POLS 1101: American Government, Spring 2016
Dr. Brian Hanson
Assistant Professor of Political Science
Email: bhanson@abac.edu
Twitter: @ABAC_POLS1101 (for distribution of news articles pertinent to course topics)
Office: King Hall 2F
Office Hours: MWF 9-9:50, 1-1:50; TR 2-4, and by appointment
****Course info can also be on ABAC D2L****
Course Objectives:
“Politics is who gets what, when, and how.”
This is a course surveys the broad complex subject of U.S. politics. We will study the
American system of politics, as well as the process by which this political system developed
over the course of time. Its primary objective is to introduce students to the ideas and
decisions that have shaped politics and policy in the United States. We will examine some of
the basic aspects of American government and politics, such as political institutions, mass
participation, elected leadership, ideology and opinion, organized interests, decision-making,
elections, and innovation within a multi-leveled federal system. I will attempt to make clear
these subjects to those with little preparation while challenging those who already know a
great deal about American politics. Particular emphasis in this course will be placed on the
major institutions of the national political system – Constitution, Congress, Presidency, and
the Supreme Court; and the interaction between these major institutions and the American
public in the production of policies and the struggle for political power.
Upon completion of the course, students should have a basic knowledge of American
government and politics. Such knowledge is an important aspect of a general education, as
well as active citizenship.
Pre-requisites/Co-requisites: Exemption from or successful completion of READ 0099
and ENGL 0099.
Assignments/Grading:
This course utilizes a weighted grading system to calculate you final course grade.
Participation 5%
Quizzes 20%
First Exam 25%
Second Exam 25%
Third Exam 25%
Final Exam 25% (OPTIONAL) - You are not required to take the final if you are satisfied
with your grade after the third exam. Taking the final exam will replace your lowest grade
from the previous exams. The final exam will be comprehensive.
Grading Scale: A = 90-100, B = 80-90, C= 70-79, D= 60-69, F < 60
Quizzes:
There will be at least 10 quizzes during the course of the semester. Most of the quizzes will
be given on D2L and will be due before class. In this case, I will notify you in prior class of
the assigned quiz. At least three quizzes will be short essay questions and will be
administered in class at the instructor’s discretion.
Required Texts:
“American Government: Power and Purpose” Brief Thirteenth Edition. By Lowi et al.
Other readings will be posted online on the course D2L page.
Course Goals for Students:
Upon completion of POLS 1101, the student will be able to:
1. Define the beliefs, values, and goals of the conservative ideological perspective.
2. Define the beliefs, values, and goals of the liberal ideological perspective.
3. Identify the processes by which participants in the political arena put political ideals
into action.
4. Identify how the mass media influences political behavior in U.S. politics in terms of
agenda setting, political socialization, and political education.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of the U.S. government’s Legislative Branch by citing its
specific constitutional powers and limitations.
6. Demonstrate knowledge of the U.S. government’s Executive Branch by citing its
specific constitutional powers and limitations.
7. Demonstrate knowledge of the U.S. government’s Judicial Branch by citing its
specific constitutional powers and limitations.
8. Identify the primary arguments proposed in Federalist 51 & 10, and how these
arguments shaped the construction of the Constitution.
9. Identify the role of the Georgia Constitution as it stands in our federal system of
government.
10. Recognize America’s role in the international political arena and identify the
institutional mechanisms by which the U.S. pursues its global agenda in the
international community.
Social Sciences: General Education Outcomes: Students will describe how historical,
economic, political, social; and spatial relationships develop, persist, and change as well as
how they are impacted by the complexity and diversity of individual and group behavior.
Expectations of Student Conduct:
Class civility is expected of each student, which entails (but is not limited to) arriving to class
on time and prepared; do the required readings before class; silencing AND PUTTING
AWAY your cellular phone until the break (if insist upon using your phone during class, you
will be asked to leave for the day); sleeping at home, not in class; leaving class when
dismissed; listening to your classmates and not interrupting others. No talking during class
session unless it is to contribute to class specific discussion.
