California State University, Sacramento
Spring 2004
Essentials of Government
Instructor: Mr. Cameron Billeci
Class Time: Saturdays 9 a.m. – Noon, Location: Tahoe Hall, Room 1025
Hours: 3 hours Lecture, Section 17
Credit: 3 units
Office Hours: Saturday, Noon – 1 p.m. Tahoe Hall, Room 3001
Office: 916-278-3605
Fax: 916-278-6488
E-mail: cbilleci@csus.edu
Instructor Website: http://www.csus.edu/indiv/b/billecic
I. Required Course Textbooks:
American Government and Politics Today by Schmidt, Steffen; Shelley, Mack; and
Bardes, Barbara, Brief Edition 2003-2004, Thomson-Wadsworth, 2002. (ISBN 0-53459265-1)
California Government by Korey, John L., third edition revised, Houghton Mifflin
Co., 2002. (ISBN 0-618-46597-9)
Recommended Textbooks:
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association Fifth Edition,
(ISBN 1-55798-791-2)
II. Course Description:
This course is an introduction to political science, American government and politics.
It is structured to promote political and analytical understanding and thinking about
American politics and government. Areas of concentration include principles,
institutions, problems, processes, theory, philosophy and ideology. This course fulfills the
California state graduation requirements for general education in Area D-3. This course
also fulfills the California state graduation requirements in U.S. Constitution, American
Institutions, and California State and Local Government.
The course explores the structure and framework of state and federal government. It
investigates the nature of political power and the meaning of democracy, constitutionalism and federalism. It examines how the American political process works by surveying
the activities of political parties and interest groups, the influence of mass media and
public opinion, the functions of formal institutions of government, and the relevance of
this to the average citizen.
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In Addition, students in this course will:
1. Understand the values that influenced the colonists to separate from England.
2. Understand the purposes of the Framers of the Constitution.
3. Learn the theory of federalism and its contemporary relevance.
4. Understand the basic structure and processes of the federal and California political
systems and how the two systems are similar and dissimilar.
5. Understand the history and importance of civil rights and civil liberties.
6. Understand the different avenues that citizens have for influencing the government.
III. Course Requirements:
Students are expected to read all assignments before class. The class will discuss the
reading assignments. Daily reading of an American urban newspaper is helpful for
current events quizzes. Some newspapers may be accessed from the CSUS library
homepage at http://library.csus.edu
This edition of American Government and Politics Today comes with an online study
guide recommended for this course: http://politicalscience.wadsworth.com and four
months of free access to an online university library called InfoTrac College Edition. You
will be required to visit this website periodically throughout the semester as well as a list
of other websites which will be provided for you. Computer access and abilities are
important to participating in this class.
1. Exams: Bring a Blue Book. There will be three exams which include a
midterm. There will be a final comprehensive synthesis exam. The format for
all exams may include: multiple choice, matching, true and false, short
answer, identification and essay. The synthesis exam will be an optional
semester exam. All exam questions may come from the textbook, studyguide,
internet or the lecture. Exam One is worth 100 points, Midterm 150 points
and Exam Three 150 points. The final comprehensive synthesis exam carries
the weight of one grade.
2. Weekly Quizzes: There will be a “reading assignment/current events” quiz at
each class meeting except on test days. It may consist of multiple choice,
matching, short answer, true or false, and/or essay questions and it will cover
all reading material assigned for that week as well as current events in the
news. Quizzes are worth 10 points each week.
3. Class Work and Participation: There will be periodic group work and short
oral class presentations based on assigned reading. This is a participation
class.
4. Attendance: If you have more than one absence you will be dropped from the
class.
5. Papers and Project: There will be two APA style, typed assignments. The
first paper will be a Political/Human Diversity paper. The second paper will
be on Federalism. Each must be a minimum of 500 words and a maximum of
750 words. There will be one Constitution Project worth 200 points.
6. Current Events: Each student will present one current event for the semester.
7. Instructor Website: Check it out. This website has some PowerPoint slides
of the lecture notes as does the library Reserve Book Room.
(http://www.csus.edu/indiv/b/billecic
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Class Policies
1. Respect: In each class there will be discussions about American politics. Class
discussion and respect are encouraged. Please listen and respond respectfully.
Respect is also shown by arriving to class on time and not leaving class early.
2. Late Work: Late work is never accepted.
3. Office Hours: I encourage each of you to stop by during my office (Noon to
1 p.m.) on Saturdays in Room 3001 of Tahoe Hall) with your questions regarding
this class. Or you may wish to email me at: cbilleci@csus.edu. If you are having
problems during the semester with any assignments, or you have a question
regarding your grade, please meet with me as soon as possible.
