POL 111 - American National Government

1. Explain certain basic concepts involved in the study of political science
   1. Define politics
   2. Explain the origins of democratic political systems
   3. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of political institutions in society.
   4. Define political culture
   5. Compare liberalism and conservatism
2. Discuss the constitutional basis of American National Government
   1. Outline the relevant historical background of the U.S. Constitution
   2. Discuss the significance of the constitutional convention
   3. Explain the outcome of the constitutional convention
3. Explain the nature and significance of Federalism as a governmental form
   1. Describe the different models for relationships between central and local governments
   2. Identify the distribution of power between national and state governments in the U.S. federal system
4. Analyze the foundation, development, and significance of liberty and equality in the United States
   1. Describe the content, history and significance of the Bill of Rights
   2. Describe the assimilation of the Bill of Rights as applicable to states through the 14th Amendment
   3. Describe the laws and cases of significance to the civil rights movement of the 1960s
   4. Explain the current status of the major ethnic minorities in the U.S. today
   5. Describe the evolution and current status of the feminist movement in the U.S. today
   6. Delineate the current status and problems of other significant minorities in the U.S. today
5. Explore the role of public opinion in a democratic society
   1. Describe the characteristics, measurement, and significance of public opinion
   2. Assess the role of free media in development and reporting of public opinion
   3. Describe political socialization in terms of agents and effects
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of political parties in the U.S. political system.
   1. Describe political parties in terms of structure, function, and membership
   2. Explain the historical development of the two-party system
   3. Evaluate the current status of political parties
   4. Make an assessment of the role of third parties
   5. Summarize the differences between Democrats and Republicans
7. Demonstrate an understanding of the basics of the electoral process.
   1. Discuss ways in which candidates are nominated for office
   2. Explain the laws governing campaign funding
   3. Describe the organization of a typical campaign
   4. Discuss laws regarding the right to vote
   5. Describe the role of the media in a campaign
   6. Explain the factors that influence voter turnout
   7. Explain the electoral college
   8. Make an analysis of the linkages between campaigns and public policy
8. Analyze the role of interest groups in the U.S. political system
   1. Define interest groups
   2. Describe different types of political interest groups
   3. Describe lobbying
   4. Describe PACs
   5. Make an assessment of the role of interest groups in the policy -making process.
9. Assess the role of the media in the U.S. political system
   1. Summarize the origins and development of American mass media.
   2. Describe the regulation of the media
   3. Explain the functions and influence of the media in the U.S
   4. Explain the relationship between the branches of government and mass media
10. Analyze the structure and function of Congress in the U.S. system
    1. Describe the constitutional requirements and actual characteristics of members of congress
    2. Discuss the importance of incumbency and money in getting elected to congress
    3. Identify the functions of congress including representation, oversight, and legislation
    4. Explain how Congress is organized
    5. Illustrate how a bill becomes a law
    6. Explain the significance of the procedural differences between House and Senate
    7. Assess the influences on members’ voting decisions
11. Understand use of the office of the President
    1. Summarize the development of the office of the presidency in terms of the struggle with Congress for ascendancy
    2. Identify the roles of the American President
    3. Identify the powers of the President and the restraints on those powers
    4. Make an analysis of the role of various agencies within the office of the President including the Cabinet and the Vice-President
12. Assess the structure and functions of the Judicial branch
    1. Demonstrate an understanding of the types of law
    2. Describe the structure of the Federal Court system
    3. Explain how judges are selected in the federal court system
    4. Discuss removal of judges in the federal court
    5. Describe the decision making process in the Supreme Court
    6. Explain the origins and controversy surrounding the power of judicial review.
    7. Describe the implementation of Supreme Court decisions
13. Describe the Federal Bureaucracy
    1. Provide an explanation of the growth and development of the current federal civilian bureaucracy
    2. Describe the structure and functions of the federal bureaucracy
    3. Identify the sources and constraints of bureaucratic power in the federal government
    4. Describe the problems inherent in bureaucratic structure
    5. Evaluate reform efforts for the federal bureaucracy
14. Analyze domestic public policy making in terms of both process and output
    1. Identify the stages of policy making
    2. Describe the major models of decision-making
    3. Describe economic policy including stabilization, development, regulation, national debt, and distributional issues 
15. Assess the historical development, process and structure related to foreign and defense policy
    1. Trace the historical development of American foreign policy
    2. Outline the role of the President and his advisors in foreign and defense policy
    3. Describe the roles of Congress, the media, and the public in foreign and defense policy
    4. Identify the principal tools of international diplomacy
    5. Identify the major defense strategies of the United States