SRJC Course Outlines

10/15/2024 8:31:40 AMPOLS 1 Course Outline as of Spring 2002

Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION

Discipline and Nbr:  POLS 1Title:  INTRO TO U S GOVT  
Full Title:  Introduction to United States Government
Last Reviewed:10/12/2020

UnitsCourse Hours per Week Nbr of WeeksCourse Hours Total
Maximum3.00Lecture Scheduled3.0017.5 max.Lecture Scheduled52.50
Minimum3.00Lab Scheduled06 min.Lab Scheduled0
 Contact DHR0 Contact DHR0
 Contact Total3.00 Contact Total52.50
 
 Non-contact DHR0 Non-contact DHR Total0

 Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00Total 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:
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Principles and problems of government with emphasis on national, state and local government in the United States.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:


Recommended Preparation:
Completion of ENGL 100 or ESL 100.

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description: Untitled document
Principles & problems of national, state & local government in the United States.
(Grade or P/NP)

Prerequisites:
Recommended:Completion of ENGL 100 or ESL 100.
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:Effective:Fall 1981
Inactive: 
 Area:D
F
Social and Behavioral Sciences
American Institutions
 
CSU GE:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 DSocial ScienceFall 2011
 D8Political Science, Govt, Legal Instutns  
 X2Constitution and American Ideals  
 DSocial ScienceFall 2010Fall 2011
 D2Economics  
 D4Gender Studies  
 D8Political Science, Govt, Legal Instutns  
 X2Constitution and American Ideals  
 DSocial ScienceFall 1981Fall 2010
 D2Economics  
 D4Gender Studies  
 X2Constitution and American Ideals  
 
IGETC:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 4Social and Behavioral ScienceFall 1981
 4HPolitical Science:Govt and Legal Instutn  
 XBConstitution and American Ideals  
 
CSU Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 1981Inactive:
 
UC Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 1981Inactive:
 
C-ID:
 CID Descriptor: POLS 110 Introduction to American Government and Politics  SRJC Equivalent Course(s): POLS1

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course



COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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The students will:
1.  Record lecture material and relate the material to the textbook
   content.
2.  Define terms, identify political institutions, and recognize the
   names of current and past political leaders.
3.  Recognize political problems and discuss current issues using
   political analysis to explain their reasoning.
4.  Express their points of view during class discussion.
5.  Apply their knowledge of political principles and institutions
   not only within the academic settings but in their everyday lives.
6.  Practice the application of the political process in their everyday
   lives.
7.  Be able to calculate the influence of political institutions on the
   American population.
8.  Demonstrate communication and analytical skill levels on exam
   and inclass discussion.
9.  Question their own values and popular myth as related to the
   American political system.
10. Synthesize the ideas of past and current political problems and
   formulate their own perceptions of how to meet the challenge faced
   by they government today.
11. Assess the nation's political problems and evaluate the efficiency
   of the nation's political process and how certain political goals
   may be achieved.
12. Discuss and evaluate California state and local government issues and
   politics.
13. Describe the values, themes, methods and history of the discipline
   and identify realistic career objectives related to a course of
   study in the major.

Topics and Scope
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1.  Foundations of U.S. Government.
     A. The British influence.
     B. Philosophical concepts of John Locke and Montesquieu.
     C. The articles of confederation.
     D. The constitutional convention.
2.  The basic features of the American Constitutional System.
     A. The congress.
     B. Executive office.
     C. The judiciary.
     D. Federalism.
     E. Civil liberties and civil rights.
     F. Federal and state court structure.
3.  Public opinion and socialization.
     A. Public opinion polls.
     B. Elections and voting behavior.
     C. Pressure groups.
     D. Political parties and politics.
     E. The presidential nomination process.
4.  Congress.
     A. Function of your legislature.
     B. Recent changes in House procedure and power.
     C. The senate of the United States.
          1. Senate rules and procedures.
          2. Senate leadership.
          3. Conference committees.
     D. Influences of congressional staff.
     E. Tactics and strategy of the legislative process.
     F. the Executive-Legislative conflict.
5.  The Presidency.
     A. Roles of the president.
          1. Constitutional duties.
          2. Non-constitutional duties.
     B. The U.S. decision making process.
          1. The electorate.
          2. Communication elites.
          3. The congress.
          4. The executive branch.
               a. the cabinet.
               b. the executive office of the president.
               c. the future of the American President.
6.  Constitution of the State of California
   A. Relationship of State and local government with the Federal
     government.
   B. Political process of the state.
7.  Orientation to the values, themes, methods and history of the
   discipline and identification of realistic career objectives related
   to a course of study in the major.

Assignments:
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1.  Read and study appropriate chapters in the texts.
2.  Keep up with current events in the local newspaper and weekly
   news magazines.
3.  Regular attendance and extensive note-taking in class is expected
   and assumed.
4.  Preparation for in-class, closed book, no-notes examinations.

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
10 - 20%
Written homework, Essay exams
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.Problem Solving
40 - 50%
Homework problems, Quizzes, Exams
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 - 50%
Multiple choice
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.Other Category
0 - 0%
None


Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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R. Greenberg and F. Page, THE STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRACY, 5th ed.,
  Longman Publishing, 2001.
Larry Berman and Bruce Allen Murphy, APPROACHING DEMOCRACY, 3rd ed.,
  Prentice Hall 2001.
Larry N. Gertson & Terry Christiansen, CALIFORNIA POLITICS &
 GOVERNMENT: A PRACTICAL APPROACH, 6th ed., Harcourt College
 Publishers, 2001.
Walt Huber, CALIFORNIA:  STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN CRISIS,
 4th ed., Educational Textbook Company, 2000.

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