Course

Course Summary

Credit Type:

Course

ACE ID:

OOSL-0063

Organization's ID:

POLS101_MH

Organization:

StraighterLine

Location:

Classroom-based

Length:

14 weeks (75 hours)

Dates Offered:

Credit Recommendation & Competencies

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

Description

Objective:

The course objective is to provide students context, history and insight into the American Government. Students will understand how the founders created a democracy based upon the ideals of liberty, equality, and self-government. They will explore how the government is structured and how it operates; examine the three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial, that make up the system of checks and balances; and explore the constitution as a foundation for the government of today and as a changing, living document meeting the needs of contemporary America.

Learning Outcomes:

examine the ideals that the United States was founded upon
understand their lasting influence on the nation's politics
distinguish between civil rights and civil liberties
explain how these rights and liberties are achieved through politics
explore how citizens participate in public affairs during elections and through intermediaries such as political parties, interest groups, and the media
explore the ways Americans think politically and describe the effect their opinions have on government
understand the division of political power among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government
recognize the relationships between the people and the government
describe how the policies of the United States reflect the nature of its political system and its people.

General Topics:

American political culture, constitutional democracy, federalism, civil liberties, civil rights, public opinion and mass media, voting and party systems, interest groups, getting elected to congress, congressional governance, the president and the bureaucracy, the judiciary, public policy, and state and local politics

Instruction & Assessment