AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
POLS 1101M Fall 2014, TR 1:00-2:15PM
ALLGOOD HALL, ROOM E158
Dr. Randall Miller
E-mail: rdmiller@gru.edu
Phone: 667-4424
Office: Allgood Hall, Room E308
Office Hours: T & R: 2:30-3:30pm
W: 5:00-6:00pm
(or by appointment)
Introduction: Citizens have rights and responsibilities. To be an effective, productive
citizen, you should know what those rights and responsibilities are, and understand how
and why our government behaves as it does. This course will cover the essential facts of
how government in America works.
Required Text: Introduction to American Government (2014), 7th edition,
Turner, Stephenson, et al.
Course Objectives: At the end of this course, you should be able to
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Explain how our government is structured and why it is structured that way
Explain the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizens
Explain how public policy is made and what forces influence the policy
making process
Use worldwide web resources
Build a solid argument for a particular political position or policy
Evaluation: Your achievement of these objectives using a mix of test results, your
participation on the message board and your performance on the debate.
Exams: There will be five exams, as shown on the attached time schedule. Three of the
exams will be in class and will be closed-book multiple choice exams. The last of these
three exams will be a cumulative exam of course material. Each of these is structured to
test your knowledge of the objectives set for that block of instruction. The fourth exam,
on the Georgia State Government and Constitution, will be a take-home, fill-in-the
blank/short answer, exam. The fifth exam, on the U.S. Constitution, will be in class,
open-book multiple choice exam. Make-up exams will be given only when you have
discussed the issue with me prior to the normally scheduled exam. Make-up exams
may consist of fill-in-the-blank and essay questions.
State Presentations: Each student will give a 5-10 minute presentation to the class on
one of the States in the Union. The assignment will include a PowerPoint
presentation and cover the state’s history, uniqueness, significant occurrences,
accomplishments, capital and other important cities, current political leaning to
include its political leaders, other facts deemed necessary, and your own opinions.
Students will dress appropriately and demonstrate proper presentation skills. To
receive credit, students must give their presentation on the date they select. There
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will not be makeup dates for presentations unless approved by the instructor prior
to the scheduled date. (At least five references)
Assignment of Grades: Grades will be assigned as follows:
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Georgia Constitution Exam
U. S. Constitution Exam
U.S. States Map Exam
Exam Total
200 points
200 points
200 points
100 points
100 points
100 points
900 points, or 90% of your grade
State Presentation
100 points, or 10% of your grade
Total Possible Points
1000
Course Grading Scale:
A
B
C
D
F
=
=
=
=
=
900 - 1,000 points
800 - 899 points
700 - 799 points
600 – 699 points
Below 600 points
IMPORTANT: A major purpose in taking this class is to meet the Georgia legislative
requirement that you demonstrate competence in the Georgia State Constitution in order
to graduate. Therefore, passing the Georgia Constitution test is required. Students who
fail this test will receive the failing grade toward their course grade, but must retake
the test until they score a passing grade for the exam.
Late Assignments: Late assignments will not be accepted for credit unless you have
discussed the matter with me in advance. Assignment due dates are clearly published in
this syllabus. It is your responsibility to organize your time to make sure you meet those
dates.
Extra Credit: You may earn extra credit by attending all of the classes. Perfect
attendance is worth 50 points added to your final grade. However, perfect
attendance means just that! Any absence regardless of the reason disqualifies you
for the extra credit points. Additionally, any single late arrival beyond the official
start of the class disqualifies you for the participation/attendance grade. Excuses
are not accepted where the perfect attendance score is concerned, and exceptions to
the rule will be not made. Should you come to class late there will a separate tardy
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attendance sheet taped on the door of the classroom. Please be punctual to receive credit
for this portion of your grade.
Class Policies:
Attendance: Georgia Regents University’s attendance policy will be enforced.
Specifically, absences beyond four classes will be considered excessive. Should you
miss class more than FOUR unexcused classes, you will not pass the course and be
removed from the course for lack of attendance with a “WF” grade. I will take
attendance at the beginning of the period, so it is possible you could be counted absent if
you arrive late or leave early. It is your responsibility to make sure I know you are
present by signing the attendance sheet. Proper classroom decorum is the standard in
higher education and includes respecting the rights and sensitivities of others by
allowing them to speak without interruption or distraction, and by exercising
courtesy toward others. Disruptive or disrespectful students will be removed from
the course at the instructor’s discretion.
