UNIVERSITY OF NORTH GEORGIA
POLS 1101 American Government – Spring 2015
Charlene Warwick
Office: Gainesville Campus Strickland Building, Room 124 – Cumming Campus, Room 283
Office Hours: Mon/Wed 12PM to 2PM (Cumming) and Tues/Thur 11AM to 1PM (Gainesville)
Office Phone # 678-717-3552-Voice Mail Only
e-mail – charlene.warwick@ung.edu
*Specific details of this syllabus may be subject to change.
Course Description - 3 Credit Hours
This course will provide a broad overview of the actors, foundations and practices of American government. The
major policy, system and institutions of American government will be covered in this course. We will discuss the
history of building our system including the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution and the changes that
have occurred over time. We will not be able to go into massive detail on all subjects of our government but you
will be provided with the skills necessary to understand how our government works. We will cover topics specific to
the United States: Congress, Presidency, Judiciary, Bill of Rights, Civil Liberties/Civil Rights, Voting/Elections,
Media and Public Opinion. I also require each student to enhance their critical thinking skills regarding our systems
of government and to become a more informed civil participant in our society. We will be discussing Georgia
government and its constitution as well.
This is a required course of all students and satisfies a requirement in Area E of the UNG core curriculum.
Course Prerequisites:
Completion or exemption from READ099 or concurrent enrollment if necessary
Course Materials (required and available in the campus bookstore)
By The People, Brief Edition, Morone and Kersh ISBN 978-0-19-538332-4
http://global.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780195383324/
UNG Bookstore - http://ung.edu/bookstore/index.php
6 Scranton sheets and #2 pencil for exams
Additional materials/readings may be required and/or provided during the semester.
Be sure to understand that the textbook is a supplement to the course lectures and discussions.
All of my classes are considered technology enhanced and will be utilizing D2L for a majority of the assignments
for this course. https://ung.view.usg.edu
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, we will have covered some very interesting aspects of American government. We will
discuss why our system has endured over the years and some of the problems within our system and institutions.
This particular course will enable students to describe the following:
 Examine the historical and philosophical roots of America’s system of government
 Evaluate the significance of our Declaration of Independence and US Constitution
 Analyze the interaction of political actors and institutions in the United States and their interactions with
global actors and forces
 Show understanding of Georgia’s history and government including current issues in Georgia.
 Formulate and defend logical arguments in discussing a variety of contemporary political issues.
 Consider the effects of cultural difference and economic interests of political actors within the United States
and between the United States and other global actors.
 Assess the accuracy, completeness and potential bias of sources of information pertaining to politics and
government in the United States and world.
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Dates to Remember:
January 5 at 12pm
January 9
January 19
Feb 27
March 16 – 21
April 24
April 27 – May 1
– Classes begin
– Drop/Add ends
– MLK, Jr. Holiday (no classes) also my son’s birthday, very special day! 
– Full Session midpoint (last day to withdraw without penalty)
– Spring Break (no classes)
– Last day of class
– Final Exams
Course Policies and Grading
E-Mail is the official means on communication for UNG. You will be required to utilize your UNG and D2L email for various correspondence and information.
Please use the proper etiquette to communicate with your instructors.
Attendance
All students are expected to attend class. Attendance will be taken on a regular basis. You are responsible for all
lectures and class discussions. You will not be allowed to make up work that was missed due to an absence. Class
participation, attendance and tardiness will be taken into consideration for your final grade.
Tests
No make-up tests are permitted but you have an opportunity to drop your lowest exam grade if you must miss an
exam.
Four exams and one final exam will be given. The final exam is comprehensive.
First four exams will total 45% of course grade. You may drop your lowest test grade.
Comprehensive Final Exam = 20%
I do offer an incentive to work hard and attend class, if you take all four exams and make an A on each exam, NOT
an average of the exams; and you have not missed more than 2 days of class, I will allow you to opt out of the
Comprehensive Final Exam. This will only happen if you have met these terms at the end of the semester.
Assignments
Class assignments and assessment will count as 25% of your course grade.
Previously unpublished assignments will be given during this course. It is your responsibility to find out from a
classmate the assignments and due date if you miss a day of class. The assignment must be turned in on the date
specified to receive credit. You may turn in assignments late but they will incur a penalty for each day they are late
(this is not class day, this each individual day).
Participation/attendance/tardiness
You are expected to attend class and participate.
This will count as 10% of your course grade.
If you miss 3 or more classes it can equal 0% (This includes excused and unexcused)
UNG Course Attendance Policy - The decision to permit students to make up work that is required in any missed
class resides with the instructor. Students who stop attending class may be administratively withdrawn (with or
without academic penalty); a grade of W may be assigned when students fail to attend 10% of any class (T/R – 3
class days) (M/W/F – 4 class days) meetings prior to the midpoint of the term; a grade of WF will be assigned when
students stop attending after the midpoint.
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Final Calculations for grading
45% = 4 Exams (lowest test grade dropped)
20% = Comprehensive Final
25% = Assignments and assessment
10% = participation/attendance/tardiness
Grading System
90 - 100 = A
80 - 89 = B
70 - 79 = C
60 - 69 = D
Below 60 = F
Withdrawal
If you desire to drop this course it is your responsibility to begin the withdrawal procedure. The last date to
withdraw and receive a "W" can be found on the UNG website. Other withdrawals are given only when they are
consistent with general university guidelines.
Academic Exchange
The values of an intellectual community are trust, honesty, free inquiry, open debate, tolerance of difference and
respect for others’ convictions. Further, the intellectual community always seeks to foster the virtues and
characteristics of intelligence, curiosity, discipline, creativity, integrity, clear expression and the desire to learn from
others. It is these that must guide our work and exchanges in the classroom.
