Instructor: Bill Fry

Office Phone: 4 2 4- 3 5 2 0, Ext. 5 0 2 1 6 E-Mail- b f r y @

jscc.edu

Office Hours: As posted on office or by appointment

Office Number: C- 115 H

Course Credit: 3 hours

Last Day to Drop:

POLITICAL SCIENCE 1030 Distance Ed. / On Ground

American National Government

Note Warning : Major elements of this class such as Quizzes and

Exams and Dropbox assignments will be completed via the e-

learn system / computer !!!! Therefore a student MUST have

access to a windows based computer or be willing to drive to a

campus center to address these elements of the class..

Course description:

An examination of the Constitution, federalism, separation of

powers, political parties, interest groups, the media, and

political theory.

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

General Course Objectives:

During the course of study in this area the student will be

expected to learn:

The difference between what the Founding Fathers wanted

as a Republic and the Democracy we have

To understand the effects of physical separation from England

on American political attitudes and institutions.

To understand the various dynamics of state and federal

relations within a changing federalist relationship.

To understand how public opinion is formed and it's sources.

To understand the drivers for Voting Behavior and Political

Participation.

To understand the dynamics of the political party system .

To understand political campaigning and candidate selection.

To understand the effects of interest groups on our institutions

and policies.

To examine the media and its impact on the political process.

Textbooks and Materials

American Government-Institutions and Policies-James Q. Wilson

15th ed.

( ISBN- 978-1305500051 )

Reader:

Project President : Bad Hair and Botox On The Way To The White

House--by Ben Shapiro

( ISBN-- 978-1-55-555-100-9 )

(Note : Due to the removal of the DEI initiative many students are

struggling with textbook access at the beginning of the semester. The

link in the Temporary Textbook Chapters heading in the News

section leads to a pdf copy of the first few chapters of the next

edition of your present textbook. There is enough material here to

cover your quizzes and first major exam- you will need your

textbook for the rest of the class.)

( Course Requirements:

Due to the vast amount of material/time to be covered, the

multimedia presentation and discussion method of

instruction will be employed. Students must read the text as

they will require mastery for testing purposes. Students

should take notes, but they must read the appropriate

chapters before the multimedia presentation and discussion

on the subject/topic. Students will be expected to take

complete notes from the class lectures and films. Methods

will be suggested to aid the student in this endeavor

Material to be covered on exams will include, not just

chapter material. but also material presented through the

various videos assigned to each chapter . These videos have

been carfeully selected to provide enhanced information on

each chapter's material, as well as , in some cases , political

and ideological counterpoints to enhance the students

experience and stimulate critical thinking. Therefore the

student can expect the videos to be selectively represented

on the Major Exams at the instructors discretion , and thus

students should watch and re-watch these videos while

taking note of the major points presented, because they

WILL be represented on your Major Exams

Major Exams:

(Please note that several of the Exams and or quizzes will require a student use

Respondus Lockdown Browser this system is problematic especially with certain

browsers such as Google Chrome therefore it is recommended that a student begin

early to attempt to load this on their computer since it often takes working with the

Distance Education office and several tweaks for the system to work properly.

Unfortunately, if you wait until the last minute you will probably find yourself

unable to take your exam or quiz and have to forfeit the grade. The link to load is

in your Important Documents section below this syllabus.)

At least 2 of your major tests will be monitored by Respondus Lockdown Browser -

-This means that once you begin a test you will be unable to redirect your

computer anywhere else (as in go looking for answers until the test is over) --You

will need to download Respondus Download Browser ---- Notice this program

works through a Windows operating system or Mac os --but ti also seems to prefer

Internet Explorer as it's search engine. If you have trouble downloading this

program please contact the Distance Education Help Desk immediately. Caution:

Do not wait to try to download and install this program until right before the test --

It can sometimes be a bit of a problem to install so give yourself plenty of lead time

to get it installed and work with the distance ed. help desk and working BEFORE

trying to take the test.

The Test element of this course will be expressed in 3 Major

Exam grades. Note this includes the Final. These exams

will comprise both multiple choice and other objective

forms. Each exam will be weighted equally (15% each)

throughout the semester to discourage student cramming for

the final. Since the final will have no greater value than any

other exam, students are encouraged to work hard all

semester long.

Students are encouraged to pay special attention to test dates

as they are announced and noted in the e-learn class to avoid

the discomfort associated with requesting renewed access to

the online exam. Since this often places extra hardship on a

student to remember and comprehend old or dated material,

the student is encouraged to avoid this situation.

All tests given in this class will come predominantly from

your text readings. This will occur at a minimum rate of

70%, with the rest of the test material possibly coming

from lecture, videos, or other additional materials at the

instructors discretion.

Unannounced tests are not given in this class. The Major

Exam test evaluations will be about once every three or

four weeks on average. The Major Exams will be entirely

multiple-choice and true/false (objective) and matching..

Some questions will come directly from the class

lecture/PowerPoint presentation and multimedia materials as

well.

