Political Science 391M:  Topics:
"Government and Politics
in South Carolina"

(Maymester, 2008)

Meetings:  Monday - Friday (8:00 - 10:45 AM)
May 12 - May 30

Regular Meetings:   Gambrell 006

Instructor:    Mark E. Tompkins         Office:    328 Gambrell Hall

        Phone:    777-4312 (an answering machine is available)

        E-mail: 
tompkins.mark@sc.edu 
                               
 
Office Hours: 
 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (2:00 - 4:30)

 
Course Objectives: The course will provide students with an understanding of contemporary government and politics in South Carolina.   We will take advantage of the opportunity provided by the closing weeks of the legislative session to incorporate a more active and contemporary learning environment into the presentation of the material.   We will examine the major institutions of government – both the major branches of state government (executive, legislative and courts) and its bureaucracies, as well as the other institutions of government in South Carolina as they operate at the local level.    Students will also learn more about the role played by other public actors, such as the media and interest groups, in shaping public life in the state.

 
Description of 
Course Conduct:		 This course is designed to examine the government and politics of South Carolina in an active learning environment.   Since the course will be conducted during the concluding weeks of the state legislative session, it will incorporate a series of guest speakers and observations of the public debates in the legislature as a way of illustrating key issues about governance and politics in the state.   The speakers will range across institutions (the General Assembly, the Governor's Office, and the courts), political parties, the media and interest groups representing diverse perspectives.  The course will include observation of the actual budget debate as it is emerging in late May.
Lectures and more formal reading materials will draw on the unfolding South Carolina Governance Project in Civic Education which is developing resources for education in these areas.
The course will also explicitly draw on comparative materials – comparing and contrasting institutions of governance and public policies in this state with other states in the U.S. (both similar states and others, with very different characteristics).

 
Evaluation
of Student
Performance:		 Grades in the course will be based on three assignments:
A traditional examination at the conclusion of the course (worth 35% of the grade);
which will incorporate a take-home essay
(the second assignment worth 30% of the grade).
           and
The third assignment (worth 35% of the grade) will involve either
a book project, based on a book  treating some aspect of South Carolina government and politics, or
A course project (based on a contemporary issue, problem or policy area in South Carolina).
Note also that missed classes (without an excuse) will lower your grade.

 
Course Resources: Most of the assigned course readings will come from the South Carolina Governance Project in Civic Education. The primary book for the course will be Government in South Carolina, Charlie B. Tyer, ed. (Columbia, S.C.:   University of South Carolina Institute for Public Service and Public Policy Research, 2002).

Some other materials are available at:
http://www.cla.sc.edu/poli/courses/scgov/

Some additional materials willl be provided in class.
A link to SCIWAY -- a page with many relevant links to S.C. resources.
http://www.sciway.net/
A link to a page with S.C. Government resources on it.
http://www.sciway.net/gov/

A link to a page where materials on South Carolina politics are available:


 
Link to class schedule for 2008

 
  Please 
  Note:		 Since this course will be conducted over the Maymester schedule, it will be particularly important to submit assignments when due.   Please note that they are due at the date and time noted.   Class attendance is expected since class presentations are an integral part of the course.
      The only exceptions involve a prior, explicit agreement made with me.
       If emergencies arise, they should be brought to my attention as soon as possible.
       I reserve the right to penalize late material as I find appropriate. 
  In class:   cell phones, pagers and other devices should be silenced.  
       You should avoid other activities that disrupt the class (eating, phone calls, etc.)
  You are expected to monitor the class schedule, which will be maintained on this public web site.
       You are responsible for anything posted once it has been available for seven days. 
  Students are expected to do their own work;  
       Plagiarism is unacceptable and will be penalized as I find appropriate.
Document URL:  http://people.cas.sc.edu/tompkins/Summer2009/PS391M.Home.html
  Published on May 12, 2008.
  Maintained by Professor Tompkins;     Contact Professor Tompkins by e-mail at: tompkins.mark@sc.edu.
  © Copyright 2008.  All Rights Reserved.