The United States doesn't operate in a vacuum—its government must constantly interact with other nations, navigate global conflicts, and promote national interests abroad. But how is foreign policy made, and how does America's system of government compare to others around the world?

In this episode of The American Government Curriculum Companion, we explore how the U.S. government shapes and carries out foreign policy through diplomacy, alliances, trade agreements, and military action. We’ll look at the roles of the president, Congress, and key agencies in managing international relations. Then, we’ll shift gears to examine comparative government systems, analyzing how democracies, authoritarian regimes, monarchies, and other systems function in contrast to the American model.

This episode is designed to accompany our unit plan on Foreign Policy and Comparative Government for our complete Civics and American Government Curriculum, which includes resources and lessons designed for middle school and high school classrooms.

Students of History provides engaging lessons and resources for every unit in Civics & Government, along with US History, World History, and World Geography. You can learn more at StudentsofHistory.com.