Unit IConstitutional Underpinnings of United States Government The study of modern politics in the United States requires you

to examine the kind of government established by the Constitution, paying particular attention to federalism and the separation of powers. To understand these developments, you must know the history of the transition from the Articles of Confederation to the ratification of the Constitution. You should be able to describe the differing philosophies of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, including the thinkers who most influenced these factions ideas. You should be able to describe the concerns addressed in the Federalist Papers, and explain why the Bill of Rights was adopted so swiftly after ratification. You must be able to describe how the Supreme Court has interpreted key Constitutional provisions controlling the relationship between (a) the national and state governments and (b) the different branches of the national government. You must also describe different political science perspectives regarding how democracy operates, including pluralism, hyperpluralism, and elite and class theories of power. 1. Identify the ideologies that helped form the foundation of the American government and identify events influencing the adoption of the Constitution 2. Explain why separation of powers and federalism became key parts of the Constitution 3. Show how Madisons notions of human nature played an important part in the framing of the Constitution 4. Explain what is meant by political power in terms of authority, legitimacy, and democracy in the context of American government 6. Explain how the structure of the federal system affects the application of the Bill of Rights 7. Describe the historical evolution of federalism, including the demise of the concept of dual federalism 8. Differentiate between block grants and categorical grants. Describe how mandates are used to achieve federal goals. 9. Discuss whether or to what extent federal grants to states have succeeded in creating uniform national policies comparable to those of centralized governments

Unit IIPolitical Beliefs and Behaviors Individual citizens hold a variety of beliefs about their government, its leaders, and the U.S. political system in general; taken together, these beliefs form the foundation of U.S. political culture. You must understand how these beliefs are formed, how they evolve, and the processes by which they are transmitted. You should know why U.S. citizens hold certain beliefs about politics, and how families, schools, and the media act to perpetuate or change these beliefs. You should be able to describe the ways that citizens participate in government, and how culture is related to participation. You should be able to compare the effectiveness of different types of participation in creating change. You must be able to describe the connection between demographic features of the American population and the different views that people hold of the political process. You should be aware of group differences in political beliefs and behavior. For example, you must be able to make generalizations about political beliefs based on region, religion, ethnicity, income, age and education. You must be able to describe public opinion polling techniques and limitations. You should also be able to analyze the impact of voter turnout and participation on election outcomes 1. Describe the beliefs that citizens hold about their government and its leaders, characterizing ideas broadly as liberal and conservative. Explain which different demographic groups tend to support which ideas 2. Define political socialization and describe the different elements of political socialization 3. Describe how public opinion is measured. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of polling as a source of information on public opinion 4. Describe the ways in which citizens participate in political life. Compare and contrast the strengths of different methods of participation 5. Identify factors that influence citizens to differ from one another in terms of political beliefs and behaviors

Unit IIIPolitical Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media You should understand the linkage institutions that allow citizens to organize and communicate their interests and concerns. Among these are political parties, elections, political action committees (PACs), interest groups, and the mass media. Parties You should examine the historical evolution of the U.S. party system, the functions and structures of political parties, and the effects they have on the political process. You must be able to describe how the role of parties in candidate selection has changed from the earliest parties through today. This includes understanding elections, election laws, and election systems on the national and state levels. You must be able to explain how the rules governing elections shapes the role and power of political parties, as well as how those rules impact individual voting behavior. You should be able to discuss the ideological and demographic differences between the two major parties. Finally, you must describe the role and impact of third parties in our electoral system Any discussion of election laws must include campaign finance laws. You should be able to explain the development and the role of PACs, public financing and computerized fundraising in elections. Interest Groups You must also consider the political roles played by a variety of lobbying and interest groups. You will study what interest groups do, how they do it, and how this affects both the political process and public policy. Important features of this section of the course include an explanation for why some interests are represented by organized groups while others are not, and the consequences of these differences. Why are certain segments of the population, such as farmers and the elderly, able to exert pressure on political institutions and actors in order to obtain favorable policies? The Media The media has become a major force in U.S. politics. You are expected to understand the role of the media in the political system. This includes describing the impact of the media on public opinion, voter perceptions, campaign strategies, electoral outcomes, and agenda development. Understanding the often symbiotic, and frequently conflictual, relationship between candidates, elected officials, and the media is also important.

1. Describe the function, organization and development of political parties. 2. Compare and contrast the current national Democratic and Republican parties in terms of their overall structure, presidential nomination process, and underlying coalitions. 3. Explain the electoral rules that result in our two-party political system. 4. Explain how United States elections are both more and less democratic than those of other countries. 5. Assess the relationship between campaign spending and election outcomes. 6. Compare pluralist and hyperpluralist political theory. 7. Compare the different types of interest groups, based on who is represented. 8. Identify the elements of a successful interest group. 9. Describe the methods interest groups use to shape policy. 10. Assess the impact of the media on politics 11. Why is it difficult to measure the impact of the media on politics?. 12. Analyze how the characteristics of the electronic media have affected the actions of public officials and candidates for national office. 13. Describe the rules governing the media, contrasting the regulation of electronic and print media.

