I. Locator Information
Semester: Fall 2002
Course
Number and Name POLI 210-01 -
Principles of Amer Govt
Number
of Semester Hours of Credit 3
Time
Class Meets TR 8- 9:20 AM
Building
and Room Number WGYM 07
Instructor's
Name Dr. Andrew J. Dowdle
Office
Location: TS 207B
Office
Telephone: 672-1247/ 672-1573 (alternate phone)
Office Hours: TR 9:30-11 am, MWF noon - 1pm, MR 5-6
pm OR BY APPOINTMENT
Class
website:
http://faculty.uncfsu.edu/adowdle/poli210b.htm
II.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Political Science 210 is designed to
acquaint students with the fundamental principles which are the basis of the
American government at the national level.
Principles of democracy, judicial review, separation of powers, checks
and balances and federalism are introduced, studied and discussed. In addition, the various branches of the
government and political activities associated with the operation of the
government are examined to determine the application and implementation of the
principles.
III.
TEXTBOOK
Burns, James MacGregor, et. al. Government
by the People, 19th Ed., Englewood
Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 2001-02.
IV.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
*
Each student is expected to make contributions to the
discussion and analysis of these
materials.
* Satisfactory performance in this course requires regular
and
prompt class attendance.
*
All examinations must be taken at the time that they are
scheduled.
In
accordance with the University's Teacher Education Conceptual Framework (which
is an accord with INCATE standards), upon completion of this course, the
prospective facilitator of learning will:
Knowledge
- demonstrate an understanding of the subject matter,
how it
relates to
other disciplines, and to their lives.
- demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the social studies
content
that they
plan to teach.
Technology
- apply new technologies to teaching,
learning, and research.
Reflection
- reflect upon his/her political science
knowledge and usage,
and make improvements as needed, and will
demonstrate
a commitment to ongoing professional
Additionally
on completion of this course students should be able to demonstrate their
knowledge of the principles of American democracy by their ability to:
*
Describe the basic principles of American democracy
* Evaluate the basic principles of American democracy
* Outline the elements of each of the principles
Demonstrate
their knowledge of how the principles affect the various branches of the
government by:
*
Explaining how the principles affect the government as a
whole
*
Summarizing how the principle of checks and balances
operates to foster compromise between
the various branches
of the government
Apply
the principles of federalism to:
*
Show how problems are solved between the national and state
governments
*
Classify the advantages and disadvantages of federalism and
show how they impede or facilitate the
solution of problems
*
Evaluate three major reasons that led the Founding Fathers
to adopt a federal system of government
*
Differentiate between the major federal grant programs
*
Analyze the five largest aid programs utilized to solve
state-federal problems
Demonstrate
their understanding of the role of the Supreme Court as the umpire of the
federal system by:
*
Explaining and evaluating the origin of judicial review
*
Diagramming the various levels of the federal judiciary and
classify them according to jurisdiction
*
Comparing the power of the judiciary to that of the other
branches of the government
*
Comparing the position of the Court in applying the four
freedoms to the major institutional groups in American
society
Demonstrate
their understanding of Presidential-Congressional conflicts by:
*
Describing areas of Presidential-Congressional conflicts
*
Evaluating areas of Presidential-Congressional conflicts
*
Showing how the bureaucracy becomes a source of
Presidential-Congressional conflict
Demonstrate
their understanding of the role of groups, movements
and
parties in the American political process by:
*
Identifying the major groups, movements and parties that
are usually engaged in the American
political process
*
Tracing the development of the major groups, movements and
parties in the American political system
*
Describing and analyzing the objectives and functions of
the major groups, movements and parties
involved in the
American political process
Relate
how the basic principles of the American system of government could be utilized
to solve current political problems.
*
Discuss, intelligently, various positions on current
controversial political issues
*
Critic the government's handling of current political
issues
*
Recommend solutions to current political issues
V.
COURSE COMPETENCIES
This course addresses the
following competencies specified by the North Carolina Department of Public
Instruction:
6.1 Describe current issues
in historical perspective.
8.1 Understand the structure
and functions of
political systems.
8.2 Compare and contrast
different forms of
government.
8.4 Describe the influence
the American political
system including its foundations, structure, and
function at the local, state, and national level.
8.5 Assess the influence of
economic and social
factors on political
decision-making.
8.6 Understand the
intricacies in balancing local,
national, and international interests.
This course also addresses
the following INSTAC standards as they relate to the teaching of political
science:
Standard 1: Content Knowledge
This course also addresses
the following National Council for the Social Studies Standards:
Standard 1: Culture and
Cultural Diversity
Standard 6: Power, Authority,
and Governance
Standard 9: Global
Connections Civic Ideals and Practices (NCSS Standard # 10)
VI.
EVALUATION AND GRADING
a. There will be four (4) exams, see
attached schedule. There are NO make-ups for any missed exams. You are
allowed to miss one (1) exam or drop your lowest score. All students must take the
final exam. In addition, you be required to participate in the in-class
simulation and write a two page paper on your character. The student's final
grade will be determined in the following proportion.
. Class
simulation .............. 10% of the total
grade
. Exam I ........................ 30% of the total grade
. Exam II ....................... 30% of the total grade
. Exam III ...................... 30% of the total grade
. Final Exam .................... 30% of the total grade
b. If you miss two (2) exams you cannot
pass the course.
c. The Grading scale is as follows
92 - 100 .......... A
84 - 91 .......... B
74 - 83 .......... C
64 - 73 .......... D
below 64 .......... F
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Students enrolled in 100- and 200-level courses will
receive WN (Withdrawal due to non-attendance) grades if a) they miss two
consecutive hours of class, or b) their hours of unexcused absences exceed 10%
of total contact hours.
USAGE OF TECHNOLOGY
I plan on using video tapes and other materials for
in-class multi-media presentations. In
addition, materials for the in-class simulation and public opinion web
assignment will be found on the internet
VII. COURSE OUTLINE WITH ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE
(tentative)
Week
One Introduction
Week
Two Origins of the Constitution
The Living Constitution
* Read Chapter One and
Two
Week
Three Origins of the Constitution
(continued)
Discussion -What changes
would you
make in the Constitution?
Week
Four American Federalism:
Problems and Prospects
* Read Chapter Three
Review for
Test One
Week
Five Congress: The People's
Branch
* Read: Chapter Eleven
Test One (Chapters One –
Three)
Week
Six The Presidency: Leadership
Branch
*
Read: Chapter Twelve
Week
Seven The Presidency: Leadership
Branch (continued)
* Read: Chapter Thirteen Discussion
- Is the Presidency too strong
or too weak?
Week
Eight The Bureaucracy: The
Politics of
Shared Power
* Read Chapter Fourteen
Week
Nine Judges: The Balancing
Branch
* Read Chapter Fifteen
Review for Exam II
Week
Ten Test Two (Chapters Eleven-Fifteen)
Week
Eleven Simulation
Week
Twelve Public Opinion and Voting
Political Parties
* Read: Chapters Seven and
Eight Internet
Assignment
Week
Thirteen Interest Groups
* Read: Chapter Six Review for Test Three
Week
Fourteen Test Three (Chapter
Six-Eight)
Week
Fifteen Civil Rights and Liberties * Read
Chapters Sixteen-Eighteen
Review for Final
Final
Exam At time scheduled by
university registrar