• COURSE DESCRIPTION
• COURSE WORK/EVALUATION
• COURSE TEXTBOOKS
• SUGGESTED STUDY METHODS

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course provides a comprehensive understanding of the democratic system of American National Government, including its foundations, processes, institutions, and policies. It also offers different perspectives of the political issues confronting the United States. The course is organized into three areas: (1) Constitutional Foundations, (2) Political Processes, and (3) Governmental Institutions. The first section introduces the philosophical origins and political structures of the United States Constitution. It covers federalism and the unique system of checks and balances. Detailed attention is also given to the enduring struggle to protect competing views of equality and liberty within a peaceful democracy. Part Two examines the cultural dimensions of American politics and how people outside of government attempt to influence policy. Political ideology, public opinion, voting, interest groups, political parties, campaigns, elections, and the media are examined to better understand how people express their opinions about government. The final section explores the historical development and political interaction of the institutions which make up the United States Government. Congress, the Presidency, Judiciary, and Bureaucracy are analyzed with respect to their constitutional powers, decision making processes, and political leaders. Domestic and global policies are also examined to reveal how the separate, but power sharing institutions attempt to govern modern society. By focusing on these general sections, this course will provide students with an opportunity to accomplish the following objectives:

A. To develop critical thinking about democratic government and its delicate balance between governing by majority rule and protecting individual freedom.

B. To provide a perspective of how power is granted to the national government and the states but limited to protect civil liberties and civil rights.

C. To understand American political culture and the various ways people convey their political attitudes about the appropriate role of democratic government.

D. To explain the structures and functions of the government branches from the standpoint of the formulation, implementation, and adjudication of policy.

COURSE TEXTBOOKS: The reading materials for the course include James MacGregor Burns, Government By the People: National Version, 22nd ed. (Chicago: Prentice Hall Press, 2006) and George McKenna, et al., Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues, Expanded 15th ed. (Chicago: Dushkin, 2007). In writing these textbooks, the authors have concentrated on the enduring American struggle to maintain a peaceful democratic society without sacrificing civil liberties and rights. Government By the People offers thorough coverage of the United States political system by considering its foundations, processes, institutions, and public policies. Taking Sides contains journal articles written by scholars who examine issues of American National Politics relating to who governs, how they govern, why they govern, and how they should govern. These textbooks go beyond simply presenting general information about the United States political system. They also show how social scientists study and explain the principles and problems of American National Politics. Other recommended texts include:

A. Pat Andrews, Voices of Diversity: Perspectives on American Political Ideals and Institutions (Guliford: Dushkin Publishing Group, 2001).                  

B. Robert E. DiClerico and Allan Hammock, Points of View: Readings in American Government and Politics, 8th ed. (New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing, 2007).

C. J.W. Peltason, Corwin's and Peltason's Understanding the Constitution, 15th ed. (San Antonio, Texas: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 2005).

D. Bruce Stinebrickner, ed., Annual Editions: American Government, 05/06, 32nd ed. (Guliford, Connecticut: Dushkin Publishing, 2006).

E. Stephen J. Wayne, et al., The Politics of American Government: Foundations, Participation, Institutions, and Policy (Boston: St. Martin's Press, 2007).

COURSE WORK AND EVALUATION: The work requirements for this course consist of eighteen lesson assignments and three section exams. The curriculum enables students to be active participants with opportunities to more fully develop reading, research, critical thinking, and writing skills. The eighteen lesson assignments require the students to (a) read textbooks and articles, (b) visit instructional websites, (c) participate in interactive lectures and debates and (d) answer concept and essay questions. Each lesson requires students to provide written responses to six concept questions and two essay questions and to post comments about the interactive lectures and political debates in BbCE format. That means that for each of the lessons the students are required to:

1. Read all assigned textbook materials and visit the instructional websites;

2. Read the lectures and debates and post comments in Blackboard format; and

3. Provide written lesson answers to the six concept and two essay questions.

A printed copy of the lesson answers to the concept and essay questions is due at the end of the semester and must be hand delivered, postmarked, or faxed (208-792-2571) to the instructor no later than Monday 12/17/07. The written work for each lesson is worth 10 points, totaling a possible 180 points for all lesson assignments. The three section exams consist of multiple-choice and essay questions derived from the eighteen lesson assignments. The first test will be given after the completion of lessons 1-6 (10/08/07), the second one after lessons 7-12 (11/05/07), and the final test following the completion of lessons 13-18 (12/17/07). Each exam is worth 100 points, totaling a possible 300 points for all examinations. The tests are to be taken over the Internet through the Blackboard format. It is strongly recommended that students adhere to the due dates set by the course calendar when completing their lessons and taking their exams. Students are required to write all course assignments in their own words, except for those few occasions where they find it necessary to quote and cite authorities. The course work is structured to evaluate not only the student's knowledge and application of the material, but also his or her ability to analyze and evaluate it. In terms of the grading scale, the lesson assignments account for 37% of the course grade and the section exams account for 63% (or 21% for each test) with the following breakdown:

SUGGESTED STUDY METHODS: No method of study can meet the diverse needs of each student. Still a number of steps can be taken to gain a greater perspective of American National Politics. At the outset, the students should read the lesson introduction to acquire a sense of the overall focus of the material. Next the students should peruse their reading assignments. After the readings have been completed, the students should visit the lesson-based websites and participate in the interactive lectures and political debates to more fully develop their understanding of United States Government. Then students should closely review the concept and essay questions contained within their lesson. This will allow them to concentrate on what the questions are asking and respond by discussing the important concepts and issues. Next, the students should answer the lesson questions in a comprehensive but concise manner. The best way to approach this task is to: (1) provide definitions, (2) incorporate examples, and (3) discuss the significance of the important principles and problems of American National Politics. For example, government is often defined as the formal institutions, processes, and rules through which public policies are made for a society. An example of an institution is Congress, a process is how a bill becomes a law, and rules are the criminal laws. Closely related is politics. It involves the allocation of societal values through government decisions regarding who gets what public benefits or burdens when, where, and how. Societal values such as nationalism, capitalism, democracy, morality, liberty, equality and justice in turn define the essence of government. Such an analytical approach to American National Politics will also help students prepare for the final step of taking the examinations. Students should closely scrutinize their reading and writing assignments when studying for the exams since the test questions will be taken directly from these sources. It is important to understand that students learn what they read and write about on a regular basis. So the key to unlocking the doors of United States Government is to take the course assignments seriously.