COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The study of American national government, specifically its institutions, the process of governing, the means by which individual citizens and groups influence that process, and the output of that governing process.
Course Prerequisite: None
Course Objectives:
1. This course will examine the origin, structure, powers, interaction, and performance of American national governmental institutions.
STUDENT LEARNING ACTIVITIES:
Learning activities may include lectures, class discussions, speakers,
student presentations, overhead transparencies, instructional handouts,
application assignments, tests, quizzes, and/or papers.
INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES:
Faculty approved textbook, handouts, video tapes, etc.
EVALUATION:
Written tests, assignments, and class participation. Standards of performance will be delineated in the instructor's individual class syllabus which is distributed to students the first week of class and placed on file in the Department office.
STUDENTS’ SPECIAL NEEDS: Hawkeye Community College strives for student-centered, quality education with flexibility to allow for student’s special needs. Students with disabilities or special needs should feel free to contact the instructor privately if there are services or adaptations which can be made to accommodate specific needs.
SCHEDULE, COURSE SUMMARY, AND EXPECTATIONS:
GRADING:
50 Points – Attendance and Participation
50 Points – Final Exam
30 Points – Position Paper(s)
A 90-100%
B 80-90%
C 70-80%
D 60 – 70%
This is a discussion-oriented class. In the event a student has 89 points, but was a great participant, an “A” will be awarded, so it is in your best interests to TALK to the class! The more you speak, the better you will do, and the more fun this course will be.
ROUGH TIMELINE
Group A: Introducing Government in America, Chapter 1
Group B: The Constitution, Chapter 2
Group C: Federalism, Chapter 3
Group A: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights, Chapter 4
Group B: Public Opinion and Political Action, Chapter 5
Group C: The Mass Media and Political Agenda, Chapter 6
Group A: Political Parties, Chapter 7
Group B: Campaigns and Voting Behavior, Chapter 8
Group C: Interest Groups, Chapter 9
Group A: Congress, Chapter 10
Group B: The Presidency, Chapter 11
Group C: The Federal Bureaucracy, Chapter 12
Group A: The Federal Courts, Chapter 13
Group B: Congress, the President, and the Budget, Chapter 14
Group C: Social Welfare Policymaking, Chapter 15
Group A: National Security Policymaking, Chapter 16
Exam Prep. and Final Exam
In addition to the above schedule, students are expected to read the accompanying text; The Bill as well assigned articles on the course’s homepage, http://pmcroberts.blogspot.com. Students are encouraged to sign up for a blogger account (available for free at blogger.com ) in order to participate further in our on-line discussions. Assigned articles are required, and will be part of our daily work.
Assignments from The Bill will be given in class, as a supplement to the reading. From time to time, we may use entire course periods to discuss portions of the book. My desire is to show you how the process is supposed to work – on paper – and how the process indeed works, in practice.
The Bill is an examination, simply put, as to how a campaign promise turns into a law – in this case, the institution of the AmeriCorps National Service in 1993. The book is an easy, light read; I would encourage you to read it in its entirety immediately. We will then re-visit the book as your understanding of the topic grows.
