American Government: Process and Policies

American Government: Process and Policies

PSCI 1050

1050.001 T 6:30PM - 9:20PM

Sage Hall116

Dr. Andrea Silva

Email:

Office Location: 142 Wooten Hall

Office Hours: Tuesday 5:00pm-6:00pm, Wednesday 2:00pm-3:00pm

Understanding the processes and policies in American politics is just as, if not more important than, identifying and understanding its institutions. American policies and processes are the result of our opinions and beliefs about what makes a good society. The results of these processes are legislation, regulations, and policies that reflect our beliefs.This course examines these processes and policies in depth. First, we cover several processes of American politics, their influences, and procedures. Second, we discuss the outcome of these processes: American policies and how they shape our understanding of the world and our place in it.

This course provides high value added. We seldom discuss the readings in class, but the readings compliment the lectures and provide important background for understanding the material. Consequently, class attendance is imperative to your success.

Course Policies

Requirements

Students are required to attend all lectures, andcomplete all the assigned readings before the beginning of class.

Students are required to submit ALL assignments topass the course, even if they are worth no points.

Formatting and Submitting Assignments

Assignments are due at the start of class and are considered late after the first 10 minutes of class.

Written assignments should be submitted in Times New Roman 12-point font, with 1-inch margins, be double-spaced, and paginated. All written assignments should be uploaded as a txt, rtf, doc or docx file to Blackboard.

Most word-processing programs do not have these margins/font/page requirements by default, please change them accordingly.

No cover page is necessary. The upper right hand corner of the first page in single space should have:

Your full name
Title of the assignment
Assignment due date
Course number (PSCI 1050) and section number (001)

Late/Missing Assignments

All course assignments/ecshould be submitted at the date and time assigned. Unless there is proof of a documented medical emergency, No extensions, make up exams, or incompletes will be given without prior approval.

Approved late assignments are eligible for 90%of the original points if submitted physically and digitally within 24 hours of the due date. The percent of original points eligible decreases by 10for every 24 hours an assignment is late.

Extra Credit

Extra credit opportunities will be made available to the entire class at the discretion of the Professor.They are offered for attending class, events outside of class, or for completing extra writing assignments by a deadline. Extra Credit will not be accepted after the deadline.Extra Credit for individual or groups of students CANNOT be offered under any circumstances.

Blackboard and Email

Check the course page on Blackboard frequently (at least 3x per week). Announcements and changes will be communicated via Blackboard. Written assignmentsshould be uploaded to Blackboard. It is the students’ responsibility to check their UNT email/Blackboard for announcements, assignments, due dates,and changes.

Class Participation

I hope you actively participate in this course as I have found it is the best way to engage you in learning. To encourage this,extra credit towards the final exam will be awarded to students recognized by the Professor as consistent participators in class. The Professor reserves the right to call on students.

Consideration and Respect: Discussion is encouraged in class and an integral part of the learning experience. Please be respectful of other ideas and opinions in section, as these are an important component in understanding your own opinions better. In light of this respect, contributions to discussions should be focused on the discussion topic for the week and not at any individual. Personal attacks and pejorative remarks are not tolerated.

Electronic Devices

Please silence all cell phones before class begins and refrain from texting during class. Laptops are permitted to take notes if the sound is muted. The Professor reserves the right to expel students from class and dock points from final grades for ringing cell phones, texting or using computers for non-class related activities during lecture.

Advocating a Grade Change

Students should submit a written grievance, including the reasons for their dissatisfaction with the grade, what grade they believe is merited and why, using evidence from theassignmentprompt, grading rubric and submitted assignment as justification. Effort is not an acceptable justification for a grade change. This written grievance should be submitted at least 4 business days before meeting with the professor. If you choose to appeal your grade, the professor reserves the right to decrease an existing grade, this seconddecision is final. All grades are final7 days after posting unless a grievance is submitted.

Special Accommodations

Students requiring special accommodations should contact the instructor for a confidential discussion of their academic accommodations. To receive accommodation services, contact the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA)

167 Sage Hall (940) 565-4323

Academic Integrity

UNT has a detailed and strict academic dishonesty policy. Please review the Student Standards of Academic Integrity (). Students violating this policy willfail the course and be reported to the Office for Academic Integrity.

Your first assignment is toread, sign,and submit the Academic Integrity Form on Page 6 of this syllabus by Sept 6th.

Grading

Workbook Exercises (20%)
Field Work Paper(20%)
Midterm 1 (15%)
Midterm 2 (20%): (Cumulative)
Final Exam (25%): (Cumulative)

The instructions for the fieldwork paper are found at the end of the syllabus.