Quizzes:

Students will be required to complete a series of on line

chapter quizzes designed to aid the student in carefully

reading : These Quizzes are designed as open book

exercises and will be timed accordingly. Quizzes will total

10% of a students grade.

Outside Work Elements- Projects:

There will be 2 outside work elements to this class:

1. A Major Reader Assignment where students are required

to Read excerpts of their class reader and provide short

answers and a short essay regarding it's content and their

own understanding . The project will comprise 15% of their

total class grade.

2. A current political events project will also make up a part

the outside written work in this class. The project will

comprise an additional 15% of the total class grade.

The subject matter of the project will be comprised of an

electronic notebook or collection of current events articles

in electronic format (Microsoft word ) on national

governmental activities printed copies of which the

student is expected to keep and bring to class with him

as part of his omgoing class participation grade. The

student is required to collect one new article per week and to

write a one to two paragraph summary of its contents. The

electronic version of the articles themselves and their

attendant summaries will be collected throughout the

semester into one document and will be submitted as one

whole document electronically at the end of the semester for

final grading. The student will, from time to time, be called

upon in class to inform the class as to the contents of his or

her present article and this will be a part of his ongoing class

participation grade as well as attendance. The purpose of

this project is to guide the student into an understanding of

the importance of governmental actions on everyday lives

and events.

See your important documents section that contains this

syllabus for information and formatting details.

Late Work :

No “make up” or renewed access to the online Major

Exams or Quiz material or Project Submission will be

allowed without proof of serious circumstance (i.e. illness—

family emergency—death in the family) . Decisions on

what is an emergency are completely at the discretion of the

instructor. Please note “Work” or “I forgot” or "My Child

Had A Function" are not acceptable excuses (keep up on

your Quizzes and Major Exams be prepared to turn in your

projects on time; –when a module window or Quiz window

closes, all work by the student in that area is locked off---

soooooooooooo –keep up) .

Graded Components:

Expressed by points:

Test 1= 150 points

Test 2 = 150 points

Test 3= 150 points

Chapter Quizzes; 10 Quizzes= 100 points

Project 1--- Reader Questions; Pass/Fail= 150 points

Project 2 --Article Notebook Project= 150 points

Class participation / Attendance= 150 points

Total= 1000 points

Expressed by percentage:

Test 1= 15%

Test 2 = 15%

Test 3= 15%

Chapter Quizzes 10 Quizzes= 10 %

Project 1 Reader Questions, Pass/ Fail = 15%

Project 2 –Articles Notebook Project= 15%

Class Participation / Attendance= 15%

TOTAL= 100%

NOTE: There is NO extra credit in this class !!

NOTE: Any student caught cheating will be issued an F in

the class and reported to the deans office.

Grading Scale:

Note: A Standard Ten Point Gap Scale Is Used For

Determining Performance on Tests And Over All Class

Performance:

100-90=A

89-80=B

79-70=C

69-60=D

59-Below=F

Attendance Policy:

Good class attendance is mandatory. A large part of the lectures

and special activities this course will be directly reflected on

exams. Since exams make up a major part of the grade for the

course, it is impossible for the student to do well in this course

without good class attendance.

To further encourage attendance, 15% of the total course grade

is reserved to the this aspect of the class (see above). This

grade is awarded on the basis of attendance AND class

participation. The student, by definition, cannot participate if

he isn't there.

Three unexcused cuts are allowed in the session. The final

grade in the class will be lowered one letter grade per

unexcused cut thereafter.

When you miss, please check with me upon returning to class.

You are responsible for making up work missed during your

absences from class.

Academic Honesty and Plagiarism –

The academic policies with regards to cheating or

plagiarism in the course are outlined in the institutional

policy found in the Jackson State Community College

Catalog and Student Handbook

Classroom behavior:

Children, pets, food, and drinks are not allowed in classroom.

Disruptive behavior, such as talking, text messaging and cell phone

conversations, will not be tolerated in the classroom. Cell phones, I

pods, Blackberries, Blackjacks, and I Phones must be turned off

while class is in session. Any exceptions will be handled on a case-

by-case basis. Please turn off chiming watches, PDA's, cell phones

& other electronic devices that may disrupt the learning

environment. Please turn the volume of your cell phone or pager off

before class, and quietly exit to the hallway to conduct any

emergency cell phone discussions

Recording of classroom materials:

No audio or video recording of class by students is permitted by the

instructor, due to the open forum discussion element of the class.

Ample study aids based upon the tested material are available on

publishers websites etc. Open recording allows to much opportunity

for posting to social media and possible student on studmitted by the

instructor, due to the open forum discussion element of the class.

