Professor Wattier's POL 140 Course Syllabus

http://campus.murraystate.edu/academic/faculty/mark.wattier/p140s2006.htm 

Please visit this web site on a regular basis (at least weekly) for updates.

The instructor reserves the right to update the content of this web page.  

Department: Government, Law, and International Affairs

Course Number: POL 140   Credit Hours: 3   Semester: Spring, 2006 Title: American National Government

II. Instructor: Mark J. Wattier

    Office: FH-5A-9

     Telephone: 762-2695

     E-mail: Mark.Wattier@MurrayState.edu

     Office hours: 

III. Class location and meeting times: 9:30 - 10:45 T-TH in FH-509

IV. Catalog description: The American political system; its constitution, institutions, and processes. An approved social science general education elective.

V. Purpose: Political Science 140 is a course on the political process in America. Several topics are considered: why government is essential for social order; the constitutional and ideological foundations of our political system, parties, interest groups, campaigns, voting, and the policy-making institutions of government--Congress, the Presidency, Courts, and Bureaucracy.

VI. Course objectives: The primary learning objective of this course is to help citizens understand and perform their roles in a "democratic" society. This basic objective may be divided into more specific learning objectives: 

  1. To provide you knowledge of your rights as a citizen in this country;
  2. To provide you knowledge of your duties as a citizen in a democracy;
  3. To provide you knowledge of the ways in which you may influence your governments;
  4. To increase your awareness of how your governments influence the quality of your life.

VII. Course outline

1/17:  Course Introduction

I. CONFLICT, COMMUNITY, AND POLITICS:

WHAT MAKES POLITICS NECESSARY AND POSSIBLE IN AMERICA?

A. Human Conflict: The Seedbed of Politics

Read:  Conflict, Community, and Politics   

B. Community I: The Personal Dimension

Read: Jillson, Chap. 1 and "The Declaration of Independence", pp. 441-443

Web Sites: 

C. Community II: The Constitutional Dimension

Read: Jillson, Chap. 2; "The Articles of Confederation," pp. 444-449; "The Constitution," pp. 450-461; Federalist Papers #10, #51, and #78, pp. 462-472. 

Suggested Reading:  

 Sites:

D. Community III: Federalism

Read: Jillson, Chap. 3

Discussion Questions: 

  1. What are the powers exercised exclusively by the national government?
  2. What are the powers exercised exclusively by the state governments?
  3. What are the powers exercised concurrently by the national and state governments?
  4. What are the powers prohibited to the national government?
  5. What are the powers prohibited to the state governments?
  6. What are the powers prohibited to both national and state governments?

Web Sites:

TBA:  First Examination (Study Tips)

First Essay: Discuss the principle of balanced government.  What is balanced government?  Why is a balanced government necessary?  How is balanced government achieved through republicanism, federalism, and the separation of powers?  Discuss specific provisions of the Constitution that implement each of these principles.  Is balanced government perfect or does it have some imperfections? 

II. CONFLICT REPRESENTATION: WHO TAKES PART AND HOW?

A. Participating in Politics

Suggested Readings: 

B. Expressing Opinions

    Read: Jillson, Chap. 4 

    Web Sites:

C. Influencing Opinions by Mass Media

    Read:  Jillson, Chap. 5

    Web Sites:

D. Joining Interest Groups

    Read: 

    Web Site:

E. Joining Political Parties

    Read: Jillson, Chap. 7 

      Suggested Readings:

    Web Sites:

F. Leading Opinions in Election Campaigns

    Read: Jillson, Chap. 8

    Suggested Readings: 

    Web Sites: 

G.  Voting in Elections

    Read: 

    Suggested Readings:  

    Web Sites:

TBA:  Second Examination (Study Tips)

Second Essay:  Develop an essay on political participation (i.e., conflict representation) in America that answers the following questions:  Who participates in politics and why?  How do citizens participate?   What social, legal, and personal factors seem to have the most effect on participation? 

III. CONFLICT RESOLUTION: WHO MAKES PUBLIC POLICIES AND HOW?

A. Making Public Policy

Read: Formulating Policies and Thanksgiving [PDF]

B. Policy Leadership: The Presidency

Read: 

Web Pages:

C. Congress and the Adoption of Policy

Read: Jillson, Chap. 9

Visit:  

The Contract with America, adopted by House candidates for the 1994 off-year election, helped to "nationalize" the congressional campaigns.   

House Republicans and the Contract with America.  

