Name of Course: POLS 2301 FEDERAL and STATE GOVERNMENT

WaylandBaptistUniversity

Winter Semester 2014

SYLLABUS

Name of Course: POLS 2301 FEDERAL and STATE GOVERNMENT

Time:5:30pm-9:45pm

Dates:Monday,February 24–May12, 2014

Location:Wayland Baptist University

Phoenix Campus

Phoenix, AZ.

Name of InstructorCapt. Ken Holmes, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office

100 West Washington

Phoenix, AZ.

Office PhoneWk. 602-876-3453 cell: 480-251-2414

e-mail:

Textbook: American Government and Politics Today,2013-2014 Edition, by Bardes, Shelley, Schmidt.

ISBN:978-1-133-60437-2

Course

Description:The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the organization, structure and functions of government and politics. We will examine such topics as the origin and purpose of constitutional government, the distribution of political power, the systems of national and state government, the nature of federalism, the role and future of American political parties, the nature and effectiveness of elections, the process and consequences of policy making, and the nature of political change.

Course Goals:At the conclusion of this course the student should be competent in:

-identifying the major institutions of state and national government and to identify and evaluate their different (or similar) policy making processes;

-identifying the historical origins of the national government systems and provide a critical analysis of the American Constitution;

-explaining the concept of federalism and evaluate the various interpretations or practices of this constitutional product;

-explaining what is meant by American liberalism and its pervasive influence on American political culture;

-explaining the American political party and electoral system and discuss mass political behavior in relation to popular democratic expectations;

Course Outline:

Class one:Overview of class

(02-24-14)Homework Assignment guidelines and Chapter tests

Class two:Read chapters 1thru 2 American Government

(03-03-14)

Class three:Read chapter 3 thru 4 American Government

(03-17-14)

Class four:Read chapters 5 thru 6 American Government

(03-24-14)

Class five:Read chapters 7 thru 8 American Government

(03-31-14)

Class six:Midterm Exam

(04-07-14)

Class seven:Read chapter 9 thru 10 American Government

(04-14-14)

Class eight:Read chapters 11 thru 12 American Government

(04-21-14)

Class nine:Read chapters 13, 14, and 15 American Government

(04-28-14)

Class ten:Final Exam

(05-12-14)

Grading

and Evaluation:Examinations will be based on lectures and the assigned reading material. The Midterm Exam, the Final Exam, and the Homework Assignments (Chapter Tests) will each have an equal proportionate weight toward the final grade. In addition, 10% of the final grade will be based on class presentation and participation

Additional Syllabus

InformationStudents enrolled at one of the University’s external campuses should make every effort to attend all class meetings. All absences must be explained to the instructor who will then determine whether the missed work may be

made up. When a student reaches that number of absences considered by the instructor to be excessive, the instructor will so advise the student and file an unsatisfactory progress report with the center director.

kah/01/18/14

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