As a foundational course to the American government and its politics, this course is designed to offer students and (1) the opportunity to examine the United States government's philosophical foundations and how that philosophy developed; (2) to describe the institutional/governance framework within which political decisions in the U.S., are made, and (3) offer a distinction and relationship between political processes and national institutions.
Prerequisite Courses
Competency
Behavioral and Social Understanding
Course Outcomes
After successfully completing the course, the learner will be able to:
- Analyze the historical and cultural influences on the development of the American system of government
- Demonstrate an understanding of the critical concepts of government and politics and apply those concepts to the modern American experience.
- Describe and assess the central political institutions and their functions and processes in the operation of the American system of the national government.
- Describe the central institutions and processes of the judicial branch of the American system of the national government.
- Discuss the various structures and processes of American government and politics, the collective action challenges inherent in this system, and the practical implications of political structure and contestation in our lives.
- Distinguish between direct and indirect forms of democracies and provide examples of each in the American experience.
- Provide examples of the various notable controversies centering on federalism and the related role of federal and state governments.
- Think critically about the American political system through reading both contemporary and classic materials from various sources that encompass both objective and opinion-based points of view.
- Trace the development of American federalism and assess its impact on the American system of the national government over time.