12/26/2024 12:06:36 PM	SOCS 100 Course Outline as of Fall 1989	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  SOCS 100	Title:  AMERICAN POLITICS
Full Title:  American Politics
Last Reviewed:3/19/1992

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:  SOCS 300

Catalog Description:

Thematic survey of the development and operation of major American political and socio-economic institutions.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100.

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Thematic survey of the development & operation of major American political & socio-economic institutions.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100.
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 1989	Inactive:	Summer 2011
Area:	D F	Social and Behavioral Sciences American Institutions
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

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

The students will:

1.  Record and integrate material from text and lecture. This will

   be constantly related to current events.

2.  Define terms, and identify political and economic institutions

   and persons related to the current American culture.

3.  Daily discuss ongoing political and economic problems facing the

   nation.

4.  Relate current problems to past policies of American institutions.

5.  In class discussions, apply thematic information of the course

   to current national circumstances.

6.  Use communication and analytical skills learned in class to

   demonstrate their proficiency on in class exams.

7.  Will be encouraged to question their values and popular political

   myths.

8.  Motivated to observe the world around them and question the

   goals and outcomes of their society's actions.

Topics and Scope

1.  Introduction.

     A. Course requirements.

     B. Study of politics.

     C. Definitions.

     D. The political spectrum.

2.  The historical background.

     A. The colonization of North America.

     B. The colonial political experience.

     C. The American Revolution.

     D. Post-war problems.

3.  The constitution of 1787.

     A. The convention.

     B. The constitution itself.

     C. The principles of the constitution.

4.  The presidency.

     A. Background.

     B. Constitutional roles/requirements.

     C. Non-constitutional roles.

     D. Institutional aspects of the presidency.

5.  The bureaucracy.

     A. Characteristics of a bureaucracy.

     B. Description of our National Bureaucracy.

     C. Role of the bureaucracy.

     D. Measuring the bureaucracy.

6.  Congress.

     A. Description of congress.

     B. Role of congresspersons - re-election.

     C. The legislative process.

     D. Why things end the way they do.

7.  Macro-economics.

     A. Background.

     B. Fiscal policy.

     C. Monetary policy.

     D. The interdependent world.

8.  The court system.

     A. The federal courts.

     B. The state courts.

     C. Political distinctions between federal and state.

9.  Civil Liberties.

     A. Freedom to expression.

     B. Freedom to participate.

     C. Freedom from harassment.

10. Civil Rights.

     A. Attempts to enter the system.

     B. Tactics from the grass roots.

11. Interest groups.

     A. Definition and description.

     B. Tactics.

     C. Case histories.

12. The media.

     A. Television.

     B. Press.

     C. Control of the media.

     D. Manipulation of the media.

13. Voters.

     A. Political socialization.

     B. Apathy.

     C. Voting past and present.

14. Political Parties.

     A. Background.

     B. Role of parties.

     C. Parties today.

     D. California parties.

15. Campaigns.

     A. Money.

     B. The primaries.

     C. The conventions.

     D. The general election.

Assignments:

1.  Read and study appropriate chapters of the text.

2.  Maintain awareness of current events shaping American political

   and economic landscape.

3.  Regular attendance of class.

4.  Frequent in-class participation.

5.  Note taking of material presented in class.

6.  Preparation for in-class, closed-book, no-notes examination.

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 - 30%
Essay exams
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 10 - 30%
Quizzes, Exams
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
Class performances
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 50 - 70%
Multiple choice, True/false, Matching items
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

THE BASICS OF AMERICAN POLITICS, Little Brown Company.

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