PLS 101 Section 20 American Democracy and Citizenship Fall 2008
Dr. George E. Connor Strong Hall 307
Phone: 836-5630 E-mail: georgeconnor@missouristate.edu
Office Hours: by appointment
Texts:
Fiorina, et al.
Lewis. Gideon’s Trumpet
Bookstore Test Packet (scantron forms, pencils)
Policies:
1. Exams: There will be 5 multiple choice exams worth 50 points and a 50-point common final.
2. Grading: Final grades will be based on total semester points and a 90/80/70/60 percent scale. No curve will be utilized and no extra-credit will be given, and no "rounding-up" will occur.
3. Attendance/Participation: Both are expected, neither is required. Attendance will be taken for administrative purposes only and will have no direct impact on grades. Pre-arranged absences may be tolerated with prior (24 hour) notice, University sanction, and documentation.
4. Promptness: Students arriving late for class will be glared at. Students arriving late for exams may not be allowed to take the exam.
5. Academic Dishonesty: Missouri State University is a community of scholars committed to developing educated persons who accept the responsibility to practice personal and academic integrity. You are responsible for knowing and following the university’s student honor code, Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures, available at www.missouristate.edu/assets/provost/AcademicIntegrityPolicyRev-1-08.pdf and also available at the Reserves Desk in Meyer Library. Any student participating in any form of academic dishonesty will be subject to sanctions as described in this policy.
6. Cell phones and other electronic devices: As a member of the learning community, each student has a responsibility to other students who are members of the community. When cell phones or pagers ring and students respond in class or leave class to respond, it disrupts the class. Therefore, the Office of the Provost prohibits the use by students of cell phones, pagers, PDAs, or similar communication devices during scheduled classes. All such devices must be turned off or put in a silent (vibrate) mode and ordinarily should not be taken out during class. Given the fact that these same communication devices are an integral part of the University’s emergency notification system, an exception to this policy would occur when numerous devices activate simultaneously. When this occurs, students may consult their devices to determine if a university emergency exists. If that is not the case, the devices should be immediately returned to silent mode and put away. Other exceptions to this policy may be granted at the discretion of the instructor.
7. Academic Accommodation: To request academic accommodations for a disability, contact the Director of Disability Services, Plaster Student Union, Suite 405, (417) 836-4192 or (417) 836-6792 (TTY), www.missouristate.edu/disability. Students are required to provide documentation of disability to Disability Services prior to receiving accommodations. Disability Services refers some types of accommodation requests to the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, which also provides diagnostic testing for learning and psychological disabilities. For information about testing, contact the Director of the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, (417) 836-4787, http://psychology.missouristate.edu/ldc.
8. Nondiscrimination: Missouri State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution, and maintains a grievance procedure available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. At all times, it is your right to address inquiries or concerns about possible discrimination to the Office for Equity and Diversity, Park Central Office Building, 117 Park Central Square, Suite 111, (417) 836-4252. Other types of concerns (i.e., concerns of an academic nature) should be discussed directly with your instructor and can also be brought to the attention of your instructor’s Department Head. Please visit the OED website at www.missouristate.edu/equity/.
9. Dropping: It is your responsibility to understand the University’s procedure for dropping a class. If you stop attending this class but do not follow proper procedure for dropping the class, you will receive a failing grade and will also be financially obligated to pay for the class. For information about dropping a class or withdrawing from the university, contact the Office of the Registrar at 836-5520. It should be noted that withdrawing from the University does not insure a "drop while passing" grade.
10. No Food or Drink in Strong Hall classrooms
Statement of Purpose
As part of the General Education Program, this course is broadly designed to develop educated citizens by increasing awareness of the public dimension of life, producing a broad literacy in the primary public issues, such as sustainability, and nurturing the discussion of these issues. The course emphasis is on the values, rights, and responsibilities that shape the public decision making of active and informed citizens and that influence contemporary public affairs in a democratic society. In fulfillment of Missouri state law, the course is specifically designed to familiarize students with the institutions and constitutional framework of the United States and Missouri.
Course Schedule:
Aug 26 Introduction FPVJM 1
Syllabus and Methodology
Part I Philosophical, Constitutional and Institutional Heritage
Aug 28 Philosophical Foundations of Constitutional Democracy FPVJM 2 (23-31)
Declaration of
Sept 2 Constitutional Foundations FPVJM 2 (32-44)
Conflict, Compromise, and Ratification
Sept 4 Constitutional Purposes
Missouri Constitution
Sept 9 Federalism FPVJM 3
Judicial Review, Commerce
Sept 11 Resurgence of States
Sept 16 EXAM
Part II Institutional Foundations of American Democracy
Sept 18 Legislative Branch FPVJM 9
Congressional Elections
Sept 23 Executive Branch FPVJM 10
“Why Great Men are not Chosen President”
Sept 25 Bureaucracy FPVJM 11
Authority and Role
Sept 30 Judicial Branch FVPJM 12
Court Decision Rules and Finality
Oct 2 Missouri Government
Legislature and Executive
Oct 7 Missouri Government
Judicial Branch and the Missouri Plan
Oct 9 EXAM
Part III Cultural Foundations of American Democracy
Oct 14 Civil Liberties FPVJM 4, 13
Context Speech
Oct 21 Religion
Oct 23 Civil Rights FPVJM 14
Definitions and Issues of Race
Oct 28 Republican Guarantee Clause, Full Faith and Credit
Oct 30 Privacy and the Right to Die
Nov 4 EXAM
Part IV Citizenship and American Democracy
Nov 6 Public Opinion and Media FPVJM 5
Agenda Setting, Sources, and Bias
Nov 11 Political Participation and Voting FPVJM 6
Initiatives and Referendum
Nov 13 Campaigns and Elections FPVJM 7
Nov 18 Parties FPVJM 8 (201-217)
Nov 20 Interest Groups FPVJM 8 (217-232)
Nov 25 EXAM
Part IV Assimilation: The process of receiving new facts or of responding to new situations in conformity with what is already available to consciousness)
Dec 2 Gideon’s Trumpet 1, 2*, 3 Judicial Hurdles
Dec 4 Gideon’s Trumpet 4, 5*, 6* Fundamental Principles
Dec 9 Gideon’s Trumpet 7, 8*, 9 Historical Precedents
Dec 11 Gideon’s Trumpet 10*, 12, 13*, Epilogue Amicus Briefs and Implementation
Dec 12 Dead Day
EXAM SCHEDULE
COMMON FINAL Dec 13th 3:45-5:45
FINAL EXAM Dec16th 1:15-3:15
Dates to Remember:
No penalty drop: Oct 29th
Last drop: Dec 5th