Chabot College
Fall 2012
Course Outline for Political Science 45
LAW AND DEMOCRACY
(See also Administration of Justice 45)
Catalog Description:
45 – Law and Democracy
3 units
The Law and Democracy course is an interdisciplinary exploration of themes such as equality, citizenship,
participation, access, and social justice. We will look critically at how law structures as well as limits
democracy and examine the idea of democracy as a universal value. Strongly recommended: eligibility
for English 1A. Prerequisite: Political Science 1 or Administration of Justice 50 (completed with a grade
of “C” or higher). May not receive credit if Administration of Justice 45 has been completed. 3 hours.
[Typical contact hours: 52.5]
Prerequisite Skills:
Before entering the course the student should be able to:
(Administration of Justice 50)
1. Describe the components of the administration of justice system;
2. explain the fundamentals of criminal law;
3. describe the structure of American criminal courts;
4. compare and contrast the federal correctional system and the state system;
5. analyze prisoner’s rights as they pertain to the amendments;
6. contrast due process and crime;
7. control models of Administration of Justice;
8. describe the laws of arrest;
9. describe Search & Seizure laws with regard to police investigations;
10. define Habeas Corpus.
- OR (Political Science 1)
1. explain the basic principles of the Federal and California Constitutions and place these principles
in the context of American history;
2. describe the historical context of United States constitutional amendments;
3. identify and explain the concept of civil liberties and civil rights and their application in American
society;
4. analyze political issues in a critical and objective manner;
5. apply course content to contemporary political events locally, nationally, and internationally;
6. analyze the roles of the media in contemporary U.S. politics.
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Explain the basic concept of government in their own words;
analyze the role of law and the legal system within governmental systems;
identify important legislative, and legal developments in the civil rights movement;
analyze the cultural, economic, and political environment of the civil rights movement and identify
debates within the literature on the movement;
5. identify and analyze contemporary civil rights issues such as de facto segregation, affirmative
Chabot College
Course Outline for Political Science 45, Page 2
Fall 2012
action, immigrant rights, gay marriage;
6. apply legal concepts to contemporary civil rights issues;
7. identify and analyze contemporary civil liberties issues such as gun control, tracking or wire
tapping of individuals, hate speech;
8. apply legal concepts to contemporary civil liberties issues;
9. describe the development of labor rights in the United States;
10. define the concept of social justice in their own words, it’s relationship to democracy, and
evaluate that concept in the context of topics such as: slavery, industrialization, poverty,
discrimination;
11. evaluate the role of organizing in American democracy broadly as well as within specific social
movements;
12. compare and contrast the tactics and outcomes of social movements within the U.S. and/or those
abroad;
13. define democracy and the essential features of democratic governments;
14. describe and compare multiple types of regimes with democracy;
15. investigate the concept of citizenship;
16. assess the effect of direct democracy on quality of governance;
17. describe theories on participation;
18. evaluate the role of elites within American Democracy.
Course Content:
1. Competing conceptions of government and the proper role of government
2. Sources of law and the relationship between law and government
3. The civil rights movement
a. Key legal and legislative decisions
b. The role of grassroots organizing
c. Local and National organizations (SCLC, SNCC, NAACP)
d. The role of women in the movement
e. The diverse roles of state governments
f. The role of the federal government
g. Legacies of the movement
h. Nonviolence and self-defense
4. Contemporary civil rights and civil liberty issues
a. The role of legislation and courts
b. Issues in historical and contemporary perspective
c. The role of organizations and social movements
5. Labor rights in the United States
a. Historical development
b. Contemporary cases
c. Interplay between labor/socioeconomics and civil rights issues
6. Social justice
a. As a theoretical concept
b. As the basis for policy
7. Transitions towards and away from democratic governance
8. Social movements in the United States and abroad
a. Definitions
b. Tactics and leadership structures
c. Outcomes
9. The meaning of citizenship and theories on civic participation
10. Direct democracy
a. History, rules, and usage in the U.S. and within California
b. Analysis of effectiveness, outcomes
11. The role of elites in American democracy
Chabot College
Course Outline for Political Science 45, Page 3
Fall 2012
a. Political power
b. Media
c. Master narratives/educational systems
Methods of Presentation:
1. Lecture, including use of PowerPoint
2. Class discussion
3. Audio and video presentation
4. Computer assisted instruction
5. Course simulations
6. Community activities/civic engagement projects
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1. Typical Assignments:
a. Write letters to three different recipients: a local (city or county) representative, a state or
federal representative, a company.
b. Develop a detailed proposal for a civic project that could be implemented in your community.
c. Complete an oral history project on an approved topic of choice that addresses topics such
as: What does it mean to be an American? What is the experience of immigrant students in
Hayward?
2. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
a. Quizzes
b. Midterm examinations
c. Written assignments
d. Oral presentations (individual or group)
e. Class participation
f. Final examination
Textbook(s) (Typical):
The Spirit of Democracy, Larry Diamond, Times Books, 2008
The Social Movements Reader: Cases and Concepts, Jeff Goodwin and James M. Jasper,
Wiley-Blackwell, 2009
The Right to Vote: The Contested History of Democracy in the United States, Alexander
Keyssar, Basic Books, 2009.
The Law of Democracy: Legal Structure of the Political Process, Samuel Issacharoff,
Pamela S. Karlan, and Richard H. Pildes, Foundation Press, 2007.
Special Student Materials:
None.