| 12/11/2024 1:11:27 PM |
| Changed Course |
| CATALOG INFORMATION
|
| Discipline and Nbr:
POLS C1000 | Title:
AMERICAN GOV'T AND POLIT |
|
| Full Title:
American Government and Politics |
| 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:
POLS 1
Catalog Description:
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This course is an introduction to government and politics in the United States and California. Students examine the constitutions, structure, and operation of governing institutions, civil liberties and civil rights, political behaviors, political issues, and public policy using political science theory and methodology.
Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL C1000 (formerly ENGL 1A) or EMLS 10 or equivalent or appropriate placement based on AB705 mandates
Limits on Enrollment:
Schedule of Classes Information
Description:
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This course is an introduction to government and politics in the United States and California. Students examine the constitutions, structure, and operation of governing institutions, civil liberties and civil rights, political behaviors, political issues, and public policy using political science theory and methodology.
(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL C1000 (formerly ENGL 1A) or EMLS 10 or equivalent or appropriate placement based on AB705 mandates
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit: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: | | Effective: | | Inactive: | |
| |
| 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
Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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1. Research and analyze American political institutions and processes.
2. Assess how government impacts students' 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:
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Statewide Required Objectives/Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Explain the founding and development of the U.S. and California Constitution.
2. Critique governing institutions and political processes within the United States and California.
3. Employ introductory political science research methods to contextualize contemporary political issues and operations in the United States and California
4. Assess civil liberties and civil rights of individuals and groups as articulated in the U.S. and California Constitutions and subsequent court decisions.
5. Investigate the role of identity and political ideology in shaping public opinion and public policy in the United States and California.
6. Analyze how to effectively participate in politics at the national, state, county, and/or city levels.
Topics and Scope
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Statewide Required Topics:
1. The purpose of government and nature of democratic governance
a. Political philosophies that underlie democratic government
b. Comparison of representative and direct democracy
c. The value of, influences on, and consequences of participation and nonparticipation in democratic government
2. The U.S. and California Constitutions as frameworks for government
a. Political philosophies of the framers and critics of the U.S. Constitution
b. Processes for amending and interpreting the U.S. and California Constitutions
3. The theory and practice of federalism in the United States, focusing on California
a. The framework and operation of federal, state, and local relations
b. Interaction between the federal government and Native American tribes and entities
4. The structure and contemporary operations of federal, state, and local governing institutions in the United States and California including the
a. Executive branch
b. Legislative branch
c. Judicial branch
5. Civil liberties and civil rights of individuals and groups
a. Civil liberties and rights as articulated in the U.S. and California Constitutions and federal and state court decisions
b. Contemporary and historical interactions between government and marginalized populations within the United States based on factors such as race, ethnicity, sex, gender and gender expression, sexual orientation, class, ability status, age, citizenship status, language, religion, and/or other forms of identity
6. Individual and group behaviors within the context of the U.S. and California constitutions, including
a. Elections, campaigns, and voting
b. Political parties
c. Interest groups
d. Social movements
7. Factors that shape politics and policymaking including
a. Political culture
b. Political socialization
c. Political ideologies
d. Public opinion
e. Media
8. Political issues and public policies
a. Domestic
b. Economic
c. Foreign
9. Introductory research methods used in political science including
a. qualitative tools and techniques
b. quantitative tools and techniques
Assignments:
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1. Read and study 30-50 pages in the text or additional readings weekly.
2. Two to four essay examinations, which may include additional multiple choice components.
3. Writing assignments (2500-5000 words). These may be in the form of analytical essays, research or reaction papers or discussion posts.
4. Additional assignments as determined by instructor may include:
a. Quizzes
b. Presentations
c. Debates
d. Class participation
Statewide Required Methods of Evaluation:
Examples of potential methods of evaluation used to observe or measure students' achievement of course outcomes and objectives could include but are not limited to quizzes, exams, essays, field journals, projects, critical analysis papers, service learning, simulations, research demonstrations, etc.
Methods of evaluation and appropriate representative assignments will be determined at the discretion of local faculty.
Expanded and Additional Local Methods of Evaluation: See table below.
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% |
| Writing assignments | |
| 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% |
| Two to four essay exams; quizzes (if assigned) | |
| Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories. | Other Category
0 - 15% |
| Class participation, presentations, debates (if assigned) | |
Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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Statewide Representative Textbooks:
Any college-level introduction to American government and politics textbook including, but not limited to:
Patterson. 2024. We the People. 15th ed
Krutz and Waskiewicz. 2024. American Government 3e. OpenStax (OER)
Sidlow and Henschen. GOVT 12: Principles of American Government. 2025
Reti. 2023. Introduction to California Government and Politics. (OER)
Van Vechten. 2021. California Politics: A Primer.
May also include supplementary materials such as, but not limited to, primary sources (e.g. The Federalist Papers), readers, etc.
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