AMERICAN NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT
Bluefield State
College
POSC 200—SUMMER 2013
CRN: 30029
Section: 001
Colin S. Cavell, Ph.D. Course Room No.: B104
Class MTWR: 10:00-11:50 INTERNET:
ccavell@bluefieldstate.edu
Office Hours: TBA Office No.: B120
VOICE: 304.327.4034 (W) 512-924-2364 (M)
Survey of the American political system,
with emphasis on the Constitution, governmental structure, the political
process and selected policy outcomes.
Grading
Policy: 20% for Attendance & Participation*; 20%
for the Class Presentation; 20% for the Midterm Exam; 20% for the Research
Paper; and 20% for the Final Exam. A Guidelines sheet will be distributed
outlining the requirements for your Class Presentation and for your Research
Paper.
Grading
Scale: 90-100=A; 80-89=B; 70-79=C; 60-69=D; 0-59=F. These numerical scores correspond to the
following evaluations: “A” = Excellent;
“B” = Good; “C” = Satisfactory (NOTE: A
grade of “C” or better is required in major courses); “D” = Poor (passing,
except in major courses); “F” = Earned Failure (removed only by repeating the
course; upon successfully passing the course, the first grade is “excluded”
from grade point average. The second
grade is “included” in the recalculation of the grade point average); and “I” =
Incomplete.
Learning
Outcomes: Upon completion of POSC 200, students should
be able to read and provide an immanent critique of texts; to articulate
arguments and examine their flaws; be familiar with the basics of logical,
ethical, and dialectical reasoning; be familiar with essays, both pro and con,
regarding the 1787 US Constitution; understand the reasoning behind the
separation of legislative, executive, and judicial powers in the US Constitution;
understand the reasoning behind the idea of checks and balances in the US
Constitution; be familiar with characters associated with and the culture and
history of the US republic; be familiar with the constitutional history of the
US experiment in self-government; understand the differences between a secular
and theistic form of living; understand the historical evolution of human
culture, including struggles over rights and responsibilities; be familiar with
the horrendous tragedies as well as accomplishments of the US experiment in
self-government; empathize with the plight of the European Pilgrims, the Native
Americans, the enslaved Africans, women, et al. who struggled to overcome
adversity in their quest for freedom; understand the effects of race, gender,
class and other divisions on society and the effect of constitutional
provisions to either enhance or dissipate such divisions; articulate some
conception of human freedom and adopt a stance towards it; and be able to
envision a defensible future.
Academic
Integrity Policy: Academic
integrity is expected of all students. This means that all work for this class
must be undertaken and completed by you alone without collaboration from
others. Any dishonesty in the performance of course work, such as plagiarism or
cheating in other forms, will be reported. In the event the student is charged
with some form of dishonesty, the Student Discipline Policy will be followed.
The full text of the BSC Academic Honesty Policy can be found at: http://www.bluefieldstate.edu/academics/academic-honesty-and-proctoring.
In addition, students should be aware that research paper assignments may be
submitted to Turnitin by the instructor for the purpose of checking for
possible plagiarism. Submitted assignments will be included in the BSC
dedicated database of assignments at Turnitin and will be used solely for the
purpose of checking for possible plagiarism during the grading process during
this term and in the future.
Attendance
Policy*: Attendance in class is mandatory. It is the student’s responsibility to sign
the attendance sheet each day of class; failure to sign the attendance
sheet—even if in attendance—will be counted as an absence. “When the number of clock hours of willful
absences exceeds the number of semester
hours of credit, the instructor will notify the Registrar that the student has
exceeded the permissible number of absences and should be withdrawn from class.”
Students with Excused Absences
must submit to me a hard copy of the campus publication The Bulletin announcing your allowed absence in order to get credit
for the day(s) of your absence. “It is
the responsibility of the student to…provide supporting documents for
institutional and unavoidable absences” (Bluefield
State College Academic Catalog 2012-2014, p. 55). As well, you are expected to follow the
syllabus and accordingly be prepared for each day’s class. This means that you must read the
pre-assigned readings before class so that you will be prepared to discuss and
debate in class the subject matter scheduled for that day and answer questions
related to the issues being covered. NOTE: TURN OFF all cell phones during class or
put on silent vibration; if you must answer the call, then quietly leave the
classroom to complete your call.
* Absence from class may be made up by preparing a two-page, typed (i.e. using maximum 12 point font size and maximum
double-spaced text with one-inch margin on all sides), summary on the missed material scheduled to be covered the
day(s) of your absence. The summary must
be in your own words and must not be copied material from the text(s),
the internet, or any other source(s). All
summaries must be turned in to me by the last day of classes if you want
credit for your absences.
Withdrawal
Policy: Academic
Withdrawal from the course prior to the deadline date for withdrawal as
published within the academic calendar is accomplished by securing a change in
schedule form and having it signed by appropriate persons. Blank copies of the change in schedule form
are available in the offices of the Registrar, the Vice President for Academic
Affairs, the Dean and the advisor. After
obtaining the required signatures, the student must submit, prior to the
deadline date, the change in schedule form to the Office of the Registrar.
Disability
Services Statement: BSC is committed to full inclusion of all
students. Students who, by nature of a documented disability, require
classroom, equipment, testing or assignment accommodations should contact the
Student Support Services at 304.327.4227 to request accommodations before the
start of the semester. Your immediate attention to these arrangements is
necessary to assure a positive learning experience.
Free Tutoring Services Available: BSC offers free
online tutoring for all BSC students in the following subjects: Math; Accounting, Managerial; Accounting,
Financial; Writing (all subjects); Grammar; Microeconomics; Macroeconomics;
Statistics; Spanish. Chemistry, etc. This service is free and available 24
hours a day to all BSC students. Go to http://www.smarthinking.com/ and
follow these instructions.
