American National Government BCC

This course focuses on the national level of American government.We will study the structure of the US government, and the processes used to make, enforce and interpret laws. We will cover some of our nation's history, including the impact of an ethnically diverse culture on the political system. We will also examine the major national institutions - the presidency, the Congress, and the federal judiciary - as well as outside players who affect the system, such as interest groups and lobbyists, political parties and the news media. We will place a special emphasis on understanding the diversity present in an immigrant culture and how our constitutional democracy responds (or does not respond) to these culturally and politically diverse populations. Includes a service-learning extra credit option.