St. Petersburg College HONORS AMERICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT Session I, 2016-2017 POS 2041H
COURSE POLICIES
Instructor: Suzanne C. Preston, J.D. Phone: (727) 791-2572 E-mail [email protected] (Preferred e-mail communication through mycourses) Office: ES 313 Office Hours: Posted on office door Required Materials: American Government and Politics Today: The Essentials, 18th edition, Barbara Bardes, Mark C. Shelley, and Steffen W. Schmidt, Wadsworth, Cengage Learning 2014, ISBN 13:978-1-133-60437-2. (or similar alternative).
Computer access: for the on-line component of this course which will include weekly announcements, lessons, discussion forums and quizzes as well as information regarding tests and written assignments.
Course Prerequisite: ENC 0020 or EAP 1695 or a satisfactory score on the SPC placement test
I. Course Description:
POS 2041H American National Government...... 3 credit
This survey course provides a comprehensive and analytic examination of the American political system to students eligible for Honors classes. Through various teaching and learning methodologies, the student will become familiar with the theories, organization, principles and functions of the American national government. The course will cultivate independent, active learning, student participation and encourage the use of logical reasoning, in-depth analysis and critical thinking skills to examine the various elements within our political system which shape policy outcomes. Enrollment is limited to students approved to take Honors courses at the College. This course partially satisfies the writing requirements outlined in the General Education Requirements.
This is a small, select class and will be conducted in the “seminar format” instead of the traditional lecture model; as such preparation and participation will be essential to the success of the class as a whole as well as your individual grade. Students are expected to come to class prepared by having read the assigned text reading and to actively engage in discussions. - 2 -
II. Course Goals and Objectives:
A. The student will acquire understanding of the purpose of government by: 1. Defining government and describing its purpose and function.
B. The student will acquire understanding of the American federal system and other governmental systems by: 1. Defining and recognizing the arrangement of governmental power under federal systems. 2. Defining and recognizing the arrangement of governmental power under unitary systems. 3. Defining and recognizing the arrangement of governmental power under confederal system.
C. The student will acquire understanding of the various philosophical, cultural and political experiences that impacted the creation and evolution of principles and values of the American political system by: 1. Examining the significance of incidents provoking opposition to British rule. 2. Examining the values incorporated in the Declaration of Independence 4. Examining the values theories incorporated in the Declaration of Independence. 5. Outlining the structural arrangement of government under the Articles of Confederation. 6. Summarizing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
D. The student will acquire 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
E. The student will understand civil liberties as contained in the Constitution and interpreted by the courts by: 1. examining the liberties contained in the original Constitution. 2. examining the liberties contained in the Bill of Rights and other amendments to the Constitution. 3. 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. 4. Explaining how the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment is used to selectively incorporate liberties in the Bill of Rights.
F. The student will demonstrate knowledge of various movements to secure Civil Rights protections by: 1. defining civil rights and examining the concept of equality. 2. summarizing the importance of the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. 3. examining the history and evolution of African-Americans’ rights, women’s rights, and other civil rights movements. - 3 -
G. The student will demonstrate knowledge of the organization and functions of the legislative branch by: 1. outlining the powers of Congress. 2. examining the differences and similarities between the two chambers of Congress. 3. explaining the law-making process of Congress.
H. The student will demonstrate knowledge of the organization and functions of the executive branch by: 1. identifying the constitutional responsibilities of the President. 2. identifying the informal roles of the President. 3. outlining the responsibilities of the Executive Office of the President. 4. explaining the presidential election process and the role of the Electoral College. 5. outlining the bureaucracy and its responsibilities.
I. The student will demonstrate knowledge of the organization and functions of the judicial branch by: 1. outlining the federal court system. 2. identifying the jurisdiction of district courts, circuit courts, and the Supreme Court. 3. identifying and defining the types of law. 4. explaining the judicial appointment process. 5. explaining the meaning of judicial review.
J. The student will acquire understanding of the nature of policy-making and the factors that work to shape policy outcomes by: 1. defining domestic and foreign policy and identifying the process determining priorities of policies. 2. explaining the role of the executive and legislative branches in formulation and implementation of domestic and foreign policy. 3. recognizing contextual influences on foreign and domestic policy-making.
K. 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 in the American political system by: 1. describing the development and functions of political parties. 2. examining the impact of public opinion on public policy emanating from government institutions. 3. examining the importance of the campaign process, voting, and elections to a representative democracy. 4. describing the functions and identifying the various types of interest groups. 5. describing the strategies used by interest groups and their impacts on policy-making
III. Course Requirements
A. Active Participation - Attendance Policy – St. Petersburg College and this instructor support your educational goals and therefore have policies regarding your active participation in this and all classes. In POS 2050 active participation requires: 1. Weekly attendance in class (no more than 2 absences.) - 4 - 2. Weekly participation in on-line assignments (no more than 2 missed assignments total.) 3. Completion of all written assignments.
Students who do not satisfy the above requirements will be reported as not actively participating.
B. Writing Requirement – According to SPC District Board of Trustees Rule 6Hx23-4.30 you are required to write 2,000 words in this course. The assignments designed to fulfill this requirement are listed under “Grading Policies.” The word count must appear on each written assignment and may require submission to turnitin. All written work will be maintained by the instructor at the end of the session. SPC District Board of Trustees Rule 6Hx23-4.30 further requires a minimum grade of “C” in this course.
