Political Science 110-2 Neil H. Cogan
Fall 2019 Office: Platner Hall 107
Office Hours: Tu Th 10:30-12:00 pm (and by appt.) E-mail: ncogan@whittier.edu
American Government and Politics, Syllabus
Course Description
This course surveys the institutions and principles of American government, the branches of the national and state governments, and legal/political principles such as federalism, separation and balance of powers, and supremacy of the United States Constitution. It surveys the public’s influence upon governmental policy through voting, political parties, political action, interest groups, and the media/Net. We read a wide range of texts, including history, law, political theory, and statistics, in order to give a theoretical and practical foundation to American politics.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
1. Distinguish the institutions of the national and state governments and their powers and roles;
2. Understand and discuss American political culture, including issues relating to party identification, electoral politics, and civic and religious traditions;
3. Understand and discuss the role of public opinion, media and interest groups, and business organizations in shaping and actions by government institutions; and
4. Discuss political policy decisions and conflicts using a variety of lenses, including class, culture, education, gender, labor, psychology, race, and religion.
Departmental Goals
In addition to the specific goals of this course, the Political Science Department has various learning goals and objectives for our major. This course seeks to contribute to the following goals and/or objective(s):
Goal 1: Learning about political science: Students should develop a better understanding of and the ability to analyze, synthesize or evaluate, as appropriate, the nature of politics, political behavior, and the political world, including the fundamental issues in the discipline and its sub-fields. As part of this, students should understand the methodologies of the discipline, particularly key issues such as how we know what we know, and what paradigms and/or alternative approaches exist in different subfields.
Objective 2: Students should be able to analyze and evaluate the role of civil society and the private sector (political parties, interest groups, non-governmental organizations, the media, corporations) in the political process.
Objective 3: Students should be able to discuss the nature of the Constitution, and the impact of judges or public administrators on the development of public policy.
Goal 2: Skill Development: Students should develop fundamental skills in written and oral communication, group collaboration, evaluating information, and discerning cause-effect relationships.
Goal 3: Career preparation. Students should gain sufficient background in the field to pursue graduate work in political science, the law, or other disciplines and/or careers in or related to political science.
Objective 1: Students will develop the capability to conduct independent research projects.
Objective 3: Students will have the opportunity to learn about different areas of “practical politics,” including state and local politics, public administration and foreign policy.
Required Text
American Government: Stories of a Nation, 2d ed., Scott F. Abernathy (Sage 2020)
Assignments and Grading:
Your grade for the course will be based on the following components:
1. Attendance and participation - 20%
Your attendance and participation in class and any events are essential. Participation can include individual contributions to discussion, small group discussions, and in-class writing assignments as well as being attentive and respectful to fellow participants and me. You are expected to not only attend, but to have completed the reading ahead of time so that your contributions are informed. I allow a limit of three unexcused absences without penalty.
2. Midterm – 30% percent
The midterm will be an in-class, closed-book examination covering the first half of the course.
3. Final - 50%
The final will be an in-class, closed-book examination covering the entire course.
Grade Scale:
100-93.4 A
93.3 – 90 A-
89.9 – 86.7 B+
86.6 – 83.4 B
83.3 – 80 B-
79.9 – 76.7 C+
76.6 – 73.4 C
73.3 – 70 C-
69.9 – 66.7 D+
66.6 – 63.4 D
63.3 – 60 D-
59.9 – 0 F
Class Laptop/Electronic Device Policy:
I realize that many people take all their notes directly on laptops or other devices. I will attempt to honor this choice, so long as students do not abuse the privilege. However, if permitting general use of laptops harms the user’s ability to participate meaningfully in class or leads to other students being distracted, I will suspend the privilege and revert to only permitting laptop or other electronic use by students with a documented need for such assistance (such as a disability or language accommodation). Similarly, cell phones/texting should be reserved for emergencies, and texting in class will hurt your attendance grade.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodations
In compliance with the ADA, it is the policy of Whittier College to ensure students with disabilities can access the curriculum and have access to a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. Students desiring reasonable accommodations on the basis of physical, learning, or psychological disability for this class should contact Student Disability Services. Students must request accommodations each semester. Student Disability Services is located on the ground floor of the Library and can be reached by calling (562) 907-4825.
Policy on Academic Honesty
The Whittier policy on academic honesty makes it clear that all forms of academic cheating, fraud, and dishonesty are not permitted at this institution. I do not tolerate plagiarism or academic dishonesty of any kind and will pursue plagiarism cases to the full extent allowed by Whittier rules. At the minimum students I find to have committed a flagrant act of intentional plagiarism or cheating will receive a zero on the assignment and their case will be referred to the appropriate offices for further administrative action. The penalties for repeated or flagrant misconduct can be as severe as suspension from Whittier. Students unclear on what constitutes an act of academic dishonesty or the potential consequences of violations should review https://www.whittier.edu/academics/academichonesty .
