POLITICAL SCIENCE 1 SECTION 3356 SYLLABUS
LOS ANGELES MISSION COLLEGE
Political Science 1: Government of the United States—Section 3356
Class Meetings: Thursdays (Th) 3:30 PM to 6:40 PM
Location: Instructional Building Room 1001
Course Website and Resources: http://www.lamission.edu/~chounls/
Fall Semester 2011 (Aug. 29, 2011 to Dec. 17, 2011)
Final Exam: Dec. 15, 2011 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Add Deadline: Sept. 9
Drop Deadlines: Sept. 12 (w/o penalty); Sept. 23 (w/o W); Nov. 18 (w/ W)
Instructor: Mr. Som Chounlamountry
Telephone: (818) 364-7600 Extension 4149
Email: chounls@lamission.edu
Office Hours: Thursdays 2:40 PM to 3:25 PM
Office Location: Instructional Building Cubicle # 41
LAMC Sheriff Department (818) 364-7843
Mission College Catalog Course Description
Principles, institutions, functions, and policy processes of the American Political System: including ideology and government; the constitution; federalism; Congress; the Presidency, the Judiciary; Civil Rights and Liberties; the media, elections and voting, political parties, interest groups. Also includes California government structure and constitution.
Student Learning Outcomes
1. Describe the powers, roles, functions, and limitations of the duties of federal, state, and local governments and the impact on individuals.
2. Analyze current American domestic and foreign policies and be able to put them into a historical perspective
3. Differentiate initiatives, referendums and recalls in California Constitution and laws.
Class Materials
Required Text: American Government and Politics Today –The Essentials 2009-2010, 15th Edition, by Bardes, Shelley, Schmidt, and Korey. ISBN:9781111207786
Available at Los Angeles Mission College Bookstore.
http://www.lamissionbookstore.com/
13356 Eldridge Avenue
Sylmar, CA 91342
Phone: (818) 364-7768 or (818) 364-7767
Additional Class Materials
A total of three (3) Scantron forms 882-e and one (1) large “Bluebook” examination booklet are required for the In –Class Tests and Final Exam.
Assessments and Points
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Assessments and Activities
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Points
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In-Class Attendance, Participation, and Quizzes
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25
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Plagiarism, Voter Guide & Policy Proposal Assignments (Posted in Course Website)
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75
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Two (2) In-Class Tests (100 Points Each)
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200
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Policy Research Paper or PowerPoint Presentation
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100
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Final Exam
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100
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Course Grading Scale
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Grade
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Point Totals
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Assessment Criteria
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A
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450 to 500
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Performance of the student has been at the highest level, showing sustained excellence in meeting all course requirements and exhibiting an unusual degree of intellectual initiative.
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B
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400 to 449
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Performance of the student has been at a high level, showing consistent and effective achievement in meeting course requirements.
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C
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350 to 399
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Performance of the student has been at an adequate level, meeting the basic requirements of the course.
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D
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300 to 349
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Performance of the student has been less than adequate, meeting only the minimum course requirements.
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F
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0 to 299
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Performance of the student has been such that minimal course requirements have not been met.
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Attendance and Participation: Attendance is mandatory. As a courtesy to all, please turn off cell phones or place on vibrations. (AVOID texting during class or responding to calls and leaving room). If you are late, please remain outside the classroom and wait for a pause in lecture or class activity to minimize disruption to the class. If you have a special situation, please don’t hesitate to talk to me about it. You are responsible for dropping the class through the Admissions Office Online. Please be disciplined about your education and attend consistently. Attendance quizzes incorporating reading, lecture and relevant current events may be used periodically.
Students are also expected to follow relevant current events. Ways to do so include following a daily newspaper, for instance the Los Angeles Times, a weekly news magazine, like Time, The Economist or Newsweek; watching a TV news program covering domestic political news such as “Newshour with Jim Lehrer” at 6 p.m. and BBC News at 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. on KCET Channel 28; and finally, listening to public radio on 89.3 FM or 89.9 FM. You can also have access to most of these papers, magazines, and news programs on the internet.
Late Assignments and Incomplete Grade: Late assignments are permitted only for religious, medical or college businesses. I reserve the right to drop the student to for in cases of excessive absences, and/or incompletion of assignments. It is your responsibility to drop the course. Incomplete Grade requests must meet the LAMC standards for approval.
Extra-Credit—Optional Internship: Students may select to do internship with a political official or a candidate of their choice. LAMC does not favor, promote, nor endorse one political office/official/candidate over another. If you decide opt for this assignment, you are required to write a three-page reflection paper explaining your internship and how this experience has helped you understand the political process better.
