American National Government

PLEASE READ ALL OF THIS SYLLABUS

This is America. It is not necessary to press 1 to proceed in English.

Department of Government, Law, and International Affairs

Murray State University

I. Title: POL 140, American National Government, Sections 2 & 3, Spring 2012

II. Instructor's name: Dr. Winfield H. Rose

      Office location: 5A-10 Faculty Hall
      Phone numbers: (270) 809-2662 (office); 753-0126 (home); 556-6342 (cell)
      FAX number: (270) 809-2688
      E-Mail: winfield.rose@murraystate.edu
      Homepage: http://campus.murraystate.edu/academic/faculty/winfield.rose/main.htm
       (Be sure to check this out; it contains this course syllabus and other useful information.)
     Office hours:   9:30 - 10:30 a.m. MWF; 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. TTh; 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. MW.

III. Class meeting time, location and language of instruction: 10:30 - 11:20 a.m. & 11:30 - 12:20 p.m., January 18 - May 4, 2012; FH 509; English.

IV. Content outline: see pages 2, 3, and 4 of this syllabus.

V. Required texts: (1) Cal Jillson, American Government: Political Change and Institutional Development, any edition. It is essential that each student purchase this book and read it carefully and regularly. A study guide to the text is available in the bookstore for optional purchase; it also is available on reserve at the Waterfield Library. This study guide contains useful information, including practice tests, that would be very helpful and its utilization is strongly recommended. (2) Winfield H. Rose, "The Theological, Philosophical, and Historical Foundations of the American Polity." This paper gives greater depth to topics covered in chapters 1 and 2 of the Jillson text and may be purchased at Copy Express (in Waterfield Library) for about $2.50.

VI. Instructional activities:

Classes will be a combination of lecture and discussion. Good note taking is absolutely essential. Class attendance is important and roll will be taken every day. Students should come to class with their assignment read and they should be prepared to ask as well as answer questions; class attendance and participation will comprise 15% of the course grade. There will be four major tests and a comprehensive final exam at the officially designated time. There will be no exemptions from this exam. Absences from tests will not be well received. "I just haven't had time to get ready" is not acceptable and neither is having a doctor's appointment (schedule it for some other time). If it is absolutely necessary to miss a scheduled exam, all make-up's will be given Friday afternoon May 4 at two o'clock in FH 509.

VII.   Grades will be determined as follows:
            Four major tests: 15%, 15%, 15%, and 15%.                             A: 91-100%
            Comprehensive final examination: 15%                                     B: 82-91%
            Outside writing assignment: 15%                                               C: 73-82%
            Class attendance, preparation, and participation: 15%              D: 63-73%
                   (Total = 105%)                                                               E: below 63%

VIII. Prerequisites: An inquiring mind, a desire to learn, and a willingness to work. If you do not have these, you should not be here.

IX. Purpose and Objective. The purpose and objective of the course is to give the student a basic knowledge and understanding of what the American political system is and how and why it works as it does so that he/she may be a better informed citizen and a more effective participant in the political process. It also counts as a Category IV social science elective in the university studies requirements.
You should be different for having been here and taken this course. You should know and understand more on May 4 than you do on January 18. You should be better prepared to be a good citizen the rest of your life. Taking this course should move you toward achieving the "Characteristics of the Murray State University Graduate." If these do not happen, then you have failed and I have failed. (See "Philosophy of Teaching" on my homepage.)

X. Extra Credit. Extra credit may be earned by renting and viewing classic movies related to the course. Examples are Advise and Consent, The Candidate, All the President's Men, Gideon's Trumpet, The Ugly American, and Inherit the Wind. Others should be pre-approved in advance and all require the submission of a report for credit to be received. Instructions may be obtained by clicking here.
Extra credit also may be received by reading and reporting on newspaper, magazine, internet and journal articles. You should write a short summary of the article, explain its relevance to the course, and attach a xerox copy. The same may be done for the websites listed/linked later in this syllabus except simply attach a downloaded and printed copy.
Extra-credit points will not raise a low C to a B or a low B to an A; they will, however, help tilt you toward the higher grade if you are on the borderline between the two, and the more points you have, the better off you will be. You will receive one point for each submission; there is no limit to the number of submissions, and you may submit them until the last regular class period.

XI. Academic Honesty. The policy on academic dishonesty adopted by the Murray State University Board of Regents in 1975 and reprinted in all official academic bulletins is hereby incorporated into this syllabus. Please read and study it carefully; it will apply to you.

XII. Other class policies: You are asked not to: (1) have a cell phone or pager go off in class, or text message; (2) talk to one another when it is time for class to begin or after it has begun; (3) use a cell phone, iPod or similar apparatus; (4) wear caps in class; (5) eat in class; (6) be late habitually; (7) read or study other material or do homework for another class; or (8) leave or prepare to leave before class is dismissed. Such activities will not be well received. Quietly drinking Cokes, Pepsis, coffee, etc., and laptops for taking notes are acceptable, but please turn off all cell phones and similar electronic devices when class begins. Having such devices go off in class is highly distracting, rude and inconsiderate, and simply cannot be tolerated. The first time your cell phone disrupts class you will be asked to gather your things and leave for the day; the second time it disrupts class your departure will be permanent.

Recording Class Sessions Policy: The surreptitious recording of class sessions is prohibited. The recording of class sessions is permitted only with the advance consent of the instructor. Violation of this policy will result in expulsion from the course, a grade of E, and the invocation of university disciplinary procedures. Also please note that young ladies and gentlemen do not post defamatory comments about the instructor in social media.