Additionally, all students are required to take notes during class and will be
removed for failure to do so!
Late arrivals/Early departures: Please avoid late arrivals or early departures as
they disrupt the class. This is particularly true on a student presentation day. Please
remain outside the class in the hallway until the presentation is finished. Many students
become very nervous about speaking in public. A late arrival or an early departure only
makes that situation worse. Except for emergencies, DO NOT the class early unless you
have discussed the issue with me before class. If you leave class early without my
permission, you will not receive credit for attending class on that day, and it will be
considered as cheating since attendance is part of your grade. Any form of cheating
results in removal from the course with a “WF” grade.
Tape recording: I have no objection to recording of lectures. However, if there
is a student who objects to having his or her comments recorded, recording must cease.
No taping in lieu of note taking. The use of laptop computers or smart phones is not
allowed in class. Students violating this class rule will be removed from the class!
Cell phones/pagers: Turn them off before coming into the classroom, unless
you have discussed the matter with me in advance.
Eating and drinking in class: Eating and drinking is not permitted in class.
Compliance with ADA: If any student has any sort of physical or learning
disability, please contact the Office of Disability Services in the Counseling and Testing
Center at 706-737-1471.
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Contacting me: Please feel free to contact me whenever you run into difficulty
with the course material, or just need advice. My office phone and e-mail are listed at the
beginning of the syllabus, along with my office hours. Office hours are periods where it
is guaranteed you can meet with me in person—just drop in. If those hours are not
convenient, contact me so we can set up an appointment. There is one rule about
appointments: If you make an appointment with me, you are expected to keep it. If I
can make a special effort to meet with you, at a time and date convenient to you, you can
certainly make the effort to keep the appointment.
TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE WITH ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES
Date
Subject
Assignment
Aug 19
Introduction
Read Intro.
Aug 21/26
The Constitution
The Declaration of Independence
Read Ch. 1
Read p.25-26
Aug 28 /Sep 2
Federalism
Read Ch. 2
Sep 4
Civil Liberties
Read Ch. 3
Sep 9
Civil Rights
Read Ch. 3
Sep 11
Georgia Constitution Take-Home Exam Due
Finish Exam #1 material
Sep 16
U.S. Constitution Exam – Open Book Exam
Read p.533-547
Sep 18
No Class - Preparation time for student presentations
Sep23
Review GA Const. & US Const. exams
Exam #1 Review
Sep 25
Political Culture, Ideology and Voter Behavior
(Exam #2 material)
States Map Post Test Exam
Sep 30
Exam 1 (Chapters 1-3 & assigned pages)
Oct 2/7
Political Parties
Read Ch. 4, 5
Read Ch. 7
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Date
Subject
Assignment
Oct 9
Special Interest Groups
Student Presentations
Read Ch. 7
Oct 13 is Midterm—last day to drop the class with a “W
Oct 14/16
Campaign Strategy and Finance
Student Presentations
Read Ch. 8
Oct 21/23
The Media, Propaganda, and Political Ads
Student Presentations
Exam #2 review
PP
Read Ch 6
Oct 28
Exam #2 (Chapters 3-7)
Oct 30/Nov 4
The Congress (Exam #3 material)
Student Presentations
Read Ch. 9
Nov 6/11
The Presidency
Student Presentations
Read Ch. 10
Nov 13
NO CLASS – GPSA Conference
Nov 18
The Public Service
Student Presentations
Read Ch. 11
Nov 20
The Judiciary
Student Presentations
Read Ch. 12
Nov 25
Public Policy
Student Presentations
Read Ch. 15-16
Nov 27
NO CLASS – THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Dec 2
Finish Exam #3 material & exam #3 review
Student Presentations
Dec 4
Exam #3 (Chapters 8-12, 13-16), Constitution Assessment
Exam
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State Presentations
Alabama _______________________________________________________________
Alaska _________________________________________________________________
Arizona ________________________________________________________________
Arkansas________________________________________________________________
California _______________________________________________________________
Colorado________________________________________________________________
Connecticut _____________________________________________________________
Delaware _______________________________________________________________
Florida__________________________________________________________________
Georgia _________________________________________________________________
Hawaii__________________________________________________________________
Idaho __________________________________________________________________
Illinois__________________________________________________________________
Indiana__________________________________________________________________
Iowa____________________________________________________________________
Kansas__________________________________________________________________
Kentucky_____ __________________________________________________________
Louisana________________________________________________________________
Maine__________________________________________________________________
Maryland________________________________________________________________
Massachusetts____________________________________________________________
Michigan________________________________________________________________
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Minnesota_______________________________________________________________
Mississippi______________________________________________________________
Missouri________________________________________________________________
Montana________________________________________________________________
Nebraska________________________________________________________________
Nevada_________________________________________________________________
New Hampshire__________________________________________________________
New Jersey______________________________________________________________
New Mexico_____________________________________________________________
New York_______________________________________________________________
North Carolina___________________________________________________________
North Dakota____________________________________________________________
Ohio____________________________________________________________________
Oklahoma_______________________________________________________________
