12/21/2024 8:42:43 AM	POLS 1 Course Outline as of Fall 2011	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  POLS 1	Title:  INTRO TO U.S. GOVERNMENT
Full Title:  Introduction to United States Government
Last Reviewed:10/28/2024

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:	Fall 2025
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
C-ID:
CID Descriptor: POLS 110	Introduction to American Government and Politics	SRJC Equivalent Course(s): POLSC1000

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

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

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. What is Political Science?

        1. Survey of the discipline

        2. Assumptions, methodology, tools

        3. 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

       4. Manipulation

  

  B. The Media

       1. Historical development from the founding to the present

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

       3. Evaluating sources of information

  C. Political Participation

        1. Conventional and non-conventional forms

       2. Voting behavior, trends and reforms

 

   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.  Legislative strategies

   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 one to two chapters in the texts and anthologies weekly.

2.  Regular attendance and extensive note-taking in class is expected and assumed.

3.  Two to four multiple-choice, and/or essay examinations including a final

4.  Six to ten pages of writing.  These will be either reaction papers, analytical essays or research papers.  An analytical component will be part of these assignments.

Optional assignments may include written summaries of current events, oral presentations, debates or group work.

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 - 50%
Analytical essays
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 - 50%
Two to four exams including a final that incorporate a writing component
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:

The Struggle for Democracy, (9th). Greenberg/Page. Longman: 2009 with the companion website

 

Challenge of Democracy, (10th). Janda, Berry  Goldman, Houghton-Mifflin N.: 2009

 

American Government and Politics Today, (15th). Bardes, et al. Wadsworth Publishing Company: 2009-2010 with companion web site

 

We The People, (Shorter 7th Edition), Ginsberg, Lowi, & Weir.  W.W, Norton & Company: 2009 and supporting web site.

 

Taking Sides:  Clashing Views on Political Issues, (17th). McKenna & Feingold,  McGraw Hill: 2009.

 

The Democratic Debate, (5th). Miroff et. al. Houghton Mifflin: 2010,

 

Ravitch's The American Reader Perennial,  (2nd). Harper Collins: 2000

 

California Politics: A Primer. Van Vechten. Congressional Quarterly Press: 2009

 

Governing California in the 21st Century (3rd). Anagnoson et al. W.W. Norton: 2011

 

Instructor Prepared Materials

Print PDF