4/18/2024 10:41:22 AM	POLS 1 Course Outline as of Fall 2016	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  POLS 1	Title:  INTRO TO U.S. GOVERNMENT
Full Title:  Introduction to United States Government
Last Reviewed:10/12/2020

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:

Principles and problems of government with emphasis on national, state and local governments in the United States.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Principles and problems of government with emphasis on national, state and local governments in the United States.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
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:
	D	Social Science		Fall 2011
	D8	Political Science, Govt, Legal Instutns
	X2	Constitution and American Ideals
	D	Social Science		Fall 2010	Fall 2011
	D2	Economics
	D4	Gender Studies
	D8	Political Science, Govt, Legal Instutns
	X2	Constitution and American Ideals
	D	Social Science		Fall 1981	Fall 2010
	D2	Economics
	D4	Gender Studies
	X2	Constitution and American Ideals
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	4	Social and Behavioral Science		Fall 1981
	4H	Political Science:Govt and Legal Instutn
	XB	Constitution and American Ideals
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
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

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

1.  Analyze American political institutions and processes.

2.  Assess how government impacts their daily lives.

3.  Engage in discourse about contemporary political problems and issues, applying

     critical thinking skills and analysis to support a point of view.

Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1.  Formulate and examine their own political values and beliefs.

2.  Research contemporary political issues drawing on diverse sources.

3.  Assess and distinguish between factual and interpretive sources

     of information.

4. Trace how and why American political structures and institutions

     at the state and federal levels have evolved over time and discuss

     current controversies in light of these developments.

5.  Evaluate different forms of political communication and the methods

     employed to shape public opinion.

6.  Assess the influence of political institutions on the American population

     and the methods by which citizens can participate in the political process

     and shape policy outcomes.

Topics and Scope

I.  Foundations of U.S. Government

    A. The Study of Politics

         1. Approaches and tools of Political Science

         2. Core concepts, such as liberty and theories of democracy

    B. The Founding Era

         1. The legacy of British Rule

         2.  Philosophical influences, such as Locke and Montesquieu

         3. The Declaration of Independence

         4. The Articles of Confederation

         5. The Constitutional Convention

    C. The U.S. Constitution

         1.  The Preamble (the goals of government)

         2.  The Articles  (government institutions, federalism, amending)

         3.  The Federalist Papers (selling the document)

         4.  The Bill of Rights

    D.  Federalism

         1.  Constitutional provisions (definitions and rationale)

         2.  Historical evolution from the Founders to the present    

          3. Advantages and disadvantages of a federal system

    E.  California Government and Politics

        1.  The State of California (constitution, institutions, direct democracy)

        2.  Local Government and Politics

II.  Linkage Institutions

    A.  Public Opinion

         1. Political Socialization

         2. Ideology

         3. Polling (techniques and uses)

    B. The Media

         1. Evolution of media from the founding era to the present

         2. Biases in media coverage in the U.S.

         3. Evaluating sources of information

     C. Political Participation

          1. Voting behavior, trends and reforms

          2. Alternative methods of participation

    D.  Political Parties

          1. The functions of parties

         2. The evolution of the party system

         3. Why a two-party system?

    E.  Campaigns and Elections

         1. The nominating process (primaries and caucuses)

         2. The general election (electoral college)

          3.  Campaign finance

          4.  Electoral strategies

    F . Interest Groups

         1.  Their composition and activities

         2.  The pros and cons of group politics

III.  Government Institutions

    A  . The Legislative Branch

           1.  A bicameral legislature (differences in the House and Senate)   

           2.  Functions of Congress (representation, legislation, oversight)

          3.  The structure of congressional leadership and committees

          4.  The legislative process

    B.  The Executive Branch

         1.  The Constitutional Presidency (formal powers)

         2.  The expansion of presidential power (causes and consequences)

         3.  The bureaucracy (presidential advisors, government agencies)

    C.  The Judicial Branch  

          1. Structure of the judiciary (federal and state)

         2. Judicial Review

          3. Judicial appointments

         4. The judicial decision making process      

IV.  Citizens and the State

    A . Civil Liberties

         1. Incorporating the Bill of Rights within state constitutions and laws

         2. Judicial rulings on rights (such as speech, press, religion)

    B . Civil Rights:  The expanding search for "equal justice under law."

V. Policy-Making (optional)

    A. Domestic Policy

    B. Foreign Policy

    C. Economic Policy

Assignments:

 1. Read and study 30-50 pages in the text or additional readings weekly.

2. Regular attendance, participation and extensive note taking is expected.

3. Two to four essay examinations, which may include additional multiple choice components.

4.  2000-3000 words of out-of-class writing. These may be in the form of analytical essays, research or reaction papers or discussion posts.

5.  Optional assignments may include presentations and/or 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 25 - 50%
Analytical essays, research or reaction papers or discussion posts
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 - 70%
Two to four essay exams, additional tests or quizzes
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 30%
Class participation, oral presentations and debates

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

American Government. Lenz & Holman. University Press of Florida: 2013

American Government and Politics Today. (2015-16 edition.  Bardes et al. Wadsworth Publishing: 2015

California's Legislature. E. Dotson Wilson. Chief Clerk of the Assembly: 2011  

California Politics: A Primer. (3rd edition) Van Vechten. CQ Press: 2014

California Politics Government. (12th edition) Gerston & Christensen. Wadsworth: 2013

Governing California in the 21st Century. (4th edition) Anagnoson & Bonetto. W.W. Norton: 2013

MindTap Political Science: American Government. Cengage Learning: 2015

The Challenge of Democracy, (13th edition).,  Janda et al. Cengage Learning: 2015

The Democratic Debate. (6th edition) Miroff et al.  Wadsworth Publishing: 2014

The Struggle for Democracy, (11th edition.), Greenberg & Page. 2014 Election Edition, Pearson: (2015)

Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues. (19th edition) Miller. McGraw Hill: 2014

We the People. (10th edition) Ginsberg & Lowi. W.W. Norton: 2014

Print PDF