POLITICAL SCIENCE 1113

AMERICAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Spring semester, 2008, (Section 11, 12:30 TTh, BT 307, ZAP 0838), (Section 12, 5:30 T, SH 210, ZAP 0839)

Instructor, Dr. Mike Sharp

Final exams: (Section 11, Thursday, May 8 at 1:00), (Section 12, Tuesday, May 6 at 5:30)

Required Text:

Burns, Peltason, Cronin and Magleby, Government by the People. Supplemental readings will be assigned during the course in addition to the required text.

Course Format:

This course is designed to provide a general introduction to the structure, organization and functioning of the national government of the United States. It will examine the powers and relationships of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government with special emphasis given to the role that history, political parties, pressure groups, etc. play in influencing these relationships. Students are required to keep current in their readings in both the text and their assigned readings for discussion.  Cell phones should be turned off in the classroom and cell phone usage during class is prohibited.

Grading:

Grades will be determined from course assignments and three exams given during the course of the semester. Two of the exams will be given during the course of the semester, the final will be given at the designated time during finals week noted above.  All exams will be weighted equally.  Provision is made for make-up exams for two purposes: 1) to take an exam missed on the regularly scheduled date or, 2) to improve an exam already taken. Elaboration on exam format and make-up exams will be provided during the first period of class. Class attendance and participation is expected and will influence the final evaluation in the course.

Special Considerations:

If any member of the class feels that he/she has a disability and needs special accommodations please advise the instructor of such disability at the first class attended. If any student encounters particular difficulty with any aspect of the material being covered, he/she is encouraged to seek individual assistance from the instructor at the designated office hours listed above or by special appointment as arranged. The university also provides a tutoring service which some students may find helpful.

Course Outline and Reading Assignment

This outline and reading assignment follows the table of contents of the Burns, et. al. text which is the primary, but not exclusive, source we will be using in this course.

PART I CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES

                    First Exam Study Guide/Term List

      Chapter 1 Constitutional Democracy

                    2 The Living Constitution

                            The Federalist Papers / The Anti-Federalist Papers

                    3 American Federalism

PART II THE POLITICAL PROCESS

      Chapter 4 Political Culture and Ideology

                    5 The American Political Landscape

                    6 Interest Groups: The Politics of Influence

                    7 Political Parties: Essential to Democracy

                    8 Public Opinion, Participation, and Voting

                    9 Campaigns and Elections: Democracy in Action

                  10 The Media and American Politics

PART III POLICY-MAKING INSTITUTIONS

      Chapter 11 Congress: The People's Branch

                   12 The Presidency: The Leadership Branch

                   13 Congress and the President

                   14 The Federal Bureaucracy: The Real Power?

                   15 The Judiciary: The Balancing Branch

PART IV RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES----material from this section may be integrated into the above material.

      Chapter 16 First Amendment Freedoms

                   17 Rights to Life, Liberty, and Property