Course Number: SS205

Course Title: Micronesian Government and Politics

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES 

General 

Specific 

Students will be able to:

1.1 Differentiate parliamentary government from presidential government systems within the Micronesian region.
1.2 Identify the main features of the parliamentary form of governments in the Micronesian region such as Republic of the Marshall
     Islands and Nauru.
1.3 Identify the main features of the presidential form of governments in the Micronesian region such as Federated States of
      Micronesia and Republic of Palau.
1.4 Explain by comparing and contrasting the system of government in the Federated States of Micronesia to the ones in the other
     two freely associated states, namely Marshall Islands and Palau.
2.1 Critically discuss the formation of the different levels of government systems in the islands of Micronesia.
2.2 Differentiate the federal system of government in the Federated States of Micronesia from other forms of federal systems in the
     Micronesian region.
2.3 Write a critical essay on the rationale for adopting a federal system of government in the Federated States of Micronesia
2.4 Explain how the concepts of separation of power and check and balance work at the state and national levels of government in
     the Federated States of Micronesia.
2.5 Examine why various political statuses exist in the Micronesian regions.
2.6 Discuss how local politics affect the election of the president and vice president in the FSM and how this differs from other islands
     in Micronesia.
2.7 Discuss how electoral processes occur in the different levels of government and differentiate differences within the islands in
     Micronesia.
2.8 Discuss why the FSM Congress is generally perceived as more powerful than the president in the national level.
2.9 Compare and contrast the election of the president in the FSM to the election of the president of Palau and other head of states
     in the different Micronesian islands.
3.1 Discuss the similarities and differences between the different constitutions of the Micronesian Island Nations.
3.2 Define "Sovereign State" as indicated in the islands' constitution.
3.3 Define "citizenship" according to the islands' constitution.
3.4 List, define and explain the basic roles of citizens and other crucial political infrastructures such as the interest groups, political
     parties, and other nongovernmental organizations.
3.5 Examine the Electoral systems of the different Micronesian islands according to their constitutions.
4.1 Differentiate colonialism from decolonialism.
4.2 Explain by writing a critical essay on how colonization influenced the political practices of contemporary Micronesian islands and
     people.
4.3 Discuss events leading to the process of decolonialization in Micronesia.
4.4 Identify the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands as the forerunner of the FSM, Marshall Islands, and Palau.
4.5. Identify the political status of each of the political entities in the Micronesian region leading from decolonization.
4.6 Critically discuss Compact of Free Association and its implication on the freely associate states in Micronesia.
5.1 Explain impact of tradition on Micronesian politics.
5.2 Identify the formal roles assigned to the traditional leaders of the Marshall and Palau at the national level of their respective
     government.
5.3 Explain how the national constitution defines a role for the traditional leaders in modern governance in the Federated States of
     Micronesia.
5.4 Discuss by critically writing an essay on women's authority in traditional Micronesian societies.
5.5 Explain the role of women in modern politics vis-a-vis their roles in traditional societies.
5.6 Write a properly documented research paper on a selected topic.