Abstract: Upon completion of this course, the student will: Express ideas clearly in writing; Work individually and with classmates to research political issues; Interpret and apply data from original documents such as court cases and bills; Write to persuade with evidence; Develop essay responses that include a clear, defensible thesis statement and supporting evidence; Raise and explore questions about policies, institutions, beliefs, and actions in a political science context; Evaluate secondary materials, such as scholarly works or statistical analyses; Explain the foundations and underpinnings of democratic government; Demonstrate comprehension of documents essential to American government and politics; Evaluate the importance of federalism in the political operation of the nation; Describe the nature of American political parties and their role in the election process; Analyze the patterns of voter behavior; Describe the functions and workings of policy making institutions (Congress, the Presidency, the Courts, and the Bureaucracy); Analyze the major developments in civil rights and civil liberties in America