POS 1010 (DL 01) - American National Government

Welcome!

Welcome to POS 1010--American National Government. This course is an introduction to the study of the United States Constitution and the American national political system. Students learn about various political parties in the American political system, why these parties exist, and the roles they play in American politics. Students also examine the interrelated national and state structures of government, including the powers and duties of Congress, the Presidency, and the Judiciary in the Constitutional system of checks and balances. Furthermore, students explore how the Bill of Rights and other Constitutional amendments protect basic American civil liberties. Finally, students study the performance of both individual politicians and larger institutions within the American political system.

This is an online, asynchronous* course. Because I am invested in your success, I want to immediately dispel what is perhaps the greatest myth ever told about online learning: taking classes online is easy! Some people seem to think that online classes are easy because they are convenient. WRONG! While on-line classes are certainly convenient, the fact is that you have to complete all of the work for this class on your own. A professor is not standing in front of you two-three times a week reminding you of due dates. Other students are not sitting next to you comparing notes and trading tips. It takes discipline and focus to complete an online class successfully. I strongly suggest that you make yourself a weekly schedule that includes time set aside for the completion of assignments for this course. Once this schedule is made, I strongly encourage you to follow it religiously.

*Asynchronous means that students work on their own without designated class meetings.

The easiest way to navigate through this course is by clicking on the Modules tab in the left-hand navigation pane. If this is your first visit, check the Announcements tab and then begin your coursework. Advance through the pages in each module using the "Next >" button on the bottom right of your screen.

If you are accessing this course from a mobile device, please review the following: Canvas Student App.

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