How SF Government Works
A civics class delivering expertise on the San Francisco city government. Sign up for a future cohort!
Applications for cohort 2 of How SF Government Works are now closed. If you’re interested in joining a future cohort, sign up below to stay in the loop.
What You Will Learn
When you leave this class, you will know How SF Government Works. That means you will be able to:
Describe fundamental concepts like law, government, politics, citizenship, and more
Clearly articulate the relationship between citizenship and government
Draw a map of the SF political system
Trace the legislative process, including how it relates to ballot measures
Draw a basic timeline of SF political history
Understand political capital, how to get it, and how to use it. You will leave with more than you started with and you will know how to “do citizenship”
Use your knowledge of governmental mechanics to make sense of politics as it unfolds and to confidently learn new topics you find interesting or important
Logistics
Where: Theater District, right off Market street
When: Wednesdays, 6:00-8:00pm, starting April 24th and ending May 29th
Tuition: $350 (If you need to give yourself a scholarship, do so)
Homework & Final Exam
Each week will have 1-3 hours worth of homework. Assignments will have two primary components:
Reading to prepare for each class
Writing (Substack posts) to apply class content and jumpstart the process of generating political capital
There are also standalone assignments that can be completed any time before the last class:
Visit City Hall and watch a meeting, then debrief afterward. I will provide a list of good options, but accommodations can be made if necessary.
Pick a street or building in your neighborhood, research its namesake and history, and give a short presentation
The course concludes with a final exam which is graded pass/fail. The final exam is 1-on-1 with me and is scheduled after the last class.
Syllabus
Political Theory
Framework for thinking about law
Framework for thinking about government
Civ Lab political philosophy: how to have fun and make things happen
Political Practice
SF Government
Charter, Municipal Codes, Executive Directives, and more!
Elected officials: Mayor, Board of Supervisors, District Attorney, and more!
Commissions, Boards, Departments, and more!
Legislative process and ballot measures
Citizens’ Advisory Committees and other forms of citizen involvement
Budget and appropriations
SF Government: special topics
Education
Housing
Public safety
SF City vs SF County
SF relationship to regional, state, and federal level
History
Gold Rush era
SF incorporation
Corruption and consolidation
Reconstruction after the earthquake of 1906
The Greater San Francisco movement
Relationship and rivalry with other Bay Area cities
The Progressive Era and the beginning of city planning
WWII, the UN, and the Treaty of San Francisco
Post-war Freeway Revolt and redevelopment
1970s: Political upheaval and aftermath
1996: A new city charter
Expectations and Etiquette
We’re here to learn about government and have a good time doing it. Our focus is on what government is, not what it ought to be. Government is a complex system and we will treat it as such. Our exploration will be serious, optimistic, and rigorous. To create this environment, we must commit to the following:
No bullshitting; be concrete. Vibes do not build civilizations and they will not help us understand our government. We aim to make contact with reality.
“Politics” is a good word. “Government” is a good word. We are studying the mechanisms of self-government; perhaps the most marvelous and important system ever devised by humans. Politics and government are the foundations of this system and they can be powerful forces for good.
Find the good time. Do not try to have a bad time. Do not confuse taking an issue seriously with being mad or miserable about it. It’s natural to get mad sometimes but it is not an acceptable default state. Remember that doing citizenship is cool and fun if you do it right.
Disagree admirably. We are not here to debate, but disagreements occur often in politics. Should you find yourself in this situation, be rigorous and fair. Always assume and proceed in good faith. Treat your classmate as a partner and your disagreement as a joint inquiry into the system of government.