POLS 1101 Sections I and J
American Government
Dr. Gwen Wood
Fall Semester 2014
Course objective:
Office: Allgood Hall, E-311
E-mail: gwwood@gru.edu
Political Science Dept. 706-737-1710
Office hours: by appointment
To provide a comprehensive introduction to government, politics and public policy making in the United States.
For textbook information, see D2L document entitled “Textbook options” for Dr. Wood’s classes.
Text:
Time Frame
Topic
Week #1
August 19 and 21
Introduction to the study of Political
Science
The Study of American Government
American Political Culture
Political Ideology
Political Opinion
Week #2
August 26 and 28
Activity
Week #3
September 2 and 4
U.S. Constitution
Week #4
September 9 & 11
U.S. Constitution
Week #5
September 16 & 18
U. S. Constitution
Week #6
September 23 & 25
Civil Liberties
Week #7
Sept 30 & October 2
Civil Rights
Week #8
October 7 and 9
Political Parties
Week #9
October 14 and 16
Elections and Campaigns
Voting Behavior
Interest Groups
The mid-point of the semester is October 13.
Week #10
October 21 and 23
The U.S. Congress
The second test of the semester will be held
during week #10. Test covers Civil Liberties,
Civil Rights, Political Parties, Elections and
campaigns, Voting behavior and Interest groups.
Week #11
October 28 and 30
The Presidency
The Judiciary
Election Research and Reporting
Exercise due
Week #12
November 4 and 6
Federalism
State /Local Government and the
Georgia Constitution
Week #13
November 11 & 13
Georgia Constitution
Week #14
November 18 & 20
Economic Policy
First examination will be held during week #5.
Test covers American Political Culture and
extensive coverage of the U.S. Constitution.
This is the last date to drop a class without
penalty.
Mini-test on the Georgia
Constitution will be held this week
Week #15
November 25
Week #16
December 2 & 4
December 11
10 a.m. to noon
Domestic Policy
Class will not meet November 27
Foreign and Military Policy
Final Examination
Final exam covers Congress, the
Presidency, the Judiciary, Federalism, State
and Local government, Economic policy,
Domestic policy, Foreign and Military
policy.
Grade calculation: Your term grade will be based on three full-length examinations, one mini-test on the Georgia
Constitution, and an exercise on election activity (instructions will be distributed). Tests I, II, and the final exam will each
carry 60 points and the mini-test is weighted 20 points. The election activity exercise carries thirty points.
Class attendance: The instructor adheres to the Georgia Regents University policy of considering absences
beyond three classes to be excessive. This policy is explained under the topic of “Academic Regulations and
Information” in the GRU Catalog. Dr. Wood takes attendance, and if a student compiles a record of four absences, it
becomes a matter of your responsibility to justify to her why you should not be dropped from the course. Each class
absence beyond the maximum must be accompanied by a written explanation of circumstances, subject to acceptance by
the instructor.
Withdrawal: If a student withdraws, or is administratively withdrawn, from a course by the midterm of the
semester (October 13), the grade assigned is “W.” If you intend to withdraw from the course, please do so before the midterm date of October 13. Withdrawal forms may be obtained from the Office of Student Records or the Department of
Political Science.
If a student withdraws, or is administratively withdrawn, from a course after midterm, the grade assigned is
“WF” regardless of the student’s grade average. The sole exception to this policy is the reason of a non-academic
hardship (severe personal illness, job transfer out-of-town, military deployment). Don’t just stop coming to class and
assume that the instructor knows the reason for your absence. Dr. Wood will administratively withdraw anyone who has
missed four class sessions without justification. All students who have financial aid should be aware of the consequences
of a “W” or “WF”
Disruptions and Class Protocol: Audio tape-recording of class lectures is permitted. The University’s policy of
Allgood Hall usage is that no food or beverages are allowed in the classrooms.
Turn off cell phones. Do not text. There is a short break in the middle of the 1 ¼ hour class and you can check
your messages then. The only exception to this is the emergency of a sick child or parent.
Late arrivals and early departures disrupt class concentration. Avoid them. Class attendance may be taken either
at the beginning or the end of the period, so it is possible that you will be counted absent if you arrive late or leave early.
Students are responsible for adhering to the standards set for Academic Honesty as described in the Georgia
Regents University General Catalog. Academic honesty requires the submission of one’s own work for evaluation, and
avoids plagiarizing the work of others. The Student Code of Conduct is outlined in the Student Handbook. This outlines
policies relating to classroom decorum, which are to be followed in POLS 1101.
Other Policies: The General Catalog outlines the procedures for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities
Act. If any student with a disability wishes to make that fact known to the instructor, he or she may do so at the beginning
of the semester. Arrangements for accommodations must be initiated by the student through the Office of Disability
Services as outlined in the policy.