Cheating: Unauthorized material used during an examination (including electronic devices), changing answers after work has been graded, taking an exam for another student, forging or altering attendance sheets or other documents in the course, looking at another student’s paper/scantron/essay/computer or exam with or without their approval is considered cheating. Any student caught cheating will receive a zero for the assignment/exam and referred to the Department chair and/or Student Services for further disciplinary action.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is defined as the act of using ideas, words, or work of another person or persons as if they were one’s own, without giving proper credit to the original sources. This includes definitions found online on Wikipedia, materials from blogs, twitter, or other similar electronic resources. The following examples are intended to be representative, but not all inclusive:
- failing to give credit by proper citations for others ideas and concepts, data and information, statements and phrases, and/or interpretations and conclusions.
- failing to use quotation marks when quoting directly from another, whether it be a paragraph, a sentence, or a part thereof
- Paraphrasing the expressions or thought by others without appropriate quotation marks or attribution
- Representing another’s artistic/scholarly works such as essays, computer programs, photographs, paintings, drawings, sculptures or similar works as one’s own.
First offense, you will receive a zero for the assignment in question. Any further offenses may result in expulsion from the class, as determined by the disciplinary action from the Office of Student Services.
Recording Devices in the Classroom: Section 78907 of the California Education Code prohibits the use of any electronic audio or video recording devices, without prior consent of the instructor (including cell phones, laptops, MP3 players, and more).
Reasonable Accommodations: If you are a student with a disability and require accommodations, please send me a private email. The sooner I am aware of your eligibility for accommodations, the quicker I will be able to assist the DSP&S Office in providing them. For students requiring accommodations, the DSP&S Office at Mission College provides special assistance in areas like: registering for courses, specialized tutoring, note-taking, mobility assistance, special instruction, testing assistance, special equipment, special materials, instructor liaisons, community referrals and job placement. If you have not done so already, you may also wish to contact the DSP&S Office in Instructional Building 1018 (Phone: (818) 364-7732 TTD: (818) 364-7861) and bring a letter stating the accommodations that are needed.
This syllabus is a guide to use throughout this course and is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion. Please do not hesitate to ask for assistance; it is my goal that you succeed in this class.
Tentative Lecture, Reading, and Assignments Schedule
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Week
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Date
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Lectures and Readings (Please have readings done before meeting)
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Week 01
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9/1/2011
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Course Overview and Introductions. What is Politics? What is Government?
Homework:
1. Update your email with LACCD
http://laccd.edu/student_information/current_students.htm
View and Modify your personal information
2. Email instructor a Brief Bio to chounls@lamission.edu
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Week 02
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9/8/2011
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How Does Government Affect Us On a Daily Basis? (Ch. 1)
Different Types of Government (Ch. 1)
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Week 03
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9/15/2011
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The Constitution (Ch. 2)
Federalism (Ch. 3) and Local Government (California Ch. 9)
Bring Copy of US Constitution & Declaration of Independence (Click to Download)
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Week 04
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9/22/2011
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Civil Liberties (Ch. 4)
DUE: (Plagiarism Assignment Due) 25 Points
1. Go to https://www.indiana.edu/~istd/definition.html
2. Learn about Plagiarism by doing the exercises
3. Take the Test for the Certificate. https://www.indiana.edu/~istd/test.html
4. Only a perfect will get the unique TIME STAMP certification.
5. Copy and Paste the Confirmation Certificate into a Word Processor and appropriate assignments when required
6. Print the Confirmation Certificate and bring it to class for verification.
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Week 05
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9/29/2011
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Civil Rights (Ch. &5)
DUE: Policy Research Proposal and List of 10 Possible Sources (25 Points)
Rubric for LAMC Research Paper with Plagiarism and CA Bill.pdf
For this Thursday 9/29:
1. Select a topic from the list provided.
2. Read the assigned CQ Research Article.
3. Research and List in APA or MLA 10 possible reputable sources for your topic.
4. Bring the list to class.
Using http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/, focus on finding journal, magazine and newspaper articles using the LAMC Library Database. Avoid using websites, as they will not count.
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Week 06
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10/6/2011
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Test # 1 (100 Points). Please bring Photo ID and Scantron
Paper Workshop: Bring your 10 Possible Sources Printed or Electronic Form
LAMC AMERICAN GOVERNMENT Midterm Review Sheet.pdf
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Week 07
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10/13/2011
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Congress (Ch. 10); Domestic Politics (Ch. 14)
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Week 08
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10/20/2011
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The President (Ch. 12); Foreign Policy (Ch. 15)
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Week 09
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10/27/2011
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Bring 2 copies of Prisoners Dilemma Game and Rules.pdf
The Courts (Ch. 13); Review of the Three Branches
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Week 10
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11/3/2011
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Public Opinion and Political Socialization (Ch. 6)
Political Parties (Ch. 8)
Campaigns and Elections (Ch. 9)
DUE: Personal Voter Guide Due (25 Points)
Political Ideology and Personal Voting Guide: Each student will use web resources to understand his/her own political ideology then create a personal voting guide on the candidates and issues for an upcoming or past election.
