Final Reflection on Political Science 1:
The scope of Political Science is wide. To get started, we reviewed the basics, the history of the Constitution. We discussed the Constitution Convention, compared the Virginia plan, New Jersey Plan and the Great Compromise and how this would structure government today. This helped the students form their opinion of democracy and evaluate American politics. This was important framework as the course moved on to learn political strategies.
We continued to study the history of politics through discussions of federalism, unitary, confederal political systems and the theory of states’ rights through the three different systems. We built on what we learned and added the American political culture and how a growing diversity and inequality effects current politics.
The class dove deeper into politics and discussed campaigns, the current political parties, the media’s influence on voters and what public opinion polls really tell us. We compared and contrasted the campaigns from the 2012 Presidential election. The class work was to analyze the media ads from the campaigns and evaluate the information conveyed. So often these commercials become the background in the living room or a short break from the show we are watching. However, upon measured review of the location the ad is filmed, the action the candidate is performing, hand gestures, clothing, background music, you realize it all planned and intended to connect the candidate with the viewer.
We next moved on to Legislative and Executive Branches of government. We discussed the roll of each and the powers each holds. We examined the struggles democracy faces, the impacts our nation has at the world level and evaluated the lawmaking process. We learned about the working relationship between the branches and how federal bureaucracy relates to the policymaking process.
The next section discussed was the Judicial Branch. This was my favorite part of the class. I’ve worked for a law firm for over 20 years, primarily dealing with civil litigation; however, I regularly file in the California Appellate Courts and on occasion in the California Supreme Court. Beyond the state courts, the court system is fascinating and takes on a formal setting. The cases are no longer about he said, she but whether the laws were properly applied in the lower court. No new information is allowed, just a request for the case to be reviewed and determine if an error was made in the interpretation of law and when a need arises create new case law. During this section we had an opportunity to analyze and discuss the United States Supreme Court rulings and their effect on policy and procedures.
Finally, I am not currently enrolled in a course outside Political Science and therefore cannot say that the class is helping with another class. However, I have completed several courses earlier this year and I feel each has helped me prepare for the class that follows. I have completed Health Ed 044, History 7A, Protest Literature-Engl. 1B, and Philosophy 25 through Pasadena City College and Talent Acquisition (Mgmnt 450.2), Compensation Programs (Mgmnt 450.31), Benefits Programs (Mgmnt 450.32), Advanced Human Resources Management (Mgmnt 482.203) and Ethics or Human Resources Professionals (Mgmnt 859.50) through the UCLA Extension program. The practice of analyzing, summarizing and researching has strengthened the foundation of my writing. I have been introduced to many styles of teaching and learned APA, MLA and Chicago writing styles. Every course has offered me tools to build and improve upon for the next class. Ultimately these classes will help prepare me for future opportunities in work and school.
We continued to study the history of politics through discussions of federalism, unitary, confederal political systems and the theory of states’ rights through the three different systems. We built on what we learned and added the American political culture and how a growing diversity and inequality effects current politics.
The class dove deeper into politics and discussed campaigns, the current political parties, the media’s influence on voters and what public opinion polls really tell us. We compared and contrasted the campaigns from the 2012 Presidential election. The class work was to analyze the media ads from the campaigns and evaluate the information conveyed. So often these commercials become the background in the living room or a short break from the show we are watching. However, upon measured review of the location the ad is filmed, the action the candidate is performing, hand gestures, clothing, background music, you realize it all planned and intended to connect the candidate with the viewer.
We next moved on to Legislative and Executive Branches of government. We discussed the roll of each and the powers each holds. We examined the struggles democracy faces, the impacts our nation has at the world level and evaluated the lawmaking process. We learned about the working relationship between the branches and how federal bureaucracy relates to the policymaking process.
The next section discussed was the Judicial Branch. This was my favorite part of the class. I’ve worked for a law firm for over 20 years, primarily dealing with civil litigation; however, I regularly file in the California Appellate Courts and on occasion in the California Supreme Court. Beyond the state courts, the court system is fascinating and takes on a formal setting. The cases are no longer about he said, she but whether the laws were properly applied in the lower court. No new information is allowed, just a request for the case to be reviewed and determine if an error was made in the interpretation of law and when a need arises create new case law. During this section we had an opportunity to analyze and discuss the United States Supreme Court rulings and their effect on policy and procedures.
Finally, I am not currently enrolled in a course outside Political Science and therefore cannot say that the class is helping with another class. However, I have completed several courses earlier this year and I feel each has helped me prepare for the class that follows. I have completed Health Ed 044, History 7A, Protest Literature-Engl. 1B, and Philosophy 25 through Pasadena City College and Talent Acquisition (Mgmnt 450.2), Compensation Programs (Mgmnt 450.31), Benefits Programs (Mgmnt 450.32), Advanced Human Resources Management (Mgmnt 482.203) and Ethics or Human Resources Professionals (Mgmnt 859.50) through the UCLA Extension program. The practice of analyzing, summarizing and researching has strengthened the foundation of my writing. I have been introduced to many styles of teaching and learned APA, MLA and Chicago writing styles. Every course has offered me tools to build and improve upon for the next class. Ultimately these classes will help prepare me for future opportunities in work and school.