Syllabus
Tulsa Community College
Spring 2014
Course: American Federal Government (POLS 1113)
Section #: 240
Day and Time: M/W 11:00-12:20 p.m. Classroom #2302
Course Delivery Method: Lecture, Class Discussion, Assigned Reading, Written Assignments
Instructor: McWilliams, Rebecca A.
Office Hours: Before or After Class
and by appointment
Office Email: rebecca.gunter@tulsacc.edu and rmcwilliams86@yahoo.com
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Political Science 1113 is an introduction to American government
and politics. This course will examine the main aspects of the American political system. It will
study the development of the American government, the Constitution and the three main
branches: executive, legislative and judicial and their functions.
TEXTBOOK:
Title: We the People: A Concise Introduction to American Politics, 10th Edition
Author: Thomas E. Patterson
TEXTBOOK AND SUPPLIES MAY BE PURCHASED AT THE NORTHEAST CAMPUS
BOOKSTORE.
There will be outside readings that will be either posted on blackboard.
FOOD AND CELL PHONES: Please leave your cell phones on silent during class time. If for
some reason you need to have it available during the class period please speak to me before class
about the situation. There is NO texting during class. A pet peeve of mine is the clicking noise
that the buttons on phones make when people are texting so if I hear it I will call you out. Food
and drink during class time is fine as long as the drinks have caps and the drink is school
appropriate. Snacks are fine but on test day I ask that you do not bring any snacks, though you
can bring a drink. Don’t be the student crunching on chips in a quiet testing room. It’s gross!
TEACHING METHODS: This class will be conducted through lectures and notes and also
discussions on outside reading.
EVALUATION TECHNIQUES:
Tests- There will be two tests given each consisting of multiple choice and short essay worth 250
points each.
Essays- There will also be two 5 page essays worth 100 points each. The assignments will be
explained further through written handouts later in the course. Each essay must be in Turabian
format for citations which means footnotes instead of parenthetical citations. A good source for
the examples for citing is:
http://www.press.uchicago.edu/books/turabian/turabian_citationguide.html
Reading Notes- Reading notes are required on days of discussion as labeled in the syllabus
calendar. Notes can be informal in format but must be useful during time of discussion. They
should be one page or more, typed and also contain one discussion question for the class
discussion that day. They will be turned in at the end of discussion and are worth 10 points each.
There will be 5 reading notes in all. The notes are to help you during discussion so make them as
useful as possible.
Current Events Journal- Throughout the semester you should look for current political events in
either the newspapers or on political sites. The even can encompass any kind of politics (ex.
presidential, health care, judicial, environmental, etc). Find an article of interest and write a small
summary of what the article is about and why you find it interesting. The entry is informal but
should include a printout or copy of the article itself. Since we are in class from January to May
you should have 5 journal entries each worth 20 points (100 points) in all. The journal will be
turned in on April 30th.
Participation- Participation is a key part of discussion time. Everyone must participate or it will
affect their grade. This is a time to come out of your shell and engage in discussion with the
other students. Participation will be worth 100 points.
Attendance- Attendance is worth 50 points and excessive absences can also affect your
participation grade.
GRADING SCALE: 1000/1000 points possible
1000-900
899-800
799-700
699-600
599-0
A
B
C
D
F
ATTENDANCE: Because of the class time format (twice a week for 1 hour and 20 minutes) it
is imperative that students do all that they can to attend all scheduled classes. If, however, an
absence is unavoidable, it is the responsibility of the student to contact the instructor as quickly
as possible. It is the student’s responsibility to acquire any notes from the missed class from the
other students.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS AND MAKE-UP WORK: Assignments are meant to be turned in on
the date shown in the syllabus calendar. If you are late on a short essay 10 points will be taken
off for every day that it is late. Reading notes cannot be made-up and will not be accepted late.
They must be ready for the discussion that day. Tests can be made up in very particular
circumstances. The decision on whether or not you can make the test up and the time and place
will be at the discretion of the instructor.
EXTRA CREDIT POLICY: Extra credit is available if anyone is interested. Some extra credit
events arise during the school semester so let me know if you are interested.
COURSE WITHDRAWAL: The deadline to withdraw from a course shall not exceed ¾ the
duration of any class. Contact the counseling office at any TCC campus to initiate withdrawal
from a course (‘W’ grade) or to change from credit to audit. Check the TCC Academic Calendar
for deadlines. Students who stop participating in the course and fail to withdraw may receive a
course grade of “F,” which may have financial aid consequences for the student.
COMMUNICATIONS: Communication will be made through e-mail so if you use a different
e-mail then your TCC account please let me know. If you miss an assignment because you did
not give me the correct information it will be your fault.
INCLEMENT WEATHER: TCC rarely closes. If extreme weather conditions or emergency
situations arise, TCC always gives cancellation notices to radio and television stations (The
News on 6). This information is also posted on the TCC website (www.tulsacc.edu).
CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE: Since there will be discussions during class time it is important
that you remain open and respectful of each other’s opinions, beliefs, and perspectives during
classroom discussions. Discussions should encourage the free exchange of ideas so that you may
learn from each other. Please learn the difference between a discussion and an argument. To
ensure the highest level of learning please be respectful to the other students in the class.
