American Government (Online)

VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY AMERICAN GOVERNMENT Department of Political Science College of Humanities and Social Sciences Summer 2021 | POLS 1101 | Section IF | CRN 52964 COURSE INFORMATION Professor: Class Schedule: Class Location: Credit Hours: Professor’s Office: Professor’s Office Hours: Email: Telephone: Dr. Zachary A. Karazsia Online Course BlazeVIEW 3.00 hours West Hall 2306-J Virtually by appointment [email protected] (229) 333-5774 COURSE DESCRIPTION “An examination of the fundamental institutions and political processes of the American system of government. Students are also given an overview of Georgia’s Constitution, state politics, and state government institutions. POLS 1101 satisfies legislative requirements for the study of U.S. and Georgia Constitutions.” (2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog, Valdosta State University, 427). Over the course of the semester, we will be concerned with several major themes. First, we will consider the basic structural and theoretical underpinnings of the American system of government—notably the U.S. Constitution and the principles it contains. Second, we will be analyzing the major governing institutions in the United States—Congress, the Presidency and the Executive Bureaucracy, and the Courts; attention will also be given to our state’s government and constitution. Finally, we will examine the key components of political behavior in the American system. In examining that behavior, we will discuss the role of such concepts as public opinion, the mass media, political parties, interest groups, civil liberties, civil rights, and electoral participation in the workings of the American national government. COURSE GOALS & LEARNING OBJECTIVES Upon completing this course, students should be able to: 1. Identify and discuss why government is necessary. 1 2. Identify key figures involved with America’s founding. 3. Distinguish between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. 4. Distinguish between leading ideologies and give examples of issue positions associated with two different ideologies. 5. Identify at least two of the common election systems used in the United States and describe the voting process. 6. Develop a basic understanding of power politics, the framing of the U.S. Constitution, the presidency, Congress, the Georgia state government, political parties, interest groups, the mass media, elections, and social movements. 7. Explain how legislative officials approach their representative responsibilities. 8. Develop the tools necessary for becoming a digital citizen in 21st Century America. 9. Define both civil liberties and civil rights and provide examples of both concepts. 10. Define and provide examples of the American bureaucracy. ABOUT YOUR PROFESSOR Dr. Zachary Karazsia is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Valdosta State University. He was previously a Limited Term Assistant Professor at Georgia Southern University, Fellow at the American Political Science Association (APSA) Africa Workshop on “Conflict and Political Violence” held in Nairobi, Kenya, and prior to his doctoral studies worked as a Research Associate conducting policy analysis, program evaluation, and oversaw six federal and state funded grant programs. He earned his Ph.D. and master’s in Political Science from Florida International University, a master’s in International Development from the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, and two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Global Studies and Communication, Arts & Sciences from the Pennsylvania State University, Berks College. He’s published several peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on genocide in the modern age, political violence, and postwar reconstruction, predominantly in the area of African politics. REQUIRED TEXTS 1. Kenneth Janda, Jeffrey M. Berry, Jerry Goldman, Deborah J. Schildkraut, and Paul Manna. The Challenge of Democracy: American Government in Global Politics, Enhanced, 14th Edition. Boston, MA: Cengage, 2020. EVALUATION Assignments Exam I Exam II Final Exam Total % of Grade 20 35 45 100 Due Date May 17-20 May 24-27 June 3-4 2 COURSE REQUIREMENTS 1. EXAMS Students will be expected to take all exams during the professor or university assigned date. If you miss an exam, I may, at my discretion: (a) allow you to complete a make-up exam with a late penalty; (b) calculate your course grade without the exam. a. Coronavirus Addendum: While the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) persists as a public health emergency I will be more flexible in allowing students to take exams outside of the designated date (when possible). 