Introduction to U.S. Government
and Politics
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| "...why am I so interested in politics? If I were to answer you very simply I would say this: why shouldn't I be interested? That is to say, what blindness, what deafness, what density of ideology would have to weigh me down to prevent me from being interested in what is probably the most crucial subject of our existence, that is to say, the society in which we live, the economic relations in which it functions, and the system of power which defines the regular forms and regular permissions and prohibitions of our conduct? The essence of our life consists, after all, of the political functioning of the society in which we find ourselves." (Michel Foucault) | |
Student Learning Outcomes:
 | Describe the structure of the U.S. national government and evaluate the roles of major forces shaping the formation of public policy including public opinion, interest groups, and political parties. |
| Describe the origins and evolution of the U.S. Constitution, especially with regard to citizens' rights. |
| Evaluate the dynamics of a Federal system with particular attention to the relationship between California and the Federal government |
Course Objectives:
In addition to the official
Student Learning Outcomes listed above, learners in
this course will:
| Analyze the question of who rules in the United States and examine the degree to which individuals acting alone, and in concert, have control over society, government, and their own lives. |
| Examine what makes the United States great and ask if this is the best we can do. |
| Apply the ideals of our shared political culture to the current ideological climate, contemporary economic imperatives to understand how and why our government acts as it does. |
| Demonstrate the ability to make sophisticated, critical, and informed decisions about the American political system. |
| Text: Braunwarth, Dewhirst, Staffell, and Stadelmann. Open to Debate: An Introduction to United States Government and Politics. This is sold as a CD however, after buying the CD you can request a hard copy from the publisher. You will need a new CD to register for the accompanying quizzes. |
| Reader: American Government Examined: A Reader. Joseph Braunwarth, editor. This will be primarily used as a resource for your assignments. This is sold as a CD. |
| On-line articles will be assigned throughout the semester. These links can be found here on the course web page. |
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100 points |
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20 points |
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50 points |
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50 points |
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100 points |
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320 points |
Your final grade is not curved and will be assigned according to the following table. Pluses and minuses will be awarded as appropriate:
| A = 90%+ | (outstanding work) |
| B = 80%-89% | (very good work) |
| C = 70%-79% | (average, satisfactory work) |
| D = 60%-69% | (below average, marginal work) |
| F = 0 –69% | (very unsatisfactory work) |
This course
requires that you keep up with readings and assignments on your own. Each week
you are required to read some chapters from the text as well as familiarize
yourself with the on-line powerpoint “lectures”. In addition,
you are required to complete
some combination of quizzes, discussion boards, or essays as noted on the
schedule below. Everything must be completed by
The faculty, administration, and staff of Grossmont College, in creating a culture of academic excellence, value honesty and integrity in all aspects of learning, working, and participating in the college community. Moreover, we believe that those who value learning would never view cheating (copying or otherwise presenting work that is not one's own) and plagiarism (presenting another writer's ideas, materials, images, or words as one's own without proper citation) as viable choices within an academic environment. It is incumbent on faculty, in particular, to communicate expectations to students with regard to academic honesty in each class, and it is the responsibility of each student to understand the actions and behaviors that constitute cheating or academic dishonesty within each class as well as in other venues on campus. Students are encouraged to ask questions of their instructors and are expected to read the college's statement on Academic Fraud (located in the class schedule). Penalties for actions inconsistent with classroom, library, and college expectations for academic integrity range from a failing grade on an assignment, exam, or project (which may lead to a failing grade in the course) to, under certain conditions, suspension, or expulsion from a class, program, or the college. For more information, please consult with your instructor or contact the office of the Associate Dean of Student Affairs.
You can access powerpoint presentations below. Although it may seem a bit odd at first, I highly recommend that you take notes with a pen and paper as you review the lectures. Simply reading or printing out lectures does not mean that you will remember the material. Writing down notes (they don’t have to be detailed) in longhand dramatically improves your retention of the material you will encounter. This is valuable not only for the exams but because you are a scholar and you are here to learn something.
