UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS & FINANCE
ECON 1200 – ECONOMICS, LAW, AND GOVERNMENT
T TH 8:10 – 9:25 A.M., ED AUD
FALL 2005
Instructor:
Office:
Contacts:
Office Hours:
Class Homepage:
Required Textbook:
Optional Supplement:
Optional Readings:
Anne Alexander
Ross Hall 240
Office phone 766-4856, email aalex@uwyo.edu;
Department phone 766-6813
Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. or by
appointment
http://uwacadweb.uwyo.edu/RGodby/ECON1200/
Default.htm
Economics, Law, & Government Custom Textbook
(McGraw-Hill/Primus Custom Publishing, 2005)
A supplementary course notes packet for this class is
available at the U.W. Bookstore Make sure you get
the one for this section (Section 1)!
These are good books that will complement the
course but are in no way required. They are available
at any bookstore and amazon.com.
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow (Penguin Press
HC, 2004)
The Future of Freedom: Illiberal Democracy at Home
and Abroad, by Fareed Zakaria (W.W. Norton and
Company, Inc., 2003)
Pushed Off the Mountain, Sold Down the River:
Wyoming’s Search for Its Soul by Samuel Western
(Homestead Publishers, 2002)
Course Description: Markets & free enterprise depend on supportive legal and
political institutions. This course investigates the influence of these governmental
& legal institutions on markets & individual economic decisions. By exposing
students to U.S. political economy, they will see important relationships between
market development, our legal framework & our political system. The U.S. &
Wyoming constitutions are studied to show their importance to free enterprise.
Alternative views of the appropriate roles of government in the economy will be
discussed. We will then apply our knowledge of economics, law, & government
to the study of current issues.
Course Goals:
Learning Goals
 By the end of this course, you will understand the Constitution and political
economy in the United States, including the legal, governmental, and
economic institutions that characterize this country.
 You will also understand the political economy and Constitution of Wyoming.
Methods:
To achieve these goals, we will employ lecture, in-class exercises, out-of-class
analysis exercises, and examinations to assist you in mastering these topics.
Instructor’s Philosophy of Learning:
Learning is an active, two-way process, reflected in a respectful dialogue
between instructor and student. Participation in class, communications with the
professor, and out-of-class work will help you learn and are essential to the
course.
Course Objectives:
By completing the requirements of this course:
(1) Students will be able to analyze the impact of legal and constitutional
institutions on economic outcomes, as well as the impact of economic
institutions on the legal and constitutional framework.
(2) Students will be able to analyze and explain national and local public policy
debates with respect to economic, legal, and constitutional perspectives.
This will enable them to make informed political, economic, & business
decisions.
(3) Students will be able to analyze economic perspectives and public policy
issues from a variety of viewpoints.
(4) Students will be able to explain the structure of the U.S. & Wyoming
governments and constitutions.
(3) Students will be able to explain and analyze the importance of their
participation in this country's democratic processes.
Class Homepage:
 IT IS VERY IMORTANT THAT YOU VISIT THE CLASS HOMEPAGE AT
LEAST ONCE A WEEK. It is your responsibility to keep track of
announcements, deadlines, and other time sensitive material posted
under there Class Assignment Information and Announcements.
 YOU MUST PRINT OUT THE CLASS SCHEDULE POSTED ON THE
HOMEPAGE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE – the schedule lists what lectures
will cover, when we will have guest speakers, and tentative dates for
assignments and exams. The schedule is subject to change, and it is
your responsibility to obtain and keep track of changes in the schedule.
Course Notes Packet: I strongly suggest you purchase the ECON 1200 course
notes packet & bring it to class each session. These notes are the abbreviated
lecture notes from this course. They are meant to reduce the amount of furious
note-taking you have to do. HOWEVER,
 Not all topics are covered in the packet, and
 the packet contains only summary notes and does not necessarily
contain enough physical space for notes you will need to take!
Thus, you should be prepared to take notes in class and will not be able to
use the packet as a substitute for attendance.
Required Readings: Readings are from the class text, Economics, Law, &
Government Custom Textbook, available at the University Bookstore. It is a
custom textbook consisting of chapters from selected textbooks and news
articles. Assigned readings from the text will be given on the Class Assignment
Information & Announcements link on the class homepage AND will be
announced in class.
