Political Science 161

Political Science 161

American National Government

Spring, 2008 James Przybylski

This course is an introductory study of American Government. During the course of the semester, several topics will be studied to help increase the student's understanding and awareness of how the American political system functions. In addition to studying the three branches of our national government several other topics will be studied. These include the nature of democracy, how federalism works, the role of the mass media in the public sector, public opinion and political socialization, political parties and interest groups, civil liberties and civil rights, and the nature of policy making in America. Since this course meets the Missouri Statute Requirement, references will often be made to Missouri governmental practices where appropriate.

The course aims to fulfill the social scientific mode of inquiry for the Liberal Studies Program (LSP) by fostering:

1. Systematic thinking about human beings in political and social settings;

2. Critical thinking and analysis about the political system;

3. Understanding of major generalizations, concepts, and theories related to the American political system;

4. Understanding of the standards of scientific evidence used in political science;

5. Understanding of the applicability and usefulness for real world problem solving of knowledge of the American political system

The required texts for the class are American Government and Politics Today, 2007 Edition, by Barbara Bardes, Mack Shelley, and Steffen Schmidt and The Irony of Democracy, 13th Edition, by Thomas Dye and Harmon Zeigler. In order to keep abreast of current issues and events the student is also strongly encouraged to subscribe to Newsweek (at a special class subscription rate) unless he or she is already subscribing to another newsmagazine such as Time or U.S. News or uses other credible news sources.

Using current events materials, students will be required to keep a journal discussing how current issues or events relate to ideas read in the text or discussed in class. Each week the student should write one or two journal entries of 300 words each. The student may pick text topics from earlier in the semester or later in the semester (if the student reads ahead) as long as a variety of topics are chosen. The current events material must come from the semester when the journals are written. Please cite the source where you read about the issue or event you are discussing in your journal entry. Please include a photocopy of the first page of the source or a web page indicating the web page address of the material. Also, do not forget to cite pages from a class text where the concept or concepts illustrated by the journal entry are found. Over the course of the semester you will turn in 15 entries which will total 75 points.

There will also be two noncumulative semester exams worth 100 points each during the semester as well as a final exam worth 120 points. Students will be present at exams unless previously cleared with the professor. Other assignments or quizzes may also be added by the professor which may total up to 100 points.

“The university is committed to making every possible effort to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact both your instructor and the Disability Services office (x4478) as soon as possible.”

This course will follow the normal conventions concerning proscribed student behavior. If there are any questions, refer to the following site: studentinvolvement.truman.edu/handbook/conduct.html#pros

Dr. Przybylski's Office is MC223; his phone number is 785-4657; his e-mail address is jprz@truman.edu . His website is at www2.truman.edu/jprz/przybyls.html