PLS 101 American Democracy and Citizenship
Instructor:
Beat Kernen
Office:
Public Affairs Building 322
Phone:
836-5926
e-mail:
BRK265F@MAIL.missouristate.edu
Office
Hours:
Statement
of Purpose--Preamble
The course is designed to familiarize students with the institutions and
constitutional framework of the United States and Missouri. Its emphasis is on
the values, rights, and responsibilities that shape the public decision-making
of active and informed citizens and influence contemporary public affairs in a
democratic society. As such, the course is at the heart of the state-wide Public
Affairs Mission of Missouri State University.
No previous knowledge about political science or politics is expected,
but it is hoped that this course will demonstrate the importance of
understanding political processes and institutions at the national and state
level, and that such an understanding is the prerequisite for critically
evaluating, and eventually improve, these processes and institutions.
Readings
During the course of the semester, the following textbooks on American
and Missouri politics will be read:
* Janda, Berry,
and Goldman. The Challenge of Democracy, brief
ed., 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1998.
* Anthony D.
Simones, American Democracy and Citizenship: A Reader, New York: McGraw Hill,
1997.
In order to facilitate the understanding of the
substance of this course, students are encouraged to read a major daily or
weekly newspaper or magazine. It is also advisable to regularly watch the
evening news on television or listen to radio nes broadcasts--the Lehrer
News Hour on the Public Broadcasting System (BPS) (daily at 6:30 p.m.)
and the Morning Edition (daily at 6:00-10:00 a.m.) or All
Things Considered (daily at 4:00-6:00) on National Public Radio (NPR)
are highly recommended.
Examinations
and Grades
Semester grades will be based on three
exams during the semester and a comprehensive
final exam (common for all students enrolled in any section of PLS 101).
Each exam will consist of multiple-choice questions derived from both the
textbooks and the lectures/videos/films, etc.
In addition to the scheduled exams there will be quizzes
and group assignments on
particular topics or chapters from the textbooks. Students will not be
allowed to make up these quizzes and assignments, but they will not be
included in the calculation of the overall grade if a student missed an
assignment or quiz because of legitimate and verifiable reasons. Regular
attendance is, therefore, imperative for anybody who desires a good grade
for this class.
Absence Policy:
Any unexcused absences during the semester will result in a loss of points and
will affect the overall grade.
Cheating Policy:
Cheating on any exam will automatically result in a failing grade for that exam.
Make-up exams:
A student will be allowed to take a make-up exam only if he/she has a legitimate
and verifiable excuse for having missed an exam. Make-up exams will consist
of short-answer questions covering the respective material. All make-up exams
will be given on the last day of classes.
Grading:
The semester grade will be computed as follows:
3
semester exams--100
points each:
300 points (30%)
1
final exam
(comprehensive)
100 points (10%)
Quizzes
300 points (30%)
Group
Assignments
200 points (20%)
Attendance
and participation
100 points (10%)
________________
TOTAL
1000 points (100%)
__________________
Grading
scale: Unless exceptional circumstances dictate otherwise, the grading scale
used throughout the semester will be:
> 90% = A; 80-89% = B; 70-79% =
C; 60-69% = D; < 60% = F
The provisions of this syllabus may be changed at the
discretion of the instructor. If any such changes are deemed necessary, they
will be announced at least one week before taking effect.
Course Content
The course is divided into five sections that cover
sixteen substantive topics; the chapter indications refer to the textbook by
Janda, Berry, and Goldman; articles from the Reader are listed according to
author's last name and/or title of the article:
Part I PHILOSOPHICAL,
CONSTITUTIONAL, AND INSTITUTIONAL HERITAGE
A.
Philosophical Foundations of Constitutional Democracy
Required Readings:
-
Chapter 1
B.
Constitutional Foundations of the United States and Missouri Democracies
Required
Readings:
-
Chapters
2 and 3; appendices: The Declaration of Independence; the Constitution
-
Marshall,
Race and the Constitution
-
Connor, Defining
State Politics: The Missouri Constitution
FIRST
EXAM
C.
Institutional Foundations of the United States and Missouri Democracies
1.
