques of the political scientists. A framework of points of view and major ideas for developing teaching plans is outlined. For each main topic case studies are suggested. The curriculum is divided into six topics beginning with an introduction, which includes an examination of the purposes of government and of democracy, and an explanation of the decision making process. Subsequent topics unfold the process itself: carrying out the decision, and re-evaluating and analyzing the decision. A tentative flow chart of K-12 social studies program is included. (Author/SJM)