Political Science 2350: Introduction to Political Theory
Political Science 4360: Classical Political Thought
Political Science 1100: American National Government

AMERICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

POLSC/AI 1100

FALL SEMESTER

Thom Kuehls

Office: SS 296

Office hours: M 12-1, W 8-9, and T/Th 9-10

or by appointment

Phone: ext. 6696

E-mail: tkuehls@weber.edu

Course description:

This is an introductory course in American National Government. The primary purpose of this course is to introduce students to the basic ideals and institutions of the government of the United States.

Course Objectives:

- to gain an understanding of the basic ideas of representative democratic government.

- to gain an understanding of the general structure of government outlined in the U.S. Constitution.

- to gain an understanding of the basic rights and liberties provided for in the U.S. Constitution.

- to be able to critically analyze past and present governmental actions in light of the basic ideas of representative democratic government and the elements of the U.S. Constitution.

- to develop research and writing skills.

Rights and Responsibilities:

This syllabus is the governing document for this course. Your decision to take this course amounts to your tacit consent to the conditions of this syllabus. The professor, as well, is bound by the terms of this syllabus and may not make any significant changes unless they are approved by the class as a whole. If you find during the semester that you will be unable to turn in an assignment or take a quiz/exam on the date scheduled due to an illness or an emergency of some kind you must contact the professor before the date in question, if at all possible, or within 24 hours of the date at the latest.

Weber State University is committed to providing an environment free from harassment and other forms of discrimination based upon race, color, ethnic background, national origin, religion, creed, age, lack of American citizenship, disability, status of veteran of the Viet Nam era, sexual orientation or preference, or gender, including sexual/gender harassment. Such an environment is a necessary part of a healthy learning and working atmosphere.

Any student requiring accommodations or services due to a disability must contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) in room 181 of the Student Service Center. SSD can also arrange to provide course materials (including this syllabus) in alternative formats if necessary.

Required texts:

American Politics: The Enduring Constitution by William Lasser (available in the WSU Bookstore)

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers by Gibaldi and Franklin (available in the WSU Bookstore)

Assignments:

Two quizzes, each worth 30 points.

A mid-term, worth 50 points.

A final exam, worth 80 points.

Quizzes and exams will be made up of multiple choice and short answer questions. Material for the quizzes and exams will be drawn from both the reading assignments and class sessions. Quizzes will be on material from the immediately preceding section of the course. The mid-term exam will cover material from the first two sections of the course. The final exam will cover material from the entire course. Study guides will be distributed prior to each quiz and exam. Quizzes and exams will be taken in the Social Sciences testing center in the basement of the Social Sciences building. Cheating on a quiz or exam will result in an automatic zero grade for that quiz or exam and possible failure for the course.

Research paper, worth 50 points.

Before the end of the second week of class a list of paper topics will be distributed. You must choose one topic from the list, research it, and compose a paper of at least 5 pages in length, type-written and double-spaced. These papers are due at the start of class on Wednesday November 21. Rough drafts will be examined if they are handed in by Friday November 9. Note, plagiarism will result in an automatic zero grade for this paper, as well as possible failure in the course. Further details on this assignment will accompany the list of topics. We will spend several class sessions discussing this assignment.

Class participation, worth 10 points.

Class participation will take the form of students' responses to questions posed in class on the reading assignments. These questions will not be asked directly of individual students, but rather students will be given the opportunity to work with their classmates in small groups for the purpose of answering these questions.

