PLS 101.

019
[ American Citizenship and Democracy ]

Department of Political Science

Fall 2016
88:50a
Classroom: Strong Hall 0302
Instructor: Timothy Haglund
Office: Strong 314
U MWF, 9a10a; 11a12:30p
 timothyhaglund@missouristate.edu
Democracy is a letter to the editor.
E.B White

Statement of Purpose
As part of the General Education Program, this course is broadly designed to prepare students for their roles as world citizens by cultivating civic virtues, understanding the bonds
that unite people, exploring and executing citizenship obligations, understanding the effects
of private behavior in the public sphere, and recognizing and reflecting on public issues
(General Education Learning Goals IV - Public Affairs Rationale). In fulfillment of Missouri
state law, the course is specifically designed to familiarize students with the institutions and
constitutional framework of the United States and Missouri (General Education Structure Part C).
I. Philosophical and Constitutional Foundations of American Democracy
Students will be able to recognize the importance of contributing their knowledge and experiences to their own communities and the broader society (GLO 12) and be able to recognize
and consider multiple perspectives and cultures (GLO 13) .
Philosophical Principles
Constitutional Principles
Federalism
Students will demonstrate their ability to make relevant connections to civic and political
participation (SLO 12:3) as well as demonstrate their understanding of the role that institutions and beliefs have in shaping individual and collective behavior (SLO 13:4).
II. Institutional Foundations of American Democracy
Students will be able to recognize and consider multiple perspectives and cultures (GLO
13).

 Congress
Presidency
Executive Branch
Judiciary
Students will demonstrate their understanding of the role that institutions and beliefs have
in shaping individual and collective behavior (SLO 13:4).
III. Rights and Liberties in American Democracy
Students will be able to recognize the importance of contributing their knowledge and experiences to their own communities and the broader society (GLO 12).
Civil Liberties
Civil Rights
Students will be able to identify the rights and responsibilities they have in their own communities and the broader society (SLO 12:1), recognize the ways in which they can exercise
their rights and responsibilities (SLO 12:2), make relevant connections to civic and political
participation (SLO 12:3).
IV. Citizenship and American Democracy
Students will be able to recognize the importance of contributing their knowledge and experiences to their own communities and the broader society (GLO 12) and be able to recognize
and consider multiple perspectives and cultures (GLO 13).
Public Opinion, Political Socialization, and the Media
Political Participation and Voting
Political Parties
Campaigns and Elections
Interests Groups
Students will be able to recognize the ways in which they can exercise their rights and responsibilities (SLO 12:2), demonstrate their ability to make relevant connections to civic
and political participation (SLO 12:3), examine and articulate perspectives and behaviors
they acquire in their homes, schools, and communities (SLO 13:1), and identify the importance and best practices of developing skills for working/interacting with others (SLO
13:3).
V. Missouri Government
This content does not have its own section on the course schedule. Each aspect of Missouri
government will be discussed alongside its related federal component.
Students will be able to recognize the importance of contributing their knowledge and experiences to their own communities and the broader society (GLO 12) and be able to recognize
and consider multiple perspectives and cultures (GLO 13).
Missouri Constitution
Missouri Legislature
Missouri Executive
Missouri Judiciary

Students will demonstrate their ability to make relevant connections to civic and political
participation (SLO 12:3) as well as demonstrate their understanding of the role that institutions and beliefs have in shaping individual and collective behavior (SLO 13:4).

Required Readings
William T. Bianco and David T. Canon, American Politics Today, Fourth Essentials Edition (W.W. Norton, 2015)
$114 from the Missouri State bookstoreincludes InQuisitive access.
On Amazon for $130 (hardback), $99 (paperback), or $72 (loose-leaf). Only
the loose-leaf version is cheaper than MSU bookstore, if you plan to do
homework assignments.

Optional Supplies (For Exams+ Track; see below)

InQuisitive course pack
You can purchase both the Ebook and InQuisitive package through Nortons website for $35, or just the InQuisitive package for $20.

