WINTHROP UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

PLSC 201 (Section 005):  American Government

Fall 2007 ♦ Time: TR 8:00am-9:15AM ♦ Location: Kinard 201

Instructor: Dr. Adolphus G. Belk, Jr.

Office: 332 Bancroft

Office Hours: TR 3:30-5:00PM and by appointment

Phone: (803) 323-4663 ♦ Fax: (803) 323-2568

E-mail: belka@winthrop.edu

Website: http://faculty.winthrop.edu/belka

Course Description

Welcome to PLSC 201: American Government.  This course is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of U.S. government and politics.  Throughout the term, politics will be seen as inextricably linked to economics.  Thus, the culture of American politics, the founding, the American political process, the institutions of American government, and the evolution of public and foreign policies will be viewed within the shifting economic context that impacts and is influenced by their development.  The role of race, class, and gender in American politics is a concomitant focus of the course.

This course fulfills a Social Science requirement in the General Education program.  It also meets the state’s and University’s requirement for a course on the Constitution of the United States.

This course also addresses the following general education goals: 1.1, 4.2, 7.1, 7.2 and 7.4.

Course Objectives

At the close of the term, students will be able to think critically about American political culture, politics, institutions, and policy.  More specifically, students will be able to:

1. Detail the evolution of “We the People” over time and how we have come to define the American political community.

2. Understand American political culture and core values and how they influence U.S. politics.

3. Comprehend the issues and conflicting interests leading to the development of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.

4. Understand the basic structure and operation of the American political system and the evolution of American federalism over time.

5. Grasp the role of political parties, campaigns and elections, and interest groups in American government and politics.

6. Critically evaluate public opinion polls and surveys and assess their relationship to the American democratic enterprise.

7. Appreciate the role of the mass media in American government and politics.

8. Detail the forces that help determine the balance of power between the institutions of American government (i.e., Congress, the executive branch, and the Courts).

9. Assess the relationship between American political institutions and the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of public and foreign policies.

10. Detail the institutions that make up the American foreign policy establishment and the values that guide American foreign policy decisions.

Lastly, at the conclusion of the term, students will have acquired sufficient knowledge to carry out future work in the study of American government and politics.

Requirements and Guidelines

It is my sincere hope that each student will do well in the course.  For this to happen, students must live up to the responsibilities and requirements outlined in this syllabus.  Consequently, each student will be expected to:

1. Complete the readings prior to the class in which the material will be discussed.

2. Attend lectures.  Attendance is not required.  The lectures, however, are designed to build upon and expound the assigned readings—they do not simply regurgitate the textbooks.  Moreover, regular attendance and thorough lecture notes will be two of your most valuable resources for the examinations.  Thus, it will be to the student’s advantage to attend all class meetings.  Participate in making the class a meaningful, productive learning experience for all.

3. Ask questions.

4. Show sensitivity and respect for your colleagues and the instructor.  This also includes turning off all cell phones and/or pagers. (Note: I will answer your phone if it rings.)

5. Hand in assignments on the date they are due.  Please note that a late assignment will be penalized one full letter grade for each day that it is overdue.

6. Take examinations on the date that they are scheduled.  A student who fails to take an exam on the scheduled date—and who also fails to offer proper documentation to explain her or his situation—will take a make-up exam entirely comprised of essay questions.

7. Inform the instructor of any concerns.

8. Make suggestions on how the course could be improved.

9. Abide by the Winthrop University Code of Conduct.

Finally, open your mind to the material.  Learn, debate, challenge, and grow.

Required Readings

Benjamin Ginsberg, Theodore J. Lowi, and Margaret Weir, We the People: An Introduction to

American Politics, 6^th edition (Hereafter referred to as GLW)

David T. Canon, John J. Coleman, and Kenneth R. Mayer, The Enduring Debate, 4^th edition

(Hereafter referred to as CCM)

Textbooks can be purchased from The Bookworm, Books That Matter, or other fine bookstores or online vendors.

Evaluation and Grading

Students will be evaluated and graded based on the following criteria:

1. Class Participation (10%): Students must participate in class.  Be advised, however, that participation includes raising relevant questions, answering relevant questions, and, from time to time, taking part in in-class group assignments or exercises.

