Course Section 1 Content Section 1 Content Left Section 1 Content Right Credit Type: Course ACE ID: SDCM-0042 Version: 5 Organization's ID: Political Science 102 Organization: Study.com, LLC Location: Online Length: Self-paced. 22 weeks (47 hours) Minimum Passing Score: 70 ACE Credit Recommendation Period: 11/1/2025 - 10/31/2028 11/1/2022 - 10/31/2025 11/1/2019 - 10/31/2022 4/1/2016 - 10/31/2019 5/1/2015 - 3/31/2016 Credit Recommendation & Competencies Section 2 Content Section 2 Content Left Section 2 Content Right Level Credits (SH) Subject Lower-Division Baccalaureate 3 American Government Description Section 3 Content Section 3 Content Left Section 3 Content Right Objective: The course objective is to review the components of American government and political systems, including the Constitution, federalism, the Bill of Rights and the voting process. Learning Outcomes: Distinguish between different forms of democracy and the philosophical foundations of American government by examining the development of democratic ideals and the components of the Constitution. Compare and contrast the history and function of political parties alongside their influences on the political process and culture, the influence of public opinion on elected officials, weigh voter turnout, decline in civic engagement, and threats to election integrity. Identify the origin of civil liberties and rights, equal protection, freedom of speech, religion, and privacy, the history of the civil rights movement, and civil rights issues with other marginalized groups. Identify the differences between a congress and a parliament, how a bill becomes law, the reapportionment processes, advantage of incumbency, and how representative Congress is. Recognize elements of the federal bureaucracy, functions of the cabinet and independent regulatory agencies and how the bureaucracy is held accountable through the courts, Congress, and the presidency Describe contemporary nomination processes, the differences between primary and general elections, sources of campaign funds, the role of the electoral college, the decline in civic engagement, election integrity, and follow the evolution of presidential elections. Summarize the structure of the federal court system, steps in the judicial decision-making process. Identify major factors regarding public, social, and environmental policy, economic and fiscal policy, foreign and defense policy formation and implementation and interest group's influence, regulation and strategies. Explain the evolution of American federalism, the division of power between state and federal governments, and the debate over sovereignty Analyze the historical development of the mass media and its influence, while examining the changing sources through which Americans get their news - including political polarization, misinformation, and the role that technology plays in political information. General Topics: Introduction to the Study of American Government Constitutional Democracy Federalism in the United States Interest Groups and American Democracy The Media and American Democracy The Federal Bureaucracy in the United States American Political Culture, Opinion, and Behavior Civil Liberties Civil Rights Political Parties in the United States Government The Presidency: Election, Powers, and Practice The Congress: Election, Powers, and Representation The Federal Judicial System Economic and Fiscal Policy Public, Social, and Environmental Policy Foreign and Defense Policy Instruction & Assessment Section 4 Content Section 4 Content Left Section 4 Content Right Instructional Strategies: Audio Visual Materials Project-based Instruction Methods of Assessment: Examinations Quizzes Written Papers Supplemental Materials Section 5 Content Section 5 Content Left Section 5 Content Right Equivalencies Section 6 Content Section 6 Content Left Section 6 Content Right Button Content Rail Content 1 Other offerings from Study.com, LLC View All Courses College Credit Opportunities Page Content