Recommended Readings for Further Study

Just a list for the studious and inclined:
Lord Charnwood, Abraham Lincoln: A Biography (Madison Books)
Lee Epstein and Jack Knight, The Choices Justices Make (CQ Press)
Peter Lawler, Modern and American Dignity: Who We Are as Persons, and What That
Means for Our Future (ISI Books)
David Mayhew, Congress: The Electoral Connection (Yale University Press)
Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, trans. Harvey Mansfield and Delba Winthrop
(University of Chicago Press)
Tocqueville is really all you need.

Graduate Assistant
Name: Andrew Green
Hours: Thursday and Friday, TBD
Location: TBD

Office Hours
Feel free to visit me during our office hours, listed on the first page of this syllabus. No
appointment is necessary for visits within those timeframes; I am at your service then.
Otherwise, arrange an appointment with me at a mutually convenient hour.

Communication Etiquette
Use politeness and grammar in email communications. This rule does not only prepare
you for the so-called real world. The world we are in right now is the academy, and
etiquette is part of being a thoughtful person in this world. Send email messages from your
school account. I may not respond to messages from private addresses.

Two-Track Grading
Many studies show that students learn in different ways. The two-track grading system of
this course reflects the fact that there are different paths to success. Below you can read
about the grading criteria for both tracks, and then you will simply do the work for the
track you are interested in pursuing.
Under the Exams+ Track, I will determine your class grade by looking at a variety of
assignments and attendance. As the name suggests, the Exams Only Track means you are
only responsible and will be graded according to your three course exam grades.
There is no need to inform me of which track you have chosen, and you may switch tracks
at any time.
Below, you can read more about each track in detail.
Exams+ Track
600 pts
200 pts
100 pts
100 pts
1,000 pts

Exams Only Track

3 exams
10 IQ modules
election paper
attendance

1,000 pts

3 exams

TOTAL

1,000 pts

TOTAL

Grade Cut-offs
>= 930 pts
929900 pts
899870 pts
869830 pts
829800 pts

A
AB+
B
B-

799770 pts
769730 pts
729700 pts
699670 pts
669600 pts
<= 599 pts

C+
C
CD+
D
F

Claims related to grades must be raised within one week.

Exams
600 pts total; Exam 1 = 150 pts, Exam 2 = 200 pts, Exam 3 = 250 pts
In total, I administer three examinations. All of these are regular exams that roughly cover
one section of content (n.b. the numbered Units on the Scheduled Readings and Assignments below). The third exam will serve as our final. Exams cover both lecture material
and textbook content.
Exams contain multiple choice questions only. Weights on exams increase as the semester
proceeds so that you can acclimate to my expectations with minimal harm to your grade.
cheating is not tolerated on exams and perpetrators will be punished to the utmost.
Election response paper
100 pts
You will be responsible for writing a short paper about democratic elections. More information about this project will be available mid-semester. See the course schedule for the
papers due date.

InQuisitive assignments
200 pts / 20 pts each
To facilitate in-class conversation and deeper learning, you will be assigned ten brief homework assignments covering assigned material. Completing these assignments requires purchasing InQuisitive, an online program that pairs with our American Politics Today textbook
(i.e., it covers the same content).
Due dates for quizzes will be every week that an IQ assignment is listed on the Scheduled
Readings and Assignments below. Each assignment will be available at least two weeks
before the due date. On the Scheduled Readings and Assignments, quizzes are referred to
as LQ, and indicated according to number.
Attendance
100 pts
Attendance will be recorded for each class session. As a rule of thumb, attendance is necessary to perform well in this course even if it is not figured as a percentage of the final grade.
The reason for keeping attendance, then, is to increase the likelihood of your success.
Your final attendance grade will be calculated as the percentage of classes attended (e.g., attending 1/3 of the course sessions yields an overall attendance grade of 33 out of a possible
100 attendance points.
Even students taking the Exam Only Track are encouraged to sign the attendance sign-in
sheets if present.

Make-up work
Students may make up work without penalty if
1. engaged in University activities endorsed by the provost,
2. prevented from attending class by illness, the validity of which is proven to the satisfaction of the professor, or
3. prevented from attending by some other circumstances considered adequately extenuating by the professor.
Late work is NOT accepted under most conditions.

Cell phones
I will dock attendance if I see you on your cell phone during class. In order to avoid further
disrupting the class, I reserve the right to dock this grade without notifying the student.

