Riverside Community College District
Integrated Course Outline of Record
Political Science 5
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COURSE DESCRIPTION
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5 Law and Politics
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Units: 3.00
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Prerequisite(s): None.
Advisory: Qualification for English 1A
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The principles and problems of the constitution are examined, with emphasis on how the constitution impacts public policy. Also, the course looks at the constitutional considerations affecting civil rights and liberties. 54 hours lecture.
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SHORT DESCRIPTION FOR CLASS SCHEDULE
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Examines legal and constitutional issues from civil liberties to government policy.
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ADVISORY ENTRY SKILLS
Before entering the course, students will be able to:
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critically discuss and analyze primary and secondary texts, recognizing key ideas and responding in both oral and written form;
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analyze, synthesize, and evaluate concepts studied in primary and secondary texts using intermediate to advanced critical thinking skills;
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compose and develop unified, stylistically competent writing assignments and adjust writing to the target audience with intermediate to advanced skill.
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STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:
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1. Describe the impact that the U.S. Constitution has on its citizens.
2. Analyze the impact the U.S. Constitution has on Government.
3. Describe the development of our legal system and its philosophical
foundations.
4. Analyze the changes in civil rights and liberties.
5. Demonstrate critical thinking ability including analysis and
evaluation of data, the understanding of alternative explanations
and forming conclusions from data presented.
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COURSE CONTENT
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TOPICS
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Focus of class readings may be chronological, topical-thematic, disciplinary, and/or based on case studies. The class will cover the following topic areas.
1. Philosophical and historical foundations of American law
2. The U.S. Constitution as applied to governmental institutions and
policies
3. The development of the judicial system in America
4. The development of Criminal and Civil Law
5. Civil Rights, Civil Liberties, and individual rights
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METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
Methods of instruction used to achieve student learning outcomes may include, but are not limited to:
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- Assigned readings to reinforce course content
- Presentation of lectures and discussions on the foundations of American law, the U.S. Constitution, the judiciary, and Supreme Court decisions in civil liberties and civil rights in order for students to understand law and politics in the United States.
- Showing films, videos, slides, distributing handouts, and/or using electronic or computer-based media in order to reinforce understanding of concepts related to American law, the U.S. Constitution, the judiciary, and court decisions in American law and politics.
- Create and have students participate in cooperative learning tasks, such as pair and small group discussions and assignments, in order to assist students in understanding course content.
- Develop and assign class exercises such as reports and papers in order to reinforce understanding the relationship of the U.S. Constitution, the judiciary, civil liberties and civil rights to law and politics.
- Conduct individual conferences in order to evaluate and advise students on original writing and other projects.
- Guest lecturers invited to class to discuss topics on the constitution, law, and American politics.
- Computer-assisted and/or web-enhanced instruction which reinforces and develops course content.
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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:
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- 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 American law, how the constitution impacts citizens and governments, and alternative explanations of the relationship of law and politics.
- Written reports/presentations/performances designed to demonstrate students’ understanding of the development of constitutional law, how the constitution impacts citizens and governments, and alternative explanations of the relationship of law and 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 approaches to law and politics.
- Participation and regular attendance as required by instructor to ensure progress in mastering course content.
- Laboratory projects/performance/community participation designed to reinforce 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.
- Preparation of legal briefs designed to understand important Supreme Court decisions relating to civil liberties, civil rights, criminal law, and civil law.
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ASSIGNMENTS
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Required Reading Assignments
Required Writing Assignments
Other Outside-of-Class Assignments
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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:
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Bonsignore, John J.. Before the Law: An Introduction to the Legal Process. 7 ed.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002.
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Carter, Lief H. and Burke, Thomas. F.. Reason in Law. 7 ed.
New York: Longman Publishing, 2004.
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Lazarus, Edward. Closed Chambers: The Rise, Fall, and Future of the Modern Supreme Court.
Berkeley: Penguin, 2005.
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Tarr, G. Allan. Judicial Process and Judicial Policymaking. 4 ed.
New York: Thomson Wadsworth Publishing, 2005.
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| 1707 |