Grading Scale Policy: Grades for the course are not curved. The percentages
which determine your letter grade for the course are: A = 90-100% of total points;
B = 80-89.99% of total points; C = 70-79.99% of total points; D = 60-69.99% of
total points; F = 0-59.99% of total points
Course Requirements and Grade Determination: The following summarizes
the requirements you must fulfill in this class:
EXAMINATIONS (65% of final grade).:
 There will be three (3) semester exams which will be taken in-class
over the course of the semester (dates given in course schedule on
homepage), and one (1) cumulative final exam that will determine a
portion of your grade in this course. Exams will consist of multiplechoice questions & analytical problems &/or essay questions.
 Your lowest SEMESTER exam score will be dropped in calculating
your final grade. Together, your Semester Exams will determine 40%
of your final grade – each of your two highest Semester Exams will
constitute 20% of your final grade..
 The FINAL exam is REQUIRED for ALL students and must be taken
Thursday, December 15 from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. No exceptions
– you must make your travel and other personal plans
accordingly. Your final exam will determine 25% of your final
grade.
PROBLEMS AND QUESTIONS FOR ANALYSIS (20% of final grade):
 There will be at least three problems/Questions for Analysis (QA)
consisting of analytical problems &/or essay questions given over the
course of the semester.
 The lowest of these scores will be dropped in calculating your
final grade. Each of your two highest QA scores will constitute
10% of your final grade.
IN-CLASS PARTICIPATION -- QUICK QUIZZES AND IN-CLASS PROJECTS
(15% of final grade):
 Over the course of the semester, we will have quizzes and projects
over material we are covering currently in class. These projects
will range from debates to analyzing current policy issues to quizzes
over course material. Quizzes and projects will NOT be
announced in advance – and you CANNOT make them up. Thus,
you can see the importance of attending class on a regular basis.
 Students will work in small groups of students in their immediate
vicinity (group size should not exceed 4 students). The group will
decide on their answer & be able to explain why they feel it is the
correct one. Every person who participates in these will receive some
credit. When there is one objective correct answer, correct answers
will receive more credit than incorrect answers. You should make sure
each group member does their share in these quick-quizzes.
FINAL GRADE DETERMINATION:
Your final grade in the class will be determined by the following weighting
scheme:
Average percentage on two best SEMESTER exams
40%
Percentage on FINAL exam
25%
Average percentage on best Questions for Analysis
20%
Participation percentage points
15%
Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this course,
and violators will be disciplined to the fullest extent of University Regulations. Any
case of academic dishonesty will be prosecuted in accordance with UNIREG 802
Rev. 2. Academic dishonesty can result in a permanent "F" in this course, a
permanent notice of academic dishonesty in your student citizenship file, or
suspension from the University. Behavior that is academically dishonest includes
(but isn’t limited to):
 unapproved use of notes, books, or electronic devices on quizzes and
exams
 attempting to or actually reading off of another person’s exam or quiz
 allowing another person to read off of your exam or quiz
 representing another person’s work - including a fellow student, an author
of a website, etc. and ANYONE WHO IS NOT YOU – as your own
 allowing another to represent your work as theirs.
If you are academically dishonest once in this course, I will give you a ZERO on
the assignment or examination upon which you cheated and that grade will not
be dropped in your final grade calculation.
If you are academically dishonest two or more times in any context in this
course, the smallest sanction you will receive is a permanent "F" in this
course.
NOTE: The College of Business employs anti-plagiarism software that detects
academic dishonesty in any and all electronic documents. I employ TA’s that can
detect it in hand-written work. You will not get away with academic dishonesty in
this class – I guarantee it.
Guest Speakers: Over the course of the semester we may have guest speakers.
Each speaker’s talk is open to be asked about on examinations. Speakers
will be experts in the issues they talk to you about, so come up with & ask
thoughtful questions during the Q-A sessions! Show each speaker a great deal
of respect, listen to what they say, & show them gratitude for taking time out of
their very busy schedules to make time for us! The exact dates & topics for the
guest lectures will be posted on the class schedule as they are arranged, & I will
remind you of their upcoming talks in class.
Attendance Policy: I do not take attendance in this course. However, regular
attendance is strongly encouraged, as:
 15% of your final grade is determined by your in-class participation
via your scores on in-class quizzes and
 some material in lecture is NOT INCLUDED IN THE READINGS OR
NOTES PACKET.
If you must miss class due to unforeseen circumstances, it is your
responsibility to obtain ON YOUR OWN class notes, information on
assignments, & any thing else that you may have missed. Many items are
posted to the class homepage, but do NOT use it as a substitute for attendance.
