COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will survey the complex subjects of U.S. government and politics. We will analyze in some detail the processes and institutions (both formal and informal) through which the political system functions and policy decisions are made. This analysis will include the Constitutional structure of Government, participatory politics, the formal institutions of power, the extra constitutional influences on those institutions, and public polity and individual rights and liberties.

PREREQUISITES: Successful completion of U.S. History from 1700 to the present.

COURSE LENGTH: One semester

REQUIRED TEXT:  (1) Edwards, Wattenberg, Lineberry, Government in America, AP* EDITION, Prentice Hall, ISBN #0321195051.(2) American Government: Readings and Cases, ISBN #0321329776.  NOTE:  You must order the textbook for this course. Please click the following link to place your order.  ORDER BOOK LINK. This is to be paid separately from this course.