Show respect to the professor and to your fellow students – It is OK to challenge my ideas
and the ideas of others with logic and evidence, but not to attack someone else with insult.
We will inevitably be discussing contentious issues. Treat others with respect.
Intellectual Property Issues:
Course materials prepared by the professor of this course, including the course syllabus,
together with the content of all lectures and review sessions presented by the professor are
the property of the professor. Lecture notes and PowerPoint slides will not be distributed.
Video and audio recording of lectures and review sessions without the consent of the
professor is prohibited. On request, the professor will usually grant permission for students
to audio record lectures, on the condition that these audio recordings are only used as a
study aid by the individual making the recording. Unless explicit permission is obtained from
the professor, recordings of lectures and review sessions may not be modified and must not
be transferred or transmitted to any other person, whether or not that individual is enrolled
in the course. Any individual or organization violating the professor’s copyright on course
materials and lectures could be subject to charges of academic misconduct and/or to civil
action for copyright violations.
Academic Integrity:
All students will be held to the policies set forth in the ABAC handbook. Among other
things, this means that cheating on exams is totally unacceptable, as is plagiarism. Plagiarism
is the act of portraying as your own the words or ideas of other people. Examples include
submitting entire papers, or portions of papers, that you did not write (e.g., papers or
portions of papers downloaded from the Internet, old papers written by other students, new
papers written by other students, papers which you paid a “research” service to write for
you, etc.). Copying verbatim or paraphrasing any substantial portion of text by another
author without acknowledging the source via quotation and/or footnotes is plagiarism.
Plagiarism is far easier to spot than you might think. Do your own work.
Accommodations:
Students with disabilities requiring academic accommodations must first register with the
appropriate ABAC office. This office will provide documentation to the student who must
then provide this documentation to the Instructor when requesting accommodation. Please
come see me as soon as possible regarding this matter (i.e. immediately). If there is a student
in this class who has specific needs because of learning disabilities or any other disability,
please feel free to contact the instructor…
… even if you just need a little help or direction, I am here to help you folks… but I can’t if
you don’t ask for it. Stop by my office – my door is always open to my students.
Student Responsibility and Attendance Policy:
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College expects students to attend all scheduled classes.
Therefore, it is the responsibility of each student to attend all class meetings on time and stay
for the duration. If you come to class after the roll is taken, it is your responsibility to inform
the Instructor at the end of the class period so that he knows you were present and
participated in class. The Instructor will not entertain arguments as to whether you were in
class or not if you do not inform him directly after class.
The Instructor expects all students to complete the assigned readings and assignments on
time, be in class during instruction hours, participate in class discussions, and take quizzes
and examinations as scheduled. Because the Instructor expects you to behave like a
responsible adult, there is no specific attendance policy, but participation is part of your
grade and some quizzes will take place in class. The easiest way to pass this course is to be
present.
Emails:
• Identify yourself… if your email is thedudeabides5000@gmail.com, I have no idea who
you are. Make sure you identify yourself by first and last name, and your class / meeting time
in the SUBJECT LINE
• Write like a college-educated individual… I am over age 29 and cannot read emoji. Use
proper grammar. An email is not a text. Please write clearly.
• Consider being a student your profession, so write emails professionally!
This syllabus is subject to change and the most up-to-date version will be
posted on the course D2L website.
Course Schedule
Section 1: Political Culture and Constitutional Imperatives
Political Culture and the Political System
Freedom and Power: Chapter 1
Constructing a Government: Chapter 2
Federalism and Separation of Powers: Chapter 3
Georgia Constitution: online readings
First Exam - date TBD
Section 2: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Chapter 4
Section 3: Institutions
Congress: Chapter 5
The Presidency: Chapter 6
The Executive Branch: Chapter 7
Judiciary: Chapter 8
Second Exam - date TBD
Section 4: Links between Citizen and the Political System
Public opinion and Media: Chapter 9
Elections: Chapter 10
Parties: Chapter 11
Organized Interests: Chapter 12
Section 5: Public Policy
Domestic Policy: Chapter 13
Foreign Policy: Chapter 14
Third Exam- date TBD
Final Exam - see course D2L website