Carter Waterkeyn

POS 2041 SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Carter Waterkeyn Contact Information: [email protected] Office Hours: Mondays 630-7 pm Course Web Page: http://www.spcollege.edu/instructors/id/2494

ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE CONTACTS: Dr. David Liebert Academic Department Social and Behavioral Sciences Phone: (727) 712-5776

TEXTBOOK AND/OR REQUIRED SUPPLIES: American Government and Politics Today: The Essentials, 2015-2016 edition, Bardes, Shelley, Schmidt. ISBN-9781285853154

ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE COURSE PREFIX AND NUMBER: POS 2041 American National Government

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Prerequisite: ((ENC 0020 or ENC 0025) and (REA 0002 or REA 0017)) or EAP 1695 or appropriate score on the SPC placement test. This survey course provides a comprehensive examination of the American political system. Through this course students will become familiar with theory, organization, principles, and function of the American national government, and various elements within the political system that work to shape policy outcomes. This course partially satisfies the writing requirements outlined in the General Education Requirements. Credit is only given for one of the following: POS 2041 or POS 2050H or IDS 2103H. 47 contact hours.

MAJOR LEARNING OUTCOMES 1. The student will explain the purpose of government.

2. The student will understand the American federal system.

3. The student will examine the various philosophical, cultural and political experiences that impacted the creation and evolution of principles and values of the American political system.

4. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental principles and features of the original Constitution of 1787.

5. The student will demonstrate an understanding of civil liberties as contained in the Constitution and interpreted by the courts. 6. The student will demonstrate knowledge of various movements to secure civil rights protections.

7. The student will discuss the organization and functions of the legislative branch.

8. The student will describe the organization and functions of the executive branch.

9. The student will discuss the organization and functions of the judicial branch.

10. The student will describe the nature of policy-making and the factors that work to shape policy outcomes.

11. The student will demonstrate knowledge of the role of political parties and interest groups, and the impact of public opinion and political participation by diverse groups on the American political system.

12. The student will demonstrate increased ability in writing.

C. Course Objectives Stated in Performance Terms:

1. The student will explain the purpose of government by defining government and describing its purpose and function.

2. The student will understand the American federal system by:

a. defining and recognizing the arrangement of governmental power under federal systems.

b. defining and recognizing the arrangement of governmental power under unitary systems.

c. defining and recognizing the arrangement of governmental power under confederal systems.

3. The student will examine the various philosophical, cultural and political experiences that impacted the creation and evolution of principles and values of the American political system by:

a. researching the significance of incidents provoking opposition to British rule.

b. analyzing the values and theories incorporated in the Declaration of Independence.

c. outlining the structural arrangement of government under the Articles of Confederation.

--2- d. summarizing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

4. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental principles and features of the original Constitution of 1787 by summarizing:

(1) popular sovereignty (2)limited government (3)separation of powers (4)checks and balances (5)representative government (6)federalism - horizontal and vertical

5. The student will demonstrate an understanding of civil liberties as contained in the Constitution and interpreted by the courts by:

a. examining the liberties contained in the original Constitution.

b. examining the liberties contained in the Bill of Rights and other amendments to the Constitution.

c. examining the role of the United States Supreme Court in interpreting the liberties identified in the Bill of Rights and other amendments to the Constitution.

d. explaining how the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment is used to selectively incorporate liberties in the Bill of Rights.

6. The student will demonstrate knowledge of various movements to secure civil rights protections by:

a. defining civil rights and examining the concept of equality.

b. summarizing the importance of the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

c. examining the history and evolution of African-Americans’ rights, women’s rights, and other civil rights movements.

7. The student will discuss the organization and functions of the legislative branch by:

a. outlining the powers of Congress.

b. examining the differences and similarities between the two chambers of Congress.

c. explaining the law-making process of Congress.

8. The student will describe the organization and functions of the executive branch by:

--3- a. identifying the constitutional responsibilities of the president.

b. identifying the informal roles of the president.

c. outlining the responsibilities of the Executive Office of the President.

d. explaining the presidential election process and the role of the electoral college.

e. outlining the bureaucracy and its responsibilities.

9. The student will discuss the organization and functions of the judicial branch by:

a. outlining the federal court system.

b. identifying the jurisdiction of district courts, circuit courts, and the Supreme Court.

c. identifying and defining the types of law.

d. explaining the federal judicial appointment process.

e. explaining the meaning of judicial review.

10. The student will describe the nature of policy-making and the factors that work to shape policy outcomes by:

a. defining domestic and foreign policy and identifying the process determining priorities of policies.

b. explaining the role of the executive and legislative branches in formulation and implementation of domestic and foreign policy.

c. recognizing contextual influences on foreign and domestic policy-making.

11. The student will demonstrate knowledge of the role of political parties and interest groups, and the impact of public opinion and political participation by diverse groups on the American political system by:

a. describing the development and function of political parties.

b. examining the impact of public opinion on public policy emanating from government institutions.

c. examining the importance of the campaign process, voting and elections to a representative democracy.

--4- d. describing the functions and identifying the various types of interest groups.

e. describing the strategies used by interest groups and their impacts on policy-making.

