Note:
Course content may be changed, term to term, without
notice. The information below is provided as a guide
for course selection and is not binding in any form,
and should not be used to purchase course materials.
GOVT 462 Syllabus
COURSE SYLLABUS
GOVT 462
PUBLIC FINANCE AND BUDGETING
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Fiscal and monetary policy, taxation and the budget process in government.
RATIONALE
Government Majors within a Politics and Policy Specialization and those pursuing a Government
or Politics and Policy Minor are required to demonstrate an understanding of a Biblical Christian
worldview as the foundation for public policy analysis, which comprehends conceptualization,
formulation, and implementation of public policy within a federal framework of national and
state policy concerns. This policy course requires students to examine the federal budgetary
process as to methodology, taxation and expenditures, politics, and reforms.
I.
PREREQUISITES
For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic
Course Catalog.
II.
REQUIRED RESOURCE PURCHASES
Click on the following link to view the required resource(s) for the term in which you are
registered: http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/liberty.htm
III.
IV.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR LEARNING
A.
Computer with basic audio/video output equipment
B.
Internet access (broadband recommended)
C.
Microsoft Word
(Microsoft Office is available at a special discount to Liberty University students.)
D.
Public Finance Review Journal (found at Sage Journals Online: Liberty
University Online Journal)
E.
Budget and Economic Outlook Journal (found at Congressional Budget Office:
Liberty University Online Journal)
MEASURABLE LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
A.
Evaluate the role and jurisdiction of government relative to social and economic
welfare from a Biblical worldview.
B.
Discuss or delineate a Biblical perspective on property and liberty of conscience.
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GOVT 462 Syllabus
V.
C.
Compare and contrast the moral and legal duties of our constitutional republic,
which includes an originalist understanding of the relationship between Article 1,
Section 8, Clause 1 (General Welfare Clause) and the rise of social welfare policy
and programs currently part of US budgetary authority.
D.
Define the vocabulary of the federal budget process.
E.
Analyze the federal budget process, have a working knowledge of statutes which
govern the process, and critique the constitutional authority for taxation policies
and expenditures.
F.
Analyze the federal budget for purposes of reform and downsizing.
G.
Evaluate the roles of both the executive and legislative branches as each impacts
and affects budgetary authority, priority, and processes.
H.
Recall the organization of the national government, specifically the executive
departments and agencies which oversee the financial regulatory and rule-making
processes and public program expenditures.
I.
Interpret a US Budget.
J.
Critique policy paper targeting the nature and scope of the federal budget.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS
A.
Textbook readings and lecture presentations/notes
B.
Course Requirements Checklist
After reading the Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the
related checklist found in Module/Week 1.
C.
Discussion Board Forums (5)
Students will be required to complete 5 Discussion Board postings consisting of 1
thread and 2 replies to classmates’ posts. Threads must contain 300–450 words
while replies must contain at least 250 words each. Proper spelling, grammar, and
punctuation are expected.
D.
Policy Paper Review and Critique (2)
Students will be required to review and critique 2 policy papers. The title of each
article to be reviewed will be due prior to submitting the completed papers. Each
Review and Critique Paper must be between 5 and 7 pages.
E.
Quizzes (2)
Students will be required to complete 2 open-book quizzes, which will consist of
25 randomized multiple-choice questions to be completed within 1 hour. Quizzes
will test students on their knowledge of budgetary terms and acronyms, as well as
budgetary methodology.
F.
Exams (2)
Students will be required to complete 2 exams, which will cover conceptual
material found in the texts and assigned readings. Both exams are closed-book,
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GOVT 462 Syllabus
and will consist of 50 randomized true/false and multiple-choice questions to be
completed within a timed 2-hour time frame.
VI.
COURSE GRADING AND POLICIES
A.
Points
Course Requirements Checklist
Discussion Board Forums (5 at 100 pts ea)
Policy Paper Title (2 at 10 pts ea)
Policy Paper Review and Critique (2 at 90 pts ea)
Quizzes (2 at 50 pts ea)
Exams (2 at 100 pts ea)
Total
B.
10
500
20
180
100
200
1010
Scale
A = 900–1010 B = 800–899 C = 700–799 D = 600–699 F = 0–599
C.
Late Assignment Policy
If the student is unable to complete an assignment on time, then he or she must
contact the instructor immediately by email.
Assignments that are submitted after the due date without prior approval from the
instructor will receive the following deductions:
1.
Late assignments submitted within one week of the due date will
receive a 10% deduction.
2.
Assignments submitted more than one week late will receive a 20%
deduction.
3.
Assignments submitted two weeks late or after the final date of the
class will not be accepted.
4.
Late Discussion Board threads or replies will not be accepted.
Special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, personal health issues) will be
reviewed by the instructor on a case-by-case basis.
D.
Extra Credit Policy
There is no extra credit.
E.
Disability Assistance
Students with a documented disability may contact Liberty University Online’s
Office of Disability Academic Support (ODAS) at LUOODAS@liberty.edu to
make arrangements for academic accommodations. Further information can be
found at www.liberty.edu/disabilitysupport.
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COUR ### Course Schedule
COURSE SCHEDULE
GOVT 462
Textbooks:
Wildavsky & Caiden, The New Politics of the Budgetary Process (2004).
Streeter, The Federal Budget Process (2010).
MODULE/
WEEK
READING & STUDY
1
Wildavsky & Caiden: ch. 2, forward, preface,
glossary, acronyms
Streeter: ch. 10
U.S. Constitution Excerpts
2 presentations
Course Requirements Checklist
DB Forum 1
Quiz 1
10
100
50
2
Review Wildavsky & Caiden: ch. 2
Streeter: chs. 1 – 5
Federal Budget Process Excerpts
1 presentation
2 articles
Policy Paper Title Submission
10
3
Wildavsky & Caiden: chs. 3 & 6
Streeter: chs. 6 & 7
1 presentation
DB Forum 2
100
4
Wildavsky & Caiden: ch. 8
Streeter: ch. 8
4 articles
Policy Paper Review and Critique
Exam 1
90
100
5
Organization of the Executive Branch
Organization of Congress
1 presentation
1 lecture note
Quiz 2
50
6
Review Wildavsky & Caiden: ch. 6
U.S. Constitution Excerpts
2 presentations
2 articles
Policy Paper Title Submission
DB Forum 3
10
100
7
Wildavsky & Caiden: ch. 7
Streeter: chs. 11 & 12
1 presentation
5 websites
DB Forum 4
100
8
Wildavsky & Caiden: ch. 9
Streeter: ch. 9
1 presentation
8 articles
DB Forum 5
Policy Paper Review and Critique
Exam 2
100
90
100
TOTAL
1010
ASSIGNMENTS
POINTS
DB = Discussion Board
NOTE: Each course week (except Module/Week 1) begins on Tuesday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on
Monday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final week ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.