8/9/2019 Fundamentals of Government Syllabus

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FUNDAMENTALS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

SEMESTER A

GOV AFUNDAMENTALS OFAMERICAN GOVERNMENT

Instructor: Dominique DeleonE-Mail: ddeleon@fusionacademy.comOffice Hours: Tuesdays 1230-130

8/9/2019 Fundamentals of Government Syllabus

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FUNDAMENTALS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

OverviewThis course will provide a fundamental overview of the American politicalsystem and underlying theories of political organization and organization. Someof the key questions we’ll be visiting and revisiting during the course of the class:

1) What is the balance between freedom and order in our current system?2) Is our political vocabulary adequate for discussing current events? How

should it change?3) Who are the key actors in our political system? What were they meant

to be? What are each of their roles?4) Within our system, what is the balance between freedom and order? Do

we find that to be satisfactory at present? How do we change that whichwe find unsatisfactory to that which we want?

5) Does true democracy exist now in our system? If so, what does thatmean now? If not, did it ever? Can it in the future?

Goals

At the end of this class it expected that all students will be able to:! Plan and write a 3-5 page final analytical paper, using direct quotations in

MLA format

! Form and develop independent and well-supported opinions about ourpolitical system and others

! Identify and begin to explore moral issues that will inform their participationin the political process

Requirements

In order to successfully complete the class all students will be required to:

1. Complete daily reading and reflection assignments2. Attend at least 25 classes/sessions (with adds to be determined pending

class progress and assessments)3. Complete Unit Assessments (papers/tests) as required.

Evaluation The final exam will consist of a two (2) part take home exam.

Grading Grading will consist of a daily participation grade (out of a possible 10 points),daily homework grade (out of a possible 20 points), 3-4 unit tests (100 pointseach) and a final exam and paper (out of a possible 200 points).

Required Course MaterialsThese books will be provided tostudents, but they are alwaysencouraged to purchase their owncopies for deeper study:

Alinsky, Saul David. Rules for Radicals; Practical Primer for Realistic Radicals . NewYork: Random House, 1971.

De Tocqueville, Alexis. Democracy in America . New York: Classics ofLiberty Library, Division of GryphonEditions, 1992.

Machiavelli, Niccolo !

, Quentin Skinner,and Russell Price. Machiavelli: The Prince .Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1988. Print.

Units of Study

UNITS I: FUNDAMENTALS OF

POLITICAL THOUGHT

Through introduction to Machiavelli,Locke, De Toqueville and SaulAlinksy we will explore the basics ofpolitical thought, despotism, civilrights and the idea of a republic: anexamination of the foundingdocuments of the country will provideinsight into the founding of theAmerican state.

UNIT II: ORGANIZATION AND

STRUCTURE OF THE AMERICAN

GOVERNMENT

A thorough study of the three branches of government, theirpurposes, powers and key historicalevents.

UNIT III: FUNCTION OF THE

AMERICAN REPUBLIC

An examination of the three branchesof government through the lens ofcurrent and near-current events