ACCP Government
American National Government Syllabus
Fall 2013
Course Description:
PO 200 – American National Government. A survey of the functions and processes of
American Government, and an examination of the major political topics of the current
government cycle.
Required Textbook:
Challenge of Democracy paperback 11th edition by Jenda, Berry and Goldman
ISBN-13: 978-0495912934
Expectations:
Students are to do all reading before their assigned due date and be prepared to for
all class lectures/discussions that derive from the reading. All assignments are due by the
assigned due date and no late assignments will be accepted. No exceptions will be
granted for late assignments. If students are not present in class on assigned due date,
they may email assignment to instructor. All assessments need to be taken on assigned
test dates. Students, who are absent for assigned test dates, will be required to take the
test the next day they are in class and will be given an alternative assessment.
Academic Honesty:
Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated and students who are caught doing
either will receive a grade of “F” on their college transcripts and will be removed form
the course. Students must understand that the rigors that are associated with an ACCP
course are great, and take responsibility for the learning process they opt to undertake.
No leniency will be given if a student is caught cheating or plagiarizing.
College Credit:
Students may take college credit for American National Government. Credit is
through Park University. Students will receive 3 hours for PO 200 taken in the fall
semester. Registration for will take place during the first week of the semester in which
the course is taken. Students who do not take the course for college credit are still
responsible for all assignments, assessments and standards required of the college course.
Assignments and Assessments:
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Summer Reading Project – 100pts
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Book Critique – 100pts each
Research Paper – 200pts
First Six Weeks Test – 120pts
Second Six Weeks Test – 120pts
Final – 120pts
Projects:
 Summer Reading – Students will read a book over the summer and write a 4-5
page critique of the book.
 Book Critique – Students will read and write a 4-5 page book critique of a book
that relates to their research topic.
 Research Paper – Students are to write a 9-10 page research paper of a
current/past US political issue. Students will choose one of the topic questions
presented in the research paper handout and rubric.
Reading and Discussion Guide:
Week 1: 8/14-8/16
Half Days All Week
 Freedom, Order, or Equality
o Chapter 1 (1-31)
o Discussion Notes
Week 2: 8/19-8/23
 Majoritarian or Pluralist Democracy
o Chapter 2 (32-57)
o Discussion Notes
o Radio - This American Life – The Giant Pool of Money
 The Constitution
o Chapter 3 (58-99)
o Discussion Notes
o Reading – The Declaration of Independence
o Reading – The Constitution
Week 3: 8/26-8/30
 Federalism
o Chapter 4 (100-135)
o Discussion Notes
o Frontline: Sick Around the World
Week 4: 9/3-9/6
No School Monday 2nd – Labor Day
 Public Opinion and Political Socialization
o Chapter 5 (136-169)
o Discussion Notes
o Frontline: Is Wal-Mart Good For America
Week 5: 9/9-9/13
Early Dismissal Friday – Professional Development
 The Media
o Chapter 6 (170-205)
o Discussion Notes
 Participation and Voting
o Chapter 7 (206-241)
o Discussion Notes
Week 6: 9/23-9/27
 Political Parties
o Chapter 8 (242-277)
o Discussion Notes
 First Six Weeks Test
o Block Day
o 60 Questions
o 6 Short Essays
Week 7: 9/30-10/4
 Nominations, Elections, and Campaigns
o Chapter (278-319)
o Discussion Notes
o Frontline: Big Sky, Big Money
o Reading – Patrick Buchanan “The Culture War for the Soul of America”
Week 8: 10/7-10/10
No School Friday 11th
 Interest Groups
o Chapter 10 (320-349)
o Discussion Notes
o Video – Food Inc.
 Book Review Block Day
Week 9: 10/14-10/17
Wednesday Schedule on Tuesday
All School Testing Wednesday
Thursday No Late Start/Early Dismissal – Parent Teacher Conferences
No School Friday – Professional Development
 Congress
o Chapter 11 (350-383)
o Discussion Notes
Week 10: 10/21-10/25
 The Presidency
o Chapter 12 (384-417)
o Discussion Notes
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Reading – George Washington Farwell Address
Reading – John F. Kennedy Inaugural Address
Reading – Dwight Eisenhower Farwell Address
Reading – Barack Obama “A New Beginning”
Week 11: 10/28-11/1
 The Bureaucracy
o Chapter 13 (418-445)
o Discussion Notes
o Video – Who Killed the Electric Car?
Week 12: 11/4-11/8
 The Courts
o Chapter 14 (446-483)
o Discussion Notes
 Second Six Weeks Test
o Block Day
o 60 Questions
o 6 Short Essays
Week 13: 11/11-11/15
 Order and Civil Liberties
o Chapter 15 (484-523)
o Discussion Notes
Week 14: 11/18-11/22
 Equality and Civil Rights
o Chapter 16 (524-565)
o Discussion Notes
o Reading – Martin Luther King Jr. “ Letter from a Birmingham Jail”
o Reading – George Wallace “The Civil Rights Movement”
Week 15: 11/25-11/27
Wednesday Block on Tuesday
Thursday Block on Wednesday No Late Start/Early Dismissal
No School Thursday and Friday – Thanksgiving Break
 Policymaking
o Chapter 17 (566-593)
o Discussion Notes
Week 16: 12/2-12/6
Penance Service Wednesday and Thursday
 Economic Policy
o Chapter 18 (594-627)
o Discussion Notes
 Domestic Policy
o Chapter 19 (628-661)
o Discussion Notes
o Reading – “Contract With America”
Week 17: 12/9-12/13
 Research Paper Due Monday 12/9
 Global Policy
o Chapter 20 (662-697)
o Discussion Notes
o Reading – Ronald Reagan “Evil Empire”
o Reading – Ronald Reagan “Tear Down this Wall”
o Reading – John F. Kennedy “I am a Berliner”
o Reading – John Lewis Gaddis “Setting Right a Dangerous World”
o Reading – The Economist “One World”
Week 18: 12/16-12/20
 Finals – Wednesday, Thursday & Friday