Required Texts:
Greenberg,
Edward S. & Benjamin I. Page. 2013. The
Struggle for Democracy, 2012 Election Edition. New York, NY: Longman. [ISBN-10: 0205909043,
ISBN-13: 9780205909049], 768 pages.
Hamilton,
Alexander, James Madison and John Jay.
1787/2003. The Federalist Papers. New
York: Penguin Books. [ISBN: 9780451528810], 688 pages.
Ketcham,
Ralph, ed. 1787-8/2003. The
Anti-Federalist Papers and the Constitutional Convention Debates. New York: Signet Classic. [ISBN 0-451-52884-0], 480 pages.
***This class
is web-enhanced and students will be able to access supplemental materials on
the BSC BlackBoard website, including chapter outlines, chapter PowerPoint
summaries, etc.***
First Summer Session 2013
May 28 [Tuesday]: Classes
begin for First Summer Session; Introduction to United States National
Government: Main Themes; Democracy and
American Politics
Main
Themes: Nature of the
American political system; republican governmental type; written constitution;
tripartite separation of powers; role of media and civil society, and
formulating governmental policy.
Explain
Syllabus: Go over class requirements,
required books, in-class presentation, research paper, midterm and final exams.
Readings: Greenberg and Page Ch. 1 and (in the
Appendix) The Declaration of Independence; Ketcham, “James Madison to George
Washington”
May 29 [Wednesday]: The
Constitution; Federalism:
States and Nation
Readings: Greenberg
and Page Chs. 2 & 3 (including the Constitution) and (in the Appendix)
Madison, Federalist “No. 10” and Hamilton, Federalist “No. 78”; Ketcham, “The Virginia Plan,” “Debate on Representation,”
“Debate on Executive Power”
May 30
[Thursday]: The Structural Foundations of American
Government and Politics; Public Opinion
Readings: Greenberg and Page Chs. 4 & 5; Ketcham,
“Opposition to Executive Salaries,” “Opposition to a Unitary Executive,”
“Electing Representatives,” “Debate on Method of Electing Senators”
May 31
[Friday]*: The News Media; Interest Groups and
Business Corporations
Readings: Greenberg and Page Chs. 6 & 7; Ketcham,
“Debate on Veto of State Laws,” “The New Jersey Plan,” “Debate on the New
Jersey Plan,” “Plan for National Government,” “Opposition to the New Jersey
Plan”
*Classes meet
to make-up for Memorial Day Holiday of May 27, 2013
June 3 [Monday]: Social
Movements; Political Parties
Readings: Greenberg and Page Chs. 8 & 9 and (in the
Appendix) Madison, Federalist “No. 51”; Ketcham, “Debate on Federalism,”
“Length of Term in Office for Senators,” “Debate on State Equality in the
Senate”
June 4 [Tuesday]: Voting,
Campaigns, and Elections
Readings: Greenberg and Page Ch. 10; Ketcham, “Majority
Rule: The Basic Republican Principle,” “Election and Term of Office of the
National Executive”
June 5
[Wednesday]: MIDTERM EXAM [10:00-11:50 a.m.]
June 6
[Thursday]: Congress;
The Presidency
Readings: Greenberg
and Page Chs. 11 & 12; Ketcham, “The Judiciary, the Veto, and Separation of
Powers,” “Appointment of Judges,” “Method of Ratification”
June 10
[Monday]: The Executive Branch; The Courts
Readings:
Greenberg and Page Chs. 13 & 14; Ketcham, “Election of the Executive,”
“First Draft of the Constitution”
June 11 [Tuesday]: Civil
Liberties: The Struggle for Freedom; Civil Rights: The Struggle for Political Equality
Readings: Greenberg and Page Chs. 15 & 16; Ketcham,
“Qualifications for Suffrage,” “Citizenship for Immigrants”
June 12
[Wednesday]: Domestic Policies
Readings:
Greenberg and Page Ch. 17; Ketcham, “Executive Veto Power,” “Slavery and the Constitution”
June 13
[Thursday]: Foreign Policy and National
Defense
Readings: Greenberg and Page, Ch. 18 & Appendix,
“The Declaration of Independence,” “The Constitution of the United States”;
Ketcham,
“Election and Powers of the President,” “Opposition to the Constitution,”
“Signing the Constitution”
June 17
[Monday]: In-Class Presentations Begin
Readings: Greenberg and Page, Ch. 18 &
Appendix, “The Federalist Paper No. 10,” “The Federalist Paper No. 51,” “The
Federalist Paper No. 78,” “Presidents and Congresses, 1789-2009”
June 18
[Tuesday]: In-Class Presentations (cont’d.)
June 19
[Wednesday]: In-Class Presentations (cont’d.) (Last Day to
Withdraw from course/college with a grade of "W" from First Summer
Session)
June 20
[Thursday]: In-Class Presentations (cont’d.)
June 24
[Monday]: In-Class Presentations (cont’d.); Research
Papers Due (Research
Papers must be submitted today)
Assignment: Research Papers Due today. Hand in a hard copy of your Research Papers
to me in class and send me an electronic copy by email as a Microsoft Word
attachment.
June 25
[Tuesday]: In-Class
Presentations (cont’d.)
June 26
[Wednesday]: In-Class
Presentations Due. Last day of
classes. All course work MUST be
completed by this date. No submissions
will be accepted after this date.
Assignment: Complete all readings & submit all
work.
June 27
[Thursday]: FINAL EXAM [10:00-11:50 a.m.]
July 1: Final
grades due to Registrar electronically