Course Description
Rationale for and resources in political science and civic/citizenship education, the role of teachers and schools in political socialization, and teaching procedures for instruction on global, national, state, and local citizenship.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Write a research paper or prepare instructional materials related to teaching politics, government, and citizenship.
Athena Title
Teaching Politics Govt Citizen
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in ESOC 5040E or ESOC 7040E
Prerequisite
Permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course is designed to help students... --develop knowledge of instructional materials and methods for teaching about politics, government, and citizenship in middle and high school settings --understand state-federal and state-local government functions and relationships in a context useful for school civics instruction --formulate a clear rationale for citizenship education in middle and high school social studies --become aware of and develop plans for using community resources to support citizenship instruction --investigate current events and public issues appropriate for consideration in middle or high school civics, government, and citizenship classes --complete an approved course project that has applicability to middle or high school civics, government, or citizenship instruction General Education Abilities: Communicate effectively through writing: Assimilate, analyze, and present in written forms, a body of information Compose effective written materials for various academic and professional contexts Produce writing that is stylistically appropriate and mature Critical Thinking: Consider, accommodate, and engage opposing points of view Communicate for academic and professional contexts Assimilate, analyze, and present a body of information Analyze arguments
Topical Outline
STATE GOVERNMENT I. Foundations of Government in Georgia A. Constitutional Government 1. The Federal System of Government 2. Separate Institutions Sharing Power 3. State Constitutions 4. Growth and Change in the Federal System B. Political Participation 1. Citizen Politics and Government Policies 2. Voting 3. Running for Public Office II. The Legislative Branch A. Representation in the General Assembly 1. Reapportionment 2. Who Gets Elected to the Georgia General Assembly B. Organization of the General Assembly 1. General Assembly Leadership 2. Staff Personnel 3. The Committee System C. Procedures in the General Assembly 1. How To Draft a Bill 2. The Bill's Journey 3. Legislators' Panel 4. Other Activities of the General Assembly III. The Executive Branch A. The Governor of Georgia 1. Election of the Office of Governor 2. Roles of the Governor 3. Recent Georgia Governors B. Executive Organization 1. Charting the Executive Branch 2. Reorganizing the Administrative Machinery 3. People in Government Service C. Education 1. Administering the Pu8blic Schools 2. Higher Education in Georgia D. Human Development 1. Welfare 2. Public Assistance 3. Social services E. Environmental Resources 1. Role of Government 2. Enforcement and Assistance 3. Transportation F. Business Regulation 1. State Agencies and Regulation 2. Protecting the Public's Health and Safety 3. Regulating Monopolies 4. Protecting against Fraud IV. The Justice System A. Protection against Crime 1. State Law Enforcement Agencies B. Courts 1. The Georgia Court System 2. Superior Court Personnel 3. Juries C. Judicial Procedure 1. Due Process of Law 2. Criminal and Juvenile Justice D. Corrections 1. Punishment: A Continuing Debate 2. Community Programs 3. Pardons and Paroles V. Financing of State Government A. Budget Making 1. Budget Making at the Capitol B. Taxes 1. State Taxes in Georgia 2. Federal Funds LOCAL GOVERNMENT I. Introduction A. Local Government-What Is It? What Does It Do? 1. How Does Local Government Affect You? 2. Local Governments in the United States 3. Local Governments in Georgia II. Georgia's Counties A. Counties 1. The Function of Counties 2. The Development of Georgia's Counties B. How County Government Is Organized C. The Officials Of County Government 1. Elected Officials 2. Appointed Officials 3. Government Is People 4. County Governments D. Working with Other Governments 1. Local Governments Carry Out State and Federal Programs 2. Counties cooperate with Other Counties and with Cities 3. Regional Development Centers III. Georgia's Cities A. Cities and How They Are Formed 1. What Is a City? 2. City Governments Interact with Other Levels of Government B. How City Government Is Organized 1. Who Has What Powers 2. Forms of City Government 3. Size and Complexity of City Government C. The Officials Who Deliver City Services 1. Elected Officials and Their Responsibilities 2. Making City Laws-The Legislative Role of a Council 3. Appointed Officials IV. How cities and Counties Serve the People A. Fire Protection B. Law Enforcement and Police Protection 1. The Sheriff 2. The Police C. Public Works 1. Solid Waste Disposal 2. Waste Collection 3. Waste Disposal 4. Recycling 5. Hazardous Waste 6. Dealing with Illegal Dumping 7. Roads and Streets 8. Whose Responsibility? D. Public Utilities 1. Water Systems 2. Sewerage Systems 3. Other Utilities E. Planning and Development 1. Land-Use Planning 2. Traffic Management 3. Parks and Recreation F. Human Services 1. Public Health 2. Public Assistance H. The Courts 1. Types of Court Cases 2. Superior Courts of Georgia I. Record Keeping V. Revenues and Expenditures A. Getting the Money to Pay the Bills 1. Property Taxes 2. Non-Property Taxes 3. Non-Tax Local Government Revenues 4. Borrowing Money 5. Collecting the Money B. Paying the Bills 1. Local Government Spending VI. Georgia's Special-Purpose Districts and Authorities A. Special-Purpose Governments B. School Districts
Syllabus