Fall 2011 – POLS 2311 – American Government
Syllabus -- Professor Marshall
This class focuses on current issues in American government, including public opinion, campaigns and elections, interest groups and the media, the Presidency and Congress and the federal courts,the federal government’s role in the economy, health care policy, and foreign policy. A day-by-day syllabus is provided below.
Your grade in this class will be based on your performance on exams, quizzes, and assignments. There are four in-class exams, together worth a total of 88 points. There are fourpop quizzes or projects on the assigned reading of the day, each worth three points. This is a total of 100 points for the semester. The grading cutoffs are as follows: 60+ = D; 70+ = C; 78+ = B; 86+ = A. There are no make-ups for the pop quizzes, except that students with a university-excused absence in writing will receive the average of their other pop quiz scores. All make-ups for the first, second, and third exams will be at the time of the final; I strongly discourage you from taking any exams as a makeup unless it is absolutely necessary. There will be no early final exams. Your final class grade is based on your accumulated points. You will need an 882-E (5-choice) scantron for each of the exams.
I do not take attendance, except to verify your enrollment. Students who do not attend class regularly, or who must arrive late or leave early, should find another section. Please disconnect or turn to silent your pagers and cell phones.
If you have a disability of any kind, please see the disabilities office to make appropriate arrangements. UTA provides reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Students are responsible for providing written documentation and instructions through the designated university office, located at 102 University Hall (817 272 3364).
Academic dishonesty is unacceptable. Persons involved in academic dishonesty will be disciplined in accordance with UTA regulations and procedures, which may include suspension or expulsion from the university.
One book is ordered for this class: Edwards, Wattenberg, and Lineberry, Government in America (the 15th edition), available from the UTA bookstore.
The bad weather number is 866-258-4913. If bad weather occurs on the first, second, or third exam day, that exam will be held the very first class day upon our return; if bad weather occurs on any other class day, we will make up the missed day on the next class day and then reschedule. If bad weather occurs during the final, and you have a plane flight, take the flight and we will reschedule your exam. If bad weather occurs during final exam week, UTA will reschedule the final exam.
My office room number is 448 University Hall; my email is . My office hours are 9:30 a.m.to 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. MWF. For a meeting at another time, please contact me individually. You may also email or phone (the department office at 817 272 2991). The last day to drop with an automatic “W” is Friday, November 4th at your major department (or, if undecided, please see your academic adviser); after this date drops are not usually accepted. The political science office is inRoom 206 University Hall at 817 272 2991. Remember that there may be limits on drops and grade replacements; for the policy that affects you, please see your own adviser. Please note: UTA communicates directly with students about enrollment and other matters at their UTA-assigned email, so please be sure you know what this is and check it frequently.
Course goals and learning objectivesPursuant to UTA policy, course goals include the following: students should be able to recognize major key terms and current practices in American government, including those in political behavior, institutional practices, the Constitution, and policy-making; understand important constraints and objectives in current practices;and evaluate the restrictions in current practices and norms. Learning objectives include the following: recognizing, identifying, describing, applying, analyzing, and evaluating and critiquing current practices and norms via the scantron exams, including descriptive and statistical methodologies. The catalog description of this course is: POLS 2311. Government of the United States (3 hours credit. The constitution and government of the United States. The organization, procedures, and duties of the branches of the government, together with their accomplishments and defects.
Class Discussion Schedule
August 26Introduction. Contemporary American Politics. Preview the course and take roll.
Aug. 29Major trends and changes in American politics. Ch.1
Aug. 31 andSept. 2Public opinion and the meaning of liberal and conservative in American politics. Ch. 6
Sept. 7The mass media and American politics. Ch.7
Sept. 9 and 12Interest groups and American politics. Ch. 11
Sept. 14 and 16American political parties. Ch. 8
Sept. 19First in-class exam.
Sept. 21, 23 and26Voting in American elections. Long-term and short-term influences on American voters: political parties, the economy, events, candidates, and issues. Ch.9 and 10
Sept. 28, 30 and Oct. 3The modernAmerican presidency. Ch. 13
Oct. 5 and 7The modern American Congress. Ch. 12
Oct. 10, 12, and 14The modern federal courts, the Constitution, and a lawsuit-oriented nation.Ch. 16
Oct. 17Second in-class exam.
Oct.19, 21, 24, 26,28 and 31The federal budget, taxes, the deficit, and the debt. Managingand bailing out the economy: fiscal and monetary policy. Ch. 14 and 17
Nov. 2, 4, 7 and 11What’s new with health care policy? Pages 546-557.
Nov. 14Third in-class exam.
November 16, 18, 21, 23 and Dec. 5, 7, and 9 Foreign and military policy. Ch. 20.
Final Exam (as scheduled). Any make-ups for missing the first, second, or third in-class exams are scheduled for this time.