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COURSE SYLLABUS
1. TITLE OF COURSE: American Government
PREFIX/NUMBER: POS 111 CREDIT HOURS: 3
2. PREREQUISITE: REA 090 or the equivalent recommended.
3. RESOURCES NEEDED:
TEXT: TBA
SUPPLIES:
4. COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Includes the background of the U.S. Constitution, the philosophy of American government, general principles of the Constitution, federalism, and civil liberties. Examines public opinion and citizen participation, political parties, interest groups, and the electoral process, and the structure and functions of the national government.
This course is one of the Statewide Guaranteed Transfer courses. GT-SS1
5. COURSE GOAL:
The student will examine the background of the U.S. Constitution, the philosophy of American government; principles of the Constitution; federalism; civil liberties; public opinion and citizen participation; political parties, interest groups, and the electoral process; and the structure and functions of the national government.
6. COURSE OBJECTIVES:
I. Identify and evaluate competing theories of American democracy.
II. Analyze theoretical, historical and legal background of American democracy.
III. Examine the Constitutional Convention and relevant historical events of the era.
IV. Identify basic principles and philosophy of the Constitution and examine the impact of these principles on the political system.
V. Examine the constitutional, historical, legal basis of federalism and cover recent issues of controversy in the federal system.
VI. Identify major controversies and important Supreme Court rulings, based on the Constitution and its Amendments, which affect civil rights and civil liberties, including problems of women and minorities.
VII. Examine the nature of public opinion, political socialization, changes in American democracy, methods of measuring public opinion, and the media’s impact on public opinion.
VIII. Analyze the roles and structures of the party system and evaluate the development of the American two party system.
IX. Identify the types, functions, and operations of interest groups in the American political system.
X. Examine the purpose and process of the American electoral system.
XI. Describe and evaluate the structure, powers, and functions of Congress.
XII. Describe and evaluate the structure, powers, and functions of President.
XIII. Describe and evaluate the structure, powers, and functions of Judicial System.
XIV. Describe and evaluate the structure, powers, and functions of Federal Bureaucracy.
XV. Identify the interrelations among the three branches of government.
XVI. Describe and evaluate the content of selected foreign and domestic policies and the role of institutions in shaping policy.
XVII. Write and speak clearly and logically in presentations and essays about topics related to American Government.
XVIII. Demonstrate the ability to select and apply contemporary forms of technology to solve problems or compile information in the study of American Government.
XIX. Read, analyze and apply to new situations, written material related to the study of American Government.
7. COURSE OUTLINE
I. Bases of American Democracy
A. Historical Background
B. Underlying Ideas
II. Constitution
A. Basic Features
B. Development
III. Federalism
A. Constitutional Structure
B. Contemporary Federalism
IV. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
A. Constitutional Amendments
B. Laws and Judicial Interpretations
V. Public Opinion
A. Opinion and Policy
B. Media Impact
VI. Political Parties
A. Organization
B. Activities
VII. Interest Groups
A. Functions
B. Operations
VIII. Elections
A. Purpose
B. Process
IX. Congress
A. Powers and Functions
B. Relations with the Other Branches
X. President
A. Powers and Functions
B. Relations with the Other Branches
XI. Judiciary
A. Powers and Functions
B. Relations with the Other Branches
XII. Bureaucracy
A. Powers and Functions
B. Relations with the Other Branches
XIII. Policy: Processes and Outcomes
A. Powers and Functions
B. Relations with the Other Branches
8. METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:
To be successful in this course, students are expected to participate in discussions, readings, in-class writing, and peer review activities. The instructor may assign point values to such activities.
9. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
The very nature of higher education requires that students adhere to accepted standards of academic integrity. Therefore, Pueblo Community College has adopted a policy of academic conduct as described in the Student Handbook. Violation of academic integrity may be defined to include the following: cheating, plagiarism, falsification and fabrication, abuse of academic materials, complicity in academic dishonesty, and personal misrepresentation. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the behaviors that constitute academic dishonesty. Sanctions for violating the standards of academic integrity may include warning, probation, suspension, and/or failure of the course or assignment at the discretion of the instructor.
10. ADA NOTICE:
Students who have a documented disability may be eligible to receive accommodations for this class. Please contact the Disability Resources Center at 549-3446 for further information.
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