Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Back to Syllabus Search | Browse by Department
Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

American National Government (Online)

POLS 1100-32I

Course: POLS 1100-32I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCJ
CRN: 32464

Course Description

Source of democratic ideas and principles of the constitutional system. Cultural, group, party, and governmental influences on the process of public policymaking. The administration and impact of public policy. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): Intensive English Program majors may not enroll General Education Category: American Institutions

Required Texts

Ginsberg, Tolbert, Campbell and Francis,  W.W. Norton and Company, (2025) We The People, 15th  Essentials Edition, ISBN- 978-0-393-93705-3.  13th and 14th Editions are also approved.  If you want an earlier edition, please contact me for consideration.

Learning Outcomes

(1)  Civic Engagement:  Students demonstrate that they possess the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make a difference in the civic life of their community and to promote the enhancement of the quality of life in a community through both political and non-political processes.
(2)  Ethical Reasoning:  Students describe and analyze positions on ethical issues, apply reasoning about right and wrong human conduct, demonstrate ethical decision-making skills, and demonstrate an evolving ethical self-identity.
(3)  Critical Thinking: Students demonstrate disciplined processes of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.
(4)  Intercultural Knowledge:  Students will learn how different groups view different aspects American Government and its inherent challenges.

Course Requirements

Midterm Exam:  60 points
Final Exam: 85 points
Final Paper: 80 points
Discussion Board:  45 points (9 points per discussion week)
Class Activities:  75 points (25 points per Activity requirement)

Final letter grades will be determined according to the following scale:
93%–100% | 320 points–345 points | A
90%–92% | 309 points–319 points | A–
87%–89% | 299 points–308 points | B+
83%–86% | 285 points–298 points | B
80%–82% | 275 points–284 points | B–
77%–79% | 264 points–274 points | C+
73%–76% | 251 points–263 points | C
70%–72% | 240 points–250 points | C–
67%–69% | 230 points–239 points | D+
63%–66% | 216 points–229 points | D
60%–62% | 206 points–215 points | D–
Below 60% | 205 points or less | F


1.  COURSE SCHEDULE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS:  You are responsible to have read the assigned portions of the textbook and Constitution each week before you watch the lecture video in order to understand the material and facilitate discussion on the discussion boards. 

2.  EXAMS:  You will have two exams, a midterm and a final, based on your assigned reading of the text, assigned reading of the Constitution, and focused watching of the recorded lectures.

3.  DISCUSSION:
Discussion boards have multiple purposes. Because this class is online, the discussion boards serve as a way to demonstrate your “attendance” and participation. They also allow for critical thinking, sharing thoughts and opinions with your classmates and your instructor, and they allow us to incorporate current events into the course work.  Discussion board responses are due during the five full (5) weeks you have textbook reading assignments by Thursday evening at 11:59 pm (MST) each week they are assigned. A student’s initial post should be a minimum of 150 words. Responses to fellow classmates and/or the instructor will be due by Sunday evening at 11:59 (MST) in the week they are assigned. At least three responses per discussion board are required. They must be of relevant substance, no less than 50 words.

4. FINAL PAPER:  The final paper will be a 500-1000 word draft letter to one of the sitting Senators from the State of Utah, Senator Curtis or Senator Lee, in which you will advocate adoption of a policy or Constitutional Amendment concerning an issue of your choosing.  The position you take on the issue is up to you.  Cite all references with APA format, and the text should be double spaced, Times New Roman or Arial font, utilizing 1 inch margins for top, bottom, and sides.  You will be graded on how you explain your proposal, including its benefits to others; short and long-term advantages and disadvantages of the position you advocate; how and why the advantages outweigh the disadvantages; your assessment of the Constitutionality of the proposal - why it is Constitutional and any potential counter-arguments regarding its Constitutionality; and comply with conventional English grammar, spelling, and usage for professional presentation.  You will NOT be docked for any alleged political affiliation associated with your position, as respect for individual thought and participation in our Republic is fundamental to our political culture.

5. Activities
There are three activities that involve your review of relevant videos and your response to questions related to that content where you should draw from fundamentals in the textbook and lecture to frame your responses.  These are not timed, but rather will be due on the dates established in the syllabus.  Individual effort is the expectation and use of a classmate, google search, AI, or other like resources is prohibited. 

