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GOVT 200 – Constitutional Government and Free Enterprise
Professor’s notes*
As of July 13, 2007
*Note: All content is based on the professor’s opinion and may vary from professor
to professor & student to student. All content may be changed without notice. This
information is for the purpose to provide analysis but is not binding in any form.
From a Scale 1-10 (1 = low demands; 5 = moderate demands; 10 = very demanding),
How would you rate the overall level of difficulty of this course?
Level of demand = 5 to 8
There is a lot reading, the exams can be challenging, but the written assignments, while
thought-provoking, can be dispensed with rather quickly. Therefore, I would rate the
overall difficulty a 5 for avid readers and an 8 for those who are not.
From a Scale 1-10 (1 = low demands; 5 = moderate demands; 10 = very demanding),
How would you rate the level of the reading requirements in this course?
Level of demand = 7
The student reads a significant portion of five required texts in addition to the lectures
and notes. Therefore, I would rate the level of reading requirements as a 7.
From a Scale 1-10 (1 = low demands; 5 = moderate demands; 10 = very demanding),
How would you rate the level of the lecture requirements in this course?
Level of demand = 5
There are no audio or video files the lecture notes average four or five pages in length per
module with one exception, module four notes are about eighteen pages long. These
notes add to the reading load—see rank above—but are not in themselves particularly
demanding; therefore, I would rate this category a 5.
From a Scale 1-10 (1 = low demands; 5 = moderate demands; 10 = very demanding),
How would you rate the level of the online exam requirements in this course?
Level of demand = 7
This course contains three 50-question multiple choice exams. The exam must be
completed in one hour. The questions require considerable thought and can be tricky.
Exam hints or advice is provided for each exam
From a Scale 1-10 (1 = low demands; 5 = moderate demands; 10 = very demanding),
How would you rate the level of the discussion board requirements in this course?
Level of demand = 5
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There are three graded discussion board assignments; each requires an initial post and
one response to another post. These are opinion driven but students must provide support
for their conclusions.
From a Scale 1-10 (1 = low demands; 5 = moderate demands; 10 = very demanding),
How would you rate the level of the written paper requirements in this course?
Level of demand = 4
There is one three-page written assignment. It is a summary with little room for analysis.
Additional comments:
This course is broad in content and can be divided into three stages. The first is a general
overview of Biblical Worldview and political ideology. The second is a survey of the US
Constitution and constitutionalism in general. The third is a primer on fundamental free
enterprise economics.
Students will address our constitutional and free enterprise system presuppositionally.
The influence Christ and the Bible have had on that system is also discussed.
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COURSE SYLLABUS
HELMS SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT
GOVT 200
CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT AND FREE ENTERPRISE
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Diverse introduction to political and economic ideas, government institutions, free market
process, public issues, economic policy, and political and economic activity, emphasizing
the close relationships between a system of limited constitutional government and the
free enterprise economy and providing an overview of the Christian world view with
regard to government and
economics.
RATIONALE
Government and Business majors, as well as others, need a philosophical foundation for
the general concept of limited government and free enterprise economics. This course
provides such a foundation, so that students understand that limited government and free
workers not only work, but they are ethically superior to other processes and historically
the property of western
Christian civilization.
I.
PREREQUISITES
None.
II.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS
Eidsmoe, J. (1984) God and caesar: Christian faith and political
action.Westchester, IL: Crossway Books. ISBN: 0-910-7313-2.
Gwartney, J.D., Stroup, R. L., & Lee, D.R. (2005) Common sense economics.
New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press. ISBN: 0-123-3818-X.
Hazlitt, H. 1962 (1946) Economics in one lesson. New York, NY: Arlington
House Publishers.
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Martin, G. (2006) Prevailing worldviews of western american society since
1500. Marion, IL: Triangle Publishing. ISBN: 1-193-128316-8
McClellan, J. (2000) Liberty, order and justice: An introduction to the
constitutional principles of American government. Indianapolis, IN: Liberty Fund. ISBN:
0865-97256-7
The U.S . Constitution.
A Bible.
III.
IV.
MATERIALS FOR LEARNING
A.
