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Course Syllabus

Political Science 10-1008

Constitutional Government

3 Units, Lecture Format

Fall Semester 2017

Tuesdays, 6:00-9:05 p.m.

Instructor: Pete SimonciniOffice Hours:

Phone:Work: (209) 847-3007, x221 Mondays 5:00-5:45 p.m.

Cell: (209) 556-2682 (Before 9:00 p.m.) or after class

E-mail:rWebsite:

  1. Course DescriptionA survey course in the political system of the United States from its inception at the end of the eighteenth century until the present time. Primary focus will be the Constitution, its ideological underpinnings, uses and limitations. Class will also cover the two party system, the process of justice, the specific mechanisms of legislature, and the governmental power at the national, state, and local levels, with specific emphasis on the state of California. The interests and rights of all historically under represented groups will be included in the analysis of the power structure. (UC/CSU)
  1. COURSE OBJECTIVES
    1. Critically evaluate and persuasively articulate the fundamental topics and developments of the U.S. political system from its inception in the eighteenth century until present time: political and institutional developments; historical and contemporary problems and conditions; significant national/international players (personalities and institutions) and events relative to the specified period; national and international relations; a comparative analysis of alternative political ideologies and forms of government; social and cultural diversity; and specific investigation of concepts and processes in California.

2. Upon completion of this course, students should be able to identify, describe, and critically evaluate/assess the most significant political, social, and economic developments of the specified time period and their relationship to the process of governing and political structures and ideologies.

  1. Student Learning Outcomes (SLO)
  2. SLO 1 Each student will satisfy the American institutions requirement for graduation from a college or university for the State of California. Upon completion of this course, each student should be able to:
  3. Demonstrate competency in studying a college level American government textbook
  4. Complete all assignments
  5. Achieve a score of at least 60% on all assignments
  1. SLO 2 Each student will be able to demonstrate basic knowledge of fundamental theories, methods, structures, processes, and institutions of the United States Constitution and constitutional government. Upon completion of this course, each student should be able to:
  2. Trace the philosophical and historical evolution of the Constitution
  3. Describe key elements of the Constitutional Convention
  4. Identify the continuing search for a “more perfect form of government.”
  1. SLO 3 Each student should be able to describe the role and relationship of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the federal government. Upon completion of this course, each student should be able to:
  2. Assess the operation of the three branches of government
  3. Describe the theory behind and workings of the checks and balances system
  4. Trace the steps required for a legislative bill to become a law
  1. SLO 4 Each student will become more aware of the constitutional rights and responsibilities of an American citizen including demonstrating competencies associated with 21st century citizenship & adulthood - these competencies include basic awareness of diverse perspectives and their implications - cultural, social, psychological, philosophical, historical, and geographical awareness. Upon completion of this course, each student should be able to:
  2. Describe the background behind and the various aspects of the fundamental rights as articulated in the Constitution and its amendments
  3. Articulate the significant responsibilities of citizens in a free society including voting, paying taxes, assisting in the defense of the nation and its populous
  4. Take and defend a position about the conflict between absolute freedom and the moral and security needs of a prudent society
  1. SLO 5 Each student will be able demonstrate an ability to engage in and maintain effective approaches to problems solving and demonstrate critical thinking competencies in analyzing competing hypotheses. Upon completion of this course, each student should be able to:
  2. Identify controversial issues
  3. Write a series of original critical essays demonstrating college level research and using correct language
  1. Key Dates
  2. Last day to drop without a “W”: 10 September 2017
  3. Last day to select pass/no pass grading: 26 September 2017
  4. Last day to drop the course: 16 November 2016
  1. Textbooks
  2. Greenberg, Edward S. and Page, Benjamin I, The Struggle For Democracy,

Thirteenth Edition, Pearson Education, ISBN-13: 978-0-205-77129-5.

b.Handouts provided by the instructor

  1. Attendance Policy Students will not be docked points solely for missing class. As this course meets only once a week, however, absence from any class will cause a student to miss a significant amount of material. Additionally, there will be some amount of class discussion in each class meeting for which students can receive participation points. Students who are absent can receive no participation points. Moreover, as will be covered below, there is a weekly BlackBoard threaded discussion component to this course. Students will have 1 week to respond to all prompts. Students who do not respond to each prompt within the specified time frame will not be able to receive points for that week’s discussion. Students who miss more than 4 class meetings or 5 threaded discussions will have great difficulty passing the course and should therefore drop the course; however, it is the student’s responsibility to initiate the drop process.
  1. Grading Policy Students will be evaluated via the following criteria: 1 midterm examination worth 100-points; a final examination worth 200-points; one term paper worth 100-points; and class participation (based on in-class discussions and participation on the BlackBoard course component) worth 100 points for a course total of 500 points. Consequently, the grading scale is as follows:450-500= A; 400-449=B; 350-399=C; 300-349=D; <300=F

Note: students may also elect to take the course as Pass/No Pass. It is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor of their desire to exercise this option no later than 26 September 2017.

