Wayland Baptist University
Spring Semester 2015
SYLLABUS
Name of Course:
Time:
Dates:
POLS 2301 FEDERAL and STATE GOVERNMENT
5:30pm-9:45pm
Thursdays, February 23 – May 16
Location:
Wayland Baptist University
Phoenix Campus
Phoenix, AZ.
Name of Instructor
Capt. Ken Holmes, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office
100 West Washington
Phoenix, AZ.
Office Phone
Wk. 602-876-3453 cell: 480-251-2414
e-mail: k_holmes@mcso.maricopa.gov
Textbook:
American Government and Politics Today,2013-2014
Edition, by Bardes, Shelley, Schmidt.
ISBN:978-1-133-60437-2
Course
Description:
Course Goals:
The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the
organization, structure and functions of government and
politics. We will examine such topics as the origin and
purpose of constitutional government, the distribution of
political power, the systems of national and state
government, the nature of federalism, the role and future of
American political parties, the nature and effectiveness of
elections, the process and consequences of policy making,
and the nature of political change.
At the conclusion of this course the student should be
competent in:
-identifying the major institutions of state and national
government and to identify and evaluate their different (or
similar) policy making processes;
-identifying the historical origins of the national
government systems and provide a critical analysis of the
American Constitution;
-explaining the concept of federalism and evaluate the
various interpretations or practices of this constitutional
product;
-explaining what is meant by American liberalism and its
pervasive influence on American political culture;
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-explaining the American political party and electoral
system and discuss mass political behavior in relation to
popular democratic expectations;
Course Outline:
Please Note: First class will meet on Thursday March 5th !
Class one:
Overview of class
Homework Assignment guidelines and Chapter tests
Class two:
Read chapters 1 thru 2 American Government
Class three:
Read chapter 3 thru 4 American Government
Class four:
Read chapters 5 thru 6 American Government
Class five:
Read chapters 7 thru 8 American Government
Class six:
Midterm Exam
Class seven:
Read chapter 9 thru 10 American Government
Class eight:
Read chapters 11 thru 12 American Government
Class nine:
Read chapters 13, 14, and 15 American Government
Class ten:
Final Exam
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Grading
and Evaluation:
Additional Syllabus
Information
Examinations will be based on lectures and the assigned
reading material. The Midterm Exam, the Final Exam, and
the Homework Assignments (Chapter Tests) will each have
an equal proportionate weight toward the final grade. In
addition, 10% of the final grade will be based on class
presentation and participation
Students enrolled at one of the University’s external
campuses should make every effort to attend all class
meetings. All absences must be explained to the instructor
who will then determine whether the missed work may be
made up. When a student reaches that number of absences
considered by the instructor to be excessive, the instructor
will so advise the student and file an unsatisfactory
progress report with the center director.
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