Explore your political ideology
A. Take the World’s Smallest Political Ideology Quiz from http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz. Print out the results and read about your ideology and bring the print out to class. Administer and explain the quiz to family member or friends for +1 Extra-Credit Point each. Max+ 10 Points. shortest_political_quiz courtesy of theadvocates.org.pdf
B. Figure out who are your current elected officials and candidates. Go to http://votesmart.org and enter your Zip Code. Bring to class the print out of the result pages. If it is available, consider using the Try 2012 VoteEasy feature.
Create your personal voting guide for an Upcoming Election or The 11-02-2010 General Election. NOTE: IF there is not an upcoming election, consider using the 11-02-2010 General Election
C. 1. Go to www.smartvoter.org, 2. Enter your address and zip code 3. Select the Current Election or the 11-02-2010 General Election, and click FIND YOUR BALLOT. 4. Choose your Candidates and Measures. 5. Go to http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_j.htm, 6. Read about the Qualified Statewide Ballot Measures 7. Choose YES or NO and WHY for each qualified measure.
D. Bring the follow to class for grading: 1) The printout of the Political Ideology, 2) The list of your current elected official, and 3) Your Personal Voting Guide. +5 Extra-Credit for the Best Personal Voting Guide.
See an example of a voting guide for some suggestions. Personal Voting Guide by Marissa Velarde.pdf
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Week 11
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11/10/2011
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Test # 2 (100 Points). Please bring Photo ID and Scantron 882-e
Review: Congress (Ch. 10); Domestic Politics (Ch. 14), The President (Ch. 12); Foreign Policy (Ch. 15); The Courts (Ch. 13); Public Opinion and Political Socialization (Ch. 6); Political Parties (Ch. 8); Campaigns and Elections (Ch. 9)
Extra-Credit Assignment +10 Points LAMC Personality and Resume Extra-Credit.pdf
*Make sure your Resume is only 1 (one-page) and looks like the examples in the UC Berkeley Guide: https://career.berkeley.edu/Guide/ResumeLetterWriting.pdf
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Week 12
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11/17/2011
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California Politics (CA Ch. 1 to Ch. 5)
DUE: Policy Papers and Presentations (100 Points)
Rubric for LAMC Research Paper with Plagiarism and CA Bill.pdf
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Week 13
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11/24/2011
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No Class: Thanksgiving Holiday
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Week 14
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12/1/2011
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California Politics (CA Ch. 6 to End); Student Presentations
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Week 15
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12/8/2011
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Course Review; Student Presentations
Final Exam Review Sheet
"With all deliberate speed"
Affirmative action
Amendments 11-27
Bill of Rights
Bills: How it becomes law in the federal level
CA Blanket Primary
CA State Assembly
CA State Senate
California Courts and Judges
California Historical Development
Californian Legislature
Challenges for California
Checks and Balances
City Government
Cold War
Compromise of 1850
Congress
Conservative
Containment
Criminal Justice and Civil Law
De facto discrimination
Declaration of Independence
Détente
Diplomacy
Direct Democracy
Earned-Income Tax Credit (EITC) Program
Economic Aid
Establishment clause
Federal Supreme Court
Federalism Diagram (We the People)
Federalist No. 10
Filibuster
Food Stamps
Foreign Policy
Free-Exercise clause
Gerrymandering
Governor
Great Compromise
Immigration
Imminent lawless action
Initiative
Interest Groups
Jefferson
Judicial review
Liberal
Libertarian
Locke
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Medicaid
Medicare
Montesquieu
Moral Idealism
New Jersey Plan
Paying the Bills
Political Realism
Political socialization
Populist
Presidency
Presidential vetoes
Prior restraint
Racial profiling
Recall
Recall Election
Referendum
Roe v. Wade 1973
Selective incorporation
Separate but equal
Separation of powers
Shays' Rebellion
State Supreme Court
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Supremacy clause
Supreme Court
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
The Civil Rights Acts
The New Jersey (small-state) Plan
The Plural Executive
The Progressive Movement
The Underrepresented
The Virginia Plan
The War Powers Act of 1973
Three-fifths compromise
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Universal Health Insurance
KNOW THESE COURT CASES
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
Gitlow v. New York (1925)
Brown v. Topeka Board of Education (1954)
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
Roe v. Wade (1973)
Bush v. Gore (2000)
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Week 16
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12/15/2011
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Final Exam Dec. 15, 2011 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM (100 Points)
Please bring Photo ID and Scantron 882-e
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Revised 10.28.2011
