I. ASCRC General Education Form
Group
(IX)
American and European Perspectives
Dept/Program
PSC
Course #
100
Course Title
Prerequisite
3
Introduction to American Government
None
Credits
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Date
James Lopach
2946;
james.lopach@umontana.edu
Program Chair
James Lopach
Dean
Jerry Fetz
III. Description and purpose of the course: General Education courses must be introductory
and foundational. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course
content to students’ future lives: See Preamble:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/gened/GEPreamble_final.htm
Instructor
Phone / Email
Constitutional principles, structures, and the political processes of the national government
IV. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
Systematically introduces distinctive
theoretical, structural and behavioral
aspects of American government and
politics.
V. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals. See: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
Lectures, discussion groups, review sheets,
and examinations focus on what’s
distinctive about American governmental
principles, institutions and behavior.
VII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form. ⇓ The syllabus
should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus
preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
*Please note: As an instructor of a general education course, you will be expected to provide
sample assessment items and corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.
Page 1 of 4
PSC 100
Introduction to American Government
Spring 2008
Instructor: Professor James Lopach
Phone: 243-2946
Email: james.lopach@umontana.edu
Office: Liberal Arts 350
Teaching Assistant: Autumn Thompson
Office: Corbin 347, 9-10:30, MWF
Email: autumn.thompson@umontana.edu
Discussion Sections: M, 4:00-5:00, LA 304
R, 3:00-4:00, LA 308
Text: Government by the People, 22nd edition
The learning goal of this lecture/discussion course is student understanding and critical
evaluation of the major theoretical, organizational, and legal features of American
government. These characteristics, as covered in the lectures and listed on the review
sheets, provide the basis of the three examinations. The dates of the first two
examinations are Feb. 15 and Mar. 31. The first two examinations will count 33 points
each. The final examination, which is scheduled for May 7, 10:00 a.m., will count 34
points. Thus, a total of 100 points can be earned in the course. Course grades will be
based on the following curve: A = top 8%; A- = next 7%; B+ = next 7%; B = next 7 %;
B- = next 6%; C+ = next 10%; C = next 10%; C- = next 10%; D+ = next 7%; D = next
7%; D- = next 6%; F = next 15%. For the credit/no-credit grading option, a grade of Dand above will count as “credit,” but a grade of C- or better is necessary to receive credit
toward general education, major, or minor. Make-ups for the first two examinations must
be prearranged and taken within two class days of the scheduled time. Weekly
discussion/review sessions will be conducted by the teaching assistant. Holidays are Feb.
18 and Mar. 24-28.
Topic
American Founding Documents
(Declaration of Independence, Articles of
Confederation, early state constitutions,
U.S. Constitution of 1787)
Reading
Ch. 1
Date
Jan. 23, 25
Principles of American Constitutionalism
(amendment, federalism, separation of powers,
checks and balances, judicial review, civil
rights & liberties)
Ch. 2 & 3
Jan 28, 30; Feb. 1
First Amendment Freedoms
(establishment of religion, freedom of religion,
free speech, free press, freedom of assembly,
freedom of association, personal autonomy)
Ch. 15
Feb. 4, 6, 8, 11, 13
Examination
Feb. 15
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PSC 100 Syllabus
Spring 2008
Page 2
Equal Rights under the Law
(legal definition of discrimination; equal
protection tests and analysis; state action; race,
gender, and voting discrimination; affirmative
action; discrimination by private parties)
Ch. 17
Feb. 20, 22, 25
Citizenship, Property, Procedural Rights
(acquiring and losing citizenship, rights of aliens
and deportation, eminent domain, contract
clause, due process clause, criminal defendant
rights of 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th amendments)
Ch. 16
Feb. 27-29; Mar. 3-7
Interest Groups
(framers’ intent, characteristics, constitutional
basis, arguments for and against, political tactics,
lobbying reform)
Ch. 6
Mar. 10
Political Parties
(tie to democratic theory, principal functions,
two-party system in U.S., criticism and defense
of modern parties, party government reform)
Ch. 7
Mar. 12, 14
Elections and Voting
(kinds of elections, voting behavior research,
voter turnout, the nonvoter, patterns of voting
behavior, theories of voting behavior, negative
advertisements, voter rationality, )
Ch. 8 & 9
Mar. 17, 19, 21
Examination
Mar. 31
Campaign Finance Regulation
Ch. 9
(campaign spending statistics, constitutional issues,
methods of regulation, England’s approach, recent
legislation, recent Supreme Court cases)
Apr. 2, 4
Electing the President
(theoretical considerations, categories of
serious candidates, primaries, caucuses,
nominating conventions, electoral college –
framers’ intent and reform options)
Apr. 7, 9, 11
Ch. 9
PSC 100 Syllabus
Page 3 of 4
Spring 2008
Page 3
U.S. Congress
(framers’ intent, classic legislative functions,
theories of representation, leadership positions,
kinds of committees, House vs. Senate, problems
today, reform options)
Ch. 11
Apr. 14, 16, 18
U.S. President
(framers’ intent, modern presidency, presidential
scholarship, presidential character, presidential
powers – e.g., chief executive, commander in
chief, trends and concerns)
Ch. 12
Apr. 21, 23, 25
Judiciary
(framers’ intent, judicial power, judicial
federalism, Montana judiciary, federal judicial
system, U.S. Supreme Court organization and
operation, democratic theory issues)
Ch. 14
Apr. 28, 30
Bureaucracy
Ch. 13
(framers’ intent, growth and characteristics,
principal functions, theoretical and legal concerns,
criticisms, reform options)
May 2
Examination
May 7
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