II. COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES

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1 SYLLABUS POLS #22300 Monday & Wednesday 10:00-11:15 am, room 1N-2210 POLS #22301 Monday & Wednesday 11:30-12:45 pm, room 1N-2210 POLS #22302 Monday & Wednesday 1:00-2:15 pm, room 1N-1270 FALL SEMESTER 2014 Dr. Wendell S. Broadwell, Jr. Ph.D Professor of Political Science Office: 1N-3460 (3 rd floor, next to the elevator) Office hours: Mon & Wed. 9:00-10:00 am, Tues. & Thurs 9:30-11:30 am Friday by appointment Office phone: Department of Social Sciences, Room 1N-1450 Chair: Karen Carter Department Telephone: I. COURSE TITLE: American Government II. COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES Covering the essential facts of national government in the United States, with some attention given to state government, including the state of Georgia, this course satisfies state law, requiring examination on the United States and Georgia Constitutions. III. REQUIRED TEXT Bardes, Shelley, & Schmidt. American Government. Boston, MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning edition ISBN-10: , ISBN-13: IV. COURSE OBJECTIVES As a result of completing this course, the student will be able to: 1. Trace through the Constitutional Convention and ratification struggle of the late 1780s. 2. Contrast the original constitutional dispersion of power with the modern dispersion that has evolved through custom and interpretation. 3. Analyze the amendment process and the political implications associated with it. 4. Explain federalism, how it differs from other forms of government, and how it has evolved to reach its present form in the U.S. 5. Explore the growth of the national government through an examination of the factors contributing to its expansion. 6. Examine the major safeguards of freedom contained in the First Amendment. 7. Explain and evaluate the major clauses in the Fourteenth Amendment in terms of their effectiveness throughout U.S history. 8. Explain and evaluate the effectiveness of the Fifteenth, Nineteenth, and Twenty-sixth Amendments in overcoming barriers to voting in the U.S. 9. Understand how the Constitution protects citizenship. 10. Describe the fundamentals of the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments and their significance in the U.S. system of rights. 11. Analyze interest groups in terms of their structure and operating techniques. Page 1

2 12. Discuss the process of running for public office with particular attention given to the nomination and election of a president. 13. Analyze Congress in terms of its structure, functions, and membership, with a focus on the legislative process and the common criticisms leveled at the institution. 14. Trace the evolution of the modern presidency from its constitutional foundations to its current form, as shaped by public expectations. 15. Describe the differing forms of law on which the American legal system is based. 16. Explain the structure and function of the national court system, including the operation of the U.S. Supreme Court. 17. Understand the process of judicial review. 18. Evaluate the public policy-making process with regard to policy formulation and the impact of ideological differences among policy makers. 19. Discuss the nationalization of the Bill of Rights. V. GENERAL COURSE REQUIREMENTS ****Performance Alert for Student Success (PASS)**** Academic success is a top priority at GPC. Activities have been designed to alert both instructor and student in a timely manner if sufficient progress on certain core concepts is not being made. A performance alert for student success (PASS) will be sent to academically struggling students throughout the semester to inform students of their status in the course and to provide additional resources for assistance. The notification enables students to address any academic weakness that could affect their successful completion of the course. If a student receives a PASS, the student should meet with the instructor to discuss their performance in the course and to design an improvement plan. PASS messages will be sent via and by SMS text messaging. There will be 3 PASS quizzes during the semester. The material is divided into five sections with a test at the end of each. There is also a comprehensive final exam (this may be a departmental assessment exam if required). Specific reading assignments are given in the daily schedule for the entire semester at the end of this syllabus. Classes will generally be lectures on material both from the textbook and some that is not covered in the textbook. Tests will cover textbook reading assignments, any handouts, and lecture notes. Students are responsible on tests for all information covered in class whether they attend the classes or note. ****WEB PAGE USE**** Computers are used in this class only for getting class materials like study guides. This class is not in Icollege. Go to the "POLS-1101 American Government" page for the syllabus, handouts, study guides, and class notes. If you do not have computer access tell the instructor and an alternative will be provided. The address is: VI. GRADING The tests will all be multiple-choice question exams. Final grade will be calculated based on the average of the tests equal to 90%, PASS quizzes equal to 5%, and a participation grade equal to 5%. Students who take all 6 exams (5 tests & final exam) can drop their lowest test grade. To pass this class, students must take at least 5 of the 6 tests, and have a final overall average of 60 or better. There are no make-up tests or extra credit. The standard GPC grading scale below will be used to determine your final grade. AVERAGE LETTER GRADE QUALITY POINTS A B C D 1 BELOW 60 F 0 Page 2

