National Government Political Science 101 Instructor: Sathyan Sundaram

Syllabus Please read through your syllabus.

Course Objectives 1. To become familiarized with the historical development of the American government--particularly, the issues that encompassed the constitutional convention resulting in the eventual adoption of the U.S. Constitution. 2. To become better acquainted with the structural as well as functional aspects of American institutions (i.e., Congress, President, Supreme Court, and bureaucracy). 3. To become more familiarized with the cases and controversies that have encircled these institutions (e.g., federalism, civil rights and civil liberties, regulations, deficits, divided government, wars, impeachment, recessions/ depressions, welfare programs, terrorism, and so on). 4. To become an astute, civic-minded student of American government.

Grades are derived from Midterm Examination (150) Cumulative Final Examination (150) Take Home Essays (100) Attendance and Participation (100)

U.S. News Sources New York Times – Washington Post – International Herald Tribune – Chicago Tribune – Christian Science Monitor – National Public Radio – WVPE FM 88.1 CSPAN/CSPAN2 Reuters - Time US News and World Report “The News Hour” (PBS) WNIT TV 34 Michigan Races: Detroit News -

Test of Political Knowledge

What is Politics? Who gets what, when and how (Lasswell) Politics is about power – the ability to make someone do something s/he otherwise would not - its distribution and application

What is Political Science? Political Science is the systematic study of the role of power in determining social outcomes. Various methodologies including quantitative and qualitative measures are used to test falsifiable hypotheses.