XIII. Students with Disabilities: The Office of Student Disability Services (OSDS) is designed to coordinate and administer services and accommodations for students with documented disabilities. In doing so, OSDS will review disability documentation, meet with students to determine appropriate reasonable accommodations, and work with other areas on campus to implement services. Their goal is to provide individuals with disabilities access to programs, services, and activities at Murray State University. Contact Information: Velvet Wilson, Director, 423 Wells Hall, (270) 809-5737,
velvet.wilson@murraystate.edu

XIV. Equal Opportunity: Murray State University endorses the intent of all federal and state laws created to prohibit discrimination. Murray State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status, or disability in employment, admissions, or the provision of services and provides, upon request, reasonable accommodation including auxiliary aids and services necessary to afford individuals with disabilities equal access to participate in all programs and activities. For more information, contact the Director of Equal Opportunity, 103 Wells Hall, (270) 809-3155 (voice), (270) 809-3361 (TDD), sabrina.dial@murraystate.edu.

XV. Political Science Internet Resources. There is a great amount of information available on the WorldWideWeb and I urge you to spend some time surfing the internet for political and historical information on the United States. If you are not familiar with this process, go to the title page of my homepage and click on the links there. Yahoo is the best search engine on politics and public affairs. Political Documents contains documents such as the Declaration of Independence, Jurist contains much timely information and Findlaw is an excellent source of court opinions and other legal materials. The Federal Web Locator , ROLL CALL, PoliSci.com,and the Federal Internet Guide are excellent guides to the federal government on the 'net. Virtually every federal agency has its own website; for example, see the Internal Revenue Service and the FBI.

XVI. Newspapers and Television. American National Government is a political science course that is timely and relevant. Politics happens all the time, and is reported in the media constantly. Illustrations of principles and ideas discussed in your text and in class will occur almost every day. It is imperative for the good student and the good citizen to keep up with these developments by reading newspapers, magazines, and watching television news. You should read at least one good newspaper a day; better yet would be one national paper such as USA Today and a local paper. One of the best features of newspapers is columns written by nationally-syndicated political analysts such as George Will, Michael Gerson, Juan Williams, Kathleen Parker, Suzanne Fields, Charles Krauthammer, Thomas Sowell and others; these are usually found on the editorial page (and they also may be found on-line) and provide excellent analysis and interpretation of the news as well as news itself.
The Fox News Channel is, in my view, the best source of news on television ("We report; you decide.") It is a 24/7 channel and is carried on cable and satellite television as well as on Sirius and XM satellite radio. Fox's daily newscast at 5 p.m. with Bret Baer is, again in my view, the best single hourly newscast on television and I urge you to watch it. C-Span I and II provide continuous coverage of important events. CNN, CNBC and MSNBC are also available.. To be an intelligent voter in particular and a good citizen in general, your learning must be a continuous, diligent, and life-long process.

COURSE OUTLINE

I. Introduction (Jillson ch. 1, the Mayflower Compact, and the Declaration of Independence)
A. Goals for the course. Why study American government ? Fallacies Colleges Get Failing Grades on Civics

Thucydides: We alone regard a man who takes no interest in
public affairs, not as harmless, but a useless character.

B. What is government ? Some basic definitions.
C. What is government for ? How much should government do?

Madison: "If men were angels, no government would be necessary."
Aristotle: ". . . the main concern of politics is to engender a certain character in the citizens
and to make them good and disposed to perform noble actions."
Gladstone: "It is the duty of the government to make it easy for the people to
do right, and difficult for the people to do wrong."

      D. Political and Economic Options; Winfield H. Rose, "On the Nature of Good
           Citizenship in a Democratic Society. (on Internet; access via my homepage)
       E. Rose, "The Theological, Philosophical, and Historical Foundations of the
                American Polity." (Purchase at Copy Express.)

II. The Formal Institutional Setting (Chs. 2 & 3)
        A. Articles of Confederation (read in Appendix)
        B. The Constitution (read in Appendix)
                1. The Founding Fathers and the Constitutional Convention of 1787
                2. Plans, proposals and compromises
                3. Ratification and The Federalist Papers (see Appendix; read #'s 10 & 51)
                4. Interpretations: Beard and McDonald
                5. Fundamental Principles and Features
                        a. separation of powers and checks and balances
                        b. federalism and the types of powers
                        c. Amendments 11-27; amendments officially proposed but not ratified; amendments introduced but not officially proposed

III. Inputs: Public Opinion and the Mass Media (Chs. 4 & 5)
        A. Examine the websites Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, Rasmussen Reports,
         The Gallup Organization, Harris Poll Online, and Public Agenda Online
        B. Definitions and characteristics
        C. Political socialization and its agents
        D. Propaganda. Click on Propaganda Analysis HomePage and study the types and examples of propaganda presented there. You will be responsible for this.
       E. Common logical fallacies you likely will encounter in political debate and discussion.

        F. Mass media and the "Madison Avenue" approach to politics: politicians as soap and toothpaste.
        G. The mass media: are they "out of touch" and can they be believed?
        H. The talk radio and talk t.v. phenomena (see the Guide to Talk Radio Programming.)

IV. Input Linkage I: Political Parties (Ch. 7)
        A. What is a political party?
        B. Party identification in the American electorate
        C. Functions of political parties
        D. Party systems: one-, two-, and multi-
        E. Why a two-party system in the United States?
        F. Party organization and structure
        G. Party lineage, doctrine, and dominance
        H. Political parties in the American system: an evaluation. See Center for Party
         Development.