Chabot College
Fall 2004
Removed Fall 2010
Course Outline for Political Science 2
INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN AND CALIFORNIA POLITICS
Catalog Description:
2 – Introduction to American and California Politics
3 units
Introduction to issues in American and California politics including education,
environment, welfare, and health care policy. Special emphasis on California state and
local government issues, interpretation of public opinion data, election polls and public
policy statistics. Strongly recommended: Eligibility for English 1A. 3 hours.
[Typical contact hours: 52.5]
Prerequisite Skills:
None.
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
analyze the relationships between federal, California state and local politics;
examine and evaluate education, welfare, health care and environmental policy;
explain and compare federal California state and local federal policy;
interpret and evaluate public opinion data;
explain and evaluate election poll data;
critically evaluate California state and local ballot propositions;
explain and interpret California state and local policy initiatives;
investigate federal and California state judicial decisions effecting public policy.
Course Content:
1.
2.
3.
4.
The relationship between federal, California state and local political issues
a. The rise of federalism
b. The expansion of welfare policy during the New Deal
c. The extension of federal preemption over welfare issues
d. The development of California environmental concerns
The policy making process
a. The role of education policy
b. The demands of welfare policy
c. The limits of health care policy
d. The expansion of environmental policy
The relationship between federal, California state and local government fiscal
policy
a. Theories of tax policy
b. Revenue sources
c. Impacts of taxation on the economy
The role of public opinion on the policy making process
a. Public opinion formation
b. Research methods used in polling
Chabot College
Course Outline for Political Science 2, Page 2
Fall 2004
5.
6.
7.
8.
c. Statistical analysis and sampling techniques
d. Interpreting statistical data
The impact of election poll data
a. Examination of polling data
b. Evaluation of polling data
c. Role of polling data in policy making
d. Meaning of polling data
The expansion of California state and local ballot propositions
a. Ballot proposition qualifications and requirements
b. Grass roots initiatives
c. City and County propositions
d. Understanding ballot propositions
The development of California state and local policy initiatives
a. Special interest group politics
b. Grass roots and alliance formation politics
c. Financing fund raising and direct action techniques
d. Assessing policy initiatives
The impact of judicial decisions of federal, California state and local public policy
a. Federal court decisions effecting public policy
b. The role of California state courts in public policy
Methods of Presentation:
1.
2.
3.
Lecture – discussion
Audio and video presentations
Computer assisted instruction
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1.
2.
Typical Assignments:
a. Develop a research design to sample public opinion on a selected California
public policy issue
b. Research and report on a selected Supreme Court decision effecting California
public policy
c. Research and report on the conflict between a federal agency regulations and
California political process
d. Analyze and report on a California city or county budget
Methods of Evaluating Student Progress
a. Midterm exams and quizzes
b. Written assignments
c. Oral presentations
d. Final exam
Chabot College
Course Outline for Political Science 2, Page 3
Fall 2004
Textbook(s) (Typical):
The Public Agenda, Brewster and Brown, Saint Martins, 1998, or latest edition.
American Public Policy, Cochran, Mayer, Carr and Cayer, Saint Martins, 1999, or latest
edition.
Understanding Public Policy, Dye, Prentice Hall, 2002, or latest edition.
California Government and Politics Today, Field and Sahner, Longman, 1998, or latest
edition.
California: Politics of Diversity, Lawrence, West Publishing Company, 2001, or latest
edition.
California Government, Kory, New York, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1999, or latest
edition.
Special Student Materials:
None.
tf:\Word\PolSci 2.doc
Revised: 12-5-03