Textbooks (required): Edwards, Wattenberg, and Lineberry, Government in America, 8th ed. Textbooks can be purchased in Smith Bookstore, West Bank.

Visit Government in America online at http://longman.awl.com/edwards
We will also be using the World Wide Web so be sure you have computer access to the Internet.

Description: This course is an introduction to contemporary government and politics in the United States. We begin with the philosophical debates surrounding the Constitution and look at how these disputes have been extended. Then we examine the political forces in America today, such as political parties, interest groups, and the mass media. Next we try to understand the workings of the major institutions of American government--the Congress, the Presidency, the bureaucracy, and the courts. We end with an analysis of the important public policies shaping our lives.

Format of the Course: This is a five-credit course, meeting three times a week for lecture. Class meetings will be more meaningful if you complete all assigned reading before coming to class. Also try to read a newspaper or news magazine regularly so that we can discuss current events.

Course Requirments and Grading: The examinations include two midquarter exams given in-class and a final exam given during the specified final exam period. There are also 5 short written assignments, each of which counts 2 points. These assignments will be accepted ONLY in class on the due dates. There will be 7 or 8 such opportunities, 5 of which you need to complete.

If you have to miss an exam because of a verified illness, participation in official student organizations, serious family emergencies, jury duty etc, please notify the instructor of the course IN ADVANCE for a makeup opportunity. Since there is choice among written assignments, there will be no make-ups of these assignments.

Incompletes in the course will be awarded ONLY for legitimate excuses, in consultation with the instructor of the course, and when a written agreement has been signed by both parties. In the absence of these conditions being fulfilled, students with work still missing at the time final course grades are assigned will earn the grade of F.

1. Achievement that is outstanding relative to the level necessary to meet course requirements
2. Achievement significantly above the level necessary to meet course requirements
3. Achievement that meets the basic course requirements in every respect
4. Achievement worthy of credit even though it does not fully meet the basic course requirements in every respect
5. Performance that fails to meet the basic course requirements