Political Science 100-8
American Government and Politics
Spring 2006
Monday and Wednesday
DuSable 246
Instructor: Brian Frederick
Office: DuSable 476
Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday
Phone: (815) 753-1818
E-mail: bfrederi@niu.edu
Introduction: This
course will serve as an introduction to the fundamental aspects of American
government and politics. It will explore
the major issues, ideas, institutions, individuals and debates at the center of
American democracy.
Required
Text:
Kenneth Janda, Jeffrey M. Berry and Jerry Goldman. 2005. The
Challenge of Democracy: Government in
Syllabus:
The syllabus is a tentative schedule for the course. Each course progresses at
a unique pace and it is inevitable that changes will be necessary. The
instructor reserves the right to announce any changes in class.
Exams: There
will be three exams each accounting for 150 points or 15% of the overall
grade. Students who miss the exam will
be given a chance to make it up with a valid excuse determined at the
discretion of the instructor. Makeup
exams will only be given in extraordinary circumstances. If such circumstances arise, please contact
the instructor as soon as possible and before the scheduled exam. To keep the
process fair for everyone in the course, students will be asked to support
requests for makeup exams with documentation.
A missed examination without prior notification and a documented excuse
will result in a zero. Extraordinary
circumstances are considered those circumstances that personally affect the
student’s ability to take the exam (Illness, sudden car trouble must be
documented).
Short Essays: Every student will be expected
to write three essays of approximately 2-3 pages apiece. It should be stapled,
typed and doubled spaced with 12 point font. Each essay will be worth 100
points or 10% of the overall grade. These
assignments must be turned in on the due date listed in the syllabus. Late papers will be accepted but, with a
penalty of a full letter grade reduction for every class day they are late.
Attendance: Attending every class is
mandatory. An attendance sheet will be
passed around at the beginning of every class period. It is the student’s
responsibility to make sure his or her name is on it. At the end of the semester the instructor
will calculate a percentage classes attended by the student which will make up
10% of the overall grade. Anyone with a
valid excuse for missing class should contact the instructor with a full
explanation and documentation of the circumstances for being absent. If the reason is deemed to be credible (such
as a medical appointment) the student will be granted an excused absence, which
will not be counted in the final attendance tabulation.
Participation: The class participation grade
will be based on the frequency, consistency and quality of comments during
class discussion. The instructor encourages and expects questions and comments
from everyone in the class and students who do so will find that effort
reflected in their grade. Students can
also gain participation credit by posting comments on readings or other topics
covered in class by using the discussion board feature in Blackboard, http://webcourses.niu.edu/. Overall,
class participation will count 10% of the final grade for the course.
Appointments:
The instructor will make every reasonable effort to be available to
students. If you cannot come during
scheduled office hours, please contact me to schedule a mutually convenient
appointment.
Grading:
Points Available
Exams: 150 points apiece
Essays: 100 points apiece
Attendance: 100 points
Class Participation 100 points
Quizzes 10 points apiece
Total: 1000 points
Grading Scale:
A = 900-1000 points
B = 800-899 points
C = 700-799 points
D = 600-699 points
F = 0-599 points
Classroom Behavior: All students must conduct themselves with respect for their
colleagues and the instructor. Free
expression of ideas is encouraged but in a manner that does not impugn the
motives or personally attack other members of the class. When someone else is speaking please wait
until they are finished and raise your hand before making a comment or asking a
question. All cell phones and pagers
must be turned off at all times. Failure
to do so will result in a ten point reduction in the student’s class
participation for each violation.
Students are expected to be attentive to the lectures and class
discussions. Students who text message, talk on their cell phone or
persistently talk with other students or are otherwise inattentive will be
asked to leave the class and will be subject to administrative dismissal from the
course.
Students with Disabilities: NIU abides by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which
mandates reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. If
you have a disability and may require some type of instructional and/or
examination accommodation, please contact me early in the semester so that I
can help you obtain needed assistance. If you have not already done so, you
will need to register with the Center for Access-Ability Resources (CAAR), the
designated office on campus to provide services for students with disabilities.
The CAAR office is located on the 4th floor of the University Health Services
building (753-1303). I look forward to working with you to enhance your
academic success in this course. It is
important that CAAR and instructors be informed of any disability-related needs
during the first two weeks of the semester
Extra Credit:
Without exception, extra credit is not an option. There are plenty of
opportunities to improve your grade with the course requirements and if you
find you are having trouble, please seek help early in the semester.
Efforts will be made to give extra help but it is generally assumed that you
will be responsible for the work in accordance with the stated deadlines.
