Spring 2006

GOV 312L • Issues and Policies in American Government

Course Description

Fulfills second half of legislative requirement for 6 hours of American government. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. May be taken for credit only once.

We will consider how and how well American citizens are legally protected from discriminatory treatment by government and individuals. In particular, we will explore various perspectives on how "equality" is best understood within the context of the U.S. Constitution. In Part One, we will study the historical development of civil rights with respect to race, sex, and sexual preference. In Parts Two and Three, we will take up the subject areas of education, employment, marriage and violence, with emphasis on relevance to current political and legal issues. Students will develop the ability to critically analyze by examining competing perspectives on these issues and by applying the themes to current political controversies.

back