3 VII. CLASS CONDUCT USE OF COMPUTERS IN CLASS IS RESTRICTED TO CLASS MATERIALS. NO CELLPHONE TEXTING IN CLASS. Students will be courteous to each other and the instructor. If you disrupt the class you will be removed. --Do not talk to other people or sleep during class. --If you are late to class, try to enter and be seated quietly. Do not walk in front of the instructor. --Turn off beepers or cellular phones. --Points will be deducted from student's participation grade for failing to follow these instructions. All communications must be by GPC . I will answer messages from and reply only to GPC student addresses. Example: ladygaga@student.gpc.edu. If a student misses a class, the student can get the notes from the class notes on the Web page. Tape recorders are permitted. No Children (up to age 16) are allowed in classes or on campus for any length of time no matter how well behaved they are. Food Policy (only clear drinks with tops in carpeted classrooms and dry snacks) No food that requires utensils to eat. Students are encouraged to take an active interest in the class. You are welcome to ask questions and express your opinions on the material covered in class. However, no profanity or derogatory remarks of a racial, sexual, or religious nature will be tolerated. All behavior in class will comply with the Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedure that is stated in pages 31 through 36 of the Student Handbook. Students should inform the instructor anytime they have a situation that will create a problem for the student in the class. Sometimes these problems can be resolved. Do not wait until the end of the semester to ask for help. You will need a green scantron answer sheet and a #2 pencil for each test. These are sold in the bookstore. The use of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco products is prohibited on the college campus (this includes baseball players). VIII. ATTENDANCE POLICY Students academic success is the major priority of the College. Because regular participation enhances the learning process, students are expected to adhere to the attendance policy set forth by the College and individual faculty members. Differences in content and teaching styles exist among courses, which can impact students learning. Therefore, students are strongly encouraged to attend all classes to better prepare them for assignments, tests, and other course-related activities. Students are accountable for assignments and material covered during an absence. Attendance is expected at all classes. Students are limited to 3 unexcused absences. An absence is excused only for illness or legal reasons (appearing court, jury duty, etc.). After 3 absences, 1 point for each additional unexcused absence will be deducted from the student's participation grade (up to a maximum of 5 points). IX. WITHDRAWAL POLICY: Except in the case of no shows, the instructor WILL NOT and CANNOT withdraw you from this course. (A no show is a student who never attends class or logs in to an online class during the first week or two of the course. When students are reported as no-shows, the course is removed from their records, and any financial aid awarded on the basis of that course is returned to the lender or grantor. If you have attended the class even once or logged on to an online course, you will not be reported as a no show.) If you decide that you do not wish to continue in this course, it is your responsibility to withdraw yourself prior to the midpoint of the semester. (Exact dates for each term are posted on the GPC website under Academic Calendar. ) Withdrawal is a formal process that requires you to fill out a withdrawal form and submit it to the registrar on one of our campuses. If you have Financial Aid, you may be required to repay all or part of the Financial Aid awarded to you. Therefore, a Financial Aid advisor must sign off on the withdrawal form. When you submit the form to the registrar, he or she will stamp the form with the date Page 3

4 received and give one copy to you. You should KEEP this form in case there are ever questions as to whether you properly withdrew yourself from the course. If you are unable to come to one of our campuses to fill out and submit a withdrawal form, you may print one from online: Note that there is a second page with detailed information about the withdrawal process. If you are unable to submit your form in person, please contact the GPC Online office at for assistance in submitting your form. No matter how your form is submitted, it is your responsibility to ensure that it is received by no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day of the withdrawal deadline. X. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT STATEMENT If you are a student who is disabled as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act and require assistance or support services, please seek assistance through the Center for Disability Services. A CDS Counselor will coordinate those services. XI. ACADEMIC HONESTY STATEMENT Cheating is against college policy. Cheating includes any attempt to defraud, deceive, or mislead the instructor in arriving at an honest grade assessment, and may include copying answers from other students or using unauthorized notes during tests. Plagiarism is a particular form of cheating that involves presenting as one's own the ideas or work of another, and may include using other people's ideas without proper attribution and submitting another person's work as one's own. Violations of the academic honesty policy will result in a grade of '0' for the assignment in question, and may result in a failing grade for the course at the instructor's discretion. The College Court may impose additional sanctions, including suspension, expulsion, or dismissal from the college. Students have the right to appeal a grade awarded on the basis of alleged cheating or plagiarism. See the Academic Honesty Policy in the Student Handbook for details and for a review of the appeals procedure. XII. STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION No person shall, on the basis of age, race, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin or disability, be excluded from participation in, or be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity of the college. XIII. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION STATEMENT adheres to affirmative action policies to promote diversity and equal opportunity for all faculty and students. XIV. RESOURCES: The College Library has most of the basic references books for U. S. Government and Political Science in its collection. There is an excellent data base available called CQ Electronic Library which has references for almost any subject related to American government and political science. Good sites on the Internet for information include: General Info: The Constitution: State of Georgia: XV. NEWS AND GENERAL INFORMATION Keeping up with current events will help you in understanding the material in this class. Read a newspaper like USA Today or magazines like Newsweek and Time. Watch the national news on one of the major TV networks and/or listen to the National Public Radio news analysis (6:00-9:00 a.m. and 4:00-6:30 p.m.) on WABE 90.1 FM. In case of bad weather to find out about school closings, tune to WSB 750 AM radio. XVI. VETERANS AND SERVING MILITARY: GPC honors its military and veteran men and women returning to pursue their educational goals. A Military Outreach Center is provided for them on the ground floor of Building H on the Clarkston Campus. Veterans, serving military, their dependents, and the survivors of serving military who are attending Page 4

