Course

Course Summary

Credit Type:

Course

ACE ID:

KSLG-0022

Organization's ID:

DLSI-0022

Organization:

Gateway Education

Location:

Online

Length:

9 weeks (144 hours)

Dates Offered:

Credit Recommendation & Competencies

Level	Credits (SH)	Subject
Lower-Division Baccalaureate	3	American Government

Description

Objective:

This course covers American Government from its beginnings in the colonies to current present-day history-in-the-making. It not only presents the historical evolution of the United States Democratic processes, but it also relates governmental concepts to our contemporary world. American Government begins with the emergence of 17th Century democracy, the philosophy of the social contract, fresh U.S. political ideals and immersion into the theories of power and politics in America. The course goes on to illuminate the U.S. Constitution from its creation to its most current amendments, as well as taking a look at the great importance and legacy of its Bill of Rights along with Judicial interpretations of prominent portions of the document. American Government also explores the concept of Federalism and the balance of powers at both the national and state levels. Finally, the course covers substantial exploration in civil liberties, human rights, public opinion, political parties, electoral processes, and special interest groups (among other things) while journeying through the three branches of the national government as well as state and local entities.

Learning Outcomes:

Apply a conceptual understanding of the historical development of the United States Constitution and its evolution through today.
Identify and summarize the history and ongoing movements in civil liberties and civil rights.
Categorize interest groups and social movements as well as describing how they affect political socialization and public opinion.
Recognize how political parties, campaigns, elections, voting, media, and technology all intersect and affect historical and contemporary politics in the United States.
Compare and contrast the structures of the federal, state, and local governments.
Apply how the people and their participation are critical in a representative democracy.
Recognize and measure how the three branches of government (legislative, executive, and judicial) engage in the model of separation of powers – a source of our government’s strength, and at times, a basis of conflict. Detect how checks and balances, closely related to the notion of separation of powers, affects each governmental branch.
Relate how the Executive Branch works under the auspice of the Presidency.
Recall and interpret the history, development, election and current modalities of the Legislative Branch made up by Congress (House of Representatives and Senate).
Identify, describe, and analyze the national system of bureaucracy in the United States.
Recognize and interpret the contribution of enlightened thought to the Founders’ ideologies as exemplified in the foundation of the United States of America.
Comprehend and evaluate the dynamic system of federalism as a central issue in the study of American government.
Identify our responsibilities as a citizen and recognize how civic participation is critical for a democratic system to survive.
Recall the importance, power, process, and current issues facing the judicial branch and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Identify and apply the various United States policies including economic policy, domestic policy, and foreign policy.
Identify and interpret the events leading to the creation of the United States of America.