C. Student Conferences & Electronic Communication- I am available to meet with students during regularly scheduled office hours, which are posted on my office door. Because other duties are sometimes required during office hours, you may make an appointment to be certain I will be available at a designated time. Communication via email through Angel is welcomed, it does not alleviate you of your responsibility to be prepared, present in class and meet on-line deadlines. I generally will respond to your email within 24 hours during the work week but may at take up to 48 hours to reply. Please be assured that your emails are time stamped, so if you have an issue that you address in a timely fashion, even if it takes me more than day to respond, I will know you acted the time allotted and will take that into account.
IV. Grading Policy:
Your final grade in Honors American National Government will be based upon a point system reflecting your performance in the following areas:
A. Midterm & Final Exam (25% of final grade) 125 points 1. The course will have a mandatory final exam. 2. The exam will be based upon in-class lecture as well as assigned reading material on-line and in your text.
B. Quizzes (20% of final grade) 100 points a. There will be 10 on-line quizzes each worth 10 points. b. The quizzes are scheduled to correspond with the chapters and subjects we will be covering in the course. Quizzes must be completed prior to the class lecture date on the corresponding topic. Please refer to the course website for specific dates and deadlines. c. The Quizzes will consist of questions from the assigned text reading. You will have a time limit in which to complete the quizzes. d. The quizzes are to reflect your individual effort. Group work on the quizzes constitutes a violation of Board of Trustee Rules 6HX23-4461 and will be addressed accordingly. e. Quizzes may not be taken after the assigned deadline without specific authorization from the instructor.
- 5 - C. Letter Writing Research Project” (25% of final grade) 125 points 1. You will be required to research and address a current federal issue in the form of a letter to a member of Congress. 2. This assignment will involve the identification and research of a current federal issue, the writing of a letter to the United States Congress and a follow up analysis. This assignment will be approximately 1,500 words and partially satisfy the St. Petersburg College writing requirement. 3. All written work will be submitted to the turnitin dropbox within mycourses for evaluation and grading. The letter to Congress will carry the additional requirement of properly addressing a letter to Congress with a stamped envelope for mailing.
D. News Journals (20% of grade) 80 points 1. You will also be required to keep a journal of policy issues in the news. 2. The reviews will follow an assigned format and answer specific questions. 3. You are expected to review 4 Articles over the course of the semester. 4. Each review must be properly cited in accordance with MLA format. Failure to properly document an article will result in a 3 point per article deduction. 5. Each individual review should be approximately 200 words, with the total word count for the assignment being approximately, 1,400 words. This assignment will partially satisfy the St. Petersburg College writing requirement. 6. The News Journals will be submitted to an online drop box by assigned topic deadlines.
E. Supreme Court Analysis and Presentation 50 points 1. You will work in groups to analyze, summarize and present to the class a United States Supreme Court case. 2. The written summary will be divided within the group and each individual effort will be graded separately and count toward the individual student’s St. Petersburg College writing requirement.
G. Participation (5% of grade) 20 points Citizenship requires informed discussion and debate. To that end your prepared discussion and contribution to the class will be rewarded with participation points. Participation requires preparation and attendance, as well as enrichment to the class experience with the inclusion of current event topics related to our course work.
This Course Policy provides the general guidelines for this course and may be modified by the Instructor if necessary.
St. Petersburg College Syllabus Addendum http://www.spcollege.edu/webcentral/policies.htm - 6 -
The following is a topic outline for the course, including reading assignments and general due dates. This syllabus is intended as a guide and may be modified as deemed necessary by the Professor. Week 1: August 18 The Democratic Republic, chap. 1, pp. 1 – 24, chap. 10, 289-306 Quiz 1 LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW FROM CLASS WITH A REFUND AUGUST 17, 2016
Week 2: August 24 The Constitution, chap. 2, pp. 28 – 55 The Declaration of Independence, The Articles of Confederation The Constitution of the United States of America, Quiz 2
Week 3: September 1 The Constitution, chap. 2, pp. 28 – 55
Week 4: September 8 Federalism, chap. 3, 75- 97 Quiz 3
Week 5: September 15 Congress, WTP, chap. 11, pp. 310-338 Quiz 4 Journal 1 due
September 21th - Last Day to Drop and Receive a “W”
Week 6: September 22 Political Parties, chap. 8, pp. 258-282 Campaigns and Elections, chap. 9, 229-254 Quiz 5 Journal 2 due
Week 7: September 29 The President, chap. 12, pp. 343-368, Research Project, Part 1 due
Week 8: October 6 The Federal Courts, WTP, chap. 15, pp. 401-625 Quiz 6 Journal 3 March 3 -Last Day to Drop and Receive a “W” * Date to be confirmed*
Week 9: October 13 The Amendment Process, chap. 2, pp. 50-51, Civil Liberties, chap. 4, 102-129 Research Project Part 2 Quiz 7 - 7 -
Week 10: October 20 Civil Liberties, chap. 4, cont. Quiz 8 Supreme Court Case Presentations
Week 11: October 29 Civil Rights, WTP, chap. 151 – 170 Quiz 9 Journal 4
Week 12: November 3 Final Exam
Total Point Scale 500 – 450 = A (90% - 100%) 349 – 300 = D (60% - 69%) 449 – 400 = B (80% - 89%) 299 or below = F 399 – 350 = C (70% - 79%)