Course Schedule
September 5 Introduction
September 10 Chapter 1
September 12 Chapter 2
September 17 Chapter 3
September 19 Chapter 3 (continued)
September 24 Chapter 4
September 26 Chapter 5
October 1 Chapter 6
October 3 Chapter 6 (continued)
October 8 Chapter 7
October 10 Chapter 8
October 15 Chapter 9
October 17 Chapter 10
October 29 Midterm Exam
October 31 Chapter 11
November 5 Chapter 12
November 7 Chapter 12 (continued)
November 12 Chapter 13
November 14 Chapter 14
November 19 Chapter 15
November 21 Chapter 16
November 26 Chapter 17
December 3 Chapter 18
December 5 Review
December 12, 8:00-10:00 am Final Exam
Fall 2019 Office: Platner Hall 107
Office Hours: Tu Th 10:30-12:00 pm (and by appt.) E-mail: ncogan@whittier.edu
American Government and Politics, Syllabus
Course Description
This course surveys the institutions and principles of American government, the branches of the national and state governments, and legal/political principles such as federalism, separation and balance of powers, and supremacy of the United States Constitution. It surveys the public’s influence upon governmental policy through voting, political parties, political action, interest groups, and the media/Net. We read a wide range of texts, including history, law, political theory, and statistics, in order to give a theoretical and practical foundation to American politics.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
1. Distinguish the institutions of the national and state governments and their powers and roles;
2. Understand and discuss American political culture, including issues relating to party identification, electoral politics, and civic and religious traditions;
3. Understand and discuss the role of public opinion, media and interest groups, and business organizations in shaping and actions by government institutions; and
4. Discuss political policy decisions and conflicts using a variety of lenses, including class, culture, education, gender, labor, psychology, race, and religion.
Departmental Goals
In addition to the specific goals of this course, the Political Science Department has various learning goals and objectives for our major. This course seeks to contribute to the following goals and/or objective(s):
Goal 1: Learning about political science: Students should develop a better understanding of and the ability to analyze, synthesize or evaluate, as appropriate, the nature of politics, political behavior, and the political world, including the fundamental issues in the discipline and its sub-fields. As part of this, students should understand the methodologies of the discipline, particularly key issues such as how we know what we know, and what paradigms and/or alternative approaches exist in different subfields.
Objective 2: Students should be able to analyze and evaluate the role of civil society and the private sector (political parties, interest groups, non-governmental organizations, the media, corporations) in the political process.
Objective 3: Students should be able to discuss the nature of the Constitution, and the impact of judges or public administrators on the development of public policy.
Goal 2: Skill Development: Students should develop fundamental skills in written and oral communication, group collaboration, evaluating information, and discerning cause-effect relationships.
Goal 3: Career preparation. Students should gain sufficient background in the field to pursue graduate work in political science, the law, or other disciplines and/or careers in or related to political science.
Objective 1: Students will develop the capability to conduct independent research projects.
Objective 3: Students will have the opportunity to learn about different areas of “practical politics,” including state and local politics, public administration and foreign policy.
Required Text
American Government: Stories of a Nation, 2d ed., Scott F. Abernathy (Sage 2020)
Assignments and Grading:
Your grade for the course will be based on the following components:
1. Attendance and participation - 20%
Your attendance and participation in class and any events are essential. Participation can include individual contributions to discussion, small group discussions, and in-class writing assignments as well as being attentive and respectful to fellow participants and me. You are expected to not only attend, but to have completed the reading ahead of time so that your contributions are informed. I allow a limit of three unexcused absences without penalty.
2. Midterm – 30% percent
The midterm will be an in-class, closed-book examination covering the first half of the course.
3. Final - 50%
The final will be an in-class, closed-book examination covering the entire course.
Grade Scale:
100-93.4 A
93.3 – 90 A-
89.9 – 86.7 B+
86.6 – 83.4 B
83.3 – 80 B-
79.9 – 76.7 C+
76.6 – 73.4 C
73.3 – 70 C-
69.9 – 66.7 D+
66.6 – 63.4 D
63.3 – 60 D-
59.9 – 0 F
Class Laptop/Electronic Device Policy:
I realize that many people take all their notes directly on laptops or other devices. I will attempt to honor this choice, so long as students do not abuse the privilege. However, if permitting general use of laptops harms the user’s ability to participate meaningfully in class or leads to other students being distracted, I will suspend the privilege and revert to only permitting laptop or other electronic use by students with a documented need for such assistance (such as a disability or language accommodation). Similarly, cell phones/texting should be reserved for emergencies, and texting in class will hurt your attendance grade.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodations
In compliance with the ADA, it is the policy of Whittier College to ensure students with disabilities can access the curriculum and have access to a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. Students desiring reasonable accommodations on the basis of physical, learning, or psychological disability for this class should contact Student Disability Services. Students must request accommodations each semester. Student Disability Services is located on the ground floor of the Library and can be reached by calling (562) 907-4825.
Policy on Academic Honesty
The Whittier policy on academic honesty makes it clear that all forms of academic cheating, fraud, and dishonesty are not permitted at this institution. I do not tolerate plagiarism or academic dishonesty of any kind and will pursue plagiarism cases to the full extent allowed by Whittier rules. At the minimum students I find to have committed a flagrant act of intentional plagiarism or cheating will receive a zero on the assignment and their case will be referred to the appropriate offices for further administrative action. The penalties for repeated or flagrant misconduct can be as severe as suspension from Whittier. Students unclear on what constitutes an act of academic dishonesty or the potential consequences of violations should review https://www.whittier.edu/academics/academichonesty .
Course Schedule
September 5 Introduction
September 10 Chapter 1
September 12 Chapter 2
September 17 Chapter 3
September 19 Chapter 3 (continued)
September 24 Chapter 4
September 26 Chapter 5
October 1 Chapter 6
October 3 Chapter 6 (continued)
October 8 Chapter 7
October 10 Chapter 8
October 15 Chapter 9
October 17 Chapter 10
October 29 Midterm Exam
October 31 Chapter 11
November 5 Chapter 12
November 7 Chapter 12 (continued)
November 12 Chapter 13
November 14 Chapter 14
November 19 Chapter 15
November 21 Chapter 16
November 26 Chapter 17
December 3 Chapter 18
December 5 Review
December 12, 8:00-10:00 am Final Exam
- Teacher: Neil Cogan