Internet access (broadband recommended) and Microsoft Word
B.
Textbooks
C.
United States Constitution
D.
Relevant Newspaper and Journal Articles
LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this course the student will be able to:
A.
Understand and articulate the concept and application of limited
government.
B.
V.
C.
List the major specific provisions of the U.S. Constitution in its context as
a limiting device.
Articulate the ethics and workings of free market processes.
D.
Articulate the moral arguments against “capitalism” and refute them.
E.
Conduct informed reading, research, analysis, and discussion of the
American Constitutional Order and system as well as contemporary
political and economic
problems.
F.
Reaffirm, restate, and reapply the historical Biblical Christian worldview
and practice the politics of grace.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS
A.
Textbook and Bible readings.
B.
Lecture Notes ( available in the Instructor’s Notes folder), which
coincide and supplement, but do not repeat the textbook reading content.
C.
Paper: Students will write a 3 page (12 point font, double-spaced) analysis
of the major points of Washington’s “Farewell Address”.
Discussion Board Assignments: There will be three opportunities for
discussion board participation to be graded on topics chosen by the
D.
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E.
VI.
instructor. Each discussion “forum” is located in Blackboard under the
Discussion Boards, and each forum has a time period associated with it.
The “Getting to Know Me” forum is open all term and is non-graded.
Student participation is expected, and will be graded in conjunction with
the Blackboard login statistics which indicates to the instructor how often
each student is logging in. Please use etiquette on the discussion boards.
Quality as well as quantity counts. Your posts can be edited but not
removed, and file attachments are discouraged because they may slow up
reading. Each student is to present their own opinion on the assigned topic
forums in a 250-word essay (maximum). Each student will also participate
in a similar length response to other students’ posts. Each forum period
last one week and extends into the second week.
Examinations :There will be three (3) exams over the readings and class
notes. Each exam will consist of 50 multiple choice questions. Exam 1
will be on the worldview material and the biblical principles of
government. Exam 2 will cover the Constitution, and the background to
the Constitution. The Final Exam will cover the material in the economic
component of the course (last three weeks).
EVALUATION AND GRADING
A.
Weight (points)
Discussion Board 1
9
Discussion Board 2
8
Discussion Board 3
8
Short Paper: Farewell Address Analysis
15
Exam 1
20
Exam 2
20
Final Exam
20
Total
100
Important Note: Students must successfully complete all assignments to receive a passing
grade in the course.
B.
Scale
A = 90–100
B = 80–89
C = 70–79
D = 61–69
F = 0–60
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COURSE CHART
Textbooks:
Eidsmoe, J., God and caesar: Christian faith and political action, 1984.
Gwartney, J.D., Stroup, R.L., & Lee, D.R. Common sense economics, 2005.
Hazlitt, H. Economics in one lesson, 1946.
Martin, G., Prevailing worldviews, 2006.
McClellan, J. Liberty, order, and justice, 2000.
WEEK
READING
ASSIGNMENT
LECTURE
NOTES
1
Martin Chs. 1–5, 7,8 & 12
1
DB: Getting to Know Me
2
Eidsmoe Chs. 1-4
Genesis 12 & 15
Romans 13: 1-7
2
Exam 1
(covers Modules 1 & 2)
3
McClellan pp.1-49; 63-87; 89-157
3
DB #1: Mayflower Compact
4
McClellan pp. 242-353; 401-427
4
Farewell Address Analysis
15
5
Eidsmoe Chs. 11-13, 16, 18-20 Martin Ch.
12
5
DB # 2:Just War Theory
8
6
Genesis 1: 26-28
Luke 16: 1-4
Gwartney Part I & II
Hazlitt
I,IV,VII,XI,XIII,XV,XVIII,XIXXXII,XXIII,XXIV
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Exam 2
20
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Gwartney Part III
Hazlitt IV,X, XIV
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DB # 3:Moral Criticisms of the Market
8
8
Gwartney Parts III, IV
Hazlitt IX, XI, XIII, XIV, XVII, XIX, XXI
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FINAL EXAM
20
TOTAL POINTS
100
DB = Discussion Board
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
POINTS
0
20
9
7