This resource unit, developed by the University of Minnesota's Project Social Studies, introduces eighth graders to an overview of the American political system. The unit analyzes political conflict, compromise, and the need for government and law. It examines American political ideals and contrasts them briefly with other political ideologies and provides an overview of our federal structure and theoretical system of separation of powers. These facts of our political system are contrasted briefly with unitary and parliamentary systems. The unit establishes questions to use in examining decision making in later units and also questions to use in evaluating political institutions against American ideals. A statement of objectives precedes the main body of the unit which contains an outline of content with correlated teaching procedures and materials of instruction. Appendices include a reading on the American political system, an exercise in conflict and accommodation, listening, thinking, and decision-making skill activities, as well as a list of selections on primitive law. Teacher's guide is SO 007 511. (Author/KSM)