School of Behavioral and Social Sciences

WAYLAND BAPTIST UNIVERSITY FAIRBANKS CAMPUS School of Behavioral and Social Sciences

Wayland Baptist University exists to educate students in an academically challenging, learning-focused and distinctively Christian environment for professional success and service to God and humankind.

POLS 2301-Federal and State Government

TERM: Fall 2013

Instructor: Dr. Karen E. Dempster, Esq. BA, MED, EDS, JD.

Contact Information: 907-456-2365 (H), 907-978-7745 (C). Email: [email protected]

Office Hours: Eielson AFB, Thursday 2:00 – 5:30 PM, Saturday, 12 Noon, Doyon/Alayeska building, Rm. 302 B.

Class Time and Location: Tuesday, 6-10:00 PM, First Baptist Church of North Pole, down stairs.

Catalog Description: Survey course covering such topics as the national and state constitutions, institutional structures and processes, political parties, elections, civil liberties and civil rights.

There is no prerequisite for this course

Textbook: : POLS 2301. Federal and State Government

BOOK AUTHOR ED YEAR PUBLISHER ISBN# American Government Losco/Baker 3rd 2013 McGraw Hill 978-0-0774-09937 2013-2014

Optional Material: U. S. Constitution

Course Outcome Competencies: Students should be able to demonstrate knowledge of  national constitutions,  the major institutions of the national government,  the national policymaking process,  the electoral system, federalism, civil liberties and civil rights. Additional attendance policies:

Attendance: This is a real must for this course. Attendance is required. Excessive late arrivals or early departures will be taken into consideration when assessing absences. Material will be discussed in class, and included in the exams, that is not in the book. It is the students’ responsibility to obtain any material missed when absent regardless of the reason for the absence. The student must not miss any more than 3 classes. Absences beyond 3 classes or 25% of the class time may result in a failure in the class. In case of TDY’s or any absence, the instructor should be notified as soon as possible, preferably BEFORE the absence. Homework and Reading: Assigned homework and reading are to be completed for the class session for which they are assigned.

Quiz/Tests: All material assigned with be reviewed and tested each week. Quizzes will occur every week. Class discussions and Lectures are based on the reading.

Disability Policy: “It is the university policy that no otherwise qualified disabled person be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity in the university.” Your instructor is an ADA qualified dyslexic, and although bright, she makes frequent reversals- for which students get quiz points if they catch the mistake before the instructor corrects it. She believes in turning her handicap into a student advantage. She also will not tolerate any discrimination based on handicap. If you have a handicap, please inform the instructor as soon as possible.

Service for the Disabled: It is University policy that no otherwise qualified disabled person be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity in the University. Students should inform the instructor of existing disabilities at the first class meeting.

Incomplete Policy: A grade of incomplete is changed if the work required is completed prior to time set in the WBU catalog. If work is not completed by this date, the grade of “I” is automatically converted to the grade of “F”.

The University has a standard grade scale: A = 90-100, B = 80-89, C = 70-79, D = 60-69, F= below 60, W = Withdrawal, WP = withdrew passing, WF = withdrew failing, I = incomplete. An incomplete may be given within the last two weeks of a long term or within the last two days of a microterm to a student who is passing, but has not completed a term paper, examination, or other required work for reasons beyond the student’s control. A grade of “incomplete” is changed if the work required is completed prior to the last day of the next long (10 to 15 weeks) term, unless the instructor designates an earlier date for completion. If the work is not completed by the appropriate date, the I is converted to an F.

Method of determining course grade:  Final presentation is worth 200 points, 100 for presentation/100 for research and writing.  Paper on Most important civil liberty is 30 pts,  Paper on your political platform is 30 points  Quizes/discussions 10-20 points each Grade is total points earned divided by total possible points. Then the percentage is assigned a grade as above.

Instructor's policy on Academic Dishonesty: ACADEMIC INTEGRITY/CONDUCT Wayland Baptist University is committed to maintaining and upholding intellectual integrity. All students, faculty, and staff have obligations to prevent violations of academic integrity and take corrective action when they occur. The adjudication process will include the sanction imposed on students who commit the following academic violations, which may include a failing grade on the assignment, a failing grade for the course, suspension or dismissal from the University.