Final Course Grade Scale & Percentages

A=89+

B=7988

C=6978

D=56 68

F=0-55

Required Texts

Patterson, Thomas (2016) We the People: An Introduction to American Government (WTP)
Eshbaugh-Soha, Matthew. 1050 Workbook: Process and Policies, 1st edition. Can be purchased online or with a registration card from the bookstore. (WB)
Course Readings on Blackboard (BB)

Important Dates

9/20 / Midterm 1
10/25 / Midterm 2
11/22 / Fieldwork Paper Due
12/6 / Final Exam

Date / Topic / Readings / Assignments / Extra Credit
8/30/16 / Intro to course, Political Science
Constitution and Federalism / Federalist No. 10 (BB)
People’s History Chapter 4: Tyranny is Tyranny(BB) / Political socialization test:
Due 9/3 (upload screenshot of completion to BB)
Print/submit Plagiarism Compliance form in class Due 9/6 / Write reaction to your political ideology result. Were you expecting this result? Why or why not? Due 9/7 (500 words, 2 points towards midterm 1, upload to BB only)
9/6/16 / Political Culture / WTP 1: p.7-25
WTP 2: p. 28-45
(Video) Democracy In America (BB)
Beyond Tocqueville, pg. 549-552 (BB) / Identify and explain which of these three traditions you think best describes American political culture? Use examples from your life for support. Due 9/14 (500 words, 2 points towards midterm 1, upload to BB only)
9/13/16 / Public Opinion / WTP 2: p. 46-58
Polls Podcast:
Nature and Origins of Mass Opinion(BB) / How much credibility should we give to opinion polls? How should public opinion be used in law making? Due 9/21 (500 words, 2 points towards midterm 1, upload to BB only)
9/20/16 / Midterm 1/ Political Participation / WTP 3
Protest is not Enough (BB)
(These readings are excluded from midterm 1 and included in midterm 2) / (WB) Ch 2 Political Participation Due 9/24
9/27/16 / Interest Groups / WTP 5
Interest Group Society Ch 1. (BB) / (WB) Ch 3 Interest Groups Due 10/1
10/4/16 / Political Parties / WTP 4
What are Parties For? (BB)
Federalist #10 reread (BB) / (WB) Ch 4 Political Parties Due 10/8 / Can we reconcile how the founders and Lipset feel about parties? Do parties do more harm than good? Why or why not? Due 10/12 (500 words, 2 points towards midterm 2, upload to BB only)
10/11/16 / Elections and Campaigns, Voting / WTP 6
Theoretical models of voting behaviour (BB) / (WB) Ch 5 Elections and Campaigns Due 10/15 / Rank order the three theories of electoral behavior that from least to most convincing, with justifications for each Due 10/19 (500 words, 2 points towards midterm 2, upload to BB only)
10/18/16 / Elections and Campaigns, Voting / WTP pg. 151-163, 171-178
The Electoral Connection (BB) / Describe Mayhew's electoral connection. Do you agree with Mayhew's explanation of the relationship between constituents and candidates? Why or why not? Due 10/26 (500 words, 2 points towards midterm 2, upload to BB only)
10/25/16 / Midterm 2 / Media and Politics / WTP 7
(This reading is excluded from midterm 2 and is included in the final exam) / (WB) Ch 6 The Mass Media Due 10/29
11/1/16 / Domestic Policy / An autopsy of the US financial system (BB) / Should government help big financial firms with loans during severe economic downturns or should big firms be left to fail? Due 11/9 (500 words, 2 points towards Final Exam, upload to BB only)
11/8/16 / Domestic Policy / WTP 9 / (WB) Ch 7 Domestic Policy Due 11/12
11/15/16 / Foreign Policy / WTP 10
9/11 and the past and future of American foreign policy (BB) / (WB) Ch 8 Foreign Policy Due 11/26 / Do you think the wars in Afghanistan and/or Iraq were worth the cost or do you think the U.S. should have stayed out of Afghanistan/Iraq? Due 11/23 (500 words, 2 points towards Final Exam, upload to BB only)
11/22/16 / Texas Politics / WTP 15, 16
Big, Hot, Cheap, and Right Ch 2 (BB) / Fieldwork Paper Due
11/29/16 / Money and Politics/ Review / WTP pg. 164-169; Barnes and Eggen (BB)
Barnes (BB)
12/6/16 / Final