2. Quizzes (10%): Quizzes will be both announced and unannounced.  The point: be prepared.  All quizzes will be of the multiple-choice variety.

3. Examinations (60% total): There will be four (4) examinations.  Each exam is worth 15% of your final grade.  Students are expected to take exams when they are scheduled on the syllabus.  Tests will begin at the appointed time and will be a combination of essay and multiple-choice questions.

4. Writing Assignments (20%): Each student will write a "point/counter-point" essay in which she or he explores two opposing sides of any current and contentious issue in American government and politics.  The assignment must be 5 pages in length (no more, no less), typed, double-spaced, stapled, and have standard margins and consecutively numbered pages.  Students also must include a bibliography or “work cited” page.  (Note: A cover sheet or reference page will not count toward the allotted number of pages.)  Four pages of the assignment will be devoted to each side the issue (e.g., the case for raising the minimum wage; the case against raising the minimum wage).  With the final page of the paper, the student will articulate her or his own perspective concerning the issue at hand.  Your argument must be persuasive, substantiated by relevant research, and eloquently written.  Please do not use a font smaller than Times New Roman 12.

Lastly, the following sources are not considered appropriate for this assignment:

• Encyclopedias

• Wikipedia, About.com, Infoplease.com or other on-line sources that are not vetted by an editor or peer reviewed. Web logs (blogs), personal web sites and the like are examples.

• Textbooks

Grading:

The “N” Grade Issue:

This semester, the deadline to withdraw from a course with an automatic grade of “N” is Friday, October 20^th.  After that date, no student who does not have a “C” or better average will be allowed to drop the course with an “N” grade.

Assignment and Examination Schedule

Course Calendar

Note: The course calendar will be adjusted to accommodate events that provide significant learning opportunities for students, weather conditions, etc.  Additionally, a more detailed calendar may be issued at the instructor’s discretion.

Part One: Foundations

Week 1            Tue.     August 21                    Introduction

                        Thu.     August 23                    American Political Culture

                                                                        GLW Chapter 1; CCM Hartz, Smith

Week 2            Tue.     August 28                    The Founding

                                                                        GLW Chapter 2 (p. 33-45); Declaration of Independence

                        Thu.     August 30                    The Constitution of the United States

GLW Chapter 2 (p. 45-69); The Constitution;

Federalist No. 10, No. 51; CCM Beard, Brown

Week 3            Tue.     September 4               The Constitution of the United States and Federalism

                                                                        The Constitution; GLW Chapter 3

                        Thu.     September 6               Civil Liberties

                                                                        GLW Chapter 4 (p. 110-132)

Week 4            Tue.     September 11             Civil Liberties

                                                                        GLW Chapter 4 (p. 132-146); CCM Pearlstein, McCarthy

                        Thu.     September 13             Civil Rights

                                                                        GLW Chapter 5 (p. 150-170); CCM King

Week 5            Tue.     September 18             Civil Rights

                                                The Declaration of Sentiments;

GLW Chapter 5 (p. 170-191)

                        Thu.     September 20             Review For Exam #1

Week 6            Tue.     September 25             Exam #1

Part Two: Politics

                        Thu.     September 27             Political Socialization and Public Opinion

                                                                        GLW Chapter 6; CCM Gallup, Morin

Week 7            Tue.     October 2                    The Media

                                                                        GLW Chapter 7; CCM Cunningham, Myrick

                        Thu.     October 4                    Political Participation and Voting

GLW Chapter 8, CCM People for the American Way, Fund

Week 8            Tue.     October 9                    Political Parties

                                                                        GLW Chapter 9, CCM Marlantes, Fiorina (p. 415-19)

                        Thu.     October 11                  Campaigns and Elections

                                                                        GLW Chapter 10

                                                                        WRITING ASSIGNMENT DUE IN CLASS

Week 9            Tue.     October 16                  FALL BREAK: NO CLASS

                        Thu.     October 18                  Groups and Interests

CCM de Tocqueville; GLW Chapter 11;

