Discipline: Political Science Degree Credit  [X]
Non Credit  [ ]
Nondegree Credit  [ ]
Comm Service  [ ]
 

Riverside Community College District
Integrated Course Outline of Record

Political Science 12


COURSE DESCRIPTION
12 State and Local Politics Units: 3.00
 
Prerequisite(s): None.

Advisory: Qualification for English 1A.
The goal of this course is to acquaint students with the history and theories of American state and local politics. This course will examine the history of state and local politics in the U.S., with emphasis on California politics. Current political issues such as urban development, fiscal policies, race, gender and class politics, state and local political leaders, civil rights and civil liberties will be discussed. 54 hours lecture.
 
SHORT DESCRIPTION FOR CLASS SCHEDULE
A survey of U.S. and California state and local politics examining history, current issues, and urban politics.
 
ADVISORY ENTRY SKILLS
Before entering the course, students will be able to:
  1. critically discuss and analyze primary and secondary texts,

  2. recognizing key ideas and responding in both oral and written form;

  3. analyze, synthesize, and evaluate concepts studied in primary and secondary texts using intermediate to advanced critical thinking skills;

  4. compose developed, unified, stylistically competent writing assignments and adjust writing to the target audience with intermediate to advanced skill.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
 Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

1.   Describe, analyze, and evaluate concepts, theories, and institutions of state
      and local politics including urban development.

2.   Objectively explain critical issues in state and local politics and analyze
      their own opinions concerning government and current political issues.

3.   Use research tools including scholarly readings, current media and the
      Internet.

4.   Demonstrate critical thinking ability including the analysis and evaluation of
      data, the understanding of alternative explanations and the forming of
      conclusions from the data presented.
 
COURSE CONTENT
  TOPICS
 

Focus of class readings may be chronological, topical-thematic, disciplinary, and/or based on case studies. 

1.   Definitions of power
      a.   General definitions: power, authority, democracy, representation,
            majoritarianism, pluralism, and elitism
      b.   Is there a unique definition of power at the local level?
2.   Political Parties, Interest Groups, Mass Movements, and Media in State
      and Local Politics
      a.   Interest Groups---controlling “mischiefs of factions, business, labor,
            agricultural, consumer, and environmental interest groups, lobbying
      b.   Political Parties---why the two party system persists, how political
            parties operate in  government, the role of party organizations in
            politics, third parties
      c.   Mass Movements---leadership, community organizing, selected case
            studies
      d.   Media---media in a democracy, candidates and television, cyberspace
            and campaigns
3.   Linking Government to Individuals: public opinion, campaigns, and 
      elections
      a.   The roles of family, education, peers, life events, economic status and
            occupation on political opinions
      b.   Measuring public opinion
      c.   Factors affecting whether and how people vote including party
            identification, perception of candidates, socioeconomic factors,
            ideology, and campaigns
      d.   Nomination process, types of elections
4.   Institutions of state and local government
      a.   The Legislature---elections, leadership and organization, the legislative
            process, the budgeting process, the makeup of members
      b.   The Governor--- constitutional powers, the expansion of executive
            powers, the organization of the executive branch, issues of  leadership
      c.   The Bureaucracy----the nature and size of the bureaucracy, 
            policymaking and the iron triangle, curbing waste and improving
            efficiency
      d.   The Judiciary---the court system,  judicial appointments, the State
            Supreme Court in  politics, ideology and the courts
5.   Public Policy
      a.   Definitions of state policy, social welfare policy, economic policy
      b.   The policymaking process including agenda-setting, policy formulation,
            implementation, and evaluation
 
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
 Methods of instruction used to achieve student learning outcomes may include, but are not limited to:

  • Presentation of lectures and discussions on the institutions and processes of state politics in order for students to understand the relationship of power, the constitution, the branches of government, and political participation.
  • Showing films, videos, slides, distributing handouts, and/or using electronic or computer-based media in order to reinforce understanding of concepts related to principles, institutions, policies, and issues of state government.
  • Guest lecturers invited to class to discuss topics on democracy, political institutions, the constitution, civil liberties, and civil rights.
  • Develop and assign class exercises such as reports and papers in order to reinforce understanding the relationship of the Constitution, the judiciary, civil liberties and civil rights to state politics.
  • Cooperative/collaborative learning tasks, including pair and small group discussions and projects, in order to develop and reinforce course content and topics.
  • Conduct individual conferences in order to evaluate and advise students on original writing and other projects.
  • Assigned readings in order to reinforce and supplement course content.
  • Computer-assisted and/or web-enhanced instruction which reinforces and develops course content.
 
METHODS OF EVALUATION
 Students will be evaluated for progress in and/or mastery of learning outcomes by methods of evaluation which may include, but are not limited to:

  • A minimum of two significant pieces of formal academic writing beyond quizzes or examinations is required.
  • Oral reports/presentations/performances designed to evaluate students’ understanding of the development of the constitution, the principles, institutions, and issues in state and local politics.
  • Written reports/presentations/performances designed to demonstrate students’ understanding of development of the constitution, the principles, institutions, and issues in state politics.
  • Quizzes/examinations designed to assess students’ ability to recall, critically analyze and apply key concepts and course content.
  • Written assignments designed to demonstrate successful understanding and application of basic concepts and course content.
  • Class, group, and individual projects designed to assess students’ understanding of the key principles, institutions, and policies in government.
  • Participation and regular attendance as required by instructor to ensure progress in mastering  course content.
  • Final examination designed to assess students’ mastery of the essential concepts explored in the course.
  • Internet assignments designed to reinforce and elaborate on course content.
ASSIGNMENTS

Required Reading Assignments


Required Writing Assignments


Other Outside-of-Class Assignments
 
COURSE MATERIALS
 All materials used in this course will be periodically reviewed to ensure that they are appropriate for college level instruction. Possible texts include:

  • Dye, Thomas and Susan MacManus. Politics in States and Communities. East Rutherford: Prentice Hall, 2002.
  • Sohner, Charles P. and Mona Field. California Government and Politics Today. White Plains: Longman, 2001.
  • Martin, Mary. Local and Regional Government Information. Portsmouth: Greenwood Press, 2005.
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