SYLLABUS CHANGES: Occasionally, changes to the syllabus may be necessary. Students
will be notified of any changes to the syllabus in writing.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: TCC provides accommodations for qualifying students in
compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. For information, students may contact the
Disabled Student Resource Center, 918-595-7115, or the Resource Center for the Deaf and Hard
of Hearing, 918-595-7428V, 918-595-7434TTY.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Academic dishonesty (cheating) is defined as the deception of
others about one’s own work or about the work of another. Academic dishonesty or misconduct
is not condoned or tolerated at campuses within the Tulsa Community College system. Tulsa
Community College adopts a policy delegating certain forms of authority for disciplinary action
to the faculty. Such disciplinary actions delegated to the faculty include, but are not limited to,
the dismissal of disrespectful or disorderly students from classes. In the case of academic
dishonesty a faculty member may:

Require the student to redo an assignment or test, or require the student to complete a
substitute assignment or test;



Record a “zero” for the assignment or test in question;
Recommend to the student that the student withdraw from the class, or administratively
withdraw the student from the class;
Record a grade of “F” for the student at the end of the semester. Faculty may request that
disciplinary action be taken against a student at the administrative level by submitting
such a request to the dean of student services.
INSTITUTIONAL STATEMENT: Each student is responsible for being aware of the
information contained in the TCC catalog, the TCC student policies and resources handbook, and
semester information listed in the class schedule. All information may be viewed on the TCC
website: www.tulsacc.edu
TENTATIVE COURSE CALENDAR:
1/13: Introduction to syllabus
1/15: Political Culture
Lecture/Notes & Discussion
Readings: Patterson- Pgs. 1-24
“Machiavellian Politics: Politicians and Government Officials Ignore the Code of Morals That
Governs Private Conduct”
Walzer- “What Does it Mean to Be an ‘American’?”
*Reading Notes Due
1/20: NO CLASS
1/22: How to Research and Citations
1/27: American Federalism
Lecture/Notes
Readings: Patterson- Pgs. 29-100
1/29: American Federalism
Discussion
Readings:
Locke- Second Treatises of Government
“Declaration of Independence”
Federalist Papers No. 47,48 & 51
Tocqueville- Chap. I & IV
Lutz- “The Declaration of Independence as Part of an American National Compact”
*Reading Notes Due
2/3: Constitution
Lecture/Notes
Readings: Patterson- Pgs. 610-619
2/5: Constitution
Lecture/Notes & Activity
2/10: Constitution Activity
2/12: Constitution Activity
2/17: Constitution Activity
2/19: Constitution Activity
2/24: Civil Liberties
Lecture/Notes
Readings: Patterson- Pgs. 104-142
Rosseau- The Social Contract- Chap. 1, 2, 4 & 5
2/26: Equality Legislation
Lecture/Notes
Readings: Patterson- Pgs. 146-179
3/3: Equality Legislation
Discussion
Readings:
Rauch- “In Defense of Prejudice”
King- “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”
Stanton- “Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions”
Anthony- “Organization Among Women as an Instrument in Promoting the Interests of Political
Liberty”
*Reading Notes Due
3/5: Movie The Help
*First Essay Due
3/10: Movie The Help
3/12: Public Opinion
Lecture/Notes
Readings: Patterson- Pgs. 183-211
3/17: NO CLASS
3/19: NO CLASS
3/24: Political Participation and Political Parties
Lecture/Notes
Readings: Patterson- Pgs. 215-238
3/26: Interest Groups
Lecture/Notes & Discussion
Readings: Patterson- Pgs. 281-311
Federalist Papers No. 10
*Handout Review for Test #1
3/31: TEST #1
4/2: News Media
Lecture/Notes & Discussion
Readings: Patterson- Pgs. 315-340
Prior- “Media and Political Polarization”
4/7: Executive Branch
Lecture/Notes & Discussion
Readings: Patterson- Pgs. 390-427
Federalist Papers No. 70
Neustadt- “Presidential Power”
*Reading Notes Due
4/9: Judicial Branch
Lecture/Notes & Discussion
Readings: Patterson- Pgs. 465-496
Federalist Papers No. 78
4/14: Legislative Branch
Lecture/Notes
Readings: Patterson- Pgs. 344-385
4/16: Legislative Branch
Discussion
Readings:
Miller and Stokes- “Constituency Influence in Congress”
Woods and Baranowski- “Legislative Professionalism & Influence on State Agencies: The
Effects of Resources and Careerism”
*Reading Notes Due
4/21: Bureaucracy
Lecture/Notes
Readings: Patterson- Pgs. 431-461
4/23: Economy and Environment
Lecture/Notes
Readings: Patterson- Pgs. 501-534
*Second Essay Due
4/28: Welfare and Education
Lecture/Notes
Readings: Patterson- Pgs. 538-568
4/30: Foreign Policy
Lecture/Notes
Readings: Patterson- Pgs. 573-602
*Journal Entries Due and Handout Review for Test #2
5/7: FINAL TEST #2
11:00 - 12:50 p.m.