PLS 414                                         Legislative Process                                Fall 2006

Dr. George E. Connor

PACB 328

Phone: 836-6956, 5630    e-mail: georgeconnor@missouristate.edu

Connor Office Hours:  MWF 9-10, TR 2:00-3:00, and by appointment

Texts:

Davidson and Oleszek. Congress and Its Members (10th ed.)

Dodd and Oppenheimer. Congress Reconsidered (8th ed.)

Rosenthal. Heavy Lifting

Policies:

1. Exams: There will be three exams worth 50 points consisting of two 25 point essay questions and a comprehensive final exam worth 50 points. 

2. Papers: There will be one 20-25 page bibliographic essay  worth 100 points. Papers are due at or before the beginning of class on the due date.  No e-mail or faxed papers will be accepted. No late papers will be accepted.  

3. Grading: The exams and papers will be equally weighted. No curve will be utilized, no extra-credit will be given, and no "rounding-up" will occur. Final grades will be based on total semester points (300 points) and a 90/80/70/60 percent scale.

4. Attendance/Participation: Both are expected, neither is required. Attendance will be taken for administrative purposes only and will not be directly reflected in course grades.  Pre-arranged absences may be tolerated with prior (24 hour) notice, University sanction, and documentation. 

5. Promptness: Students arriving late for class will be glared at. Students arriving late for exams may not be allowed to take the exam.

6. Academic Dishonesty: The University is a community of scholars committed to developing educated persons who accept the responsibility to practice personal and academic integrity. All members of the University share the responsibility and authority to challenge and make known aces of apparent academic dishonesty.   You are responsible for knowing the University's honor code, Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures.   Any student detected participating in any form of academic dishonesty in this course will be subjected to the sanctions described in this policy.

7. 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 Academic Affairs prohibits the use by students of cell phones, pagers, or similar communication devices during scheduled classes. All such devices must be turned off or put in a silent mode and cannot be taken out during class. At the discretion of the instructor, exception to this policy is possible in special circumstances.  Sanctions for violation of this policy are determined by the instructor and may include dismissal from class and/or a charge of academic dishonesty.

8. The University is committed to making reasonable modifications in policies, practices or procedures when such modifications are necessary for services to accommodations to legally protected individuals with disabilities. Applicants requesting academic adjustment are responsible for notifying the University of their disability, requesting academic adjustment, and providing documentation of the disability prior to receiving accommodations.  Disability Services refers some accommodation requests to the Learning Diagnostic Clinc.  To request academic accommodations for a disability, contact the Director of Disability Services, Plaster Student Union 405 (417-836-4192 or TTY 417-836-6792).

9. Nondiscrimination: Missouri State University is a community of people with respect for diversity. The University emphasizes the dignity and equality common to all persons and adheres to a strict nondiscrimination policy regarding the treatment of students and maintains a grievance procedure incorporating due process available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. Missouri State is an affirmative action\equal opportunity employer. At all times, it is your right to address inquiries and concerns about possible discrimination to the Office of Equal Opportunity, Siceluff 296 (417-836-4252).  Concerns about discrimination can also be brought directly to your instructor's attention, an/or to the attention of your instructor's Department Head.

10. Dropping: It is your responsibility to understand the University's procedure for dropping a class as outlined in the current Missouri State Undergraduate Catalog.  If you stop attending this class but do not follow proper procedures for dropping a class, you will receive a failing grade and will be financially obligated to pay for the class.  To drop a class anytime after the first week of classes, you must complete and turn in a drop slip at an authorized registration center.  You do not need to obtain any signatures on the drop slip.  It does not need to be signed by your instructor, your advisor, or a department head.  If you wish to withdraw from the University (drop all your classes), contact the Registration Center, Carrington 320.  It should be noted that withdrawing from the Univeristy does not insure a "drop while passing" grade.

11. No food or drink in Strong classrooms

Statement of Purpose-Preamble

The purpose of this course is to introduce upper-division students to the legislative processes which provide the foundation for representative democracy. While a basic understanding of these processes is necessary for educated persons who are both competent and educated citizens, this course examines the legislative process in detail with a careful analysis of the House and Senate of the United States Congress and an overview of the state legislative process.

 

Course Schedule:

Aug 21     Introduction: Syllabus, Schedule, Policies

Aug 23    The Dual Nature of Congress/Institutional Evolution     CM 1, 2

Aug 25    Heavy Lifting    HL 1

Part I Representation and Representatives

Aug 38     Evolution of Perception CR 3

Aug 30     The Meaning of Elections

                               Incumbency CM 3

Sept 1                     The Color of Elections    CR 6

Sept 4       NO CLASS (Labor Day Holiday)

Sept 6                     Re-election CM 4

Sept 8                     National Issues CR 4

Sept 11      Representatives and Constituencies CM 5

                                Traditional Definitions

Sept 13                    Constituency Redefined

Sept 15                    Representation Redefined CR 17

Sept 18       Congress in the News

Sept 20    EXAM

Sept 22    Bibliographic Essay Assignment

Part II Deliberative Assembly

Sept 25    House v. Senate CM 6

Sept 27    Undemocratic Senate

Sept 29    Congressional Parties    CR 8

Oct 2       Party Leaders/Party Government     CM 6,                    

                                  House Leadership    CR 9

Oct 4                         Senate Leadership    CR 10

Oct 6       Congress in Committee     CM 7                                 *TOPICS EXPECTED

Oct 9                        Committees in the Partisan Era CR 11

Oct 11      Rules Make A Difference     CM 8

Oct 13      Deliberation     CM 9

Oct 16      Congress in the News

Oct 18      EXAM

Oct 20      NO CLASS (Fall Holiday)

Oct 23      Evils of Plagiarism

Part III Policy-Making

Oct 25      Separation of Powers CM 10

                                  Historical

Oct 27                       Theoretical 

Oct 30                       Evolution     CR 16                                    *BIBLIOGRAPHY EXPECTED

Nov 1       Congress and the Courts     CM 12

                                  Constitutional History

Nov 3                        Nomination Politics     CR 13                

Nov 6       Budget Process     CM 14

Nov 8       Budget Politics      CR 14

                                         

Nov 10     Foreign Policy    CM 15                                             *DRAFTS ACCEPTED

                                   Assessment

Nov 13                       Age of Terrorism     CR 15

Nov 15     The Two Congresses     CM 15

Nov 17     EXAM

Nov 20     State Representation    HL 2, 3

Nov 22     NO CLASS (Thanksgiving Holiday)

Nov 24     NO CLASS (Thanksgiving Holiday)

Nov 27     State Lawmaking I       HL 4, 5                                *BIBLIOGRAPHIC ESSAYS DUE

Nov 29     State Lawmaking II      HL 6, 7

Dec 1        State Separation of Powers    HL 8, 9

Dec 4        State Leadership    HL 10

Dec 6        The "Good" Legislature    HL 11

Dec 8       DEAD DAY

FINAL EXAM     December 13th     8:45-10:45

Dates to Remember:      No penalty drop: Oct 25                    Last drop: Dec 1