Introduction to American and California
Government and Politics
POL S 102, Section 1
Lecture M, W, F 11:00—11:50 a.m., HH221
Professor Carole Kennedy
Fall, 2013—San Diego State University
Office Hours: MW 9:00 –10:00 a.m. and
by appt.
Office Location: Adams Humanities 4123
e-mail: ckennedy@mail.sdsu.edu (please put 102-1 in subject line of your e-mail)
Course Web Page: Blackboard
Official Course Description: "Political processes and institutions in the United States and
California. Considers a variety of public policy issues such as environmental quality, health,
education, relation between government and business, taxation, and foreign affairs as reflected in
the dynamics of national and state politics. When taken with Political Science 101 will satisfy
graduation requirement in American Institutions. Credit will not be allowed for both Political
Science 102 and 320."
This course is intended to acquaint you with the foundations, processes and institutions of
American and California government. If you intend to pursue studies in the political science
major/minor field, it will provide the necessary background for more advanced courses in
political science. If you are not pursuing studies in political science, the course will inform you
about how the federal and state governments work, both in theory and in practice. The
overriding goal of this course is to provide you with tools that will help you to be a more
intelligent consumer of political news and information and to better understand the civic
responsibilities that attend to American citizenship.
One particular goal of this course is to help you to understand how politics and
government affect you personally, and what means you have to influence your government.
Thus, we will do a great deal more than recite facts, figures, names, dates and places. We will
also investigate many of the major controversies surrounding the Constitution, our electoral
system, and our political institutions. This course will not be taught with a single point of view.
It will, however, if successful, help you to explore and understand your own political attitudes
and beliefs and how those beliefs are expressed and represented in the political process. Finally,
this course is designed to help you learn how to communicate your understanding of American
politics to others.
You will be required to utilize the SDSU E-services Web Portal
(https://sunspot.sdsu.edu/pls/webapp/web_menu.login) so that you can utilize Blackboard for
important assignment and deadline information and to complete required course readings.
IMPORTANT DATES:
August 26 - First day of classes.
September 2 - Holiday – Labor Day.
Faculty/staff holiday. Campus closed.
September 9 Last day to add/drop classes or change grading
basis.
No class meeting on Friday, September 13th
First Examination—Wednesday, September 25th in class
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Second Examination—Wednesday, November 6th in class
November 28-29 Holiday – Thanksgiving recess.
Faculty/staff holiday. Campus closed
Wednesday, December 11th – Last Day of classes
Monday, December 16th, 10:30-12:30 p.m.—Final Examination
Learning Objectives:
Students successfully completing this course will:
1. Develop critical thinking skills that are applied to written assignments.
2. Demonstrate the ability to take appropriate notes during lecture and utilize those notes to
prepare for examinations.
Policy on Electronic Devices in the classroom:
No laptops, smartphones, headphones or any other electronic devices are permitted in the
classroom during lecture. You may wish to download the PPT lecture slides that the professor
maintains on Blackboard and add lecture notes or you may wish to take handwritten notes on
lecture. In any event, it is a distraction to your fellow classmates when you utilize electronic
devices during lecture. Repeat offenders will be asked to leave.
REQUIRED TEXT: (available at campus bookstores)
Harrison, Brigid, Jean Harris and Michelle Deardorff. 2013. American Democracy Now,
3rd edition. McGraw-Hill: Boston. Packaged with:
Giventer, Lawrence. 2008. Governing California. 2nd McGraw-Hill: Boston.
Please be sure to purchase the textbook from a campus bookstore because it is a
specially ordered package that has been designed specifically for this course. PLEASE do
not use previous versions of the text. This is a customized textbook for the course and it
includes access to on-line materials (CONNECT assignments) that will be required in the
course. You may purchase a used copy of the same text if it is available but then you will
have to pay a separate fee to access CONNECT.
If you don’t purchase the text and the access code you will be unable to complete
course assignments and you may not be able to pass the course.
Other reading material may be required as well, and will be available on reserve in the
library or accessible through the Blackboard. Additional video materials may be required and
will be available in the Media Center in the basement of Love Library.
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GRADING:
Your course grade will be determined as follows:
Class Assignments – (Two Minute Papers)
20%
CONNECT on-line homework assignments
20%
First Exam
20%
Second Exam
20%
Final Exam (non-cumulative)
20%
In-class assignments will be two-minute essay papers. These will be assigned at random without
notice throughout the course of the semester. If you are not in class to complete the assignment
there is no makeup opportunity. Please be sure to always bring a pen and ruled paper so that you
are prepared to complete the assignment. These essays will be graded for clarity and content.
All exams will be Multiple Choice.
Please bring a number two pencil, AND an 882 scantron. Please be sure to purchase the correct
scantron for this class. If you come to an exam with the wrong scantron I will send you to the
bookstore or campus store to purchase the correct one.
COURSE OUTLINE:
All lecture reading assignments and due dates will be made in lecture and subsequently posted
on Blackboard. Please be sure to note what readings are assigned and when those readings are to
be completed.
I.
People, Politics, and Participation
Required Reading:
H,H&D, Chapter 1
II.
The Constitution
Required Reading:
H, H&D, Chapter 2, and Federalist 10 in Appendix B-1 and Federalist 51 in
Appendix C-1
III.
Federalism
Required Reading:
H, H&D, chapter 3
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IV.
Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Required Reading:
H, H&D, chapters 4 and 5
V.
Political Socialization and Public Opinion
Required Reading:
H, H&D, chapter 6
VI.
Interest Groups and Political Parties
Required Reading:
H, H&D, chapters 7 and 8
VII.
Elections, Campaigns and Voting
Required Reading:
H, H&D, chapter 9
VIII.
The Media
Required Reading:
H, H&D, chapter 10
IX.
Congress
Required Reading:
H, H&D, chapter 12
X.
The Presidency
Required Reading:
H, H&D, chapter 13
XI.
The Judiciary
H, H&D, chapter 15
XII.
Economic Policy
HH&D, chapter 16
XIII.
California Government
Required reading:
Giventer, pgs. 1-9, Chapter 2 and Chapter 3
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Please note the following rules, which will be fairly but firmly enforced:
The professor reserves the right to alter the course outline as necessary, with advance
notice being given to all students through class announcement and announcement on
Blackboard.
Make-up examinations will be given only in cases of illness, family emergency and
religious holiday and will only be given when students contact the professor in advance of
missing an exam. The professor reserves the right to request documentation of any excuse
submitted. There are no makeup two-minute paper assignments, even if you have an excused
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absence (illness, family emergency). If a two-minute paper is assigned on a designated religious
holiday, please contact the professor.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. All written work must be your original work (i.e., not
previously submitted for credit in any other course, either at SDSU or at any other academic
institution). Please familiarize yourself with the University Policy regarding Academic
dishonesty and Plagiarism at:
http://csrr.sdsu.edu/cheating-plagiarism.html
AND
http://csrr.sdsu.edu/conduct1.html
And also be aware of the Student Grievances procedure, available on-line at:
http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/ombuds/process.html
Finally, please note that I am required by law to report all instances of academic dishonesty,
pursuant to Executive Order 969:
http://csrr.sdsu.edu/academics2.html
If you need any help as a student, check out this website for recommendations and resources:
http://go.sdsu.edu/home/currentstudents.aspx
Helpful Hints:
1.
Bring your syllabus to each course meeting.
2.
Check Blackboard on a daily basis for updated information.
3.
Do all assigned readings and come to lecture prepared to discuss course materials and
to complete two minute essays when assigned.
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