PS 1010

Description

In-depth study of American government and politics focusing on a balanced, unbiased, and up-to-date introduction to constitutional, governmental, political, social, and economic structures and processes.

Objectives

1. Describe the different forms of government (totalitarian regime, oligarchy, aristocracy, democracy, and anarchy).
2. Identify the patterns in early American colonization that influenced later governmental structure and operation.
3. Describe the historical context surrounding the drafting and ratification of the Constitution.
4. Identify and explain the classification of powers between the national and state governments in the U.S. federal system.
5. Describe the expansion of civil rights through legislation and amendments to the Constitution in the post-Civil War period, including the Emancipation Proclamation, the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, the Civil Rights Acts of 1865 – 1877, and the Civil Rights cases of 1883 (especially Plessey v. Ferguson).
6. Explain the nature of the problem of gender-based discrimination in the workplace and the importance of Title VII, definitional problems associated with regulations, the problems of wage discrimination, pay equity, and the glass ceiling.
7. Explain how public opinion is formed in the U.S., including political socialization by families, education, and peers and the influence of religion, economic status, political events, and opinion leaders.
8. Describe the impact of the media on political socialization.
9. Define an interest group and describe its function.
10. Identify and analyze the direct tactics used by interest groups, including lobbying, rating systems, campaign assistance, and the formations of political action committees.
11. Describe the presidential election process from primaries to the general election.
12. Identify the major functions performed by the mass media in our society, including entertainment, reporting news, identifying public problems, socializing a new generation, and providing a political forum.
13. Explain the major functions of Congress, including lawmaking, constituent service, and oversight and conflict resolution.
14. Compare the basic differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate.
15. Identify and explain the roles of the President (including Chief of State, Chief Executive, Commander in Chief, Chief Diplomat, and Chief Legislator).
16. Explain the major concepts of the American legal system that were developed in the English common law system, including the common law tradition, precedent, jurisdiction, and stare decisis.
17. Identify the principal agencies that assist the president in developing foreign policy, including the State Department, the National Security Council, the intelligence community, and the Department of Defense.

PreRequisites

None

Textbook(s)

* Disclaimer: Textbooks listed are based on the last open revision of the course. Prior revisions and future revisions may use different textbooks. To verify textbook information, view the course syllabus or contact the CSU Bookstore at bookstore@columbiasouthern.edu