Anyone perceived by the instructor to conduct him/herself in such a manner as to obstruct or disrupt, or attempt to
obstruct or disrupt, the class or its learning activities will be given a verbal warning and may be asked to excuse
him/herself from the class period in which the conduct occurred. Further disruptive conduct may be reported to the
Vice President for Student Development and may be subject to disciplinary procedure as outlined in the University
Catalog.
Silence all cell phones before entering the class and texting in class is not allowed, if you must use your phone
then I request that you remove yourself from my classroom while you deal with personal business.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
All students are expected to do their own work. Utilizing another student’s work is cheating and will be dealt with
appropriately. In cases where the work of others has been drawn upon, the work must be cited appropriately. (see
Student Handbook)
Plagiarism/Cheating: Plagiarism or any other form of cheating will not be tolerated. Any violations will be dealt
with swiftly. Students caught cheating on an exam will be given a grade of zero on the exam in question and may be
reported under the Student Code of Conduct policy. Students who plagiarize on a paper will receive a grade of zero
for the paper in question and may be reported under the Student Code of Conduct policy. Other penalties, above and
beyond the grade of zero, can be assessed with each transgression in accordance with UNG policies including the
possibility of receiving an F in my course.
If you have any question regarding this, please ask, do not give any instructor reason to doubt you.
http://ung.edu/student-involvement/_uploads/files/student-handbook/UNG_Handbook.swf
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UNG Information and Policies
SUPPLEMENTAL COURSE INFORMATION
Students are responsible for accessing supplemental course information common to all courses at
http://ung.edu/academic-affairs/policies-and-guidelines/supplemental-syllabus.php
Student Disability Services:
http://ung.edu/student-disability-services/index.php
Academic Integrity Policy:
University of North Georgia’s honor policy is below:
“On my honor, I will not lie, cheat, steal, plagiarize, evade the truth, conspire to deceive, or tolerate those who
do.”
See the link below to the student handbook, beginning on page 33, for information and policies regarding
plagiarism.
http://ung.edu/student-involvement/_uploads/files/student-handbook/UNG_Handbook.swf
This link also outlines student code of conduct violations’ procedures and is found on the Dean of Students
website:
http://ung.edu/dean-of-students/student-code-of-conduct/index.php
Early Alert/Early Intervention Program:
“I am committed to your success in this course and at this university. I may, therefore, refer you to other persons
and/or services available to help you achieve academic success. In turn, if you are referred, you will be expected to
comply with the referrals. Please understand that such referrals are not a form of punishment, rather, they are
intended to help you.
NGCSU has implemented an Early Alert/Early Intervention program. I am a participating faculty member in the
program. I may, then, refer you to other persons and/or services at the university designed to help you achieve
your academic goals. You, in turn, will be expected to take advantage of the help offered to you.
As your teacher I am committed to your academic success, not only in this class, but at this university. If I feel you
would benefit from some of the special services available to students, I will make the appropriate referral. I will,
further, expect you to comply with the referral and take advantage of the services offered.”
Statement Composed by the Recruit Back, Early/Alert Intervention Team, 2006
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POLS 1101 – Charlene Warwick – Very Tentative!
*Specific details of this schedule will change throughout the semester. Items will be added to this daily!
Day
Week 1
Jan 5-9
Topic
Introduction
Syllabus
Acquiring Textbook
Week 2
Jan 12-16
Sources of Politics
Declaration of Independence
Articles of
Confederation
Week 3
Jan 20-23
Constitution
Nature of Government
Week 4
Jan 26-30
Federalism
Political Culture
Ideology
Week 5
February 2-6
Assignments
Sign into D2L
Read Syllabus
Introduction
First Assignment will be available – January 8th
Morone Chapter 1
View Websites/Links/Documents in D2L
Morone Chapter 2
Appendix II
Complete Assignment 1 by January 14 at
11:59pm
Read
Appendix
Morone
ChapterI 2
Appendix II
View Websites/Links/Documents in D2L
Morone Chapter 3
View Websites/Links/Documents in D2L
Complete Assignment 2 by January 26th at
11:59pm
Exam 1
POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
Week 6
February 9-13
Legislative Power
Week 7
February 16-20
Executive Power
Week 8
February 23-27
Bureaucracy
Week 9
March 2-6
Review and Exam 2
Week 10
March 9-13
Judicial Power
Morone Chapter 10
View Websites/Links/Documents in D2L
Morone Chapter 11
View Websites/Links/Documents in D2L
Complete Assignment 3 by February 18th at
11:59pm
Morone Chapter 12
View Websites/Links/2ocuments in D2L
Morone Chapter 13
View Websites/Links/Documents in D2L
Course Assessment will be due March 12th by
11:59pm
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Week 11
March 16-21
Spring Break
No Classes
RIGHTS
Week 12
March 23-27
Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Week 13
March 30 – April 3
Exam 3
POLITICAL BEHAVIOR
Week 14
Public Opinion
April 6-10
Political Participation
Voting
Week 15
Elections
April 13-17
Interest Groups Political Parties
The
Media
Policy
Georgia Politics
Week 16
April 20-24
Exam 4 – Take Home to be turned
in on April 23rd in class.
April 27 –
May 1
Final Exam
Morone Chapter 4 and 5
View Websites/Links/Documents in D2L
Civil Project to be completed by March 29th at
11:59pm
Morone Chapter 4 and 5
View Websites/Links/Documents in D2L
Morone Chapter 6 - 7
View Websites/Links/Documents in D2L
Morone Chapter 8 - 9
View Websites/Links/Documents in D2L
Final Assignment to be completed by April 19th at
11:59pm
http://ung.edu/academic-affairs/final-examschedules.php
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