5 college are encouraged to avail themselves of a full range of college services and activities through the MOC. MOC resource tables are also located on all campuses to provide them with valuable information. The Center maintains a Military Outreach website at and their telephone number is XVII. SMOKE-FREE CAMPUS: Tobacco and Smoke-Free Campus Policy : Effective October 1, 2014, Georgia Perimeter prohibits the use of tobacco products on any property owned, leased, or controlled by GPC. All faculty, staff, students, visitors, vendors, contractors, and all others are prohibited from using any tobacco products while on GPC property. Tobacco Products is defined as cigarettes, pipes, cigars, all forms of smokeless tobacco, clove cigarettes and other smoking devices that use tobacco such as hookahs or simulate the use of tobacco such as electronic cigarettes. Violations of the smoking policy will be handled under the GPC Student Code of Conduct. Page 5

6 American Government, POLS-1101 Monday-Wednesday Sections COURSE OUTLINE, Fall Semester 2014 The following is a TENTATIVE schedule for this course. Dates may change depending on our ACTUAL progress in covering this material. Due Dates : Topic/ Assignments: Reading Assignment: Monday Aug. 18 Introduction Ch. 1 Wednesday Aug. 20 Theories of Government Monday Aug. 25 The American Revolution & The Articles of Confederation Wednesday Aug. 27 The Constitutional Convention of 1787 Monday Sept. 1 NO CLASS LABOR DAY HOLIDAY Ch. 2 Wednesday Sept. 3 PASS QUIZ #1 The Division of Federal and State Powers Ch. 3 Monday Sept. 8 American Federalism Wednesday Sept. 10 Test One Monday Sept. 15 The Bill of Rights Ch. 4 Wednesday Sept. 17 Religion, Speech, and Censorship Monday Sept. 22 Due Process Wednesday Sept. 24 The Right to Privacy Monday Sept. 29 Rights of the Accused Wednesday Oct. 1 Equality and Discrimination Ch. 5 Monday Oct. 6 PASS QUIZ # 2 Affirmative Action & College Admissions Tuesday Oct. 7 NO CLASSES Student Study Day Wednesday Oct. 8 Test Two Monday Oct. 13 The Electoral College The Powers of the President Tuesday Oct. 14 **Semester Midpoint Last day to withdraw with a W. ** Wednesday Oct. 15 Problems with Presidential Power Ch. 9: p. 296 Ch. 11 Monday Oct. 20 U.S. Foreign Policy Since World War II Ch. 15 Wednesday Oct. 22 Intelligence and Security Monday Oct. 27 Georgia Government & Politics Wednesday Oct. 29 Test Three Monday Nov. 3 Congress Organization & Powers Ch. 10 Wednesday Nov. 5 PASS QUIZ # 3 How a Bill becomes a Law Monday Nov. 10 Legal Systems & Courts Ch. 13 Page 6

7 Wednesday Nov. 12 The Supreme Court Monday Nov. 17 TEST FOUR Wednesday Nov. 19 Political Parties Ch. 8 Monday Nov. 24 The Media and Politics Ch. 9 pp Wednesday Nov. 26 Thursday - Sunday Nov Monday Dec. 1 TEST FIVE Dec. 3-9 Wednesday Dec. 3 NO CLASS STUDENT STUDY DAY THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS COLLEGE CLOSED Final Exam Period 11:30 am Class FINAL AT 11:30 AM Monday Dec. 8 10:00 am Class FINAL AT 10:00 AM 1:00 pm Class FINAL AT 1:00 PM Page 7

INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY (PSYC 1101) ONLINE SYLLABUS. Instructor: April Babb Crisp, M.S., LPC

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