Course Outline

Week 1 (October 15 - 19) Introduction: The Citizen and Government
Watch: Orientation video (Instruction about the course/Syllabus)
Watch: Chapter 1 lecture 
Read: Chapter 1; Constitution Articles I-VII (1-7)
Write: Discussion 1, Introduction due on 19 October
Activity 1: Due 19 October by 11:59 PM

Week 2 (October 19 - 26) The Founding & The Constitution; Federalism
Watch: Chapters 2-3 lecture
Read: Chapters 2-3; Constitution Amendments I-V (1-5)
Write:  Discussion 2 Post due on 23 October; Responses due on 26 October

Week 3 (October 26 - 2 November) Civil Liberties; Civil Rights
Watch: Chapters 4-5 lecture videos
Read: Chapters 4-5; Constitution Amendments VI-XII (6-12)
Write: Discussion 3: Post due on 30 October; Responses due on 2 November
Activity 2: Due on 2 November by 11:59 PM

Week 4 (November 2 - 9) Congress; The Presidency
Watch: Chapter 10-11 lecture 
Read: Chapter 10-11; Constitution Amendments XIII-XVIII (13-18)
Write: Discussion 4: Post due on 6 November; Responses due on 9 November
Midterm Exam (Chapters 1-5):  Due no later than 9 November.  

Week 5 (November 9 - 16) The Bureaucracy; The Federal Courts
Watch: Chapter 12-13 lecture
Read: Chapter 12-13; Constitution Amendments XIX-XXIV (19 – 24)
Write: Discussion 5:  Post due on 13 November; Responses due on 16 November
Activity 3: Due on 16 November by 11:59 PM

Week 6 (November 16 - 23) Domestic Policy; Foreign Policy
Watch: Chapter 14-15 lecture
Read: Chapter 14-15; Constitution Amendments XXV-XXVII (25 – 27)
Write: Discussion 6:  Post due on 20 November; Responses due on 23 November

November 23-30//THANKSGIVING BREAK//No Class

Week 7 (November 30 - 6 December) Class Wrap Up/Final Exam Prep
Write:  Final Paper: Due on 4 December

December 8-11//FINAL EXAM (Chapters 10-15)

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

If you miss a deadline, make-ups will rarely be permitted. You will have ample time to complete these, so I will hold you to your requirement. If you do, however, run into an issue, you need to let me know as soon as possible. Coming to me at the end of the semester saying you forgot will not be an approved reason to make-up the assignment.  This class will move very fast.  DO NOT FALL BEHIND.   
If you turn in your Activities late, you will lose 1 point per day after the assignment is due. No papers will be accepted after a weej period without approval by the instructor (and proper late penalties will be applied).  If you miss the deadline for discussion responses, you get a 0 - just like missing class.  If you fail to complete your exam on time, you get a zero.  Any exceptions for truly unique and difficult circumstances must be approved by me ahead of the deadline.
You are always more than welcome to turn in assignments early, and it is in your best interest to talk to me sooner rather than later regarding conflicts.

Attendance Policy

This is an asynchronous online class with no physical attendance requirement.  This is a fast-paced class with significant work and time management requirements.  You need to stay engaged with the material.  DO NOT FALL BEHIND.  The discussion board is the closest opportunity for attendance, so be engaged.  Stay respectful.  If your discussion participation is not respectful, as judged solely by me, I reserve the right to treat the response as if it was never posted which will cost you significant points. Students should watch lectures with proper focus. The lectures supplement the text and assigned reading and will be instrumental for your exam preparation. 

Course Fees

N/A

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous Information
I expect you to put in the necessary effort to succeed in this class. There is the potential for differing opinions and viewpoints among students that may arise during this course, especially through the discussion boards.  I expect everyone to be courteous and attentive, and most importantly, respectful of each other.  Some of the information covered may be offensive or politically insensitive to some.  It is not my intention to offend anyone, but please feel free to talk to me if you have any concerns.  But it is absolutely okay to have different opinions from each other or myself.  Students are free to ask questions at any time.
Please feel free to contact me at any time through e-mail. 
As the instructor, I reserve the right to modify the class schedule throughout the semester as necessary.  Schedule conflicts may arise, and I will work to alleviate any issues as they are brought to my attention and make all necessary adjustments.
Finally, if you make an appointment with me outside of my office hours and fail to show up, you will NOT be able to make future appointments with me outside scheduled office hours.  You will be able to show up during scheduled office hours.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.