D. The Federal Bureaucracy and Policy Implementation

Read: 

Suggested Reading: Warner, B. E. (2001). John Stuart Mill's Theory of Bureaucracy within Representative Government: Balancing Competence and Participation. Public Administration Review, 61(4), 403-413.  abstract  

Visit:  

Federal Reserve Education Home for useful information on personal finance, the operation of the Federal Reserve, and other economic matters.  

Senior Executive Service created as part of the Civil Service Reform Act ("Carter reforms") of 1978.   

E. The Courts and Policy Adjudication

Read: Jillson, Chap. 12  

Visit:  

 

F.  Civil Liberties and Civil Rights  

Read:  Jillson, Chap. 13

5/10: Third Examination (starting at 8:00 a.m.)

Third Essay: Develop an essay on public policy in America that answers the following questions:   What is public policy?    Who makes policy?   How is policy made?  What factors seem to have the most effect on how policy is made? 

VIII. Instructional activities: We shall study American politics in multiple ways, including but not limited to lectures, class discussions, speakers, reports, assigned readings, and web sites.

IX. Field and clinical experiences: None.

X. Resources: Course resources include an instructor with over twenty years experience, a web site created to complement this course, two excellent books, and--most importantly--students ready, willing, and able to learn.

XI. Grading procedures:  The course grade is based on the following point system--

The grading scale is--

Examinations: This course has three in-class, examinations. The dates for the first two examinations will be announced in class at least one week ahead of time.  The third essay examination will be administered during finals week. Each examination will have two parts:  (1) 50 objective questions and (2) a 50-point essay question.  Please note: the essay questions are listed in the course outline!      

Make-up examinations: Each student is expected to take examinations on the scheduled day. If an examination is not taken on the scheduled day, a make-up examination will be scheduled on another date.  If both opportunities to take an examination are missed, a score of 0 (zero) will be assigned. 

Assignments: During the course of the semester a variety of class assignments will be announced. These might include, for example, reviewing a movie or visiting a site on the World Wide Web. Written summaries of each project opportunity should be turned in within one (1) week of their announcement or of their occurrence. These summaries must include your name, date, and the number of possible points (+5, +10, etc.).

Book Report:  A book report that summarizes the key arguments presented by Robert Dahl in How Democratic is the American Constitution? is due Thursday, April 27, during class.  The report must follow a standard format. If you are not familiar with a standard format, consult either A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations or the Style Manual for Political Science:  

The department has adopted the Style Manual for Political Science for formal papers, effective Fall 2005.  It, therefore, is highly recommended that all political science majors and minors use the Style Manual for their book reports.  The paper should be your own work (see Statement on Plagiarism) and be well written (see The Write Stuff).  A "late" report will be penalized 15 points for each day it is late. The book report is worth 100 points.   

Impressive class participation as bonus points: Prior to each class read each assignment carefully and, to the best of your ability, be prepared to discuss the assignment in class. Class preparation is important because the subject of this course requires detailed study. A single reading of an assignment will not normally prepare you sufficiently for class discussion. Several readings of the assignments may be necessary. By class participation I mean both asking and answering questions grounded in each lecture topic. I sincerely welcome and wish to encourage your participation in class discussions. Class participation counts as bonus points; it can only help your grade.  Class attendance is surely a necessary condition for class participation; however, class attendance without participation does not earn class participation credit.  You may earn 10 points for each impressive act of class participation.  An "impressive" act is one that demonstrates careful study of the assigned reading material.  "Impressive, most impressive," young Skywalker! 

XII. Attendance policy: Students are expected to attend class. Students are expected to affix their signatures to a sign-in sheet.  If you miss a class for a reason covered by MuSU's attendance policy (see Spring 2006 Schedule of Classes, p. 6), please write a note that clearly explains the absence on the next day's sign-in sheet.  Attendance is worth 40 points.  There are approximately 30 class periods; therefore, to get to 40 points some days will be worth 5 points while most days will be worth 1 point.  

XIII. Textbooks: There are two required books, American Government, by Jillson, and How Democratic is the American Constitution?, by Dahl.  Jillson's book is the main textbook; Dahl's book, the book for the book report.  

XIV. Prerequisites: None

XV. Academic Dishonesty policy:  The Academic Honesty policy, as adopted by the Board of Regents, February 14, 1975, is incorporated into this syllabus (see 2003-2005 Undergraduate Bulletin, p. 50).

XVI. Students with Disabilities:  Students with bona fide disabilities should inform me privately and appropriate arrangements will be made.

XVII. Cell Phones: Please turn off cell phones when class begins.