PL SC 001: Introduction to American National Government

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Sample Syllabus

Sample Lesson

Introduction

Introduction

Commentary 1: Politics and Power

Politics

Political Power

Authority

Behavioral Theory of Power

Powertics

Politics and Power Summary

Commentary 2: Democracy and the Declaration of Independence

Democracy, continued

The Declaration of Independence

Commentary 3: American Constitutional Democracy

Ratification and Amendments

Introduction

This lesson focuses on the meaning of the term democracy, the foundation of the American political system, and the Constitution of the United States.

Chapter 2 in the Lowi text establishes the framework for the study of politics and the development of the American Constitution. The reading illuminates the events surrounding the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the development and ratification of the Constitution. Thousands of amendments to the Constitution have been proposed since 1789. Only 27 amendments have received the necessary two-thirds vote in each house of Congress and been ratified by the necessary three-fourths of the state legislatures.

Three commentaries below supplement the reading. In the first commentary, the notion of politics and power is expanded beyond the concepts covered in the Introduction to highlight the work of a few key scholars in political science. The second commentary summarizes major concepts concerning the meaning of democracy and then outlines how to read the Declaration of Independence. The third commentary deals with American constitutional democracy.

 

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