Fieldwork Paper

The study of American government and politics does not just happen in the classroom. You can experience government and policy in ways outside of class that enhances your learning. This said, you are required to participate in a fieldwork activity that is relevant to American or Texas State government and write a 1500word reflection on your experience. In a well-written essay with at least 5 citations from your text, workbook, or newspapers, explain how your experience relates to the course and further developed your understanding of politics. You must attach proof of your attendance to the assignment (a receipt, signed and dated city council agenda, business card of a person you interviewed and photo, photo of you at a political event, along with the event flyer, etc.). You may choose from one of the following options:

Attend a city council meeting
Interview an elected government official
Attend a political event (rally, town hall meeting, or debate)
Visit a museum that is relevant to American government (i.e.: The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, The National Vietnam War Museum, The Juanita J. Craft Civil Rights House, The Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site, The Dallas Holocaust Museum)

The Fieldwork paper should be uploaded to Blackboard before the beginning of class.

Assignment #1: University of North Texas ADA andPlagiarism Compliance (Fall 2016)

Name: ______UNT email: ______

College Phone:_(______)______Year of Birth ______

Year in school: ______Transfer? YES NO (which school): ______

Major: ______Minor: ______

1) What is the first political experience you remember?

2) Why do you think people are “turned off” by politics?

Please circle answers to the following questions.

3) How interested are YOU in politics?

Not at allIndifferentSomewhatVery Much

4) How frequently were political issues/politics discussed when you were growing up?

Never SometimesFrequently

This certifies that I have read the syllabus and understand the requirements for the course. I also understand the Statement of ADA compliance, the Policy on Cheating and Plagiarism, and the Policy on Academic Integrity. I agree to abide by academic honesty outlined by the Center for Student Rights & Responsibilities and have read the material about my rights and the sanctions that can be imposed if I violate the student code of conduct. I verify that all work done in this class will be my own, that I will cite or quote sources when I draw from other authors' material, and that I will present only accurate and truthful information to the professor and the teaching assistants. Furthermore, I understand that violating the policy will result in an automatic "F" for the course and referral to the Dean of Students for disciplinary proceedings and dismissal.

Signature: ______Date: ______

Printed Name: ______EUID: ______

Print and submit in class on 9/6

Department Statement of ADA compliance

The University of North Texas makes reasonable academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Students seeking accommodation must first register with the Office of Disability Accommodation (ODA) to verify their eligibility. You may request accommodations at any time, however, ODA notices of accommodation should be provided as early as possible in the semester to avoid any delay in implementation. Note that students must obtain a new letter of accommodation for every semester and must meet with each faculty member prior to implementation in each class.

University of North Texas -- Department of Political Science

POLICY ON CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM

The UNT Code of Student Conduct and Discipline defines cheating and plagiarism as the use of unauthorized books, notes, or otherwise securing help in a test; copying others' tests, assignments, reports, or term papers; representing the work of another as one's own; collaborating without authority with another student during an examination or in preparing academic work; or otherwise practicing scholastic dishonesty. Normally, the minimum penalty for cheating or plagiarism is a grade of "F" in the course. Determination of cheating or plagiarism shall be made by the instructor in the course, or by the field faculty in the case of departmental exams.Cases of cheating or plagiarism in ordinary coursework may, at the discretion of the instructor, be referred to the Undergraduate Studies Committee in the case of undergraduate students, or the Graduate Studies Committee in the case of graduate students. These committees, acting as agents of the department Chair, shall impose further penalties, or recommend further penalties to the Dean of Students, if they determine that the case warrants it. In all cases, the Dean of Students shall be informed in writing of the case. Students may appeal any decision under this policy by following the procedures laid down in the UNT Code of Student Conduct and Discipline.

POLICY ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

The Political Science Department adheres to and enforces UNT’s policy on academic integrity (cheating, plagiarism, forgery, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty and sabotage). Students in this class should review the policy (UNT Policy Manual Section 18.1.16), which may be located at Violations of academic integrity in this course will addressed in compliance with the penalties and procedures laid out in this policy.

Acceptable Student Behavior:

Student behavior that interferes with an instructor’s ability to conduct a class or other students' opportunity to learn is unacceptable and disruptive and will not be tolerated in any instructional forum at UNT. Students engaging in unacceptable behavior will be directed to leave the classroom and the instructor may refer the student to the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities to consider whether the student's conduct violated the Code of Student Conduct. The university's expectations for student conduct apply to all instructional forums, including university and electronic classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The Code of Student Conduct can be found at