CCM Skocpol, Rauch

Week 10          Tue.     October 23                  Review For Exam #2

Thu.     October 25                  EXAM #2

Part Three: Institutions

Week 11          Tue.     October 30                  Congress

Membership of the 110^th Congress: A Profile

GLW Chapter 12; CCM Mayhew

Thu.     November 1                Congress

GLW Chapter 12; CCM Paige, Cohn

Week 12          Tue.     November 6                The Presidency

                                                                        GLW Chapter 13; CCM Jones

                        Thu.     November 8                The Presidency

GLW Chapter 13; CCM Neustadt

Week 13          Tue.     November 13              The Courts

CCM Hamilton; GLW Chapter 15; CCM O’Brien

Thu.     November 15              Review For Exam #3

Week 14          Tue.     November 20              EXAM #3

Thu.     November 22              THANKSGIVING BREAK: NO CLASS

Part Four: Policy

Week 15          Tue.     November 27              Government and the Economy

GLW Chapter 16

Thu.     November 29              Social Policy

                                                                        GLW Chapter 17; CCM Burtless

                        Thu.     December 6, 8am       FINAL EXAM

Institutional Support Services

Dacus Library

Everything cannot be found on the Internet.  Dacus Library is the primary provider on campus of scholarly information in all forms from print to electronic.  To fulfill its mission, the library provides information quickly, efficiently, and in sufficient depth to promote the excellence of all academic programs offered by the university.  Additionally, the library maintains depository status for federal and state publications.  For information on library hours call (803) 323-2362.

The Writing Center

Students who wish to improve their writing skills should seek assistance from the Writing Center, located at 242 Bancroft.  Tutors works with students on an individual basis in all phases of the writing process and on academic and writing projects in any discipline.  Call (803) 323-2138 for information regarding hours of operation and services.

Services for Students with Disabilities

Winthrop University is dedicated to providing access to education.  If you have a disability and need classroom accommodations, please contact Gena Smith, Coordinator, Services for Students with Disabilities, at (803) 323-3290, as soon as possible.  Once you have your Professor Notification Form, please tell me so that I am aware of your accommodations well before the first assignment, test, or paper.

Academic Honesty and Integrity

The Student Conduct Code appropriately notes, “A fundamental tenet of all institutions of higher learning is academic honesty.  Academic work must depend upon respect for an acknowledgement of the research and ideas of others.  Misrepresentation of someone else’s work as one’s own is a most serious offense in any academic setting.”  Winthrop University is no exception.  In short, academic integrity is very important and misconduct, in any form, will not be condoned.  If you have any questions regarding academic honesty and student conduct, please review Section V of the Student Conduct Code.

Political Science Department Statement on Plagiarism and Academic Misconduct

The Winthrop University Political Science department abhors all forms of academic misconduct, and faculty members aggressively investigate all incidents of suspected cheating. This includes, but is not limited to, using www.turnitin.com.

Plagiarism, whether intentional or unintentional, is by far the most common form of academic misconduct in the Political Science department. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

• Using the words or ideas of others as one’s own;

• Reproducing, in whole or in part, principal ideas from a fellow student’s work;

• Granting a fellow student permission to copy one’s paper, or to reproduce some or all of its principal ideas;

• Quoting or paraphrasing material from sources without any citation;

• Quoting or paraphrasing material without sufficient and/or proper citation;

• Omitting some or all sources used in a paper; and

• Submitting a paper written for one course -- whether in Political Science or another discipline -- to meet a course requirement in a second course, without the express permission of all instructors involved. This is the case even though many paper topics may be relevant to several different courses.  

All incidents of suspected academic misconduct are investigated with equal vigor.

When a faculty member suspects that a student engaged in academic misconduct, the faculty member will follow the appropriate procedures outlined in the Student Handbook. The faculty member will apply whatever sanctions s/he deems appropriate. Possible sanctions include, but are not limited to:

• Failing the assignment;

• Requiring a student to repeat an assignment for reduced credit;

• Requiring a student to repeat an assignment for no credit; or

• Failing the course.

Academic misconduct applies equally to required assignments and extra credit assignments.

All incidents of academic misconduct will be reported to the Department Chair, the Dean of Students, the Dean of Arts and Sciences and the student’s academic advisor. The University may impose its own sanctions in addition to sanctions imposed by the faculty member or the department. The University may impose sanctions even after a student has graduated, and may include revoking a student’s diploma.  

In addition, students who engage in more than one incident of academic misconduct may be declared ineligible for departmental awards, ineligible for employment in the department or its affiliated programs, and ineligible to volunteer as a peer advisor.