POLITICAL SCIENCE 1 Summer 2011 Governments of the United States and California Syllabus El Camino College Section 2680: MTWTH, 4:00 pm 6:10pm Art and Behavioral Science, Room 311 Instructor: Van P. Chaney, MPA, Ph.D. (student) Phone: (310) 660 3766, ext. 4806 E-mail: vchaney@elcamino.edu Required Texts: We the People Author: Thomas E. Patterson, 8 th Edition ISBN: 978-0-0733-7896 Taking Sides Author: George Mckenna, 17 th Edition ISBN: 978-0-07-804992-7 LEARNING OBJECTIVES Critical Thinking Skills. Develop an awareness of the political activities occurring in the United States and the State of California. The ability to express views and listen to others in order to discuss and debate national, state, and local issues. Becoming active in the political process by voting and participating in community activities. Analyze both the theoretical and the practical workings of the American political system. Examine and analyze the major American political institutions: the Presidency, bureaucracy, Congress, Judiciary, elections, political parties, and interest groups. Compare and contrast the various political models: Elitism, Democracy, and Pluralism. Evaluate the role of the mass media in the political process. Examine and assess the concepts of political culture and socialization. Compare and contrast federal and state governmental systems with emphasis on California. Appraise the American economic system as it affects the political process.
Distinguish between civil rights and civil liberties as practiced in American society. Explain the various ways in which the President, Congress, interest groups and public opinion influence court decisions. Evaluate the public policy making process of both foreign and domestic issues. Examine the role of citizenship. Analyze issues of race, ethnicity, class, age, and gender as they intersect with the distribution of power in society. The purpose of this course is to gain the fundamental knowledge of the development of American and California government structures. After completing this course the student should be able to describe the concepts, theories, and functions of the American political system. The student should be able to identify and describe at least four of the basic principles of the U.S. constitution and the government of California. The Following is the approximate lecture, reading, and exam schedule for the spring term. The subject matter can be engaging with implementing current events with the historical foundations of our political culture. TENTATIVE CALENDAR Week 1 Introduction/Federalism Chapter 3 Hurricane Katrina, Part I/Discussion Foundations of the United States/Constitutional Beginnings Chapter 1 & 2 Week 2 Civil Liberties (The Bill of Rights) Chapter 4 Hurricane Katrina, Part II Civil Rights Chapter 5 Test #1 Federalism/Constitution 6/30/2011 Week 3 Public Opinion & Socialization/Political Participation Chapters 6 and 7 Interest Groups Chapter 9 Political Parties, Chap. 8 [Test #2-Civil Liberties-Civil Rights]
Week 4 News Media Chapter 10 Film/Wag the Dog Legislative Branch, Chap. 11 Test #3-Public Opinion, Interest Groups, Political Parties Week 5 Executive Branch Chapter 12 Film/Primary Colors Federal Courts Chapter 14 Bureaucracy, Chap. 13 Test #4-Media, Legislative Branch Week 6 Katrina #3/Public Policy, Chap. 16 Foreign Policy, Chap. 17/Cold War Research Papers due July 25th Final July 28 Grading Policy Grading will be distributed in the following manner: Four Exams, 50 pts. each (200 pts. Total) Essay Paper, 100 pts. Final Exam, 100 pts. Participation, attendance, 10 pts. (410 pts. possible)
Percentage/Point Grading Scale 90% and above 369-410 A 80 89 328-368 B 65 79 266-327 C 50 64 205-265 D 204 and below F Research Paper/Exams The research paper centers on the essay written by Henry David Thoreau titled, Civil Disobedience. The report should be at least five pages in length covering the issues and a personal critique of the work. In addition, the report must also include its relevance to future civil rights and political leaders including, Mohandas Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In addition to Civil Disobedience you also have the option to write a report on Niccolò Machiavelli s work, The Prince or Betty Freidan s, The Feminine Mystique. Further information on the content will be given during the semester. You will be notified in advance of extra credit opportunities throughout the semester. There will be no makeup exams in the class, therefore it will be in your best interest to be prepared and arrive in time for your exams. Plagiarism Plagiarism is a form of cheating. Any time a student uses someone else s work and does not give that person credit, it is plagiarism. Anyone who plagiarizes or cheats on an exam will receive an F and possible expulsion from the class and El Camino College. If you are suspected of plagiarism or cheating, you will bear the burden of proof and present rough drafts or related materials to prove otherwise. Academic Honesty/Dishonesty Policy http://cms.cerritos.edu/academic-affairs/academichonesty Attendance and Exclusion Policy Attendance is expected and you must be present for class on time. If a student misses three classes they may be dropped from the course; however, the student is responsible for officially filing a drop card request. Any student who has unexcused absences prior to the census date may be excluded. Students may drop the class in the Admissions and Records office, on-line, or by phone (check drop policies in the student handbook for the criteria and dates).
All students should be familiar with the attendance regulations printed in both the college catalog and the schedule of classes. Students are expected to remain for the entire class period. Medical appointments, work, job interviews, childcare responsibilities, etc. should be arraigned so as not to occur during class time. Please do not make requests for exceptions. Cell phones and pagers are to be turned off or on vibrate during class. If a student must respond to a call, be considerate and leave the class through the back door to take care of the situation. Lastly, students are responsible to inform the instructor of any anticipated absences due to travel or observance of major religious holidays so that alternative with other students to acquire notes or other pertinent information regarding the class. Disabled Student Programs 1. If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please contact me as soon as possible. 2. If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact both your instructor and the Disabled Student Programs and Services as early as possible in the term. 3. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the instructor during office hours to discuss their disability related accommodations. Use of Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS) services including testing accommodations, requires prior authorization by DSPS and compliance with approved procedures. 4. It is the college s policy to provide, on an individual basis, reasonable accommodations to student who have disabilities that may affect their ability to participate in course activities or meet course requirements. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact their instructor to discuss their individual needs for accommodations.