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1 HSAGT 10 - AMERICAN GOVERNMENT Total Hrs Lecture Total Hrs Lab 0.00 Total Course Hrs Total Student Hrs High School Credits 5.00 COURSE DESCRIPTION This course introduces students to the institutions of American government. Topics include the principles and moral values of American government, the rights and obligations of democratic citizens, the fundamental values and principles of civil society, the roles of the three branches of government, landmark Supreme Court interpretations of the Constitution, elective offices, powers and procedures of government, and comparison of American government to other systems of government in the world today. This course satisfies the American Government requirement for graduation. ENROLLMENT RESTRICTIONS PREREQUISITES COREQUISITES ADVISORIES OUTLINE OF COURSE CONTENT The course will address the following topics: I. Fundamental principles and moral values of American democracy as expressed in the U.S. Constitution and other essential documents of American democracy A. Influence of ancient Greek, Roman, English, and leading European political thinkers, such as John Locke, Charles-Louis Montesquieu, Niccolo Machiavelli, and William Blackstone, on the development of American government B. Character of American democracy and its promise and perils as articulated by Alexis de Tocqueville C. Balance in the U.S. Constitution between the classical republican concern with promotion of the public good and the classical liberal concern with protecting individual rights D. Founding Fathers view of human nature and the concept of limited power of government as articulated in the Federalist Papers E. Systems of separated and shared powers, the role of organized interests (Federalist Paper Number 10), checks and balances (Federalist paper Number 51), the importance of an independent judiciary (Federalist paper Number 78), enumerated powers, rule of law, federalism, and civilian control of the military F. Limits of power of the state and federal governments under the Bill of Rights. II. Scope and limits of rights and obligations of democratic citizens, the relationship among them, and how they are secured A. Rights guaranteed under the Bill of Rights and how each is secured (e.g., freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, petition, privacy) B. Importance of economic rights to the individual and society and how economic rights are secured (e.g., the right to acquire, use, transfer, and dispose of property; right to choose one s work; right to join or not join labor unions; copyright and patent) C. Legal obligations of the individual to obey the law, serve as a juror, and pay taxes D. Obligations of civic-mindedness, including voting, being informed about civic issues, volunteering and performing public service, and serving in the military or alternate service E. Reciprocity between rights and obligations; why enjoyment of one s rights entails respect for the rights of others F. Process for obtaining United States citizenship, including naturalization (e.g., literacy, language, and other requirements). III. Fundamental values and principles of civil society and their relation to a free society A. Freedom of association in a civil society B. Influence on government by individual or groups of individuals in ways Page 1 of 5

2 other than voting in a civil society C. Historical role of religion and religious diversity D. Relationship of government and civil society in constitutional democracies as compared to the relationship of government and civil society in authoritarian and totalitarian regimes. IV. Roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U. S. Constitution A. Article I of the Constitution, including eligibility for office and term lengths of representatives and senators, election to office, the roles of the House and Senate in impeachment proceedings, the role of the vice president, the enumerated legislative powers, and the process by which a bill becomes a law B. Process by which the Constitution can be amended C. Current representatives in the legislative branch of the national government D. Article II of the Constitution, including eligibility for the office of President and term length, election to and removal from office, oath of office, and enumerated executive powers E. Article III of the Constitution as it relates to judicial power, including length of judges' terms and Supreme Court's jurisdiction F. Processes of selection and confirmation of Supreme Court Justices. V. Landmark U. S. Supreme Court interpretations of the Constitution and its amendments A. Changing interpretations of the Bill of Rights over time, including interpretations of basic freedoms (religion, speech, press, petition, and assembly) articulated in the First Amendment and the due process and equal protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment B. Judicial activism and judicial restraint and the effects of each policy over the decades (e.g., the Warren and Rehnquist courts) C. Effects of the Court s interpretations of the Constitution in Marbury vs. Madison, McCulloch vs. Maryland, and United States vs. Nixon, including arguments espoused by each side in these cases D. Changing interpretations of civil rights including those in Plessy vs. Ferguson, Brown vs. Board of Education, Miranda vs. Arizona, Regents of the University of California vs. Bakke, Adarand Constructors Inc. vs. Pena, and United States vs. Virginia (VMI). VI. Campaigns for national, state, and local elective offices A. Origin, development, and role of political parties, noting periods in which there was only one major party or were more than two major parties B. History of the nomination process for presidential candidates and the increasing importance of primaries in general elections C. Role of polls, campaign advertising, and the controversies over campaign funding D. Means citizens use to participate in the political process (e.g., voting, campaigning, lobbying, filing a legal challenge, demonstrating, petitioning, picketing, and running for political office) E. Features of direct democracy in numerous states (e.g., the process of referendums, recall elections) F. Trends in voter turnout; the causes and effects of reapportionment and redistricting, with special attention to spatial districting and the rights of minorities; and the function of the Electoral College. VII. Powers and procedures of the national, state, tribal, and local governments Page 2 of 5