14. Unit IVInstitutions of National Government: The Congress, the Presidency, the Bureaucracy and the Federal Courts You must become familiar with the organization and powers, both formal and informal, of the major political institutions in the United Statesthe Congress, the presidency, the bureaucracy, and the federal courts. The functions these institutions perform and do not perform, as well as the powers that they do and do not possess, are important. It is necessary for you to understand that power balances and relationships between these institutions may evolve gradually or change dramatically as a result of crises. You are also expected to understand ties between the various branches of national government and political parties, interest groups, the media, and state and local governments. For example, a study of the conflicting interests and powers of the President and Congress may help explain recent and repeated struggles to adopt a national budget. 1. Describe the role the framers of the Constitution expected Congress to play. 2. Describe the characteristics of members of Congress and the Congressional election process. 3. Identify the functions that party affiliation plays in the organization and functioning of Congress. 4. Describe the formal process by which a bill becomes a law. 5. Identify the factors that help to explain why a member of Congress votes as s/he does. 6. Explain the ethical problems facing Congress. 7. Discuss the approach of the founders toward executive power and the evolution of the presidency from 1789 to the present. 8. List and describe the various offices that go to make up the office of the president. 9. Review discussions of presidential character and describe how these relate to the achievements in office of various presidents. 11. Discuss the formal and informal aspects of presidential power. 12. Describe the growth of the United States bureaucracy. 13. Describe the recruitment, retention, and personal characteristics of federal bureaucrats

14. Analyze the characteristics and pathologies of the United States bureaucracy. 15. Describe the controls the President and Congress exercise over the bureaucracy. 16. Trace the historical development of the role of the Federal courts. 17. Describe the structure and jurisdiction of the Federal courts. 18. Explain what is meant by a dual court system and describe the effects it has on how cases are handled and appealed. 19. Describe the steps that cases go through to be appealed to the Supreme Court and explain the considerations involved at each level. 20.Discuss the dimensions of power exercised today by the Supreme Court and the opposing viewpoints on the desirability of activism by that court. 21. Contrast the arguments for judicial activism with those supporting strict constructionism.

Unit VPublic Policy Public policy is the result of interactions and dynamics among actors, interests, institutions, and processes. The formation of policy agendas, the enactment of public policies by Congress and the President, and the implementation and interpretation of policies by the bureaucracy and the courts are all stages in the policy process with which you should be familiar. You should also investigate policy networks, iron triangles, and other forms of policy sub-governments in the domestic and foreign policy areas. The study of these will give you a clear understanding of the impact of federalism, interest groups, parties, and elections on policy processes and policy making in the federal context. 1. Explain how certain issues at certain times get placed on the public agenda for action. 2. Discuss the role played in the process of public policy formulation by peoples perceptions, beliefs, interests and values. 3. Explain why checks on the powers of the government in foreign affairs are primarily political rather than constitutional. 4. Give reasons for the volatility of public opinion on foreign affairs, explaining the advantages the president obtains when he acts resolutely in crises.

Unit VI - Civil Rights and Civil Liberties To understand United States politics, you must study of the development of individual rights and liberties and their impact on citizens. Basic to this study is an analysis of the workings of the Supreme Court and an understanding of its most significant decisions. You should examine judicial interpretations of various civil rights and liberties such as freedom of speech, assembly, and expression; the rights of the accused; and the rights of minority groups and women. For example, you should understand the legal, social, and political evolution following the Supreme Courts decisions regarding racial segregation. Finally, it is important that you are able to assess the strengths and weaknesses of Supreme Court decisions as tools of social change 1. Describe the debates over the ratification of the Constitution that resulted in the Bill of Rights 2. Define judicial review. Explain the limits on the courts power imposed by the Madisonian system of checks and balances 3. Explain the impact of the 14th Amendment on the relationship between state governments and the federal government with respect to the interpretation of rights 4. Define selective incorporation and explain how the incorporation doctrine has been applied to the states. 5. Trace the development of the clear and present danger test. 6. Define symbolic speech and explain how the concept of symbolic speech expanded the reach of the First Amendment 7. Define the free exercise clause and the establishment clause. Explain how each clause has been interpreted. 8. Trace the development of due process rights accorded to criminal defendants in the 20 th century 9. Explain how the equal protection clause has been interpreted from Plessy v. Ferguson through the present day. 10. Explain the constitutional differences in protection accorded racial minorities, women and other groups. 11. Compare the philosophy of judicial restraint to judicial activism.