In this course, participation occurs through on-line threaded discussions on a "discussion board" on the course Blackboard page. To post your message, reply to the instructor discussion board posting for that topic (you may compose your answer on another word processing system and cut and paste). Follow the same process to respond to other student postings. Once something is posted, it is available for everyone to see. You are encouraged to challenge each other’s ideas but attacks directed toward individuals will not be tolerated.
Periodic quizzes will be available through the course blackboard site. You will have two opportunities to take these quizzes and only your highest score will be recorded.
Instructions for assignments can be linked on the course web page. Essays must be submitted to the "Assignments" tool on the course Blackboard page. Pleaseattach your file in a .doc or .rtf file format.
There is no single "right" answer to these essays; what matters most is a clear understanding and utilization of the materials assigned. Analytic rigor, thoughtfulness, and clear, persuasive writing will also affect your grade. This is college so, in addition to content, grammar, style, and structure also count. This is one of the few opportunities I have to see if you are keeping up with the material so please integrate as many of the assigned readings in your essay as possible. Please limit yourself to the material assigned in this course. Your name must be on the essay and please no more than three (double-spaced) pages recommended.
Writing Tips:
| If the questions asks you to refer to a particular reading, you must refer to that reading for full credit (author and page number are sufficient). |
| An above average paper will provide some insight or elaboration in addition to clearly presenting the topic assigned. |
| More general paper guidelines can be linked on the course web page. |
The final exam will be held on campus. If you are not in reasonable proximity to the Grossmont campus or are otherwise unable to physically come on campus to take the final, please contact me and reasonable accommodations will be arranged. The final exam will consist of a combination of short essay and multiple choice questions. Questions will cover material from the entire course, both "lectures" and readings. You are required to show a picture ID to verify your identity when you arrive to take the final. Please note: your final grade will not be more than one grade level above your score on the final exam. In other words, to earn an "A" in the course you must earn at least a "B" on the final exam. This will not be a problem unless you have not been doing your own coursework throughout the semester. You will need to bring a grademaster form 25420 to the exam. Here is a link to a final review.
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| Online Counseling: Students can address the web counselor with any questions or concerns regarding educational /career goals and plans at www.grossmont.edu/counseling/webcounselor |
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| Academic Counseling, Rm 118, 644-7208. Students can access a web counselor at www.grossmont.edu/counseling and clicking "Web Counselor" on the left side of the screen. Another link that may be helpful is "College Success Profile" which enables students to identify their learning strengths and study behavior weaknesses. |
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| Transfer Center, Rm. 100, 644-7215 |
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| English Writing Center (EWC) provides tutorial and instructional support, word processing, grammar tutorials, and writing resources. Rm. 70-119, 644-7516 |
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| The English Reading Center (ERC) also provides tutorial support for vocabulary exercises as well as activities focus, Rm. 545, 644-7464 |
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| Students with disabilities who may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and contact Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSP&S) early in the semester so that reasonable accommodations may be implemented as soon as possible. Students may contact DSP&S in person in room 110 or by phone at 619-644-7112 (voice) or 619-644-7119 (TTY for deaf). |
You may enroll in the following supervised tutoring courses if the service indicated will assist you in achieving or reinforcing the learning objectives of this course:
| IDS 198, Supervised Tutoring to receive tutoring in general computer applications in the Tech Mall; |
| English 198W, Supervised Tutoring for assistance in the English Writing Center (Room 70-119); and/or |
| IDS 198T, Supervised Tutoring to receive one-on-one tutoring in academic subjects in the Tutoring Center (Room 70-229, 644-7387). |
To add any of these courses, you may obtain Add Codes at the Information/Registration Desk in the Tech Mall. All Supervised Tutoring courses are non-credit/non-fee. However, if you have no other classes, you will be charged the usual health fee.
