POL 1560 - American Government
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 42026,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Adam Fuller
Email: afuller@ysu.edu
Course Description
1560. American Government. The foundations of American democratic government with an emphasis on the responsibilities of citizenship, civil rights, and civil liberties, parties and elections, and American political institutions. Students are encouraged to understand and discuss issues of social justice, equality and freedom, and majoritarianism. Topics include the civil rights movement, campaign finance reform, federalism, and affirmative action. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | We the People | Ginsberg, Lowi, Weir & Tolbert |
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Textbook, Chapter 1 | What is government? What is politics? What kind of government does the United States have? Introductory concepts. | |
| 8/31 | Declaration of Independence U.S. Constitution |
Documents of the American Founding | |
| 9/7 | Federalist #10 Federalist #51 Textbook, Chapter 2 |
Principles of the American Founding | |
| 9/14 | Textbook, Chapter 3 | Federalism | |
| 9/21 | Textbook, Chapter 4 | Civil Liberties and the Bill of Rights | |
| 9/28 | Textbook, Chapter 4 | Civil Liberties and the Bill of Rights (Continued) | |
| 10/5 | No reading | The Commerce Clause, Necessary and Property Clause, Equal Protection Clause, Supremacy Clause | Exam #1 |
| 10/12 | Textbook, Chapter 5 Textbook, Chapter 6 |
Voting and Political Participation | |
| 10/19 | Textbook, Chapter 8 | Elections and Campaigns | |
| 10/26 | Textbook, Chapter 7 | Congress | |
| 11/2 | Textbook, Chapter 7 | Congress and the Presidency | Election Day Assignment Due 11/2 |
| 11/9 | Textbook, Chapter 9 | The Presidency | Exam #2 |
| 11/16 | Textbook. Chapter 10 | The Supreme Court | |
| 11/23 | Textbook, Chapter 10 | The Supreme Court (Continued) | |
| 11/30 | Textbook, Chapter 12 | Public Policy | |
| 12/7 | No reading | Exam #3 |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.