PS101 - AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
Department of History & Political
Science
Instructor: Gregory Sember
Phone: (240) 567-4165
Office Location: RA 102
Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday –
1:00-2:00
& By Appointment
Course Description:
Structure, powers, &
processes of the American political system: executive, legislative, &
judicial branches; civil liberties, federalism, democratic patterns &
backgrounds, public opinion, pressure group politics, political parties,
constitutional mechanisms, & administrative establishment; foreign &
domestic policy. Emphasis on national level.
Credits, Hours, Prerequisites:
A. Three (3) Semester Hours Credit.
B. Three (3) Class Hours Per Week; Zero (0)
Laboratory Hours Per Week.
C. Prerequisite: EN 101/EN
101A
Student Outcomes:
Upon completion of this
course, the student will be able to:
A.
Students will
learn the basic structure & the institutions of the American Political
System.
B.
Students will
learn the fundamental concepts & values which established American
Political Culture.
C.
Students will
learn to examine critically these concepts, institutions, & the practices
of the Republic.
Student
Materials Required:
Textbooks:
Magleby, David B. (2007). Choice :Government
by the People. (22nd ed.).
Reserve readings from
assorted regional & national publications.
Evaluation:
A student’s final grade in
this course will be determined as followed:
75% - Three (3) examinations based upon textbook,
class lectures, & class discussions. Any make-up exams must be completed
within two weeks of the missed exam & will not be eligible for any bonus
opportunities.
25% - There will be five Miscellaneous Assignments which will individually count as 5% & collectively count as 25% of your
final grade. Each of these
assignments will include a written component, but will also involve critical
thinking popular culture, or gaming simulations while generally asking you to
apply Political Science concepts to your life in an unexpected way. While there
may be some alteration to this schedule, please expect the following
assignments:
a.
The Budget Assignment: In this simulation, you
will be presented with a mock
b.
Issue Paper: The paper will be 2-3
double-spaced typewritten pages. It is designed to show your ability
to critically think & synthesize ideas. It is not a research paper. Further
instruction about the paper will be posted, but the first topic will be announced.
c.
Discussion Boards: For especially hot
discussions or when we are running low on time, I will post some discussion
boards where I ask you to comment on the thoughts of your classmates. This will
involve making 2-3 paragraph length posts on a specific topic. I will likely
jump in on these as well.
d.
Campaigns: For this assignment, I
will ask you to find me an effective campaign ad, an ineffective campaign ad,
& a political parody for discussion. You will explain how you categorized
each one & I will show the best ones in class.
e.
Election Simulation: This is the end of the
year assignment where you create a country & classes battle each other to
elect a regional leader. More details will be provided later.
f.
Chats: This will not be a graded
assignment, but I will attempt to make myself available prior to exams for
questions & comments. This will be helpful & noted – especially if you
are borderline.
Americans With Disabilities Act: Disability Support Services
(DSS) has been designated by the College as the primary office to assist
students with disabilities. If any student in this class has a need for special
testing arrangements, note taking, or other accommodations, please contact the
DSS office (CB 122, Phone 279-5058) & then feel free to discuss your
approved accommodations with me.
Student Behavior Standards:
Students
are expected to be familiar with and to abide by the student behavior standards
as noted in the current Montgomery College Catalog and Student Handbook.
Attendance Policy: Class attendance is essential to building fundamental
understanding, especially in light of the scope of the subject matter.
Therefore, I expect you to attend class regularly & to realize that failure
to do so will definitely affect your grade. Toy are
allowed three unexcused absences in the whole semester. Excessive absence may
result in your involuntary withdrawal from the course. Excessive absences (more
than 3) and/or failure to present will lower this grade. In addition, you are
expected to be in the classroom ready to work at the appointed hour. It is your
responsibility to be on time, ready, & attentive. If you are late, please
do not interrupt work already in progress because it is very rude to your
classmates.
Best Practices
1.Take thorough notes during
lectures – you will need them to succeed on exams.
2.Continually review your
notes from previous lectures to increase your participation & comprehension. Pop Quizzes may result if
no one remembers from the previous discussions.
3.Make-up & late
assignments will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. You will have two weeks
to make-up an exam, but taking the full two weeks usually results in a lower
grade because of lower retention by you. Late assignments will be penalized a
letter grade per day.
4.Neither cheating nor
plagiarism will be tolerated in any form. The penalty for having committed
either one of these violations is a failing
grade for the course. NO EXCEPTIONS!
5.Beepers, cell phones, &
other disruptive devices must be silenced before you enter the classroom.
Accidents happen (to me as well), but please do not make it a regular
occurrence.
6.Discussions will become
heated sometimes depending on the issues. Please treat the instructor &
each other with respect at all times.
7.Student email using the
montgomerycollege.edu server is an official means of communication for the
College. It is expected that you check
your student email frequently, as you are responsible for information and
announcements that will be sent to you from the College.
8.I am not a mind reader, so
please contact me via email, telephone, or in person if you find yourself
struggling with assignments, course content, or exams. It is advisable to
contact me prior to exams.
9.I maintain an open door
policy & I take this very seriously. If there is any sort of issue, please
contact me. I cannot attempt to address if I do not know it exists. I also
cannot successfully address an issue if I hear it from a third party – meaning
from someone other than you.
