Description:

This course examines the components of the public policy-making process. Topics of study include American political culture, constitutional principles, intergovernmental relations, public opinion, political parties, interest groups, media, the influence of the constant campaign of candidate-centered politics, budget construction, bureaucracy, and decision-making institutions. 3 hrs./wk. and online. This course may be offered as a Learning Communities (LCOM) section, see current credit schedule for LCOM details.

Supplies: Refer to the instructor’s course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Prerequisites: NONE

Textbook(s): For information see - http://bookstore.jccc.net

Course Fees: NONE

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Describe, using examples, the constitutional foundations of American government, including constitutional government; the concepts of federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances and individual rights; the evolution of intergovernmental relations; and the expansion of individual and civil rights as a result of judicial review.
2. Describe, using examples, the fundamentals of American political culture, including the not entirely compatible values upon which it rests, the interpretations of democracy embraced, and underlying ideological principles.
3. Identify and explain the avenues open to the public to participate in the political decision-making process, including public opinion polling, political parties, elections, interest groups, and the media.
4. Describe the working relationship among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government with reference to their respective powers, limitations on those powers, areas of friction, and points of public access.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. Fundamentals of American Government
   A. Describe, using examples, the constitutional foundations of American
government, including:
      1. The role played by a constitution in a political system both as a
source of and a limitation on the power of government.
      2. The role played by federalism, separation of powers, checks and
balances and individual rights, including:
         a. Distribution of power within the government.
         b. Limitations on the exercise of that power.
      3. The evolution of intergovernmental relations from dual federalism
through cooperative, creative and new federalism, including:
         a. The influence of grants-in-aid on the relationship between the
federal and state governments.
         b. The role of the Supreme Court in the evolution of the
relationship between federal and state governments.
      4. The role of judicial review in the evolution of both individual
rights and civil rights, including:
         a. The due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and the
expansion of individual rights.
         b. The equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and
the expansion of civil rights.
   B. Describe, using examples, the fundamentals of American political
culture, including:
      1. The core values upon which it rests and the tension inherent in
the relationship among these values.
      2. The different interpretations of democracy embraced:  response,
procedural and substantive.
      3. The basic principles of classical liberalism and their
application in the Declaration of Independence.

II. Avenues of Participation in the Political Process
   A. Describe, using examples, the sources of and influence of political
opinion, including:
      1. The key agents of the political socialization process.
      2. The major divisions within American public opinion, including
ideological currents.
      3. Relationship between socio-economic background and political
opinion.
      4. The socio-economic factors that influence rates of political
participation and voter turnout.
   B. Describe the role of public opinion polls in both the election and
policy making processes, including:
      1. The mechanical factors critical to the construction of accurate
measures of public opinion.
      2. The role of polling in the candidate-centered politics of the
constant campaign.
      3. The influence of public opinion on the policy-making process.
   C. Compare and contrast the traditional role of political parties in
competitive political systems with the role of political parties in the
American candidate-centered political system.
      1. Explain both the presence and the persistence of a two-party
system in the United States.
      2. Analyze how each of the following has diminished the role of
political parties in the election process:  candidate-centered politics,
the constant campaign, primary elections, polling, interest groups, PACs,
public financing, media-dominated campaigns, and the television media.
      3. Assess the effectiveness of elections as instruments of
accountability and channels of citizen influence.
   D. Evaluate the role of interest group activity in the policy-making
process with reference to Madison’s system of checks and balances as well
as his concept of general welfare described in Federalist #10.
      1. Compare and contrast the pluralist theory of interest group
activity with Ted Lowi’s interest group liberalism.
      2. Explain the role of interest groups and federal bureaucrats in
iron triangles and issue networks.
   E. Compare and contrast the normative role of the media in a
competitive political system with those of signaler, common-carrier,
watchdog, and public representative roles.  Evaluate the media’s
performance in each role.
      1. Explain how representatives of the media are held accountable for
their actions.
      2. Compare and contrast the legal protections accorded private
individual and public figures against libel and slander.

III. Governing Institutions
   A. Explain how the candidate-centered politics of the constant campaign
have influenced the Congressional election process.
      1. Discuss the role of primary elections, public opinion polling,
campaign finance reform laws, interest groups and PACs, media campaigns,
and television media in congressional election and re-election strategy.
      2. Analyze the role played by redistricting and gerrymandering, the
advantages of incumbency, and campaign finance reform legislation on the
re-election of incumbents.
   B. Explain how candidate-centered and entrepreneurial politics within
the framework of the constant campaign have reshaped the work of the
members of legislative branch, including congressional staff.
      1. Describe the organizational structure within which Congress
develops public policy.
      2. Compare and contrast party government with party-line voting.
      3. Compare and contrast the differing interpretations of a
representative’s role: trustee, delegate, politico and broker.
   C. Explain how the candidate-centered politics of the constant campaign
have influenced the presidential election process.
      1. Discuss the role of primary elections, public opinion polling,
public financing, interest groups and PACs, media campaigns, television
media, and the electoral college in presidential election and re-election
strategy.
      2. Identify and describe those factors outside the control of
campaign strategists that are critical of the success of a presidential
election campaign.
   D. Compare and contrast the role of the chief executive in a
presidential and parliamentary system of government.
      1. Identify those factors critical to a president’s ability to
provide leadership for the country and direction for the policy-making
process.
      2. Describe those factors that have affected the growth in power and
size of the executive branch.
      3. Compare and contrast the latitude of discretionary authority
exercised by the president in the formulation and conduct of foreign as
opposed to domestic policy.
   E. Distinguish among the following components of the federal
bureaucracy, describing the differing roles performed by each: 
departments, regulatory agencies, independent agencies, government
corporations and commissions.
   F. Discuss the conflict inherent in a political system based on checks
and balances and popular sovereignty and our need for bureaucracy to
implement legislation in a large complex society.
      1. Compare and contrast Frederick W. Taylor’s bureaucratic theory of
neutral competency with the reality of bureaucratic practice.
      2. Identify and describe the origins of the bureaucracy’s
quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial powers.
      3. Describe and evaluate the effectiveness of legislative executive
and judicial branch oversight of bureaucratic agencies.
      4. Describe the role of agency personnel in issue networks and iron
triangles.
   G. Describe the U.S. dual court system, including:
      1. The structure of the federal court system and areas of
jurisdiction.
      2. Access to judicial decision.
      3. Method of judicial appointments and conditions under which
offices are held.
   H. Explain the Madisonian Dilemma  (the conflict inherent in the
practice of judicial review in a majority-rule democracy).
      1. Compare and contrast the following theories of judicial
policy-making authority: judicial activism and judicial restraint,
including the concepts of judicial review and stare decisis.
      2. Describe those factors that restrain the Court’s use of judicial
power.

Methods of Evaluation of Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

 1. A minimum of three exams which will constitute at least 50% of the
final grade.  The exams will include questions of a factual, analytical and
evaluative nature.
 2. Written research, analytical or evaluative assignments which will
constitute at least 25% of the final grade.
 3. The remaining percentage will be left to the instructor’s discretion
for such items as participation in class discussion, group activities,
etc.
 4. Evaluation criteria for writing:  complete, concrete, correct and
clear writing is a major goal for each project assigned.  In addition,
incorporation of the elements and characteristics of the specific type of
writing is expected.

Caveats: NONE

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.