Lecturer: Mr. Phil Branyon
Office: #313-A, Phone: (706) 310-6364. Better yet – Use my email: phil.branyon@ ung.edu
for communication, not actual classwork
Class times : M and Wed @ 4 and 7 pm – in Room 308
Other days: Tues and Thurs @ 5:30 pm, & 7 pm.
Office / Help hours : T-Th 3:00 to 5:15 pm; also by appointment.
M 2 to 3:50 pm; 5:30 to 6:45; also by appointment.
W 1:15 to 3:50 pm; 5:30 to 6:45; also by appointment.
Course description: This introduction to the American form of government will help the student understand the institutions, processes, and major public policy issues in American national government. Material on Georgia government and its constitution will also be covered. Current elections will be studied as well.
Required Reading: We The People , 10 th short ed., Lowi and Ginsberg
I will bring in helpful materials from other texts, newspapers, magazines, tapes, dvds and websites throughout the semester. Students are always encouraged to bring pertinent items for class discussion.
Course objectives : The mission of The University of North Georgia is to further the well being of its students through intellectual, social and physical development. Central to the accomplishment of this mission is the Liberal Arts Curriculum. This course satisfies the requirement in Area E of the college’s core curriculum.
General education at The University of North Georgia is a shared set of curricular and related experiences that will expand the student’s knowledge, skills, and perspectives necessary for lifelong learning and productive citizenship in society. In accordance with the general education and Social Sciences goals, class assignments will develop and improve your ability to:
*Write short and long essays
*Read for a deeper comprehension
*Critically think and analyze, that is, compare and contrast information from different points of view. A student should be able to determine cause and effect relationships, differentiate between fact and opinion, and analyze data / written material.
*Participate in collaborative learning
The materials on civil rights and civil liberties are intended to enhance multicultural awareness in our diverse society.

The objectives of this course are to enable students to describe and explain:

The historical background, process and results of the U.S. Constitution

The structure and processes of the three branches of the U.S. government

Non-institutional aspects of the American political system: political parties, the media, public opinion, elections and voting, interest groups, etc.

The major issues and court cases concerning civil liberties, rights, and other current local, state and national policies

The major political aspects of the Georgia state government
Course Calendar: Test Dates in BOLD
I. “Foundations of American Government”: Mon Aug 17th – Wed, Sept. 16th -Test 1: 110 pts
Chapters 1-3 of Lowi “The History – Background” + Bill of Rights. (15 pt Quiz before Test.)
>> (LAST “Withdrawal” date is Monday, Oct. 12th) <<
II. “Political Institutions”: Mon, Sept. 21st – Mon, Oct 19th -- Test 2: 110 pts
Chapters 12 – 15 of Lowi “Legislative, Executive & Judicial branches.” (15 pt Quiz before Test.)
250 Points, of 500, so far…
III. * General Assessment Paper * (5 .5 - 6.5 pages ) Due on Wed. Nov. 18th: 75 pts.
Based on Hurricane Katrina video, in class on Wed Oct 21st ( 325 points, so far.) o Assessments – Scoring System to be explained:
 POLS 1101 – Required Course Outcomes

(1) Students will analyze the complexity of human behavior as a function of the commonality and diversity within or between groups.

(2) Students will analyze the interaction between culture and history or politics in the United States.
IV. “The Georgia Constitution” : Mon, Oct 26th & Wed, Oct. 28th
Take Home Mini-Test due on Mon Nov. 2nd: 50 points. (375 pts so far.)
V. “Civil Rights & Liberties” and “Elections”, plus: Several US Supreme Court cases.
Mon Nov 2nd until “
Exam” Date:
Mon , Dec.7th
THIS IS your “Test 4”: 135 pts.
Chapters 4, 5, and parts of 9, and Ch 10 of Lowi.
*** NOTE: Your last test will be at the regularly scheduled exam date. There is no comprehensive, stress-filled, all-encompassing “Big Exam”. TOTAL PTS:
There ARE at least 2 extra credit opportunities. These usually involve going to hear a guest speaker on this or the UGA campus. One will be former US Congressman, John Barrow in Room
522 at 12:15 on Tuesday, October 27 th
. Others to be announced later.

450 Pts + A (90% +)
400 – 449 B (80% -- 89%)
350 – 399 C (70% -- 79%)
300 – 349 D (60% -- 69%)
Below 300 pts: Fail
At this stage in your education, I would hope that you are mature enough to realize that the more you attend a class, the more information you will receive from the class. In others words, you’ll make a better grade if you are here to find out what is being discussed. As mentioned, I will use other materials beside those assigned in the text. The University of North Georgia DOES have an official attendance policy. IF you have a 10% un -excused absence rate, or miss just 3 of 30 classes, you can be automatically withdrawn from the class. (Actually, I will allow UP TO 4 undocumented absences.) It’s best not to miss at all if possible.
What counts as an excused absence? A documented medical illness. A documented family emergency. What does not count? Working late. Oversleeping. Studying for a test / finishing a paper for another class. Transportation issues. (FIND a way to get here!)
I encourage you to participate and add to the class discussion. Those who have taken this class and had poor attendance also consistently had poor grades. (So easy to predict!) I don’t need to deduct any points from your grade – you’ll already be doing it to yourself!
You MUST be in class ON TIME. Coming to class late gets me off track and disturbs everyone else. It is also considered rude and disrespectful . Consider this class as your job where you are getting paid by the hour… I have been known to ask “late arrivals” to immediately answer questions about our current class topics - before even being seated!
Please remain seated for the entire class period. If you have to eat, drink, go to the bathroom, use the phone / text a friend, please do this before you come to class. Plan ahead!
Course Policies:
After the first week of class, you MUST bring your textbook each time you enter the classroom.
I often refer to certain pages, graphs, pictures, etc. If you don’t have your book, how are you supposed to get this information? If you do not have your textbook, something to take notes on, a pen / pencil then you are foolishly showing me, and everyone else, that you are not prepared for class, and quite frankly not mature enough for college . You may be asked to leave the class.

