Bellevue University

PS 102

American Government and Politics

 

 

 

Prerequisites:  None

 

Credit:   3 credit hours

 

Catalog Description:   This is a basic course designed to acquaint the student  with various governmental structures, functions, and related theories and models concerning  how and why  resources and values are allocated as they are in the American political system.

 

Mission:  PS 102 is a general education core course. The mission of the general education core at Bellevue University is to assist students to achieve the essential skills and basic knowledge important to live meaningful personal and public lives as self-actualized individuals, participant citizens, responsible professionals, and persons committed to family and community in the United States.

 

Purpose:  This course will provide the student with a working knowledge of basic concepts, theories, models, and frameworks related to American government and politics.  The organization is progressive from conceptualization of essential terms such as politics, government, and the American political system to critical analysis and evaluation of major political cultures prevailing at different  times,  and  their subsequent impact on structures  and  functions of governmental institutions and the role of  the American public.

 

Objectives:  Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

1.        Define major terms related to American government and politics;

2.        Compare and evaluate substantive and procedural definitions of democracy;

3.        Trace and examine contents of and justifications for constitutional changes from the Articles of Confederation of 1781 to the Constitution of the United States  of 1789 and the subsequent incorporation of  twenty seven amendments;

4.        Examine major changes in the  principle of the separation of power between the national and state governments;

5.        Explain intergovernmental obligations;

6.        Evaluate major changes in the American political culture and their impact on political behaviors and expectations;

7.        Explain major reasons for the viability of a two-political  party system in the United States;

8.        Identify and evaluate the procedures for the presidential election;

9.        Explain and critically evaluate the principle of  the checks and balances of power among three branches of government;

10.     Evaluate structures and functions of executive,  legislative, and Judiciary branches and  examine recommendations for institutional changes.

 

 

Assessment and General Assignments: Students will be responsible for all assigned readings and preparing for class discussions, as well as completing written assignments, and written examinations. Students will also be responsible for attending computer orientation and operation of various software programs for data analysis, critical evaluation, and synthesis. Samples of  class projects, written reports, and examinations are available to students.

 

Evaluation and Grading:    Active participation  of students in class discussions, class projects, written reports, class presentation, and examinations will be considered in determining the final grade. Individual professors will determine the particular grading percentages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Course Outline:

1.        Define  major terms related to American government and politics:

1. Efficacy
2. Representativeness
3. Efficacy-representativeness  trade-off  thesis
4. Aristotle's typology of government: Polity, democracy, aristocracy, oligarchy, kingship, and tyranny

2.        Evaluate substantive and procedural definitions of democracy:

1. A  substantive definition
2. A  procedural definition
3. Linkage from procedural to substantive perspective of definition
4. Linkage from substantive to procedural perspective of definition

3.        Trace and examine contents of and justifications for constitutional changes from the Articles of Confederation of 1781 to the Constitution of the United States  of 1789 and the subsequent incorporation of  twenty seven amendments:

1. The Articles of Confederation
2. The Constitutional Convention
3. The Constitution of the United States
4. Amendments to the U.S. Constitution

4.        Examine major changes in the  principle of the separation of power between the national and state governments:

1. McCulloch  vs. Maryland (1819)
2. Marbury vs. Madison (1803)
3. National Labor Relations Board vs. Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation (1937)
4. Luther vs. Borden (1848)

5.        Explain intergovernmental obligations:

a.         National obligations to the states

b.        State obligations to the national government

c.         Interstate obligations

d.        New Federalism

6.        Evaluate major changes in the American political culture and their impact on political behaviors and expectations:

a.        The aristocratic political culture

b.        The patron-client political culture

c.        The participant (democratic) political culture

7.        Explain major reasons for the viability of a two-political  party system in the United States:

a.        Party alignment and realignment

b.        Issue difference between Democratic and Republican political parties

c.        Association of voters' socio-economic backgrounds  with the specific political party

8.        Identify and evaluate the procedures for the presidential election:

a.        Primaries

b.        National  party convention

c.        General election

d.        Electoral voting

e.        Congressional  voting in case of a presidential election tie

f.         Inauguration

9.        Explain and critically evaluate the principle of  the checks and balances of power among three branches of government:

a.     President:              veto, pocket veto, executive order, appointment, impoundment, war

                                        power,  budget proposal, executive privilege, executive pardon

 

 

 

b.     The Legislative:            The Impoundment Act of 1974

                                        The War Powers Act of 1973

                                        Senatorial courtesy

                                        Personally obnoxious precedent

                                        Confirmation

                                        Ratification

c.      The Judicial:                  Judicial review

 

10.     Evaluate  structures and functions of Congress,  Presidency, and Judiciary branches and  examine recommendations for  institutional changes:

a.          Imperial presidency

b.          Committee leadership

c.          Party leadership in Congress

d.          Gerrymandering

e.          Judicial review

               

 

Signatures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resources:

 

The Bellevue University Library

The Bellevue University Computer Center

 

Required Texts and/or Materials:

 

Harrigan, John   J.  Politics and the American Future: Dilemmas of Democarcy.  McGraw-Hill, 1996.

 

Wasserman,    Gary.  The  Basics of American Politics.  Longman, 2000.

 

 

Recommended Texts, Resources, and/or Supplies:

 

 

 

Other Resources or References: