GVPT 170 Fall 2008 Introduction to American Government TTH 2 00 2 50pm Professor Office Office Hours Tel E Mail Stella Rouse 1145 Tydings Hall Monday 10 12 Wednesday 1 3 or by appointment 301 405 4194 srouse gvpt umd edu Course Description and Objectives This course introduces students to the fundamentals of American government and politics We will focus mainly on the constitutional origins of the American political system the structure and function of institutions the political actors involved in government and the crucial links between government and citizens The course is intended to help students analyze the decision making processes of the government and help them comprehend how and why the government operates the way it does Students will be strongly encouraged to apply the basic ideas of politics to current events as well as to how government affects their own lives Some of the more specific topics that will be covered in this course include but are not limited to The Fundamentals of Democracy The Constitution Federalism The Role of the Media Public Opinion Interest Groups The Branches of Government Bureaucracy Political Parties Voting and Elections Domestic and Foreign Policy Course Requirements Required Readings 1 Susan Welch John Gruhl John Comer Susan Rigdon Understanding American Government The Essentials Belmont Wadsworth Cengage 2008 ISBN 978 0 495 50117 6 2 David T Canon John J Coleman Kenneth R Mayer The Enduring Debate 5th Edition New York W W Norton Company ISBN 978 0 393 93217 1 3 Additional course readings throughout the semester provided as website links and or articles will be used to complement the textbooks and the lectures 4 Current events make up an important component of this course As such students will be required to stay informed about the major events making news This can be done through several mediums Accessing the web sites for major media organizations such as CNN cnn com New York Times nytimes com The Washington Post www washingtonpost com Fox News foxnews com Watching the news on television or listening to the news on the radio Reading the newspaper GVPT 170 Fall 2008 Attendance and Participation Students are expected to attend class and their discussion section on a regular basis in a timely manner and without disruption to other students Those students who come in late leave early or do not show up for class will miss randomly administered quizzes and assignments These students will also notice that their participation grade will reflect failure to follow attendance etiquette Students are expected to come to class having read the assigned readings During the discussion sections students are expected to participate in conversations and debates on the relevant topic s Additionally students are encouraged to ask any questions about the readings or current events In accordance with the philosophy of an institution for higher learning our classroom will be a place where people can feel comfortable expressing diverse opinions without fear of ridicule or intimidation It is therefore expected that students will remain respectful of others regardless of whether or not they share similar opinions and beliefs Grades Student grades will be comprised of the following 1 Exam I tentatively October 17 2 Exam II tentatively November 21 3 Final TBA 4 Class Participation Assignments and Quizzes 25 of final grade 25 of final grade 40 of final grade 10 of final grade All readings lectures quizzes and class discussions are fair game on the exams Exams I and II are non cumulative but the final is cumulative Exams will consist of multiple choice matching and or short answer questions Quizzes will be given during the weekly discussion section Assignments are turned in via Blackboard or during the weekly discussion section All grades will be calculated on the standard university scale Make ups I will only consider exam make ups under specific and compelling documented emergencies serious illness accident family crises etc Make up exams will consist of short answer and essay questions There will be no make ups for missed quizzes NO EXCEPTIONS Assignments are expected to be completed by the assigned dates A late assignment may only be turned in with prior approval of the instructor or the teaching assistant Late assignments will only be accepted under specific and compelling circumstances Academic Honesty The work done in this course is expected to be solely the effort of each individual student Plagiarism copying the work of another without giving proper credit and cheating will not be tolerated Any form of academic dishonesty will result in a zero for the course regardless of prior class achievement and will be reported to the Office of the Dean of Students GVPT 170 Fall 2008 Tentative Schedule of Readings and Important Dates Week 1 Introduction to American Democracy The American People Tue September 2 No Readings Thu September 4 Welch et al Chapter 1 Article Minorities Expected to be Majority in 2050 http www cnn com 2008 US 08 13 census minorities index html iref hpmostpop cnnS TCText Fri September 5 Canon et al eds What Does it Mean to be an American pp 33 50 Week 2 Tue September 9 Introduction to American Democracy The American People continued The Constitution and Federalism Thu September 11 Welch et al Chapter 2 Compare the Constitution to the Articles of Confederation http home earthlink net gfeldmeth chart art html Fri September 13 Canon et al eds The Federalist No 15 and No 51 pp 60 69 Week 3 Mon September 15 Tue September 16 Public Opinion Thu September 18 Fri September 19 Final date for dropping courses without receiving a w The Constitution and Federalism continued Welch et al Chapter 3 The Constitution and Federalism wrap up Canon et al eds Jumping Frogs Endangered Toads and California s Medical Marijuana Law pp 96 105 Week 4 Tue September 23 Public Opinion continued News Media Thu September 25 Welch et al Chapter 4 Public Opinion wrap up Fri September 26 Canon et al eds pp 329 341 Gallup and Morin Week 5 Tue September 30 News Media continued Interest Groups Thu October 2 Welch et al Chapter 5 News Media wrap up Fri October 3 Canon et al eds pp 348 358 Nagourney Permutter McDaniel Week 6 Tue October 7 Political Parties Thu October 9 Fri October 10 Week 7 Tue October 14 Elections Thu October 16 Fri October 17 Interest Groups continued Welch et al Chapter 6 Interest Groups wrap up Canon et al eds pp 490 495 The Fedarlist No 10 Madison John Bibby