| Power Point lectures can be linked below. If you do not have a Power Point Viewer you can download one at no cost here. |
| Take notes! This will help you to learn the material. |
| Essay assignments can be linked below but must be submitted to the Blackboard Assignment tool |
| Quizzes and Discussion Boards can be found on
Blackboard |
| Week | Open to Debate Readings, Powerpoint Lectures, and audio Lectures | American Government Examined Readings | Online Readings, Audio, and Video | Assignments |
| 1 | Ch. 1
What Government Does
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All of Ch. 2:
Declaration of
Independence Federalist #10 Federalist #51 Anti-Federalist #1 U.S. Constitution |
Introductory Audio Lecture. | NSS Press chapter one test due Monday 8/31 11:00 p.m. Note: you will have to have registered your new Open to Debate CD with NSSPress to access this quiz. |
| 2 | Ch. 2 Constitution | Ch. 2: "The Relevance of the Federalist Papers" Aichinger |
The Constitutional Convention Video Clip The Preamble Video Clip |
Read the
Constitution and Other Founding Documents in their entirety. You should know the basics of the various
sections and amendments of the Constitution. Federalist Paper Assignment due Tuesday 9/8 11:00 p.m. |
| 3 | Blackboard quiz one (chapter 2) due Monday 9/14 11:00 p.m. | |||
| 4 | Ch. 3 Civil Liberties and Rights | Ch. 3: Susan B. Anthony and the ERA | Unconstitutional: The War on Civil Liberties. 1/3 Patriot Act. Video Clip |
NSS Press chapter three test due Monday 9/21 11:00 p.m. |
| 5 | Ch. 4 Federalism | Civil Liberties Assignment due Sunday 9/28 11:00 p.m. | ||
| 6 | Ch. 5 Public Opinion | Noam Chomsky on Polyarchy in the U.S. | Blackboard quiz two (chapters 4 & 5) due Monday 10/5 11:00 p.m. | |
| 7 | Ch. 6 Interest Groups | Ch. 6 Eisenhower and Newton | Eisenhower on the Military Industrial Complex | NSS Press chapter six test due Monday 10/12 11:00 p.m. |
| 8 | Ch. 7 Parties | Ch. 7 "Minor
Parties" Candee Independents Shut Out by GOP LATimes |
Military-Industrial Assignment due Monday 10/19 11:00 p.m. | |
| 9 | Ch. 8 Campaigns | All of Ch. 8 "Voters: How do they Decide?" Saffell | Electoral College Overview Video Clip | Blackboard quiz three (chapters 7 & 8) due Monday 10/26 11:00 p.m. |
| 10 | Ch. 9 Media | Ch. 9
"News, Media, and
Democracy" Ch. 9 Mill "On Conformity, Individuality, and Liberty" |
The Myth of the Liberal Media | |
| 11 | Ch. 10 Congress | All of Ch. 10 "The Filibuster" Dewhirst | How a Bill Becomes a Law | Media Assignment due Monday 11/09 11:00 p.m. |
| 12 | Ch. 11 President | All of Ch. 11 "Electoral College" Dewhirst |
Frontline: "Cheney's Law" on Presidential Power U.S. Presidents Podcasts (this is not required but is included here for your interest) |
Blackboard quiz four (chapters 10 & 11) due Monday 11/16 11:00 p.m. |
| 13 | Bureaucracy | Catch Your Breath | ||
| 14 | Ch. 12 Judiciary | All of Ch. 12 "Activist or Restraint" Saffel and Federalist #78 | Conservative Courts | |
| 15 | Ch. 13 Foreign Policy and Terrorism | All of Ch. 13 "Presidential Doctrines" Stadelmann | Judiciary Assignment due Monday 12/07 11:00 p.m. | |
| 16 | Ch. 14 Economic and Social Policy | Is Capitalism Always Good for Democracy? | Blackboard quiz five (chapters 13 & 14) due FRIDAY 12/11 11:00 p.m. | |
| Finals Week | "Who Governs" Final Class Summary |
Final Exam Tuesday, 12/15, rm. 51-577 Section 4167: 9:30-11:30 Section 4168: 11:30-1:30 |
Should you decide to stop attending class, it is your responsibility to officially withdraw from the course by using WebConnect (www.grossmont.edu) or by filing a drop card at the Office of Admissions and Records. If you do not officially drop the course, then your name will appear on the final grade roster and you will receive an F for the semester. Which is kind of a stupid way to get an F; if you're going to fail a class, you might as well go down in flames.
| This is a demanding course, so keep up with the reading. |
| Take notes on what you read. |
| Look up unfamiliar words in the dictionary. |
| Read the syllabus carefully to familiarize yourself with the course policies. |
How not to do well in this class