Legislative Branches
Required Readings:
-
Chapter 8
-
Missouri
State Government,
pp. 16-20, 23-26
2.
Executive Branches
Required Readings:
-
Chapter 9
-
Missouri
State Government,
pp. 14-16
3.
Judicial Branches
Required Readings:
-
Chapter
11
-
Missouri
State Government,
pp. 20-23
SECOND
EXAM
Part
II PREJUDICE, DIFFERENCES,
INEQUALITY AND CITIZENSHIP
A.
Cultural Foundations of Democracy: Individualism, Pluralism, and
Multiculturalism
Required Readings:
-
Morris, Educating
Citizens for a Multicultural Society
-
Hentoff, Campus
Speech Codes Are Incompatible With Free Speech
B.
Civil Liberties: The Delicate Balance Between Individual Rights and
Societal Interests
Civil Rights: Questions of Race, Gender, Economic
Well-being and the Struggle for Equality
Required Readings:
-
Chapter
12
Part III CITIZENSHIP AND
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPATION: GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES
AND MISSOURI
A.
Foundations of American Citizenship
Required Readings:
-
Chapter 5
-
Kuttner, Why
Americans Don't Vote
-
Weine, Campaigns
Without Human Faces
B.
A Well-Informed Citizenry and the Role of Public Opinion
Required Readings:
-
Chapter
4, pp. 80 - 96
C.
Individual and Organizational Interests and the Public Good
Required Readings:
-
Chapter 7
D.
Political Parties, Elections and Campaigns
Required Readings:
-
Chapter 6
THIRD
EXAM
Part
IV CHALLENGES OF DEMOCRACY
A.
Mass Media, Mass Culture, Technology and Democracy
Required Readings:
-
Chapter
4, pp. 96-111
-
Grossman,
The Electronic Republic
B.
Democracy and Public Service
Required Readings:
-
Rudman, Senator
Rudman's Farewell Address
-
Barber, Neither
Leaders Nor Followers: Citizenship Under Strong Democracy
C.
Community and Volunteerism
Required Readings:
-
Barber, The
Search for Civil Society
-
Boyte and
Kari, Does the Trend Toward Bowling Alone
Really Mean Civic Ethic Is Dying?
-
Bloustein,
Community Service: A New Requirement for the Educated Person
-
Chapman, Politics
and National Service: A Virus Attacks the Volunteer Service
D.
Citizenship and Responsibilities
Required Readings:
-
Barber, The
Reconstruction of Rights
-
King, Letter
from a Birmingham Jail
Part
V CITIZENSHIP IN A GLOBAL
COMMUNITY
A.
America in the World
Required Readings:
-
Cummings
and Wise, The Historical Setting
-
Nixon/Clark:
Must America Be the World Leader?
B.
The Future of Democracy in a Changing World
Required Readings:
-
Talbott, Support
for Democracy and the U.S. National Interest
C.
Interdependence and the Responsibilities of Global Citizenship
Required Readings:
-
Huntington,
The West: Unique, Not Universal
-
Iyer, The
Global Village Finally Arrives
______________________________________________________________
FINAL
EXAM: Saturday, May 13,
2000, 3:30-5:30
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
individual faculty, staff, and students. In addition, in accord with federal law
and applicable Missouri statutes, the University does not discriminate on the
basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, disability,
or veteran status in employment or any program or activity offered or sponsored
by the University. The University maintains a grievance procedure incorporating
due process available to any person who believes he or she has been
discriminated against. Missouri State University is an Equal
Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Inquiries concerning the grievance
procedure, Affirmative Action Plan, or compliance with federal and state laws
and guidelines should be addressed to Melissa Manning, Affirmative Action
Officer, Office of Human Resources, Carrington Hall 128, 901 South National,
Springfield, Missouri 65804, Tel. 417 836-4252.
Assignments, quizzes, exams, etc.:
Monday, May 1:
Quiz on Part 4 of Reader (questions on handout)!
Friday, May 5: Quiz on Part 5 of
Reader (questions on handout)!
Saturday, May 13, 3:30: FINAL EXAM!
(in PACB 3)