3 A. Resolution of conflicts between levels and branches of government B. Major responsibilities and sources of revenue for state and local governments C. Reserved powers and concurrent powers of state governments D. Ninth and Tenth Amendments and interpretations of the extent of the federal government s power E. How public policy is formed, including the setting of the public agenda and implementation of it through regulations and executive orders F. Processes of lawmaking at each of the three levels of government, including the role of lobbying and the media G. Organization and jurisdiction of federal, state, and local (e.g., California) courts and the interrelationships among them H. Scope of presidential power and decision making through examination of case studies, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, passage of Great Society legislation, War Powers Act, the Gulf War, and Bosnia. VIII. Media influence on American political life A. Meaning and importance of a free and responsible press B. Roles of broadcast, print, and electronic media, including the Internet, as means of communication in American politics C. Use of the media by public officials to communicate with the citizenry and to shape public opinion. VIX. Origins, characteristics, and development of different political systems across time, with emphasis on the quest for political democracy, its advances, and its obstacles A. Explanation of how different philosophies and structures of feudalism, mercantilism, socialism, fascism, communism, monarchies, parliamentary systems, and constitutional liberal democracies influence economic policies, social welfare policies, and human rights practices B. Various ways in which power is distributed, shared, and limited in systems of shared powers and in parliamentary systems, including the influence and role of parliamentary leaders (e.g., William Gladstone, Margaret Thatcher) C. Advantages and disadvantages of federal, confederal, and unitary systems of government D. Conditions that gave rise to tyranny in at least two countries (e.g., Italy, Japan, Haiti, Nigeria, Cambodia) E. Forms of illegitimate power that twentieth-century African, Asian, and Latin American dictators used to gain and hold office and the conditions and interests that supported them F. Ideologies, causes, stages, and outcomes of major Mexican, Central American, and South American revolutions in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries G. Ideologies that gave rise to Communism, methods of maintaining control, and movements to overthrow such governments in Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Poland, including the roles of individuals (e.g., Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Pope John Paul II, Lech Walesa, Vaclav Havel) H. Successes of relatively new democracies in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the ideas, leaders, and general societal conditions that have launched and sustained, or failed to sustain, them. PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to do the following: 1). Explain the fundamental principles and moral values of American democracy as expressed in the U.S. Constitution and other essential documents of American democracy 2). Evaluate and defend positions on the scope and limits of rights and obligations as democratic citizens, the relationships among them, and how they are secured 3). Examine and defend positions on what the fundamental values and principles of civil society are, their interdependence, and the meaning and importance of those values and principles for a free society 4). Analyze the unique roles and responsibilities of the three branches of government as established by the U.S. Constitution 5). Summarize landmark U.S. Supreme Court interpretations of the Constitution and its amendments 6). Identify issues regarding campaigns for national, state, and local elective offices 7). Compare and contrast the powers and procedures of national, state, tribal, and local governments 8). Evaluate and defend positions on the influence of the media on American political life 9). Analyze the origins, characteristics, and development of different political systems across time, emphasizing the quest for political democracy, its advances, and its obstacles. Page 3 of 5

4 ASSIGNMENTS Assignments will be consistent with, but not limited by, the following types and examples: 1). Create a timeline of influential cultures, philosophers, and thinkers who contributed to the ideals of American government. (Include Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, England, Locke, Montesquieu, Machiavelli, and Blackstone). 2). In a group, draft a model code explaining the legal obligations of citizens to obey the law, serve as a juror and pay taxes. Discuss the benefits of an active citizenry and brainstorm ways to promote civic participation. 3). List the ways, other than voting and elections, that a civil society makes it possible for people, individually or in groups, to influence government action in the U.S. Debate the pros and cons of each. 4). As a group, review and take notes on the case Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, review the 14th Amendment, and prepare to argue the case from either position. (Each group will be assigned a legal position before the in-class trial begins.) 5). Draft a media communication action plan for a local public official and for a state senator. Explore how you will use the media to reach your constituency and the pros and cons of your plan. Outside-of-class assignments are required and may include, but will not be limited to, the following: 1). Write a first person narrative as Alexis de Tocqueville explaining the pros and cons of one aspect of democracy that he analyzed in Democracy in America. 2). Research the case of Plessy vs. Ferguson. Write a case study that explains the facts of the case, legal precedents, and finding of the court. 3). Create a chart showing the history of political parties in the U.S. throughout the government s history. 4). Research, read, and take notes on the history of the Ninth and Tenth Amendments. Write an analysis of the extent of the federal government s power given these two amendments. 5). Write an analysis of communism from Alexander Solzhenitsyn s viewpoint, explaining in particular how the government maintained control. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES Learning Outcome 1. 1). Students analyze past events and interpret how they influenced the structure of American government. 2. 2). Students analyze primary and secondary documents comparing and contrasting debates among different views of American Government. 3. 3). Students interpret past events in American Government within the context in which an event unfolded rather than solely in terms of present day norms and values. Mode of Assessment 1. Essay 2. Essay 3. Essay METHODS OF INSTRUCTION Instructional methodologies will be consistent with, but not limited by, the following types or examples: 1). Lecture 2). Use of lab to research primary sources and interpret the source within its historical context 3). Use of media (radio, TV) to analyze the historical roots of current events in American government. METHODS OF EVALUATION Evaluation methodologies will be consistent with, but not limited by, the following types or examples: 1). Comprehension questions based on text. Assessment is based upon the student's ability to explain and place core concepts into context 2). Essay exams with an emphasis on comparing, contrasting, and assessing differing historical interpretations 3). Written reports analyzing competing viewpoints as well as taking and defending a position 4). Participation in and contributions to group projects. Assessment is based on the process of working in a group as well as the finished product and presentation. Page 4 of 5

5 REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS Examples of typical textbooks for this course include the following: 1). McClenaghan, William A. MacGruder s American Government. Prentice Hall, ISBN: OTHER REQUIRED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS 1). Supplemental primary and secondary historical source material 2). Media (radio, TV, newspaper articles) 3). Supplemental maps. COURSE REPEATABILITY Total Completions Allowed: In Combination With: 1 Page 5 of 5