Academic Dishonesty: Regarding plagiarism, the NIU
Undergraduate Catalog states: "students are guilty of plagiarism,
intentional or not, if they copy material from books, magazines, or other
sources without identifying and acknowledging them. Students guilty of, or assisting others in, either cheating or plagiarism on
an assignment, quiz, or examination may receive a grade of F for the course
involved and may be suspended or dismissed from the university." The above
statement encompasses the purchase or use of papers that were written by
others. In short, students are advised to do their own work and learn the rules
for proper quoting, paraphrasing, and footnoting.
Withdrawal Policy: If you choose to stop attending class you, the student, are
responsible for withdrawing from the course. The instructor will not do
so for you. If you stop attending and have not withdrawn, a failing grade
will be entered.
Department of Political Science Web Site: Undergraduates
are strongly encouraged to consult the Department of Political Science web site
on a regular basis. This up-to-date, central source of information will assist
students in contacting faculty and staff, reviewing course requirements and
syllabi, exploring graduate study, researching career options, tracking
department events, and accessing important details related to undergraduate
programs and activities. To access the site, go to http://polisci.niu.edu.
Incomplete Requests: Such petitions will be granted rarely and only in extraordinary
circumstances. The instructor reserves the right to ask for documentation to
verify the problem preventing completion of the course by the normal deadlines.
If the student does not present documentation from a university office or official,
the matter will be left to the instructor’s discretion. All requests for
incomplete must be submitted in writing to the instructor by
Week 1:
January 18: Introduction and
Review of the Syllabus.
Week 2:
January 23: The Role of
Government.
Read JBG Chapter 1.
January 25: Essay # 1 due:
First Go to http://www.uspolitics.org
and run IDEALOG (do the readings and the survey you find there). Write a 2-3
page essay describing what category you wound up in (liberal, conservative,
communitarian or libertarian) and why.
Discuss whether you wound up where you thought would have expected
before taking the test.
Week 3:
January 30: Majoritarian or
Pluralist Democracy?
February 1: Continue Chapter
2
Week 4:
February 6: The
Read JBG Chapter 3.
February 8: Read Federalist
10 and 51, located in the appendix (17-20) of the text book.
Week 5:
February 13: Federalism.
Read JBG Chapter 4.
February 15: Go to: http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=000&invol=U10287&friend=oyez
Read the opinions of Chief
Justice Rehnquist and Justice Breyer in US v. Lopez. Be prepared to discuss in class.
Review sheet for Test 1
posted.
Week 6:
February 20: Test 1.
February 22: The Media.
Read JBG Chapter 6.
Week 7:
February 22: Public Opinion
and Political Socialization.
Read JBG Chapter 5.
March 1: Go to: http://www.pollingreport.com/ and pick
an issue for which there is a public opinion poll. Be prepared to discuss in class.
Week 8:
March 6: Political Parties.
Read JBG Chapter 8.
March 8: Essay # 2 due: Go to www.democrats.org and www.rnc.org and review the web sites of the two
major political parties. In a 2-3 page essay answer the questions: Do you
identify with a political party? If so why?
If not, why not? Which of the two
major political parties most closely reflects your views?
Week 9:
March 20: Nominations, Elections
and Campaigns.
Read JBG Chapter 9.
March 22: Read Alan
Abramowitz, "Terrorism, Gay Marriage, and Incumbency: Explaining the
Republican Victory in the 2004 Presidential Election." available in
Blackboard. Be prepared to discuss in class.
Week 10:
March 27: Participation and
Voting.
Read JBG Chapter 7.
March 29: Read Michael P.
McDonald, "Up, Up and Away! Voter Participation in the
2004 Presidential Election” available in Blackboard. Be prepared to
discuss in class.
Review sheet for Test 2
posted.
Week 11:
April 3: Test 2.
April 5: Interest Groups.
Read JBG Chapter 10.
Week 12:
April 10: Congress.
Read JBG Chapter 11.
April 12: Essay # 3 due. Go
to http://www.house.gov/ and click on the
list of committees. In a 2-3 page essay
explain what committee you would most like to sit on if you were a member of
the US House of Representatives. What
kinds of legislation does the committee deal with? How would serving on this committee help you
get reelected? How would serving on this
committee enhance your prestige within the House of Representatives?
Week 13:
April 17: The Courts.
Read JBG Chapter 14.
April 19: Go to: http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?navby=case&court=us&vol=5&page=137
Read Chief
Justice Marshall’s opinion in Marbury v
Week 14:
April 24: The Presidency.
Read JBG Chapter 12.
April 26: Read Noah Feldman,
“Our Presidential Era: Who Can Check the President?” available in Blackboard.
Be prepared to discuss.
Week 15
May 1: Civil Liberties.
Read JBG Chapter 15.
May 3 Civil liberties
continued.
Final Exam Review Sheet
posted.
Week 16
May 8 Final Exam,