1. Plagiarism: Presenting as one's own the ideas, words or products of another. Plagiarism includes the use of any source to complete academic assignments without proper acknowledgment of the source. (Remember all sources must be cited inside the body of the text and the bibliography page to be complete. Failure to cite in both spots will fall under the violation of plagiarism). 2. Cheating: is a broad term that includes the following: a. Giving or receiving help from an unauthorized person(s) or materials during examinations. b. The unauthorized communication of examination questions prior to, during, or following administration of the examination. c. Collaboration on examinations or assignments expected to be individual work. d. Fraud and deceit, that includes knowingly furnishing false or misleading information or failing to furnish appropriate information when requested, such as when applying for admission to the University.

“Students are responsible for reading, understanding, obeying, and respecting all academic policies, with added emphasis being placed upon academic progress policies, appearing in the Wayland Baptist University Academic Catalog applicable to their curriculum and/or program of study.”

ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE

Federal and State Government Projects 1. The project is to be long enough to properly demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the particular aspect of government you have chosen to focus on (5-8 pages). 2. Each student will present their project to the class. Allow 5-10 minutes for both presentation and class comments/questions. This will occur on the second to last and last class. 3. All projects must be pre-approved before they are started-by Class #3, please have a proposal ready to be presented, as a paragraph to a page, briefly discussing your project topic. 4. All projects are to be typed, double spaced and of university quality. 5. Grading is on original thought and creativity of expression. 6. Examples: Focus on a topic of interest to YOU. * The Electoral Process- recent state or federal elections. * Civil Liberties before or after 9/11 * Freedom of Religion- how much does the First Amendment protect. * Illegal immigration-what is the position of the constitution/taxpayers. * Equal Rights * Privacy Rights-education, life of the child, birth control, marriage. * Economic Issues- National Debt, Obama Care *Your tax money & Bail-outs * Freedom of Speech-hate speech, the right not to speak *The Illinois Governor and selling of a US Senate seat. *Revising the current tax code *Shrinking the Federal Budget- what needs to go, be reduced *Unions- good, bad or otherwise in the 2013’s * Any other topic that is of interest to you and related to American Politics/Government

This schedule is subject to CHANGE. Assignments are reviewed each class meeting and any changes will be noted at that time.

Date Reading Do/Read______5/27/14 Chapter 1: Citizenship in Our Changing Pg. 3-15 Quizzes & Democracy Chapter 2: The Constitution Pg. 16-37 discussion. VERY IMPORTANT

6/03/14 Chapter 3: Federalism Pg. 38-60 Class disc + Amendment 9 & 10 pg 446 Chapter 14: The Courts Pg. 356-381. Quiz on reading. Art III, US Constitution (USC) Pg. 442-444.

6/10/14 Chapter 11: Congress Pg. 260-295 Quiz/discussion Art. I USC Chapter 12: President Pg. 296-328 Tic/Tac/Toe Teams , Art II, USC Amendment 22 & 25, Pg 445-446 pg. 437-442 . 6/17/14 Chapter 4: Civil Liberties Pg. 62- 91 Write a 1-3 page paper on what Pg 439-440, Amendments 1-9 YOU believe is the most important Civil Liberty and Why. Quiz/discussion 6/24/14 Chapter 5: Civil Rights Pg. 92-121 Quiz/Disc Amendments 13, 14, 15 & 19. Pg. 447-9 Tic/Tak/Toe Teams

7/01/14 Chapter 6: Public Opinion Listening to Citizens. Pg. 122-146. Chapter 7: Political Participation Pg. 148-172 Chapter 8: Interest Groups Pg. 174-200 Quiz/Disc Amendment 27 pg. 452 Submit Project Topic

7/08/14 Chapter 9: Parties & Political Campaigns Pg. 202- 229 Quiz/Essay Amendment 12, 17, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25 & 26. Pg. 446-452.

Chapter 10: Media:Tuning in or Tuning Out Pg. 230- 258. 2 Page essay: What would be your political platform, if you were running for US President, and why.

7/15/14 Chapter 15: Public Policy Pg. 382-404 Chapter 16: Foreign Policy Pg. 406-433. Quiz/Disc

7/22/14 Chapter 13: The Bureaucracy Pg. 330-353 Tic/Tak/Toe team

7/29/14 Present Projects- Each student will discuss their project for between 10-15 minutes media aids are encouraged. (Please let me know in advance if you need a TV/VCR or other devices). Question and Answer re: projects and areas of interest.

8/05/14 Present Projects