Your success is my concern. My office phone number is 278-3605. Please call
ONLY during office hours.
4. Lowest Grade: Recognizing that everyone has an “off day” from time to time,
your lowest score on one weekly quiz will not be counted into your final grade.
5. Guest Speakers: There may be guest speakers scheduled for this semester.
Attendance, participation, topic preparation, and respect are expected.
6. Statement on cheating, plagiarism, and false information: All work turned in
must be original. If sources are used they must be cited. Evidence of cheating,
plagiarism, or false information will result in being dropped from the course and
receiving an “F” grade.
7. Absences: There is no makeup work for absences, i.e.: weddings, funerals,
jobs, social functions. The WPE is the only exception. Personal medical
absences are only excused at the discretion of the instructor and must be
accompanied by a note from a physician. Extra work may be required.
Percentage Breakdown and Due Dates
11%
Ongoing
Weekly Reading Assignment Quizzes (100 points)
5%
Ongoing
Current Events Presentations (50 points)
11%
Mar. 20:
Political/Human Diversity Paper Due (100 points)
11%
Feb. 28:
Exam One (100 points)
15%
Apr. 3:
Exam Two or Midterm (150 points)
11%
Apr. 7:
Federalism Paper Due (100 points)
21%
May 1:
Constitution Project Due (200 points)
15% May 8:
Exam Three (150 points)
opt.
Comprehensive Synthesis Final Exam (weighted one grade)
May 15:
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Tentative Schedule
The readings are from American Government and Politics Today (AGPT) and
California Government (CG) texts.
The Foundations of American Government, and “Financing, California Style”, and the
California Recall
Jan. 31 Chapter 1 AGPT, Chapters 1 and 10 CG, and The California Recall Supplement in CG.
The U.S. and California Constitutions
Feb. 7 Chapter 2 AGPT, and Chapter 2 CG
Public Opinion, Political Socialization and the Media
Feb. 14 Chapter 6 AGPT, and Chapter 3 CG
Interest Groups and Political Parties, Campaigns, Elections, and Voting Behavior, Review
Feb. 21 Chapters 7-8 AGPT, and Chapters 4-5 CG
Feb. 28 Exam One Chapters 1, 2, 6-8 AGPT, and Chapters 1-5, 10 and Recall Supplement CG
Federalism
Mar. 6 Chapter 3 AGPT
Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Mar. 13 Chapters 4-5 AGPT
Mar. 20 State Capitol (Political/Human Diversity Paper Due)
Presidency, Congress and California Plural Executives, Legislature, Review
Mar. 27 Chapter 9-10 AGPT, and Chapter 6-7 CG
Apr. 3 Exam Two Chapters 3-5, 9-10 AGPT, and Chapter 6-7 CG, State Capitol
Bureaucracy and California Local Government
Apr. 7 Chapter 11 AGPT, and Chapter 9 CG (Federalism Paper Due)
Federal Courts and California Judiciary, Review
Apr. 24 Chapter 12 AGPT, and Chapter 8 CG
May 1 Rancho Cordova City Hall (Constitution Project Due)
May 8 Exam Three Chapters 11-12 AGPT, and Chapters 8-9 CG, R.C. City Hall
May 15 Comprehensive Synthesis Exam (All chapters, optional, weighted one grade)
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IV. The course is organized around the following subject areas:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Dilemmas of state and federal government
Foundations of American government
Linking people with government
American institutions
Civil liberties and civil rights
Making state and federal public policy
V. The course goals are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Understand the U.S. and California Constitutions, and their historical and political
factors.
To be able to analyze events in light of political factors in public policy at both
the state and federal level.
Understand the features of political behavior of parties, interests groups, and
media.
Understand the influence of economic and political forces at work on the U.S. and
California Constitutions.
VI. Grading: Grading is on a point basis. Grades will be posted at this classroom,
Tahoe Hall 1025, at the midterm after April 3, and after the final class in May. I will
discuss, however, your grade at any time during the semester if you call or visit me
during my office hours, or if you email me at cbilleci@csus.edu.
Points
Grade
950-855
=A
854-760
=B
759-665
=C
664-570
=D
< 570
=F
also “WU” and “Incomplete” under extenuating circumstances at the
discretion of the instructor.
Other expectations I have and that I want you to think about:
1.
I encourage you to think about what governments should and should not
do.
2.
Think about how governments make their decisions.
3.
Does “good government” involve difficult choices?
4.
Understand that “good government” is a decision between conflicting
values.
5.
Interpret policy issues while understanding fundamental values in a
broader political context.