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| COURSE SYLLABUS |
| HSS-001 – American Government |
About the Course |
| The American Government examination covers the scope and emphasis of material that is usually taught in a one-semester introductory course in American government and politics at the college level in the United States. These courses go beyond a general understanding of civics to incorporate political processes and behavior. The exam covers topics such as the institutions and policy processes of the federal government, the federal courts and civil liberties, political parties and interest groups, political beliefs and behavior, and the content and history of the Constitution. |
Status: |
| *Unknown - Not Logged In |
Activities: |
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Credit by Exam Program |
| College Level Examination Program (CLEP) |
Resources |
Exam Bank Questions = 349
FlashCard Phrases = 320
Media Web Links = 4
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Recommended Prerequisits |
| None |
Sections |
| Section 1 - Institutions and Policy Processes: Presidency, Bureaucracy, and Congress | | The major formal and informal institutional arrangements and powers. Structure, policy processes, and outputs. Relationships among these three institutions and links between them and political parties, interest groups, the media, and public opinion. | | Section 2 - Federal Courts, Civil Liberties, and Civil Rights | | Structure and processes of the judicial system with emphasis on the role and influence of the Supreme Court. The development of civil rights and civil liberties by judicial interpretation. The Bill of Rights and incorporation of the Bill of Rights. Equal protection and due process. | | Section 3 - Political Parties and Interest Groups | | Political parties including their function, organization, mobilization, historical development, and effects on the political process. Interest groups including the variety of activities they typically undertake and their effects on the political process. Elections including the electoral process. | | Section 4 - Political Beliefs and Behavior | | Processes by which citizens learn about politics. Political participation including voting behavior. Public opinion. Beliefs that citizens hold about their government and its leaders. Political culture and the variety of factors that predispose citizens to differ from one another in terms of their political perceptions, values, attitudes, and activities. The influence of public opinion on political leaders. | | Section 5 - Constitutional Underpinnings of American Democracy | | The development of concepts such as: ???Federalism (with attention to intergovernmental relations), separation of powers, checks and balances, majority rule and minority rights. Considerations that influenced the formulation and adoption of the Constitution and theories of democracy. |
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