  1. Examinations will be essay examinations. I shall post possible questions on my class website at least one week prior to each examination. Students are responsible for knowing material from assigned readings as well as class lectures and discussions.
  1. Class discussions/current events: The study of political science and American constitutional government naturally implies a current events component: how does what we are currently studying apply to what is presently happening in United States domestic or foreign affairs? Also, the textbook is a very valuable tool, which students must read. Therefore, students will be responsible each week for either discussing a current event or discussing key points from the textbook. As such, the instructor will place a weekly discussion prompt on the BlackBoard threaded discussion portion of the course website. Each student must respond in a scholarly and exhaustive manner to the instructor’s prompt, as well as to the input of at least one other student. To receive maximum scores, responses must be qualitatively superior—well thought out, well presented and representative of some knowledge of the topic. Responses such as “I agree with everybody,” will receive minimum to no points. Moreover, the instructor will incorporate student questions and comments during topical class lectures each week into the total class participation grade. The bottom line: be aware of current events and know and be ready to discuss the material being discussed each week.
  1. Term paper will focus.
  1. The Term PaperThis semester’s term paper will require the student to compare and contrast some key institutions of the federal government and the government of the State of California. The student will write a 4-5 page research paper (double spaced, typewritten, in 11 or 12 font) that discusses the following question: How does the government of the State of California parallel and/or differ from the government of the United States with regard to both governments’ lawmaking, executive, and judiciary functions? This paper should include both a cover page and a Works Citedpage that are not included as part of the 4-5 page body. Additionally, papers should follow the APA or MLA format and should parenthetically indicate sources from which the student obtained information in the body of the paper. The due date is14 November 2017
  1. Twenty percent (20%) of the paper’s grade will be for mechanics (spelling, punctuation, grammar, capitalization, tense agreement, etc.)
  1. I consider plagiarism to be a serious and unacceptable violation of academic discipline and I will not tolerate it in any form. If I think that you have plagiarized all or part of your paper, I will confront you about it. If I find that you have, in fact, plagiarized all or part of your paper, after we have discussed my concerns, I will award you zero points for the project.
  1. Academic Integrity It is the philosophy of ColumbiaCollege that academic dishonesty is a completely unacceptable mode of conduct and will not be tolerated in any form. All persons involved in academic dishonesty will be disciplined in accordance with College regulations and procedures. Discipline may include suspension or expulsion from the College. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts. You can get in trouble for plagiarism—even if you do not intend to cheat—by failing to correctly indicate places where you are making use of the work of another. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the conventions of citation by which you indicate which ideas are not your own and how your reader can find those sources. Read your student handbook for more information on quoting and citing properly to avoid plagiarism. If you still do not understand, be sure to discuss the situation with me.

12.Disabled Students Programs and Services Statement:The Oakdale campus meets most of the requirements specified in the “Americans with Disabilities Act.” Any additional personal learning accommodations covered by the “Americans with Disabilities Act” that may be needed by a student must be made known to the instructor as soon as possible. The responsibility for this action is that of the student.

  1. Course Sequence (planned and subject to change)

Date / Topic / Assignments
August 29, 2017 / Course orientation
Historical background lecture / Term paper topics assigned and threaded discussions discussed
September 5, 2017 / The Historical underpinnings of the United States Constitution / Threaded Discussion 1
Greenberg/Page, Chapter 1
September 12, 2017 / The Constitution / Greenberg/Page, Ch 2, Declaration of Independence and the Constitution
Threaded Discussion 2
September 19, 2017 / The Constitution (continued) / Greenberg/Page, Ch 3-4
Threaded Discussion 3
September 26, 2017 / Federalism and the Structural foundations of American Government and Politics / Greenberg/Page, Ch 5
Threaded Discussion 4
October 3, 2017 / Public Opinion / Work on term paper
Threaded Discussion 5
October 10, 2017 / The News Media / Greenberg/Page, Ch 6
Threaded Discussion 6
October 17, 2017 / Interest Groups & Social Movements in the United States / Greenberg/Page, Ch 7-8, Federalist 10
October 24, 2016 / Midterm Examination
Political Parties / All previous
Greenberg/Page, Ch 9
Threaded Discussion 7
October 31, 2017 / Political Parties (continued)
Participation, Voting and Elections / Greenberg/Page, Ch 9-10
Threaded Discussion 8
November 7, 2017 / Participation, Voting and Elections / Greenberg/Page, Ch 10
Threaded Discussion 9
November 14, 2017 / Congress
Term papers due / Term papers due
Greenberg/Page, Ch 11
November 21, 2017 / Complete Congress
The American President and the Federal Bureaucracy / Greenberg/Page, Ch 11; Ch 12-13
Threaded Discussion 10
November 28, 2017 / The American President, domestic and foreign policy / Greenberg/Page, Ch 17-18
Threaded Discussion 11 (as needed)
December 5, 2017 / The Courts, Liberties and Rights, / Greenberg/Page, Ch 14-16
December 12, 2017 / Final Examination / All previous material