4/25/2024 5:21:00 PM	POLS 70 Course Outline as of Fall 2024	Reinstated Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  POLS 70	Title:  CALIF STATE & LOCAL GOVT
Full Title:  California State & Local Government
Last Reviewed:11/13/2023

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		6 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

In this course, students will be introduced to a survey of California government and politics. The course content is designed to familiarize students with the institutions, operation, and current issues of California state and local governments.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

In this course, students will be introduced to a survey of California government and politics. The course content is designed to familiarize students with the institutions, operation, and current issues of California state and local governments.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	D	Social Science		Fall 1999	Spring 2011
	D6	History
	D8	Political Science, Govt, Legal Instutns
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2024	Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Describe the functions and roles of governing institutions in California.

2. Identify current issues facing state and local governing institutions and evaluate how those issues impact individuals living in California.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Describe the different powers, duties, and roles of elected officials and offices of California's state and local governments.

2. Assess the principles and impact of California's direct democracy processes.

3. Compare and contrast selected California public policies with the policies of other states.

4. Identify contemporary political issues and challenges facing California.

5. Analyze proposed and implemented public policies designed to address California's current challenges.

Topics and Scope

I. Introduction and Overview of California Government and Politics

     A. California Historical and Political Background

            1. Colonization  

            2. Statehood and the California Constitution

           3. Progressive Era

    B. California Today

           1.  Diversity of California

                a. People, regions, natural resources, economy

           2.  Current challenges facing California

II. The California Legislature

     A. The organization and function of the Assembly and Senate  

     B. The legislative process

     C. Powers and duties of the legislature

III. The Executive Branch of California

     A. Offices of the plural executive

     B. Powers and duties of the governor  

     C. The California bureaucracy

IV. The California Judiciary

     A. Structural organization and operation of judicial system

     B. Election of judges

     C. Criminal justice

V. Local Government in California

     A. Duties and structure of local government

     B. Funding of local government

     C. Relationship between local and state government

VI. Direct Democracy

    A. Initiative, referendum, and recall

    B. Use and impact of California's direct democracy processes

VII. Political Parties, Campaigns, and Elections

    A. The role and influence of political parties

    B. Campaign finance  

     C. The election process

     D. Vote choice and political behavior of Californians

VIII. Interest Groups and the Media

     A. Types of interest groups

     B. The impact of interest groups

     C. The role of the media

    D. Evaluation of sources of information

IX. The State Budget  

     A. The budget process

     B. Sources of state revenue

     C. Expenditure of state funds

X. Federalism: California and the Federal Government

     A. Provisions established in the U.S. Constitution

    B. Court cases concerning the balance of power between national and state governments

    C. Comparison of California to other state governments and policies

XI. California Public Policy

     A. Abortion policy

     B. Education policy

     C. Environmental policy

     D. Immigration policy

     E. Social programs

     F. Additional current policy issues

Assignments:

1. Read weekly assigned course texts (20-40 pages per week)

2. Complete out-of-class writing in the form of analytical, research, or reaction papers (2,500-5,000 words)

3. Written homework

4. Essay examinations (2-4), which may include additional multiple-choice components

5. Additional assignments as determined by instructor may include:

    A. Quizzes

    B. Participation

    C. Presentations

    D. Debates

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 30 - 60%
Analytical, research, or reaction papers; written homework
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 40 - 60%
Exams; quizzes (if assigned)
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 10%
Participation, presentations, debates

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Governing California in the 21st Century. 8th ed. Anagnoson, J. Theodore, et. al. Norton. 2021.

California Politics a Primer. 6th ed. Van Vechten, Renee B.  CQ Press. 2021.

Democracy in California: Politics and Government in the Golden State. 5th ed. Janiskee, Brian, and Masugi, Ken, and Villegas, Christina. Rowman & Littlefield. 2020.

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