Course
We begin with a review of the historical foundations of the American political system. We will then conduct an in-depth study the Constitution, followed by an examination of the election process and each of the main branches of government.
Unit One - Principles of Democracy
Government and power defined, purposes of government, concept of sovereignty, reasons for the emergence of government, the Social Contract Theory, philosophical ideas and historical foundations, influence of Locke, Montesquieu, de Tocqueville, and others, fundamental principles and moral values of American democracy, Articles of Confederation, federalism, the Federalist Papers.
Unit Two - The Constitution and Bill Of Rights
The Constitution and Bill of Rights, six basic principles of the Constitutional form of government, institutions of government, the rights guaranteed under the Bill of Rights (e.g., freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, petition, privacy), checks and balances, independent judiciary, separation of powers, expressed-implied-inherent powers, 27 Amendments, amendment process.
Unit Three - The Legislative Branch
Article I. Congress: Bicameralism, roles of the House of Representatives and Senate, law-making power, legislative process (how a bill becomes a law), how public policy is formed, balance between majority rule and individual rights, current representatives. Senate: Size and terms, oversight, rules for debate, filibuster, pocket veto, the signing statement. House of Representatives: Size and terms, borrowing power, commerce power, foreign relations powers, war powers, impeachment, appointment, investigatory powers. Mock Congress.
Unit Four - The Executive Branch and the Presidency
Article II, Presidential powers and limits, qualifications, legacies of various Presidents, the growth of Presidential power, executive orders, the Federal Bureaucracy, veto and line item veto power, judicial powers, duties of the Vice Presidency, the Executive Departments, cabinet, roles of Secretaries, Attorney General. The Situation Room – How would you deal with a foreign policy crisis?
Unit Five - The Political Process
Political parties, partisanship, the nomination process for presidential candidates, the Electoral College, primaries, public opinion polls, campaign advertising, campaign funding, lobbying, interest groups, impact of electronic and mail voting, PACs, referendums, recall elections, redistricting, importance of a free and responsible press. Campaign Ad – Could a political ad you create help get a candidate elected?
Unit Six - The Judicial Branch
Article III, the court system, Marbury v. Madison, judicial review, dual court system, the National Judiciary, jurisdiction, the trial process, relative and absolute rights, due process, the Supreme Court, strict vs. loose constructionist, landmark cases (interpretations of the Constitution and its amendments), precedents, equal-protection-of-the-law, McCulloch v. Maryland, jurisdiction of federal, state, and local (e.g., California) courts. Mock Court – What’s it like to argue a case before the Supreme Court?
Unit Seven – Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Plessy v. Ferguson, Brown v. Board of Education, civil disobedience, police power, needs of society vs. individual freedoms, search warrant, privacy, Roe v. Wade, rights of the accused, Miranda v. Arizona, habeas corpus, speedy and public trial.
We begin with a review of the historical foundations of the American political system. We will then conduct an in-depth study the Constitution, followed by an examination of the election process and each of the main branches of government.
Unit One - Principles of Democracy
Government and power defined, purposes of government, concept of sovereignty, reasons for the emergence of government, the Social Contract Theory, philosophical ideas and historical foundations, influence of Locke, Montesquieu, de Tocqueville, and others, fundamental principles and moral values of American democracy, Articles of Confederation, federalism, the Federalist Papers.
Unit Two - The Constitution and Bill Of Rights
The Constitution and Bill of Rights, six basic principles of the Constitutional form of government, institutions of government, the rights guaranteed under the Bill of Rights (e.g., freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, petition, privacy), checks and balances, independent judiciary, separation of powers, expressed-implied-inherent powers, 27 Amendments, amendment process.
Unit Three - The Legislative Branch
Article I. Congress: Bicameralism, roles of the House of Representatives and Senate, law-making power, legislative process (how a bill becomes a law), how public policy is formed, balance between majority rule and individual rights, current representatives. Senate: Size and terms, oversight, rules for debate, filibuster, pocket veto, the signing statement. House of Representatives: Size and terms, borrowing power, commerce power, foreign relations powers, war powers, impeachment, appointment, investigatory powers. Mock Congress.
Unit Four - The Executive Branch and the Presidency
Article II, Presidential powers and limits, qualifications, legacies of various Presidents, the growth of Presidential power, executive orders, the Federal Bureaucracy, veto and line item veto power, judicial powers, duties of the Vice Presidency, the Executive Departments, cabinet, roles of Secretaries, Attorney General. The Situation Room – How would you deal with a foreign policy crisis?
Unit Five - The Political Process
Political parties, partisanship, the nomination process for presidential candidates, the Electoral College, primaries, public opinion polls, campaign advertising, campaign funding, lobbying, interest groups, impact of electronic and mail voting, PACs, referendums, recall elections, redistricting, importance of a free and responsible press. Campaign Ad – Could a political ad you create help get a candidate elected?
Unit Six - The Judicial Branch
Article III, the court system, Marbury v. Madison, judicial review, dual court system, the National Judiciary, jurisdiction, the trial process, relative and absolute rights, due process, the Supreme Court, strict vs. loose constructionist, landmark cases (interpretations of the Constitution and its amendments), precedents, equal-protection-of-the-law, McCulloch v. Maryland, jurisdiction of federal, state, and local (e.g., California) courts. Mock Court – What’s it like to argue a case before the Supreme Court?
Unit Seven – Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Plessy v. Ferguson, Brown v. Board of Education, civil disobedience, police power, needs of society vs. individual freedoms, search warrant, privacy, Roe v. Wade, rights of the accused, Miranda v. Arizona, habeas corpus, speedy and public trial.