UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

 

This course is designed to help students acquire appreciation of what it means to be a citizen in a participatory democracy.  We will examine in some detail the functions and political workings of all levels of government.  We will rely on instructor assigned materials, and the following textbook:

 

     McClenaghan, William.  Magruder’s American Government.   1999 edition.

          Needham, Massachusetts:   Prentice Hall, l999.

 

Course Outline

 

I.                   State and Local Government

 Week 1: Handouts

 

II.                Representative Democracy

Week 2 : Government Systems: Chapter 1

                 Weeks 3 + 4: Constitution: Chapters 2 + 3

                 Weeks 5 + 6: Federalism: Chapter 4

 

III.             Role of the Citizen

Week 7: Rights and Responsibilities: Chapter 6

            : Public Opinion: Chapter 8

Week 8: Interest Groups: Chapter 9

            : Political Parties: Chapter 8

Week 9: Elections: Chapter 7

 

IV.              The Federal System

Weeks 10 - 12: Legislative: Chapters 10 - 12

Weeks 13 – 15: Executive: Chapters 13 - 17

Week s 16 - 18: Judicial: Chapters 19 and 20

 

Course Evaluation:

 

Tests:                                                                                                         66.66%

Daily Work (includes homework, journals, quizzes and notebook):  33.33%

                                               

Required:  3 ring binder for all homework, class notes, worksheets and essays to be organized by chapters.  Notebooks NOT in specified format will be returned and assessed a late penalty until the notebook is brought up to standard.

 

All assignments are due on the day scheduled on your assignment calendar: I will give partial credit for incomplete work, but not for late work.  Because you have your assignments, if you are absent for one day, the assignment or test scheduled for the day of your return will be expected to be completed.  Obviously, longer absences require special consideration, but if you are in doubt, do it when it’s due!

 

 

                Grading example: Daily Average: 300 out of a possible 400 points = 75 average

                                                  Tests (90, 80, 70) = 80 average

                                                   6 week grade is (80 + 80 + 75)/3 = 78

 

 

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