POLITICAL SCIENCE 1113

AMERICAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT



<>Spring semester, 2012, (Honors, Section 8, 8:00 TTh, BT 307, ZAP 0201)
Instructor, Dr. Mike Sharp Office, HH107; Ph. (918) 456-5511, X3028; E-Mail, sharp@nsuok.edu
Hours, 9:15:  TTh and by arrangement.

Final exam: Section 8, Tuesday, May 3, at 9:00.

Required Text: Schmidt, Shelley, and Bardes, American Government & Politics Today.  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.

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Grading:

<> Grades will be determined from course assignments, chapter quizes, 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 after individual consultation with the instructor. Elaboration on exam format 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 Schmidt, Shelley, and Bardes text which is the primary, but not exclusive, source we will be using in this course.

Part I:  The American System

                    First Exam Term List
    Chapter  1  The Democratic Republic                                  
                   2  Forging a New Government:The Constitution
                            Excerpts from John Locke's Second Treatises of Government
                            The Federalist Papers / The Anti-Federalist Papers
                   3  Federalism
                   4  Civil Liberties
                   5  Civil Rights
                       First Exam Study Guide
                       First Exam Essay Questions
                    


Part II:   The Politics of American Democracy

                   6  Public Opinion, Political Socialization, and the Media
                   7  Interest Groups and Political Parties
                   8  Campaigns, Elections, and Voting Behavior          
                       Second Exam Study Guide/Term List
                       Second Exam Essay Questions
               


Part III:   Institutions of American Government

                     9  The Congress
                   10  The Presidency
                   11  The Bureaucracy
                   12  The Judiciary
                          Study Guide/Term List
                          Final Exam Essay Questions


Part IV:   Policymaking
                   13  Domestic and Economic Policy
                   14  Foreign Policy
                         Final Exam Term List/Study Guide         





 

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT:

 

Academic misconduct includes cheating (using unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise), plagiarism, falsification of records, unauthorized possession of examinations, intimidation, and any and all other actions that may improperly affect the evaluation of a student’s academic performance or achievement, or assisting others in any such act or attempts to engage in such acts. Academic misconduct in any form is inimical to the purposes and functions of the University and therefore is unacceptable and prohibited.

Any faculty member, administrator or staff member may identify an act of academic misconduct and should report that act to the department head/college dean, Vice President for Academic Affairs or administrative supervisor.

Students violating the standards of academic honesty are subject to disciplinary action including reduction of a grade(s) in a specific course, assignment, paper, or project; a formal or informal reprimand at the professorial, dean, or academic vice president level; expulsion from the class in which the violation occurred; expulsion from a program; or expulsion from the university.

 

ADA COMPLIANCE:

 

If any member of the class feels that he/she has a disability and needs special accommodations of any nature whatsoever, the instructor will work with you and the University's Office of Student Affairs to provide reasonable accommodations to ensure that you have a fair opportunity to perform in this class.  Please advise the instructor of such disability and the desired accommodations at the first class attended.

 

 

INCLEMENT WEATHER / DISASTER POLICY:

 

            The following are basic premises for the inclement weather policy at Northeastern:

1.       Safety of students and employees is the number one priority when implementing the inclement weather policy.

2.       Classes are expected to be held if at all possible.

3.      It is the student’s and faculty’s responsibility to receive the information when weather is questionable.

4.      Neither students nor faculty are expected to risk life or limb.

5.      Faculty are encouraged to be flexible regarding absences related to severe weather.

6.      If any one of Northeastern’s campuses is closed, it is the responsibility of the University to disseminate information pertaining to such closing as early as possible.

7.      Faculty members are obligated to hold classes if the university is not closed, unless the faculty member is unable to get to the campus.

 

Policy Statements:

1.      The specific person(s) responsible for making the decision concerning the closing of each of the three campuses are:  (Tahlequah-President and Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs; Broken Arrow –  Campus Dean in conjunction with the President and Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs; Muskogee –  Campus Dean in conjunction with the President and Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs).  The President will notify the Vice President for University Relations who in conjunction with his staff, will notify the public through the news media and the campus community through email, NSU homepage, NSU telephone message and switchboard message and other means when available.  The Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs will notify faculty.  

2.      During times of inclement weather, decisions concerning day classes will be made by 5:00 a.m. in order for the media to be notified and for the students to receive the announcement before they leave home.  Decisions concerning evening/night classes will be made by 1:00 p.m. if at all possible or feasible. 

3.      The following media will be notified regarding closing of the campus:

Radio Stations:  

KRMG                        740 AM                       Tulsa

KTLQ                         1350 AM                     Tahlequah

KEOK                         102 FM                       Tahlequah

KMMY (Y97)             9700 FM                     Muskogee

KVOO                                    1170 AM                     Tulsa

KBEZ                         92.9 FM                      Tulsa

KMYZ                                    104.5 FM                    Tulsa

KHTS                          106.9 FM                    Tulsa

 

Television Stations:

KJRH                          Channel 2                    Tulsa

KOTV                         Channel 6                    Tulsa

KTUL                         Channel 8                    Tulsa

 

Faculty members need to include this information (stations and call numbers) in all their course syllabi so that students will have a record of where they can obtain information.

 

4.       The message sent to the news media should indicate whether the entire campus is closed or if classes are not being held.  Unless the administrative offices are specifically mentioned as being closed, always assume they are open.  See Staff Handbook regarding leave for such occasions.

 

5.      Essential services will remain open with a skeleton crew:

a.       University Housing/Residence Halls

b.      Physical Plant

c.       Campus Police

d.      University Center

 

6.       The Physical Plan will clear sidewalks and parking lots based upon the “Accessible Route” plan.  This plan takes into consideration location of ADA entrances to buildings.   

 

7.      Classes are expected to be held if at all possible; however, occasionally a faculty member may not be able to get to class due to unique weather conditions in the area in which he/she lives.  If the University is open, but a faculty member feels it is impossible to travel to campus, he/she must notify the dean and request personal leave.  See Faculty Handbook, 6.12.

 

8.      Faculty are encouraged to be flexible regarding student absences due to inclement weather.  Consideration should be given to faculty developing make up material for distribution in case of faculty or student absences from individual classes.


Please go to http://offices.nsuok.edu/academicaffairs/SyllabiInformation.aspx for required information pertaining to:

 

1.            Academic Misconduct

2.            American Disabilities Act Compliance

3.            Inclement Weather/Disaster Policy

4.            Teach Act

5.            Accessibility

6.            Release of Confidential Information