AMERICAN NATIONAL
GOVERNMENT
Bluefield State
College
POSC 200—FALL 2012
CRN: 10668
Colin S. Cavell, Ph.D. Course Room No.: B204
Class TTH: 11:00-12:15 INTERNET:
ccavell@bluefieldstate.edu
Office Hours: MWF 11:00-13:00, 14:00-16:00 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*; 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”
(Bluefield State College Academic Catalog
2010-2012). 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.
* 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. December
23, 2010. The Struggle for Democracy, Tenth Edition. New York, NY: Longman. [ISBN-10: 0205771297 ISBN-13: 978-0205771295],
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.
Aug. 21:
Introduction to United States National Government: Main Themes
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.
Aug. 23: Democracy and American Politics
Readings: Greenberg and Page Ch. 1 and (in the Appendix) The Declaration of
Independence; Ketcham, “James Madison to George Washington”
Explain Syllabus: Go over class
requirements, required books, in-class presentation, research paper, midterm
and final exams.
Aug. 28: Democracy and American Politics (cont’d.)
Readings: Greenberg and Page Ch. 1 and (in the Appendix) The Declaration of
Independence; Ketcham, “James Madison to George Washington”
Aug. 30: The Constitution
Readings: Greenberg and Page Ch. 2 (including the Constitution) and (in the
Appendix) Madison, Federalist “No. 10”; Ketcham, “The Virginia Plan”
Sept. 3: Labor Day –
College Closed
Sept. 4: The Constitution (cont’d.)
Readings: Greenberg and Page Ch. 2 (including the Constitution) and (in the
Appendix) Madison, Federalist “No. 10”; Ketcham, “The Virginia Plan”
Sept. 6: Federalism:
States and Nation
Readings: Greenberg and Page Ch. 3 and (in the Appendix) Hamilton,
Federalist “No. 78”; Ketcham, “Debate on Representation,” “Debate on Executive
Power”
Sept. 11: The Structural Foundations of American
Government and Politics
Readings: Greenberg and Page Ch. 4; Ketcham, “Opposition to Executive
Salaries,” “Opposition to a Unitary Executive”
Sept. 13: Public Opinion
Readings: Greenberg and Page Ch. 5; Ketcham, “Electing Representatives,”
“Debate on Method of Electing Senators”
Sept. 18: The News Media
Readings: Greenberg and Page Ch. 6; Ketcham, “Debate on Veto of State
Laws,” “The New Jersey Plan,” “Debate on the New Jersey Plan”
Sept. 20: Interest Groups and Business Corporations
Readings: Greenberg and Page Ch. 7; Ketcham, “Plan for National
Government,” “Opposition to the New Jersey Plan”
Sept. 25: Social Movements
Readings: Greenberg and Page Ch. 8 and (in the Appendix) Madison,
Federalist “No. 51”; Ketcham, “Debate on Federalism”
Sept. 27: Political
Parties
Readings: Greenberg and Page Ch. 9; Ketcham, “Length of Term in Office for
Senators,” “Debate on State Equality in the Senate”
Oct. 2: 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”
Oct. 4: MIDTERM EXAM
Oct. 8: Mid-Semester grades due to Registrar
Oct. 9: Congress
Readings: Greenberg and Page Ch. 11; Ketcham, “The Judiciary, the
Veto, and Separation of Powers”
Oct. 11: The Presidency
Readings: Greenberg and Page Ch. 12; Ketcham, “Appointment of
Judges,” “Method of Ratification”
Oct. 12: Faculty Workshop
(No Classes)
Oct. 16: The Executive Branch
Readings: Greenberg and Page Ch. 13; Ketcham, “Election of the
Executive”
Oct. 18: The Court
Readings: Greenberg and Page Ch. 14; Ketcham, “First Draft of the
Constitution”
Oct. 22-Nov. 2:
Pre-Registration for Spring Semester for Currently Enrolled Students
Oct. 23: Civil Liberties: The Struggle for Freedom
Readings: Greenberg and Page Ch. 15; Ketcham, “Qualifications for
Suffrage”
Oct. 25: Civil Liberties: The Struggle for Freedom
(cont’d.)
Readings: Greenberg and Page Ch. 15; Ketcham, “Qualifications for
Suffrage”
Oct. 30: Civil Rights: The Struggle for Political
Equality
Readings: Greenberg and Page Ch. 16; Ketcham, “Citizenship for
Immigrants”
Nov. 1: Civil Rights: The Struggle for Political
Equality (cont’d.)
Readings: Greenberg and Page Ch. 16; Ketcham, “Citizenship for
Immigrants”
Nov. 6: The Budget and Economic Policy
Readings: Greenberg and Page Ch. 17; Ketcham, “Executive Veto Power”
Nov. 8: The Budget and Economic Policy (cont’d.)
Readings:
Greenberg and Page Ch. 17; Ketcham, “Executive Veto Power”
Nov. 9:
Last Day to Withdraw with "W" for Full Semester Classes
Nov. 13: Social
Safety Nets
Readings:
Greenberg and Page Ch. 18; Ketcham, “Slavery and the Constitution”
Nov. 15: Social
Safety Nets (cont’d.)
Readings:
Greenberg and Page Ch. 18; Ketcham, “Slavery and the Constitution”
Nov. 19-23: Thanksgiving
Day Holidays – College closed
Nov. 27: Foreign
Policy and National Defense
Readings:
Greenberg and Page, Ch. 19 & 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”
Nov. 29: 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.
Dec. 4: Foreign
Policy and National Defense (cont’d.)
Readings:
Greenberg and Page, Ch. 19 & Appendix, “The Constitution of the United
States”; Ketcham, “Opposition to the Constitution,” “Signing the Constitution”
Dec. 6: Foreign
Policy and National Defense (cont'd.)
Readings:
Greenberg and Page Appendix, “The Federalist Paper No. 10,” “The Federalist
Paper No. 51,” “The Federalist Paper No. 78,” “Presidents and Congresses,
1789-2009”
Dec. 7: Last
day of classes. In-Class Presentations and Research Papers MUST be completed
by this date. No submissions will be accepted after this date.
Assignment: Complete all readings.
Dec. 11: FINAL EXAM
Dec. 17: Final
grades due to Registrar electronically