Oregon_________________________________________________________________
Pennsylvania_____________________________________________________________
Rhode Island_____________________________________________________________
South Carolina___________________________________________________________
South Dakota_____________________________________________________________
Tennessee_______________________________________________________________
Texas___________________________________________________________________
Utah____________________________________________________________________
Vermont________________________________________________________________
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Virginia_________________________________________________________________
Washington______________________________________________________________
West Virginia____________________________________________________________
Wisconsin_______________________________________________________________
Wyoming________________________________________________________________
United States Capital
Washington DC __________________________________________________________
United States Current or Former Territories
Puerto Rico ______________________________________________________________
U.S. Virgin Islands ________________________________________________________
Guam __________________________________________________________________
American Samoa _________________________________________________________
Northern Mariana Islands __________________________________________________
Wake Island _____________________________________________________________
Philippines* _____________________________________________________________
Cuba* __________________________________________________________________
* (Former Territories)
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BIBLIOGRAPHY/FORMAT
FOR STATE PRESENTATIONS
For a book:
Barkun, Michael. (1998) Religion and the Racist Right. Chapel Hill, NC: The University
of North Carolina Press.
For a journal, newspaper, or magazine article:
Berejikian, Jeffrey (1992). Revolutionary Collective Action and the Agent-Structure
Problem. American Political Science Review: 86, 649-657.
For a document on a web page:
Duffy, James E. and Alan C. Brantley (1997). Militias: Initiating Contact. Law
Enforcement Bulletin. http://www.fbi.gov/library/leb/1997/july975.htm.
For a web page:
Militia of Montana (2001, Nov 14). Purpose and Mission.
http://www.barefootsworld.net/mom.html
For a court case:
State of Nevada V. Goldie Warren. 1969. 324 U.S. 123.
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PRESENTATION RUBRIC
(Possible 100 points)
Presentation Content (50 points)
Does the presentation comprehensively cover the subject in an orderly and
structured manner? (20pts)
Outline of presentation for instructor
Bibliography of reference sources (at least five references)
Is the presentation thorough and balanced? (20pts)
Significant current information about the state
State History
Trivia information
Student’s opinions
Does the presentation meet the time requirements? (10pts)
Presentation Skill (50 points)
Does the presenter demonstrate good speaking skills? (20pts)
Good eye contact
Relaxed presence
Professional appearance
Little or no problem with distracting, nervous habits
Are the visual aids used helpful and supportive? (20pts)
Adequate PowerPoint Presentation?
Does the presenter keep the presentation on track? (5pts)
Does the presenter ensure the session ends with a coherent conclusion? (5pts)
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
Alabama: AL
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New York: NY
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Alaska: AK
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North Carolina: NC
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Arizona: AZ
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North Dakota: ND
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Arkansas: AR
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Ohio: OH
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California: CA
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Oklahoma: OK
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Colorado: CO
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Oregon: OR
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Connecticut: CT
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Pennsylvania: PA
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Delaware: DE
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Rhode Island: RI
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Florida: FL
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South Carolina: SC
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Georgia: GA
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South Dakota: SD
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Hawaii: HI
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Tennessee: TN
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Idaho: ID
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Texas: TX

Illinois: IL
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Utah: UT
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Indiana: IN

Vermont: VT
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Iowa: IA
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Virginia: VA
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Kansas: KS
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Washington: WA
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Kentucky: KY
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West Virginia: WV
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Louisiana: LA
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Wisconsin: WI
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Maine: ME
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Wyoming: WY
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Maryland: MD
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Massachusetts: MA
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Michigan: MI
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Minnesota: MN
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Mississippi: MS
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Missouri: MO
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Montana: MT
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Nebraska: NE
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Nevada: NV
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New Hampshire: NH
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New Jersey: NJ
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New Mexico: NM
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