Dr. Joshua B. Rubongoya Fall 2004

Office: West Hall 119, Ext. 2444 Block 3

Office Hours: MW 4-5:30 pm, or by appointment                 Classroom: West Hall 216

e-mail: rubongoy@roanoke.edu

American National Government (POLI 102A)

Required Reading:

O’Connor, Karen and Larry Sabato. American Government: Continuity and Change, 2004 ed. (New York: Longman, 2004).

New York Times, available in Fintel Library.

Additional reading assignments will be placed on reserve in the Library and/or posted to student e-mail accounts or on Blackboard.

Course Objectives:

The nature of social science inquiry and the development of Political Science as an academic discipline will be examined as part of an overview of the American system of governance. The purposes, functions and impact of U.S. government will be discussed. The nature and structure of governmental institutions, the policy-making process, and the ways in which individuals and groups affect and are effected by politics will be explored. American governance will be compared to the politics of other countries. Students will be introduced to internet data bases and communications and encouraged to think critically about American politics and their roles as participants within it.

Course Outline:

A. Foundations of Government
Week 1: Sept. 1 – 3	Chapter 3	Federalism
Week 2: Sept. 6 – 10	Chapter 4	State and Local Government
Sept. 6	Exam 1	Chapters 1 and 2
Week 3: Sept. 13 – 17	Chapters 5 & 6	Civil Liberties and Rights
B. Institutions
Week 4: Sept. 20 – 24	Chapter 7	Congress
Week 5: Sept. 27 – Oct. 01	Chapter 8	The Presidency
Oct. 01	Exam 2	Chapters 5 – 8 (Non- cumulative )
Week 6: Oct. 4 – 8	Chapter 9	The Bureaucracy
Week 7: Oct. 11 – 15	Chapter 10	The Judiciary
Week 8: Oct. 18 - 22	Fall Break
C. Political Behavior
Week 9: Oct. 25 – 29	Chapter 11	Public Opinion and Political Socialization
Week 10: Nov. 1 – 5	Chapter 12	Political Parties
Week 11: Nov. 8 – 12	Chapter 13	Voting and Elections
Week 12: Nov. 15 – 19	Chapter 16	Interest Groups
Nov. 19	Exam 3	Chapters 9 – 16 (non-cumulative)
Week 13: Nov. 22 – 26	Thanksgiving
D. Public Policy
Week 14: Nov. 29 – Dec. 3	Chapter 17	Social Welfare
Week 15: Dec. 6 – 10	Chapter 18	Economic Policy
Week 16: Dec. 13 – 17 Dec. 16	Final Examination

Grading and Course Policies:

Overall course grades will be based on formal grades for:

Short Answer Tests (3) 15% (each)

Class Participation 25%

Final Examination 30%

All students are expected to attend class regularly; discussion, interaction and awareness of updated assignments are not possible otherwise. Each student will be allowed up to two absences (excused or unexcused) without a formal penalty. For each additional absence, one (1) point will be deducted form the overall course grade. Absences will, therefore, have a negative influence upon overall course grades. Any absences from any graded exercises without prior permission from the instructor will result in a grade of "0". No make-up examinations will be given; research paper assignments will be used as substitutes for examination grades missed due to approved absences.

Each class session begins with a 5-10 minute discussion of political news stories via internet sources. Punctuality is therefore expected and required.