Lansing Community College Social Science Department Course Code: POLS 120 (4 credits) Title: American Political System

SPRING 2013 Syllabus Instructor: Paul J. White Office Hours: Tuesday 12-1, or by appointment (after class) E-mail: paul.jwhite@yahoo.com Class Time & Location: East 114; TR 8:10-12 Prerequisite: Reading Level 5 COURSE DESCRIPTION: An analysis of the American political system, emphasizing the federal system and government at the national level. This course studies national governmental institutions' activities, functions and methods of organizing resources and making policy. Emphasis is on political participation by an informed public. An analysis of contemporary issues regarding national politics and government will be addressed. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: Required Text: Keeping the Republic: Power and Citizenship in American Politics, Christine Barbour and Gerald Wright, CQ Press, 4th/ 5th Edition (Brief), 2010/2012 (hereinafter Textbook) STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (Department Specified): Upon completion of this course, the successful student will be able to: 1. Outline and understand the philosophical foundations of the U.S. political system. 2. Analyze the development of political culture and the importance of political socialization in the U.S. 3. State the basic elements of the U.S. Constitution. 4. Explain how democracy depends upon political participation by an informed public. 5. Define and explain the importance of the political party system to the U.S. system of government. 6. Define and analyze the role and impact of interest groups and the media on the U.S. political system. 7. Analyze the functions and structures of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. 8. Evaluate the functions of the President and the bureaucracy in the U.S. government. 9. Describe the functions and structure of the congressional and judicial branches of the U.S. government. 10. Discuss the impact of cultural diversity on the American Political System. 11. Explain the role of checks and balances and separation of powers in the U.S. system of government. 12. Outline how public policy is formulated in the U.S. political system

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION Teaching and learning methods will include: group discussion, instructor-led discussion, multimedia, current events, written assignments, and exams. GRADING SCALE Percent 91% - 100% 86% - 90% 81% - 85% 76% - 80% 71% - 75% 66% - 70% 60% - 65% 0% - 59% Grade 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0 CLASS REQUIREMENTS Midterm Exam Final Exam Departmental Final Exam Research Paper 30% 35% 10% 25%

Research Paper Students are required to research and write on some aspect of American elections. More specific instructions will be given out during the semester. Papers need to be 2000-2200 words in length (approximately seven (7) double-spaced pages), and you are required to include a minimum of ten (10) legitimate sources in your review. In-Class Writing Assignments There will be frequent in-class writing assignments throughout the semester that I use to take attendance. These will be graded on a credit/no-credit basis a good faith effort is required to receive credit. Exams A midterm will account for 30 percent of your grade and a final exam will account for 35 percent of your grade. Exams will consist of multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions. There are no make-up exams, unless students have notified me with a documented excuse AT LEAST ONE WEEK PRIOR to the exam. Departmental Final Exam The departmental final exam will account for 10 percent of your grade. While there will be some overlap of what is covered on previous exams, there may be material not previously tested.

Attendance There is no explicit attendance requirement, but some material will be tested that is only discussed in class and not in your textbook. There is an attendance bonus: students who miss one or zero classes throughout the semester will have five (5) percentage points added to their final course grade. Because there is no attendance requirement, there are no excused absences, and you do not need to notify me if you are going to miss class (with the exception of the exam make-up previously listed). Electronic Device Policy The usage of ALL electronic devices laptop computers, phones, tablets, etc. is not permitted in the classroom. Especially phones. I hate phones. Yes, I see you playing on your phone. Yes, I am referring to you. THIS CLASS BEGINS AT 8:10 AM THERE IS NOTHING INTERESTING HAPPENING AT THIS TIME. While this policy does not apply to students with disabilities, any student with a documented disability requiring the use of an electronic device must go through the Office of Disability Services. UNIVERSITY POLICIES Withdrawal Policy A student may initiate a withdrawal from class with no grade on record or instructor approval by the end of the 2nd week of class. After the 2nd week of class, the student must obtain the instructors permission to withdraw with a W. If exams or graded assignments had been given at the time of the request, a W may be granted only if the student had done passing work (1.0 or higher). Any student who does not complete the requirements of the course and has not officially withdrawn from the course with a W and/ or does not qualify for an incomplete I will receive a 0.0. Course Practices College-wide policies are stated in the Lansing Community College Catalog and include those on attendance, withdrawals and incomplete grades. The catalog is available on the internet at http://www.lcc.edu/catalog/ Accommodations Lansing Community College has accommodations available for students with documented disabilities. If you need accommodations, contact the Office of Disability Services at 483-1207 in room 2300 GVT to coordinate reasonable accommodations. Student Academic Integrity The very nature of higher education requires that students adhere to accepted standards of academic integrity. Therefore, Lansing Community College has adopted a code of academic conduct and a statement of student academic integrity. These may be found in the Lansing Community College Catalog. The violations of academic integrity listed and defined are cheating and plagiarism. It is the student's responsibility to be aware of behaviors that constitute academic dishonesty. Classroom behavior that interferes with the instructional process is not tolerated. The consequences are addressed in the catalog under Administrative Withdrawal (SEE COURSE CATALOG).

COURSE SCHEDULE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS The assigned readings are to be completed BEFORE that class session. March 19th Textbook Ch. 1 (skim after class) March 21st Textbook Ch. 2; Declaration of Independence; U.S. Constitution; How Democratic is the American Constitution? (online) March 26h Textbook Ch. 3 March 28th Textbook Ch. 6; Research Paper assignment distributed April 2nd Textbook Ch. 7 April 4th Textbook Ch. 8; Courtroom 302 excerpt (online); Research Paper list of potential topics due April 9th Textbook Ch. 9 April 11th MIDTERM EXAM; Research Paper topic due April 16th Textbook Ch. 4; April 18th Textbook Ch. 5; Research Paper 250 word paper overview due April 23rd Textbook Ch. 10 April 25th Textbook Ch. 11; Research Paper ten sources due April 30th Textbook Ch. 12; Evaluating US Electoral Institutions in Comparative Perspective (online) May 2nd Textbook Ch. 13; RESEARCH PAPER FINAL DRAFT DUE May 7h Textbook Ch. 14; 9/11 in Retrospect: George W. Bush's Grand Strategy, Reconsidered (online); course review May 9th DEPARTMENT FINAL EXAM; CLASS FINAL EXAM; return of research papers and course conclusion Instructor reserves the right to amend/modify the course schedule. Unforeseen events may cause modifications in the course schedule to be made. Any changes will be announced.