20809221American National Government
Course Information
Description
American National Government examines U.S. federal government institutions, politics, and policies. Students (a) summarize American political history, (b) analyze American political institutions, and (c) evaluate American domestic and foreign public policies. Students will complete exams and written assignments.
Total Credits
3
Prior Learning Assessment
  • None
Course Competencies
  1. Summarize American Political History and Culture
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Objective Test
    Essay
    Criteria
    Summarize different types of government (autocracy, oligarchy, democracy)
    Analyze different forms of government (totalitarian, authoritarian, constitutional)
    Evaluate core American values and significance (liberty, equality, democracy)

  2. Summarize Constitution of the United States of America
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Objective Test
    Essay
    Criteria
    Summarize historical facts and theoretical basis of the American founding (Revolutionary War, Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights)
    Analyze constitutional separation of powers system and checks & balances arrangements (The Federalist)
    Evaluate institutional performance and relationships within the American political system

  3. Summarize Federalism
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Objective Test
    Essay
    Criteria
    Summarize unitary, confederacy, and federal systems of governance
    Analyze philosophical and constitutional foundations of American federalism
    Evaluate the evolution of American federalism from dual federalism through variations of cooperative federalism

  4. Summarize Civil Liberties
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Objective Test
    Essay
    Criteria
    Summarize the history and philosophical foundations for American civil liberties and the Bill of Rights
    Analyze significant concepts relating to American civil liberties (bill of attainder, due process of the law, writ of habeas corpus)
    Evaluate the evolutionary nature of civil liberties within the context of the American political system (rational scrutiny, intermediate scrutiny, strict scrutiny)

  5. Summarize Civil Rights
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Objective Test
    Essay
    Criteria
    Summarize the history and philosophical foundations for American civil rights (Civil War, 14th Amendment, US Supreme Court)
    Analyze significant concepts relating to American civil rights (fundamental rights, equal protection clause, due process clause)
    Evaluate the evolutionary nature of civil rights within the context of the American political system (strict scrutiny, intermediate scrutiny, rational scrutiny)

  6. Analyze Public Opinion
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Objective Test
    Essay
    Criteria
    Summarize the meaning and significance of public opinion in relation to American politics and government (political values) (political ideologies)
    Analyze the significance of political socialization and political knowledge in relation to American public opinion
    Evaluate the formal methods, techniques, and practices relating to the collection / measurement of public opinion

  7. Analyze Media
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Objective Test
    Essay
    Criteria
    Summarize the meaning and significance of the media in democracy (Bill of Rights)
    Analyze the different types of media and their relation to American politics and government (print) (broadcast) (internet)
    Evaluate the formal institutional rules and regulations that govern media ownership and behavior (Congress) (FCC)

  8. Analyze Political Parties
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Objective Test
    Essay
    Criteria
    Summarize the meaning and significance of political parties in relation to American politics and government (democracy) (factions)
    Analyze the history and evolution of the American two-party system and the role of third parties (party systems) (de-alignment) (re-alignment)
    Evaluate the formal institutional rules and regulations governing political party behavior (party membership) (national conventions) (fragmentation)

  9. Analyze Campaigns and Elections
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Objective Test
    Essay
    Criteria
    Summarize the meaning and significance of American campaigns and elections (republicanism) (representative democracy)
    Analyze the process of conducting a political campaign and organizing elections for national office (candidate selection) (policy platform) (turnout)
    Evaluate the formal rules and regulations concerning the conduct of national campaigns / elections (federal requirements) (state / local administration)

  10. Analyze Interest Groups
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Objective Test
    Essay
    Criteria
    Summarize the meaning and significance of pluralist theory in relation to American politics and government (representative democracy) (factions)
    Analyze the types of interest groups (economic) (cultural) (political) and tactics (lobbying) (information asymmetry) used to influence politics / government
    Evaluate the formal institutional regulations governing interest group behavior / conduct (restrictions) (disclosures) (government expansion)

  11. Evaluate Legislative Branch
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Objective Test
    Essay
    Criteria
    Summarize the constitutional basis and history of the legislative branch of government (Congress) (Article I)
    Analyze the structural, organizational, and administrative features of the legislative branch (Congress) (bicameralism)
    Evaluate the institutional duties, responsibilities, and practices of the legislative branch (Congress) (separation-of-powers) (check & balances) (federalism)

  12. Evaluate Executive Branch
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Objective Test
    Essay
    Criteria
    Summarize the constitutional basis and history of the executive branch of government (Presidency) (Article II)
    Analyze the structural, organizational, and administrative features of the executive branch (Presidency) (head of state) (head of government)
    Evaluate the institutional duties, responsibilities, and practices of the executive branch (Presidency) (separation-of-powers) (checks & balances) (federalism)

  13. Evaluate Bureaucracy
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Objective Test
    Essay
    Criteria
    Summarize the philosophical and constitutional bases of public administration (Bureaucracy)
    Analyze the formal structure, organization, and administration of the public administration (Bureaucracy)
    Evaluate bureaucratic relations with formal institutions within the American separation -of-powers systems (checks and balances)

  14. Evaluate Judicial Branch
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Objective Test
    Essay
    Criteria
    Summarize the constitutional basis and history of the judicial branch of government (Courts) (Article I) (Article III)
    Analyze the structural, organizational, and administrative features of the judicial branch (Courts) (rule of law) (higher law tradition)
    Evaluate the institutional duties, responsibilities, and practices of the judicial branch (Courts) (separation-of-powers) (checks & balances) (federalism)