2. OPTIONAL: EXTRA CREDIT There are extra credit opportunities provided to students. There are several aims of these extra credit opportunities: 1) Provide students with a chance to earn additional credit toward this course; 2) Expand students’ knowledge of American politics and government; and 3) Enhance students’ critical thinking and analytical writing skills. Students may select up to three (3) articles/documentaries from the list provided (and/or may propose a substitute venue not listed, subject to the instructor’s approval) and write a 1-2 page, double-spaced, 12-font, Times New Roman, summary, critique, and analysis of the article/documentary chosen. How do I submit extra credit assignments? • All extra credit assignments must be submitted in BlazeVIEW. • Students must submit their summary, critiques, and analysis paper and a copy of the article/documentary they are reviewing to the instructor. Submissions 1 2 3 Venues • The New York Times • Washington Post • BBC News • Associated Press • CNN • Yahoo! News • The Wall Street Journal • Politico • The Atlantic • Documentaries Improve student’s overall course grade by… 0.5% 1% 2% URL/Information https://www.nytimes.com https://www.washingtonpost.com http://www.bbc.com https://www.ap.org/en-us https://cnn.com https://news.yahoo.com https://www.wsj.com https://www.politico.com https://www.theatlantic.com Students may ask to review documentaries that discuss important topics in American politics and government; however, the instructor must approve all documentaries beforehand. Due Date: You may submit extra credit assignments until Thursday, June 3 at 11:59 p.m. 3 MISCELLANEOUS COURSE GUIDELINES 1. Coronavirus (Covid-19): As an instructor, one of my responsibilities is to create a safe learning environment on our campus and especially in our classroom. a. “As the Blazer Creed articulates, members of the VSU community are expected to live by the high standards of civility, integrity, and citizenship and embrace their responsibility as a member of the Blazer community. In recognition of this responsibility, and in response to the best available science and current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Georgia Department of Public Health, every student MUST WEAR A MASK OR OTHER FACECOVERING that covers their nose and mouth at all times while in any campus building, including in this classroom. This requirement is intended to protect the health and safety of all VSU students, the instructor, and the entire university community. Anyone attending class without a mask will be asked to put one on or leave. Students who refuse to wear masks appropriately or adhere to other stated requirements may face DISCIPLINARY ACTION for Code of Conduct violations. Students should also be sure they maintain a distance of at least six feet away from their fellow students and instructor and are seated in a seat that is designated to ensure that distance (emphasis added).” – Valdosta State University, July 2020.1 b. Follow the 3Ws: i. Wear a mask ii. Wash your hands iii. Watch your physical distance 2. Syllabus Amendments: I reserve the right to make changes to the syllabus over the course of the term as needed. Students will be notified in class and via e-mail if a change has been made to the syllabus. 3. Information Literacy: Valdosta State University’s Mission Statement’s Student Mission includes a commitment to creating lifelong learners. This process is aided by developing information literacy skills, which are more important than ever. Building information literacy is vitally important as we seek to cultivate lifelong learners and so students can sharpen their critical thinking skills and discern reliable information from that is not. a. As the Association of College and Research Libraries explains, information literacy consists of “good information-seeking behavior.” This takes many forms, including: (1) knowing when information or evidence is needed to support points and formulate questions; (2) distinguishing between reliable and unreliable information in various formats (traditional media, electronic, human sources, etc.); and (3) appropriately referencing reliable information so as to promote information literacy and avoid plagiarism. Thus, in this course, we will regularly practice information literacy by utilizing scholarly sources that are referenced in written work, class discussions, and in other related exchanges in this course. 1 For more information you can review the following website: https://www.usg.edu/coronavirus/. 4 4. Commitment Statement: I expect you to attend every class, to arrive on time, and to participate in all class activities. Once class has started, do not leave until we finish – unless previously approved by the professor. All members of the community understand that to succeed in classes, students must be active participants in their education while understanding and complying with each course syllabus. Outside preparation and class attendance alone do not guarantee success or the highest grades; rather, mastery of the material and acquisition of necessary skills determine success and grades. 5. Civility Statement: All members of the community are expected to communicate in a civil manner in their professional interaction at all times, both in and out of the classroom. Academic discourse, including discussion and argumentation, is to be carried out in a polite, courteous, and dignified manner that is respectful of and understanding toward both peers and professors. a. A course that involves student discussion, such as this one, can only be successful if all participants remain respectful of themselves, each other, and the professor at all time. Many political and social topics we encounter are heavy with emotion, controversy and sharp differences in opinion and/or interpretation. This is fine, and in many ways is beneficial for critical thinking/learning and should be expected. That said, we must always remember to treat each other with the utmost respect and dignity. Abusive language or any form of physical intimidation towards others will not be tolerated. This includes – but is not limited to – overtly racist, sexist, classist, xenophobic, homophobic or otherwise derogatory language. Moreover, simply put, I will not tolerate bullying or personal attacks in my class. 