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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "PL 201-1"
COURSE NAME: "American Government"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall 2019
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Pamela Harris
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 10:00-11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
tbd
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course examines the main principles of American government – democracy, federalism and the separation of powers – and the legislative, executive and judicial institutions that simultaneously embody and challenge them. Special attention will be paid to such topics as state and local governments, political parties and elections, the role of the people, civil rights, the role of the media, American political culture and foreign policy.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
1. Introduction to American democracy
2. The American Constitution: history
3. Federalism
4. Legislative Branch
5. Executive Branch
6. Judicial Branch
7. Civil Rights
8. American Political Culture
9. Civil Liberties: free speech, religion, racial justice, gender equality
10. State Governments
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Understanding of the basic principles animating American government.
2. Familiarity with the institutional mechanisms of American government.
3. Ability to understand and critically evaluate the interplay between principles and institutions.
4. Enriched understanding of contemporary U.S. politics
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TEXTBOOK:
Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
Political Institutions in the United States | Richard S. Katz | Oxford | 978-0-19-928383-5 | | | | | |
How Democratic is the American Constitution? | Robert Dahl | Yale UP | ebook | | | | | |
The Warren Court and the Pursuit of Justice | Morton J. Horwitz | Hill and Wang | 978-0809016259 | | | | | |
Strangers in Their Own Land | Arlie Hochshild | New Press | 978-1620972250 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
Participation | | 10% |
Midterm examination |
| 25% |
Research Paper | | 35% |
Final examination | | 30% |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the cou BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments. CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings. DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail. FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Class participation, for which attendance is fundamental, counts for 10% of the final grade. You are allowed 2 "free" absences, beyond which they may start to pull down this part of your grade.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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Week 1 Introduction to American democracy
Dahl, How Democratic is the American Constitution?, chs. 1-3
Week 2 Constitutional history
Katz, Political Institutions in the United States, ch. 1
Week 3 Federalism
Katz, ch. 2; Madison, Federalists 10 and 51
Week 4 Legislative Branch
Katz, ch. 6; Mann & Orenstein
Weeks 5 Executive Branch
& 6 Katz, ch. 5; Dahl, ch. 4; Federalist 68; Sunstein, Impeachment: A Citizen's Guide, chs. 6, 9-10
Week 7 Midterm review and examination
study and present midterm review questions
Week 8 Judicial Branch
Katz, ch. 8; Horwitz, The Warren Court and the Pursuit of Justice, chs. 1-3; Federalist 78
Week 9 Civil Rights
Horwitz, ch. 3, Coates, Eyes on the Prize
Week 10 American Political Culture
Hochshild, Strangers in Their Own Land
Weeks 11 Civil Liberties
& 12 Horwitz, chs. 4-7
Week 13 State and local governments
Presentations
Week 14 A more democratic constitution?
Dahl, chs. 5-8, Balkin
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