12. The student will demonstrate increased ability in writing by planning and writing one or more of the following (all of which will be evaluated):

(1) research, analysis, outline, evaluation or other types of papers completed outside of the direct classroom experience. (2) research, analysis, outline, journal, evaluation or other types of essays completed during the direct classroom experience. (3) any type of expository, evaluative, persuasive or personal response writing as described in the college publication entitled "A Resource Manual for Writing Across the Curriculum."

ASSIGNMENTS: 3 Exams (100 points each, drop one) 200 points 8 Quizzes (25 points each) 200 points Semester Projects (dates to be announced based on current events) 100 points 10 In-Class Discussions (active participation worksheets) 100 points Total 600 points

Exams The exams will consist of: 1. Approximately 50 Multiple-choice and true-false questions (50 points) 2. 1 short written essay (250-500 words) (25 points) 3. Review Sheet (25 points)

Final exam note: The final exam will consist only of multiple-choice/true-false questions and will not be cumulative.

Quizzes There will be eight quizzes covering the weekly reading and lectures. The quizzes will be given on MyCourses; students have until Sunday night of each week to complete the quiz.

Discussions Most weeks there will be an active in-class discussion. Students must complete an active participation worksheet. This summary worksheet will act as a participation grade. There will be no make up for active participation activities.

Semester Project

--5- [Note: This course requires that students complete at least 2,000 written words in order to receive a passing grade. Furthermore, a passing grade of "C" must be accomplished if you are an A.A. degree-seeking student. A grade below "C" will not count toward graduation and you must repeat the course.] Three assignments related to current political events will be assigned during the semester to meet this requirement. Each assignment is worth 50 points.

GRADING: Students will be required to take 3 exams, eight quizzes, approximately 10 discussions and complete three minor projects. The two highest exam grades will be given equal weight of one hundred (100) points for a total of 200 points. The lowest exam grade will be dropped. Each of the weekly online quizzes will be worth twenty five (25) points for a total of 200 points. The discussion will each be worth ten (10) points for a total of 100 points. The 3 semester projects will be worth 150 points (50 each). This means there will be a total of 750 points available. These totals are approximations subject to change slightly. . Grading Scale A= 600-540 B= 539-480 C= 479-420 D= 419-360 F= 359 and below

Active Participation To be considered Actively Participating in this course, a student can miss no more than two class meetings and fail to submit three assignments. If a student is not actively participating by the 60% point in the course (March 22nd), the student will receive a grade of WF. Thereafter, the student will be given a grade of F at the end of the term. A student may voluntarily withdraw from this course up to the 60% point in the term (March 22nd).

ACADEMIC HONESTY: St. Petersburg College has an Academic Honesty policy. It is your responsibility to be familiar with the policies, rules, and the consequences of violations. Read about the policy at: http://www.spcollege.edu/academichonesty/. There is no tolerance for cheating and academic dishonesty. Discipline can range from a zero on that specific assignment to expulsion from the class with a grade of F. Note that copy/pasting published information, whether it's from your textbook or the Internet, without citing your source is plagiarism and violates this policy. Even if you change the words slightly, the ideas are someone else's, so you still have to cite your sources. Cheating, plagiarism, bribery, misrepresentation, conspiracy and fabrication are defined in Rule 6Hx23-4.461, Student Affairs: Academic Honesty Guidelines, Classroom Behavior.

CLASSROOM POLICIES: Students will adhere to all St. Petersburg College rules regarding attendance and behavior. Students must make up work for all absences according to St. Petersburg College make-up policies. Cell phone usage must not disrupt class. Cheating will result in a zero and disciplinary action.

--6- Syllabus Addendum http://www.spcollege.edu/addendum/

WEEKLY OR DAILY TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

1. Week of January 9 Introductions Review of Expectations Initial Discussion of American Political Climate Read Chapter 1 Online Quiz Chapter 1 Weekly Discussion

2. Week of January 16 No School Martin Luther King Day

3. Week of January 23 Read Chapter 2 Online Quiz Chapter 2 Weekly Discussion

4. Week of January 30 Read Chapter 3 Online Quiz Chapter 3 Weekly Discussion Exam 3 Review

4. Week of February 5th Exam 3 (Chapter 1-3) Review Exam 3

5. Week of February 12th Constitution Day Current Event Assignment and Lecture

6. Week of February 19th Read Chapter 11 Online Quiz Chapter 11 Weekly Discussion

7. Week of February 26th Read Chapter 12

--7- Online Quiz Chapter 12 Weekly Discussion

8. Week of March 5th Read Chapter 13 Bureaucracy Assignment

9. Week of March 12th Read Chapter 14 Online Quiz Chapter 14 Exam 3 Review

10. Week of March 19th Exam 2 Review Exam 2 Chapters 11, 12, 13 and 14

11. Week of March 26th Read Chapter 4 Weekly Discussion

12. Week of April 2nd Spring Break

13. Week of April 9th Read Chapter 5 Online Quiz Chapter 4&5 Weekly Discussion

14. Week of April 16th Read Chapter 6&7 Interest Group Assignment Optional Weekly Discussion

15. Week of April 23rd Read Chapter 8&9 Online Quiz Weekly Discussion Exam Review

16. Week of April 30th Exam 3 Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 (75 Multiple Choice and Exam Review Sheet)