6. Technology Statement: Laptops, iPads and other comparable devices may be used in class selectively and for research/group activities and note taking only. 7. Cheating and Plagiarism Policy: Cheating and plagiarism are not acceptable. If caught cheating, the student will immediately receive a zero for the assignment and possibly be subject to further action. Students should be aware of the university policies on plagiarism. Plagiarism is defined as: “The deliberate use and appropriation of another’s work without any indication of the source and the representation of such work as the student’s own. Any student, who fails to give credit for ideas, expressions or materials taken from another source, including internet sources, is guilty of plagiarism. Any student helping another to plagiarize may be found guilty of academic misconduct.” See VSU’s Student Code of Conduct, Section I, Academic Integrity Code for more information. 8. Disability Statement: This class complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Students with disabilities may contact the Access Office for assistance in determining and implementing reasonable accommodations. The Access Office is located in Farbar Hall. The phone numbers are 229-245-2498 (V), 229-375-5871. For more information, please visit VSU’s Access Office at https://www.valdosta.edu/student/disability/ or email: [email protected]. 9. Re-grade Policy: I expend a great deal of effort to ensure that your grades in this course accurately reflect the quality of your work. Students who wish to have their assignments re-evaluated, with the exception of mathematical errors, will need to provide detailed 5 justification in writing as to why their grade should be re-evaluated (this must be done within one week of the assignment being returned to the student). I will then re-grade the entire assignment/exam. Your grade may go up or go down as a result of the reevaluation. You should feel free to talk with me if you want advice on how to improve your performance in the course. 10. Communication Statement: I strongly encourage you all to visit me during office hours. If you wish to communicate with me outside of these times, please send an e-mail message rather than leaving a phone message. Your email message must include: a) have a subject line that indicates the content of the message, and b) be professional in tone and composition, with a salutation, proper grammar and punctuation, etc. I will generally be able reply to you within 24-48 hours. If I have not replied within 48 hours please send me a follow up e-mail, by forwarding your initial “sent” message to me. 11. Title IX Statement: “Valdosta State University (VSU) is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work and learning environment free from discrimination and harassment. VSU is dedicated to creating an environment where all campus community members feel valued, respected, and included. Valdosta State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex (including sexual harassment and sexual violence), sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran status, in the University's programs and activities as required by applicable laws and regulations such as Title IX. The individual designated with responsibility for coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries concerning nondiscrimination policies is the University's Title IX Coordinator: The Director of the Office of Social Equity, [email protected], 1208 N. Patterson St., Valdosta State University, Valdosta, Georgia 31698, 229-333-5463.” a. Professor Addendum: Confidentiality and Mandatory Reporting: As an instructor, one of my responsibilities is to help create a safe learning environment on our campus. I also have a mandatory reporting responsibility to my role as a faculty member. It is my goal that you feel able to share information related to your life experiences in classroom discussions, in your written work, and in our one-on-one meetings. I will seek to keep information you share private to the greatest extent possible. However, I am required to share information regarding sexual misconduct or information about a crime that may have occurred on Valdosta State University’s campus with the University. 12. Turnitin.com: By taking this course, you agree that all required course work may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to Turnitin, a tool within BlazeVIEW. For more information on the use of Turnitin at VSU see “Turnitin for Students” on the VSU webpage. 13. Grading Scale: a. A (90-100) b. B (80-89.9) c. C (70-79.9) d. D (60-69.9) e. F (50 & below) 6 COURSE OUTLINE Week 1: May 13-16 Reading 1. Defining Government Chapter 1 2. Ideology and Government ----3. Political Culture Chapter 2 4. The Founding Chapter 3 ***Exam 1: May 17-20. This exam will only cover material in Week 1 Week 2: May 17-23 Reading 1. Federalism Chapter 4 2. Georgia Politics ----3. Congress Chapter 11 4. The Presidency Chapter 12 5. The Bureaucracy Chapter 13 ***Exam 2: May 24-27. This exam will only cover material in Week 2 Week 3: May 24-30 1. Federal Courts 2. Political Parties 3. Participation and Voting 4. Campaigns and Elections 5. Public Opinion Reading Chapter 14 Chapter 8 Chapter 7 Chapter 9 Chapter 5 Week 4: May 31-June 4 Reading 1. The Media Chapter 6 2. Interest Groups Chapter 10 3. Civil Liberties Chapter 15 4. Civil Rights Chapter 16 ***Final Exam: June 3-4. This exam will only cover material in Weeks 3 & 4 7