I. Course Description

This course is designed to introduce students to the structures and processes that define American government and politics. Similar attention is given to parallel institutions and procedures of the state of California. The subject matter will acquaint students with important actors and events that have shaped these governments and (hopefully) will prompt students to think about politics analytically and critically. Because this subject is intended to increase one’s understanding of the relationship between the American people and their government, this course will enhance one’s capacity to fulfill his or her responsibilities as a citizen of a democratic nation.

II. Student Learning Goals and Outcomes

A. Acquaint students to the institutions of American and California government, fostering the ability to:

1. Describe governmental structures created by the Constitution (i.e. the scope, organization and powers of Congress, the presidency, and the federal judiciary) as well as the role of informal substructures (voters, parties, interest groups, and the media) which make up the American political system.

2. Demonstrate familiarity with the relationships between American governmental and political institutions, for example, the politics of judicial appointments or the workings of federalism.

B. Introduce students to the processes of American and California government, enabling them to:

1. Explore the terms and context under which the government was established, and the evolution it has experienced since its inception.

2. Understand the socioeconomic structure of the United States and its relationship to politics and the ideals that underlie American political culture.

C. Stimulate students to think about American and California politics in an analytical manner, enhancing their critical thinking and writing skills, encouraging them to:

1. Explain the motivations and behavior of institutional actors and the variety of informal groups and individuals who seek to influence governmental policy.

2. Compare the theory of American democracy with the way political institutions and processes actually work.

3. Demonstrate an understanding of political power or how the political process determines who gets what, when, and why.

4. Evaluate the role of minority groups in a democratic nation

D. Encourage active civic engagement and political participation leading to an increased capacity to fulfill one’s responsibilities as a citizen of a democratic nation. Students taking this course should:

1. Demonstrate knowledge and awareness of political issues and institutions and their historical contexts.

2. Understand their role as individuals or members of collectives and their relationships with leaders in shaping political outcomes

III. Course Requirements

The particular responsibilities of each class participant are as follows:

A. Carefully read the assignment for each class session. I expect students to have completed the readings for each class prior to that class meeting.

B. Monitor some news source during the semester. Given that the reading load for this class is light, so there is no excuse for being uninformed. Your choice of a source for news does not have to be free of ideological bias to be a reliable source of information, so long as you understand its political orientation. Generally, print sources are better sources that electronic.

C. Attend and participate in every class session. I expect students to attend each class and to be prepared to answer questions about the assigned material. The lectures often include material not covered in the readings.

D. Complete 13 online chapter quizzes. For each chapter choose and answer 20 chapter quiz questions at Norton Studyspace: http://www.wwnorton.com/college/polisci/ampol/ Answers must be submitted to Norton Gradebook at: http://www.wwnorton.com/web/gradebook. Quizzes are to be completed by 8 am PST on date indicated in the quiz schedule (see below). Submit only one quiz only the first score will be counted.

	Quiz Schedule
Quiz	Due Date*	Chapter	Chapter Title
1	9/4	2	The Constitution and the Founding
2	9/11	3	Federalism
3	9/18	4	Civil Liberties
4	9/25	5	Public Opinion
5	10/2	6	The Media
6	10/9	7	Political Parties
7	10/16	8	Elections
8	10/23	9	Interest Groups
9	10/30	10	Congress
10	11/6	11	The Presidency
11	11/13	12	The Bureaucracy
12	11/20	13	The Courts
13	12/4	14	Civil Rights
	* Due by 8 am PST on date indicated

E. Complete three exams during the semester. Each exam will include about 40-50 multiple-choice, questions. The questions will be drawn from the reading materials and lectures on the preceding sections of the course. Most questions will be drawn from American Politics Today (see required text below) and the lectures. Some questions will be drawn from the book on California politics: Governing California in the 21^st Century. Please note that this material will not be covered in the lectures as I expect students to read and study this text independently.

Exam Schedule
Exam	Date	Topics	Readings Covered
1	9/25	Understanding politics, constitutions, federalism, and civil liberties.	American Politics Today, Chapters 1-4; Governing California. Chapters 1 & 2, Declaration of Independence, Federalist 10 & 51.
2	10/30	Public opinion, elections, media, parties, and interest groups.	American Politics Today, Chapters 5-9; Governing California. Chapters 3 & 4.
3	12/4	Legislatures (Congress), executives (president and governor), bureaucracy, and Federal and California courts,.	American Politics Today, Chapters 10-13; Governing California, Chapter 5, 6, & 7.

IV. Text Books

The following books and readings are required.

Bianco, William T and David T Canon. American Politics Today, Core Edition (New York, NY: W.W. Norton, 2009).

Anagnoson, J. Theodore, et. al. Governing California in the 21^st Century, Second Edition (New York, NY: W.W. Norton, 2009).

V. Grading

Students will be assigned a letter grade (A, A-, B+, B, B-, etc.). The grade will be determined according to the following formula:

· Quizzes (13 chapters completed on time) .................................................. 15%

· Three exams............................................................................................... 85%

VI. Miscellaneous/ Code of Conduct:

I expect you to show your fellow students and me common courtesy and act in a way that is consistent with an educational environment. No make-up exams will be given without documented medical or family emergency. Students may not intentionally engage in any disruptive behavior. These include, but are not limited to: entering the class late or leaving early; receiving or answering phone calls; listing to music, using laptop computers in class. I do not tolerate academic dishonesty of any kind and I will, at a minimum, give an F for the course to any student caught cheating. Students with disabilities requiring accommodations must register with the Center on Disabilities (x2684) and complete a services agreement.

I have taken steps to ensure that all course material, including this syllabus and the lectures associated with this class, are protected by copyright law as my own original expression.

Students are authorized to take notes in class or download those I provide on the internet but this authorization extends only to your personal use. Reproduction, distribution, or publication of class materials are not permitted without my express written consent.

VII. Class Organization and Calendar

Day**	Topic	Exam/Quiz
August 28	Understanding American Politics
September 4	The Constitution and the Founding	Quiz, American Politics Today Chapter 2
September 11	Federalism	Quiz American Politics Today Chapter 3
September 18	Civil Liberties	Quiz American Politics Today Chapter 4
September 25	Public Opinion	Quiz American Politics Today Chapter 5 Exam #1
October 2	The Media	Quiz American Politics Today Chapter 6
October 9	Political Parties	Quiz American Politics Today Chapter 7
October 16	Elections	Quiz American Politics Today Chapter 8
October 23	Interest Groups	Quiz American Politics Today Chapter 9
October 30	Congress	Quiz American Politics Today Chapter 10 Exam #2
November 6	The Presidency	Quiz American Politics Today Chapter 11
November 13	The Bureaucracy	Quiz American Politics Today Chapter 12
November 20	The Courts	Quiz American Politics Today Chapter 13
November 27	Thanksgiving Recess
December 4	Civil Rights	Quiz American Politics Today Chapter 14 Exam #3
December 11	No Class	Furlough Day

[1] Although every effort will be made to comply with specified dates, scheduled items on this syllabus should be considered tentative.