10.
Enjoy yourself. This is a challenging course that will open your eyes if
you prepare & participate. Good Luck!
Schedule,
Weeks 1 & 2: Chapter 1: Constitutional Democracy
Dates: January 26th 28th, & 30th February 2nd
Reading Assignments
Pages 1-26 in the Magleby text
Course
Reserves
Ruling further confuses kids’ status
Heartbreak’s Revenge
New Sperm Donor Rules criticized
How will your taxes be spent
This Little Piggy goes to Congress
The court endorses a land grab
Weeks
2 & 3: Chapter 3: The Living Constitution
February 4th, 6th,
9th, 11th, & 13th
Reading
Assignments
Pages 57-90 in the Magelby text
Course
Reserves
Technology may halt hot pursuit
Assault on separate powers
How to keep the Supreme Court in line
Protecting our kids or jeopardizing everyone’s freedom
FBI may relax hiring rules on drugs
Justices ponder when is case closed
Basis to impeach or just use of power
Week
4: Chapter 2: Federalism
February 16th, 18th,
& 20th
Reading
Assignments
Pages 27- 56 in the Magelby text
Course
Reserves
Medical marijuana illegal, court rules
The search for a humane execution
Week
5: Ideology
February 23rd & 25th
Reading
Assignments
No reading assignment for the week
Course
Reserves
None for this week
EXAM #1 – February 27th
Week 6
& 7: Chapter 4: Congress
March 2nd, 4th,
6th, 9th, & 11th
Reading
Assignments
Pages 91-128 in the Magelby text
Course
Reserves
With new year, a raft of new years
Male politicians rue the ex factor
Senate may control SD seat
Charging victims for rape kits compounds offense
Do Senators Vote Anymore
Insulting blacks
Debate grows on out of wedlock laws
Dumping of homeless by hospital stirs debate
Coon supper a required dining experience for politicians in Arkansas
Week 7
& 8: Chapter: The Presidency
March 13th, March 23rd,
March 25th, & March 27th
Reading
Assignments
Pages 129-164 in the Magelby
Course
Reserves
What
people really want in a president
Born in
the USA rule gets scrutiny
Case may
shape legal doctrine
The
President’s absolute power
Raise the
bar for state secrets privilege
Signs of
struggle
Tranquility
& plenty
Jose
Padilla: constitutional unperson
Week 9
& 10: The Judiciary
March 30th,1st,
3rd, 6th, & 8th
Reading
Assignments
Pages 221-252 in the Magelby text
Course
Reserves
Rising IQ
may doom inmate
School
suspends boy for drawing
Cell-phone
photos spur legal query
House
advances bill to let young felon records
Theology
student challenges state’s right to withhold aid
Myspace mom indicted
EXAM #2 – April 10th, 2009
Week
11 & 12: Chapter 6: First Amendment Freedoms
April 13th, 15th,
17th, 20th, 22nd, & 24th
Reading
Assignments
Pages 165-190 in the Magelby text
Course
Reserves
Conscientious
Objector
Sunday
bans linger still
High court
takes high school prank case on free speech
Washington
school bus driver not a fan of bus
Only
lesson from this is disrespect
Prostitution
ads land charges for Orlando paper
Sex-shop
patrons get eye-opening photos in the emails
Week
13: Chapter 7: Equal Rights Under the Law
April 27th, 29th,
& May 1st
Reading
Assignments
Pages 191-220 in the Magelby text
Course
Reserves
Lunchroom finder printing worries parents
James Madison make Title IX target
Race-mongering in Seattle
Government appeals ruling that would force change in currency to aid
the blind
New Orleans arrests spark mercy killing debate
Is NBA dress code racist?
Some say missing persons coverage is racially biased
The Radio Age
Week
14: Chapter 13: Elections
May 4th, 6th,
& 8th
Reading
Assignments
Pages 285-326 in Magelby text
Course
Reserves
To be announced
Final Exam – To be Announced (after May 10th)
Topics:
|
WEEK |
TOPICS |
NOTES |
|
1 |
Chapter 1: Constitutional Democracy |
|
|
2 |
Chapter 3: The Living Constitution |
|
|
3 |
Chapter 2: American Federalism |
|
|
4 |
No Chapter: Political Culture & Ideology |
Exam #1 |
|
5 |
Chapter 4: Congress: The People’s Branch |
|
|
6 |
Chapter 4: Congress: The People’s Branch – cont. |
|
|
7 |
Chapter 5: The Presidency: The Leadership Branch |
|
|
8 |
Chapter 8: The Judiciary: The Balancing Branch |
|
|
9 |
Chapter 8: The Judiciary: The Balancing Brach –
cont. |
|
|
10 |
Chapter 14: Political Parties: Essential to
Democracy |
Exam #2 |
|
11 |
Chapter 13: Campaigns & Elections |
|
|
12 |
Chapter 6: First Amendment Freedoms |
|
|
13 |
Chapter 6: First Amendment Freedoms |
|
|
14 |
Chapter 7: Equal Rights Under the Law |
|
|
15 |
Chapter 7: Equal Rights
Under the Law |
|
|
16 |
Last Week wrap-up |
Exam #3 |