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1. The context of American
Politics:
A. Theoretical Context -
political system
B. Environmental Context -
political culture
C. The Legal Context -
TheConstitution:Background,
Federalism and
Intergovernmental
Relations
2. Inputs: People and Politics
A. Political Opinion and
Participation, Who Votes and
performs other forms of
political participation
Socio-economic make-up of the
electorate
B. Political Parties and
Elections
Structure and function of
parties, criticism of parties,
campaign strategies and
techniques used by parties
C. Political Interest
Groups:
Types, methods and tactics
employed by groups
D. Media Role in
Politics
3. Decision Making Agencies:
A. President - Politics of
leadership, powers and
limitations, President's
Assistants and Departments,
Evaluation of the presidential
system, proposals for change,
Vice-President and
other executive officials
B. Congress: Politics
of
Accommodation,
Functions of Congress,
Committee system,
Process of how a bill becomes a
law, parties in Congress, the
President and Congress
C. Federal Courts:
Politics of
Federal Court System,
Supreme Court, politics and
the courts
D. The Bureaucracy
Administrative Politics
4. Outputs: Rewards and
Deprivations
A. Civil Liberties and
Civil
Rights
B. American Foreign
Policy:
Who makes foreign policy,
Role of President, Congress,
Public Opinion, Major
problems, goals and costs of
national security
C. Political
Economics and
Welfare:
Government and human
resources, Government
finance and economic
policy
5. American political system in
Perspective:
A. Summary and appraisal
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Reading
Assignments
August 30 to Sept.10
Cummings
Chapts 1,2,3.
How
to tell an American
Meaning
of Federalism
U.S. Constitution
Sept.13 to Sept. 24th
Cummings Chapt.6,7,8,9,10,11.
How
Polls Conducted
Bowling Alone
Sept.27 to Oct.8th Chapter 13,14
Roles of
the President
Thanksgiving
Pardon
Chapter 12
Watergate
Tapes
Approval Ratings of Congress
Oct.11 to Oct. 22nd
Chapter 15
What's
Wrong
with Congress
Oct. 25th to Nov.12
Supreme
Court
Meaning
of Bush vs. Gore
Nov.15 to Nov. 26
Chapter 14
Chapters 16,17,18
ACLU
Nov. 29 to Dec 10th
Ben
Laden
and U.S
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