Exam Policies:
 Due to the large enrollment in this class, there will be NO MAKE-UP EXAMS
given in this course.
 If you must miss a semester exam, that exam will be dropped in your
final grade calculation.
 If you miss more than one semester exam, you must contact me PRIOR to
the missed exams and be able to show me a University-approved
excuse. At that time, arrangements will be made for you to make up the
points you missed.

There is no possibility for you to drop the final exam. You cannot take
the final exam on any other date and at any other time than on
Thursday, December 15 from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.. The only
exceptions to this policy are if (1) you have a conflicting examination in
another class (another exam scheduled at the exact same time and date) OR
(2) you have more than two exams scheduled for that date. You must make
your travel plans according to the University’s Final Exam schedule – I
am unable to accommodate any requests for alternative exam dates in this
class.

Quick-quizzes, in-class projects, & analysis questions are designed to
comprise a study review for you for each of the exams. Use them to help you
study! I will also post a review sheet on the web site prior to the exam.
Assignment and Quiz Policies: All assignments MUST be turned in at or
before the specified due date and time. Five percentage points will be
deducted from an assignment for each day (including weekends!) it is late.
No assignments will be accepted after we have discussed the answer in class or
an answer key is posted. Quick Quizzes CANNOT BE MADE UP. This policy
keeps the quizzes and points earned on them fair to the students who do
come to class and earn their points.
Group Work Policy:
 On in-class projects and quizzes, you may work with your group to come
up with a collaborative answer.
 Although you can speak with your classmates about Questions for
Analysis, what you turn in must be your own work, in your own words.
If you are academically dishonest on a Question for Analysis, you will
receive an “F” on that assignment, and it will NOT be dropped from your
final grade calculations.
 During exams, if you attempt any “group work” (spying on other people’s
exams, “signals,” sending or receiving answers on your PDA, etc.), you
will receive a permanent “F” on that exam, and it will be counted in your
final grade. If you are caught attempting “group work” a second time in
any context in the class where it’s not permitted, you will receive an “F” in
the course.
Classroom Deportment and Decorum: According to the Student Code of
Conduct and University Regulations, students have responsibilities as well as
rights in the classroom . Your obligation and responsibility is to deport yourself in
this classroom so as to uphold a nurturing academic atmosphere. This includes:
(1)
Treat each other, me, and the TA’s with respect. Conduct
yourself in a civil manner at all times in this classroom. We
don’t have to be boring and lifeless in class, but please
remember to be respectful of others.
(2)
Turn off all electronic devices in the classroom, unless you
have expressed permission from me for them to be on. This
includes cells, PDA’s, music devices, and computers.
(3)
Do not talk amongst yourselves unless it is called for in class. If
you display disruptive classroom behavior, I have the right to
require that you leave and/or have you removed from my class.
(4)
Do not use wireless mice or other wireless utility devices in this
classroom unless you have expressed permission from me.
(5)
Do not make a habit of being tardy or leaving early. This
disrupts class and makes it harder for your fellow students to
follow class.
Communications Policy:
 Chatting before/after class: Please feel free to come speak to me both
before and after class in our classroom. Before class, I will be setting
up lecture or putting out assignments, but can talk and do that at the
same time if you don’t mind me multitasking.
 Office Hours and Out of Class Personal Contact: Please feel free to
come see me during office hours, or to make an appointment to come
see me if you cannot visit me during office hours. Do not, however,
expect that if you drop by without an appointment that I’ll be able to
attend to you immediately.
 Email policy: I have two cardinal rules on email.
(1) I do NOT check email after 6 p.m. on most evenings, and often
do not look at it over the weekend.
(2) I do NOT consider email questions – especially the night before
an exam or assignment is due - an immediate priority. I will of
course answer questions but I may or may not be able to do so
right away or even within a couple of hours. Your email is
important, but it is not more urgent than the students who visit me
in person or call me on the phone.
 Phone: I am happy to take all phone calls and I have voicemail if I’m
not in. But please, do NOT call me at home unless you have an
emergency (e.g. you are in the hospital and an exam is the next day!)
Course Schedule: The course schedule for this semester will be posted on the
class homepage. You should get this schedule and PRINT IT OUT as soon as
possible, as was discussed above.
Disclaimer: All of the above information is subject to change when deemed
necessary by the instructor. Students will be notified verbally in class or via
postings on the class homepage if such changes occur.