Course Syllabus
GEN-100 American Government (3 Credits)
Description:
GEN-100: American Government is designed to help students grapple with two of the fundamental questions of American government and politics: who governs and to what ends? The course will help students answer these questions, and to better understand how the structure of the American government determines the policies that we see. The features of this course—from learning objectives, to constitutional connections, to policy dynamics, and what would you do—will help students master key concepts and topics, and apply them from the classroom to everyday political life.
Textbook: American Government: Institutions and Policies. 17th ed. Wilson, et al. Cengage, 2024.
Prerequisites: Entry level General Education course – no prerequisites
Course objectives:
Throughout the course, you will meet the following goals:
- Explain what the government is and what it does.
- Identify the type of government in the United States and compare it to other types.
- Identify the origins of the core values in American political thought, including ideas regarding representational government.
- Explain the concept of federalism, and the constitutional logic behind it.
- Define, and explain the importance of, civil liberties and civil rights.
- Discuss voter registration, voter turnout, campaigns, and elections.
- Explain the roles that The Media, Political Parties, Interest Groups and Lobbyists play.
- Explain the three branches of government and their relationships to each other.
Course Modules:
Chapter 1: The Study of American Government
Chapter 2: The Constitution
Chapter 3: Federalism
Chapter 4: American Political Culture
Chapter 5: Civil Liberties
Chapter 6: Civil Rights
Chapter 7: Public Opinion
Chapter 8: Political Participation
Chapter 9: Political Parties
Chapter 10: Elections and Campaigns
Chapter 11: Interest Groups
Chapter 12: The Media
Chapter 13: Congress
Chapter 14: The Presidency
Chapter 15: The Bureaucracy
Chapter 16: The Judiciary
Chapter 17: Domestic Policy
Chapter 18: Economic Policy
Chapter 19: Foreign and Military Policy
Chapter 20: American Democracy: Then and Now
Course Evaluation Criteria
- passing percentage is 70% or higher.
Grading Scale | |
A | 90-100% |
B | 80-89.9% |
C | 70-79.9% |
F | Below 70% |
Grade Weighting | |
Chapter Quizzes | 70% |
Final Exam | 30% |