A.D.A. Policy:

Students With Disabling Conditions: Jackson State does not

discriminate on the basis of disability in admission and access to

academic programs, services or employment. Students with

disabilities should inform the instructor and contact the Disability

Resource Center (DRC) inside the Counseling Office so that

appropriate accommodations can be made, based on the Americans

with Disabilities Act. It is the responsibility of the student to provide

current, documented evidence of their disability to the DRC. Contact

Linda Nickell, Dean of Students, at ext. 50354 for additional ADA

information, or go to the JSCC website at

https://www.jscc.edu/about-jackson-state/student-services/disabled-

student-services/

Syllabus Changes:

This syllabus sets forth the expectations for the course

content, work, and grading as well as expectations for

student performance and conduct. The syllabus does not

constitute a contract between the student and the instructor

or the College. The information contained here is subject to

change at any time. Students will be notified if any changes

are made. Though changes are possible, it is expected that

the course will be conducted as described in this syllabus

Learning objectives:

Module 1 :

1. Students will be able distinguish between a Republic and

Democracy.

2. Students will be able to identify the basic questions to be

asked about American government and show that they are

distinctive questions.

3. Students will be able to explain what is meant by power, and

by political power in particular, and relate the latter to authority,

legitimacy, and democracy.

4. Students will be able to distinguish among the three concepts

of democracy and what category American government fits into

as a democracy.

5. Students will be able to differentiate between majoritarian

politics and elitist politics and explain the four major theories on

the issue of elitist politics.

6. Students will be able to explain the notion of "higher law" by

which the colonists felt they were entitled to certain" natural

rights".

7. Students will be able to identify the role of John Locke in the

establishment of our founding documents.

8. Students will be able to compare the basis on which the

colonists felt a government could be considered legitimate.

9. Students will be able to identify the shortcomings of

government under the articles of confederation.

10. Students will be able to compare and contrast the Virginia

and New Jersey plans, and show how they led to the " Great

Compromise".

11. Students will be able to explain why separation of powers

and federalism became key parts of the Constitution.

12. Students will be able to explain why a bill of rights was not

initially include in the Constitution and why it was added.

13. Students will be able to identify the two major types of

constitutional reform advocatedin part today.

14. Students will be able to explain the difference between

federal and centralized systems of government a.

15. Students will be able to show how competing political

interests at the constitutional convention led to the adoption of a

federal system.

16. Students will be able to identify the ways in which national

and state powers were interpreted by the courts.

17. Students will be able to state why federal grants to states

have been politically popular, and identify the problems

associated with such grants.

18. Students will be able to distinguish between categorical

grants and block grants or general revenue sharing.

19. Students will be able to define what scholars mean by the

political culture, and list some of the dominant aspects of

political culture in America.

20. Students will be able to discuss how American citizens

compare with those of other countries in their political attitudes.

21. Students will be able to list the contributions of American

political culture made by the Revolution, the nations religious

heritage, and by the family.

22. Students will be able to list the sources of our political

attitudes, and indicate which are the most important.

Module 2:

23. Students will be able to explain why there are crosscutting

cleavages between liberals and conservatives in this country.

24. Students will be able to define political ideology and give

reasons why most American people do not think ideologically.

25. Students will be able to summarize the liberal and

conservative positions on the economy, civil rights, and political

conduct.

26. Students will be able to compare voter turn out statistics

between countries and explain the significance of the

differences.

27. Students will be able to describe the effect of shifting

control of elections from the states to the federal government.

28. Students will be able to define the term political party and

contrast the structure of American and European parties.

29. Students will be able to trace the development of the party

system through its four periods, and explain why parties have

declined since the New Deal.

30. Students will be able to describe the structure of major

political party and distinguish between powerful and powerless

party organs.

Module 3:

31. Students will be able to demonstrate the differences between

the party oriented campaigning of the 19th century and the

candidate oriented campaigning of today.

32. Students will be able to discuss the importance of campaign

funding and election outcomes, and identify funding sources.

33. Students will be able to define and understand the concept of

a realigning election and discuss major examples of such

elections.

34. Students will be able to identify what the parties must

accomplish to sustain a successful national coalition and lasting

political power.

35. Students will be able to identify the factors in American

society which encourage the creation of interest groups.

36. Students will be able to indicate the historical conditions

under which interest groups are likely to form.

37. Students will be able to describe relations between interest

group leaders and rank and file members and why they might not

agree.

38. Students will be able to describe the methods used by interest

groups to carry out there political agendas.

39. Students will be able to discuss lobbying techniques used by

groups to influence political leaders.

40. Students will be able to list and discuss laws regulating

conflict of interest and problems with revolving door government

employment.

Freedom of Academic Environment Statement

Taken from P. 195 of the 2017-2018 JSCC Student

Handbook and reprinted here for Student Reference and

Convenience.

Protection of Freedom of Expression

Students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or

view offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about

matters of opinion, but they are responsible for learning the content

of any course of study for which they are enrolled.

Protection Against Improper Academic Evaluation

Students should have protection through orderly procedures against

prejudiced or capricious academic evaluation. At the same time, they

are responsible for maintaining standards of academic performance

established for each course in which they are enrolled

Date : _________________

Student

Signature: __________________