Questions about grades

I am happy to take questions about policies or grades in person after class or during office
hours. I do not discuss grades over email or phone so that I can better protect your privacy,
which is protected by law through FERPA regulations.

Non-Discrimination
Missouri State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution, and maintains a grievance procedure available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. At all times, it is your right to address inquiries or concerns about possible
discrimination to the Office for Institutional Equity and Compliance, Park Central Office
Building, 117 Park Central Square, Suite 111,(417) 836-4252.
5

Other types of concerns (i.e., concerns of an academic nature) should be discussed directly
with your instructor and can also be brought to the attention of your instructors Department
Head. Please visit the OED website at www.missouristate.edu/equity.

Academic Integrity
Missouri State University is a community of scholars committed to developing educated
persons who accept the responsibility to practice personal and academic integrity. You are
responsible for knowing and following the universitys student honor code, Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures, available at the Reserves Desk in Meyer Library
and at http://www.missouristate.edu/provost/22102.htm. Any student participating in any
form of academic dishonesty will be subject to sanctions as described in this policy.

Emergency Response
At the first class meeting, students should become familiar with a basic emergency response
plan through a dialogue with the instructor that includes a review and awareness of exits
specific to the classroom and the location of evacuation centers for the building. All instructors are provided this information specific to their classroom and/or lab assignments in an email prior to the beginning of the fall semester from the Office of the Provost and Safety and
Transportation. Students with disabilities impacting mobility should discuss the approved
accommodations for emergency situations and additional options when applicable with the
instructor. For more information go to http://www.missouristate.edu/safetran/51597.htm
and http://www.missouristate.edu/safetran/erp.htm.

Religious Accommodations
The University may provide a reasonable accommodation based on a persons sincerely held
religious belief. In making this determination, the University reviews a variety of factors,
including whether the accommodation would create an undue hardship. The accommodation request imposes responsibilities and obligations on both the individual requesting the
accommodation and the University. Students who expect to miss classes, examinations, or
other assignments as a consequence of their sincerely held religious belief shall be provided
with a reasonable alternative opportunity to complete such academic responsibilities. It is
the obligation of students to provide faculty with reasonable notice of the dates of religious
observances on which they will be absent by submitting a Request for Religious Accommodation Form to the instructor by the end of the third week of a full semester course or the
end of the second week of a half semester course.

See next page for readings and assignments on the course schedule.

Scheduled Readings and Assignments

I. Philosophical & Constitutional Foundations
Wk / Date

Topic

Reading

Assignment

1 / Aug 2228

US & MO Political Culture

APT, ch 1

2 / Aug 29Sept 3

Culture and Constitutions

APT, ch 2

IQ #1 on ch 2

3 / Sept 411

Constitutions; Federalism

APT, ch 3

M, no class; Labor Day

II. Rights and Liberties in American Democracy

Wk / Date

Topic

Reading

Assignment

4 / Sept 1218

Civil Liberties

APT, ch 4

IQ #2 on ch 4

5 / Sept 1925

Civil Rights

APT, ch 5

IQ #3 on ch 5

III. Institutional Foundations

Wk / Date

Topic

Reading

Assignment

6 / Sept 26Oct 2

US & MO Legislatures

APT, ch 10

IQ #4 on ch 10
F, EXAM 1 review

7 / Oct 39

US & MO Executives

APT, ch 11

M, EXAM 1

8 / Oct 1016

Bureaus

APT, ch 12

IQ #5 on ch 12

9 / Oct 1723

US & MO Courts

APT, ch 13

IQ #6 on ch 13

IV. Citizenship and American Democracy

Wk / Date

Topic

Reading

Assignment

10 / Oct 2430

Public Opinion

APT, ch 6

IQ #7 on ch 6

11 / Oct 31Nov 6

Political Parties

APT, ch 7

F, EXAM 2 review

12 / Nov 713

Elections

APT, ch 8

IQ #8 on ch 8
M, EXAM 2

13 / Nov 1419

Interest Groups

APT, ch 9

IQ #9 on ch 9

Thanksgiving Break Nov 1927

14 / Nov 28Dec 4

Economic & Social Policy

APT, ch 14

IQ #10 on ch 14

15 / Dec 511

Catch up week

F, no class

16 / Dec 1218

Finals week

EXAM 3