For Test Day: ALWAYS bring the following: A Scantron form, your 20 point do-at-home
Long Essay question and your 5 point shorter answer essay – typed, 3 blank pages of notebook paper for the in-class short essays, a pencil AND a pen as well. IF the two at home essays are not done: - 20 and / or – 5 points off the test before you even start. You WILL be given this information at least a week ahead of the test. (Maybe more.)

Make up tests will be given, but only with an especially good and, once again, documented reason. I will often create a new test, usually with more essays involved. *All missed test issues, including a re-scheduling, must be resolved by the next class meeting.* That means, contact me by email to re-schedule a time for an alternative test.* Everyone must turn in at-home essays / homework ON TIME. All late assignments will have points deducted - 20 percent for each missed class day but only up to the 2 nd one. After that, you will receive a “0” on that particular assignment. For this class, I am referring to the General Assessment paper and the
Georgia state government take at home 50 point mini-test. ALL at-home answers for tests are due ON the test day.
Test answers each time will be both short (5 pts) & long (20 pts) essays, along with T / F, and multiple choice. NOTE: You WILL be given a study guide that you can review at least one week before each test.
As mentioned, you are considered a responsible adult. Everyone is expected to conduct himself or herself in a mature manner. Respect your professor, your classmates and respect yourself.
Listen to what others have to say. You don’t have to agree, but be tolerant. Integrity and honesty are two aspects of higher education. Your work in this class and on the research paper is to truly be YOUR work. The answers to test questions are to come from your mind, not from any form of
“mental reminder” / written aid. To do otherwise is called cheating. If any student is found guilty of cheating, he/she will receive a grade of “0” on that assignment or test! If there are any questions about this, please refer to the University of North Georgia Student Handbook’s Student
Conduct Code. A “zero” on a major test automatically drops you 2 letter grades! (-100 of 500 points.)
All cell phones mus t be put away and turned off / set to “mute” during class!! If your phone rings, sings, raps, buzzes, honks, or makes loud noises during class, you WILL be asked to leave.
NO texting in class either. I actually DO notice… If you will be using a laptop computer, use it for note taking purposes only, not Facebook, Twitter or shopping! I DO realize that some of you may be using your phone to take down / read class information. IF that is the case, please inform me. Do not record the lecture in audio or video form UNLESS you have it in written form for the
Office of Student Disabilities that you must do so. See information below:
Accessibility Statement: Available on the Oconee campus from Ms. Erin Williams-Benson
If you need this document in another format, please email Jeremy Smith or call 777-777-777 ) o http://ung.edu/web-toolbox/web-accessibility/accessibledocuments.php
Any student needing extra test time, captions on in-class videos, or other special assistance, please let me know as soon as possible. I must have the documentation for these items.
Should you need to withdraw from the class, the last day to so, with a grade of “ W
”, is
Monday,
October 12th.
If you withdraw after this date, you will get a “W F
”. (School policy.)
If there is any question about bad weather affecting the class, please tune to one of the following:
Channel 2, 5, 11, 46 on tv, or radio stations Magic 102.1 fm, WGAU 1340 am, or any others that provide news in your area. Your best bet : check the school’s web site at www.ung.edu. Sign up for UNG’s text messaging system.

MY Class Expectations for YOU:
It is my goal that you learn more about the different forms of government in the place where you live. We all like to complain about how things are done (or aren’t being done) by our elected or appointed officials, yet so many of us sit back and let things stay as they are. I would like to remind you that YOU are a part of the government too. These people are spending OUR money and are making rules and laws that affect us all. You should learn the processes of government.
Learn more about your representatives, and most of all – participate! If nothing else, cast a well thought-out vote for the candidates of your choice.
If you ever feel lost or confused, by all means come and see me! I can only help you if you ask or let me know that you need to review or have questions. Do not wait until 25 minutes before the test. I will be glad to see a draft essay or go over material you missed, due to your documented illness / absence. I strongly urge you to make friends in the class and form a study group. Learning from your peers can be a very valuable experience.
We will also be having a Voter Registration Drive, sponsored by the American Democracy
Project. (More information on this later.) There will be a Presidential Preference “Straw Poll” held on Tuesday, November 3 rd . I am the sponsor of the “Current Events Club”. We will be involved in these activities and have discussions on numerous events each Wednesday at noon in
Room 311. (Field trips too!) Get involved in campus activities, whatever they may be!