Grading Scale:

93 - 100% = A; 90 - 92% = A-; 86 - 89% = B+; 83 - 85% = B;

79 - 82% = B-; 76 - 78% = C+; 72 - 75% = C; 68 - 71% = C-;

64 - 67% = D+; 60 - 63% = D; 56 - 59% = D-; 0 - 55% = E

Daily Schedule

SECTION ONE: THE IDEOLOGICAL ORIGINS of a NATION

and the DRAFTING of the CONSTITUTION

Monday August 27 Course introduction

Wednesday August 29 American Politics ch.1 pp.6-13 and ch.6 pp.145-166

Friday August 31 No class

Monday September 3 No class, Labor Day Holiday

Wednesday Sept. 5 American Politics ch.2 pp.21-25 and pp.A-2 & A-3 in the Appendix (The Declaration of Independence)

Friday Sept. 7 American Politics ch.2 pp.26-30 and The Articles of Confederation (on reserve)

Monday Sept. 10 American Politics ch.2 pp.30-36 and pp.A-4 - A-10 (The U.S. Constitution)

Wednesday Sept. 12 American Politics ch.2 pp.37-46 and pp.A-16 - A-22 ("Federalist Papers" 10 & 51)

Friday Sept. 14 Federalist Papers #s 9, 44, 52, 54, 62, 65, 68, 70, 78, and 84 (on reserve)

Monday Sept. 17 Anti-Federalist vol.2 pp.363-382 (on reserve)

Wednesday Sept. 19 Catch-up

Friday Sept. 21 Review

Monday Sept. 24 Quiz #1

SECTION TWO: FEDERALISM and PUBLIC POLICY

Wednesday Sept. 26 American Politics ch.3 pp.49-58 and pp. A-10 -

A-15

Friday Sept. 28 American Politics ch.3 pp.58-72 and ch.4 pp.80-82

Monday Oct. 1 American Politics ch.3 pp.67-72

Wednesday Oct. 3 American Politics ch.16 pp.449-463

Friday Oct. 5 American Politics ch.16 pp.463-475

Monday Oct. 8 American Politics ch.17 pp. 481-499

Wednesday Oct. 10 Review

Friday Oct. 12 No class, mid-term break

Monday Oct. 15 Mid-term exam

Wednesday Oct. 17 MLA Handbook 1.1 - 1.12

Friday Oct. 19 MLA Handbook 4.1 -4.6, 4.7, 4.9, 5.1 - 5.3

and 5.5

SECTION THREE: THE BRANCHES of GOVERNMENT, POLITICAL PARTIES, and the ELECTION PROCESS

Monday Oct. 22 American Politics ch.12 pp.326-348

Wednesday Oct. 24 American Politics ch.12 pp.348-358

Friday Oct. 26 American Politics ch.13 pp.363-386

Monday Oct. 29 American Politics ch.13 pp.386-393

Wednesday Oct. 31 American Politics ch.15 pp.432-439

Friday November 2 American Politics ch.15 pp.421-432 & 439-446

Monday Nov. 5 Research paper discussion

Wednesday Nov. 7 American Politics ch.9 pp.228-242 & 252-255 and ch.7 pp.184-188

Friday Nov. 9 American Politics ch.10 pp.258-282

Monday Nov. 12 American Politics ch.10 pp.287-296

Wednesday Nov. 14 Review

Friday Nov. 16 Quiz #2

SECTION FOUR: CIVIL LIBERTIES and CIVIL RIGHTS

Monday Nov. 19 American Politics ch.4 pp.75-88 and pp.A-10 - A-15

Wednesday Nov. 21 American Politics ch.4 pp.88-97 and "Texas v. Johnson", "Engel v. Vitale", & "The Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah" (all on reserve)

**Research paper is due at the start of class**

Friday Nov. 23 No class, Thanksgiving Break

Monday Nov. 26 American Politics ch.4 pp.97-101 and "Gideon v. Wainwright" & "Miranda v. Arizona" (both on reserve)

Wednesday Nov. 28 American Politics ch.4 pp.102-107 and "Roe v. Wade" (on reserve)

Friday Nov. 30 American Politics ch.5 pp.109-115 and "Dred Scott v. Sanford" (on reserve)

Monday Dec. 3 American Politics ch.5 pp.115-126 and "Plessy v. Ferguson" & "Brown v. Bd. of Ed." (both on reserve)

Wednesday Dec. 5 American Politics ch.5 pp.126-139 and "Regents of University of California v. Bakke" (on reserve)

Friday Dec. 7 Review

The final exam will be available in the Social Sciences testing center on Tuesday December 11.