American Federal Government: Policy & Political Behavior

Posted on May 7, 2025 in Public Administration, Management, and Governance

Political Science 1113: American Federal Government

Instructor: Stuart J. Hooper

Course Objectives

Students will develop a comprehensive understanding of mediating institutions and their influence upon political behavior; acquire knowledge about government policymaking; and gain an understanding of different policies—in terms of their history, evolution, and impact on U.S. citizens—as measured by exams and an end-of-semester assessment instrument.

Students will also gain an improved ability to articulate and defend political ideas in both written and verbal forms, while learning to think, write, and speak at an intellectual level appropriate to a university education. This will be measured by papers, essay components of exams, class discussions, and an end-of-semester assessment instrument.

Required Texts

Course Assignments and Grade Distribution

Tests (30% Total – 15% each)

  • You will have two in-class tests, consisting of short answer questions and an essay to be completed in a full-sized Blue Book, which you will need to provide.
  • General content and topics for the tests will be announced one week prior to the test date.
  • Test One: To be completed in-class on February 12, 2020, 9:30 AM.
  • Test Two: To be completed in-class on April 15, 2020, 9:30 AM.
  • Each test is worth 15% of your final grade (A-F).

Research Essay (25%)

  • Write 500–750 words (approximately 2–3 pages) on only one of the following questions:
    • Should the U.S. have taken a position of isolation or engagement towards Iraq in 2003?
    • Is the market model or the government model more likely to solve poverty in the U.S.?
  • Make use of the textbook and at least two other sources, using proper citations.
  • Read the essay-writing guide provided on Blackboard.
  • Submission: Online via Blackboard by March 15, 2020, 11:59 PM.
  • Formatting: Size 12 font (Times New Roman, Cambria, or similar), 1–1.5 inch margins, double-spaced.
  • This assignment is worth 25% of your final grade (A-F).

Final Exam (20%)

  • Your final exam will be on Friday, May 1, 2020, 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM, in our classroom.
  • This exam is worth 20% of your final grade (A-F).

Class Participation and Attendance (25%)

  • Class attendance is compulsory. Merely showing up is not enough to ensure a high grade; repeated absences or late arrivals will adversely affect your grade.
  • You are expected to arrive for class on time and to stay for the entirety of the class.
  • Students are expected to actively participate in class discussions and activities, and be prepared to do so by completing the assigned readings.
  • This instructor abides by the Cameron University Administrative Withdrawal Policy.
  • Grading Breakdown: 80% of this grade will come from your attendance, and 20% from active participation in our class sessions.
  • This component is worth 25% of your final grade (A-F).

Course Material Availability

  • Course texts are available to you online from day one of this class – please use them.
  • Slides will only be available to students for the week of the semester to which they are assigned.
  • You are expected to actively take notes in class and from the assigned readings.
  • If you take the course seriously and study as expected, you will be able to succeed.