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College of Arts and Sciences |
PA6644
Administrative Law
Course Syllabus
Last updated January 1, 2013
| Term
- 3, 2013 (January 7 - March 10, 2013)
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For course syllabus posted prior to the beginning of the term, the instructor reserves the right to make minor changes prior to or during the term. The instructor will notify students, via e-mail or Blackboard announcement, when changes are made in the requirements and/or grading of the course.
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INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
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MPA eQuad
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INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHY: Professor of Public Administration and Malone
D. Wallace Distinguished Faculty 2011. Formerly: Director,
COURSE INFORMATION
Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course.
Course Description:
An overview of the legal environment of public administration. The focus is
on the powers and procedures of administrative agencies including administrative
discretion, rule-making, investigations, prosecuting, negotiating and settlement
based on Constitutional law, statutory law, common law, and agency-made law
and the liability of governments and their officers.
Course Learning Objectives:
1. Discuss the significance of administrative law for public administrators.
2. Explain legislative delegation and the power of judicial review
3. Define and discuss the concept of rights (entitlement and privileges) from conservative, liberal, and pluralistic views.
4. Describe the federal regulatory process and control of citizens through court action and administrative regulations.
5. Articulate arguments for and against the proposition that rule making is more efficient than adjudication on pursuing legislative outcomes through administrative law.
6. Describe the relationship between our court system and the executive agencies.
7. Articulate how the fundamental ideas of the framers of the constitution are challenged by the evolvement and growth of federal agencies.
8. Explain the impact of the Administrative Procedures Act on the processes of public administration.
9. Examine the importance of ethics and diversity in the administration of public agencies and in the regulatory process.
10. Demonstrate the ability to analyze complex public sector issues, identify potential solutions, and defend courses of action using case analysis methodology.
11.
Demonstrate the ability to research complex public issues
and present information orally and/or in writing.
Desired Competency:
Students will be able to analyze, understand and articulate the relationships
and legal limitations of each of the branches of government and how they impact
their agency.
This is an eTROY class. It is not a “correspondence course” in which a student may work at his/her own pace. Each week there will be assignments, on-line discussions, and/or exams with due dates. Refer to the Course Schedule in this syllabus for more information.
• Interaction will take place primarily via the course discussion board
supported by email as needed. Weekly postings are required to the discussion
board in response to posted assignments. I will respond to each posting and
provide general responses to the class.
• In addition to instructor-student interaction, student to student interaction
is expected in the discussion board, and specific group assignments will be
posted that require such interaction. I assess that interaction by reviewing
the group discussion board I will create for each group.
• Students are to participate in this course by following the guidelines
of this syllabus and any additional information I will provide during the
term.
• The student is expected to remain in regular contact with the instructor
and class via email or other communication means by participating in the discussion
forums, submitting assignments, and taking exams.
• TROY requires instructors to respond to students’ emails within
24 hours Monday-Thursday and 48 hours Friday-Sunday, but I normally respond
to all questions issues within 24 hours, and usually faster.
• As the instructor, I will communicate on the Blackboard.com Announcements
page, in the discussion board for the appropriate week and/or via email. Check
your email, the announcements section of Blackboard and especially the discussion
board area daily.
Internet Access
Since this is an on-line class, students must have access to a working computer
and access to the internet. Students can use the TROY computer lab, a public
library, etc., to insure they have access.
“Not having a computer” or “computer crashes” are not acceptable excuses for
late work. Have a backup plan in place in case you have computer problems.
Useful Web Sites for This Course:
See the External Links section in Blackboard.
TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER MATERIALS REQUIRED:
Szypszak, Charles (2011) Understanding Law for Public Administration. Sudburry, Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. (ISBN: 978-0-7637-8011-1).
The textbook provider for the eCampus of Troy University is MBS Direct. The Web site for textbook purchases is http://www.mbsdirect.net/Index.htm.
Students should have their textbook by the first week of class. Not having your textbook will not be an acceptable excuse for late work. Students who add this course late should refer to the “Late Registration” section for further guidance.
Required Additional Reading
None
Recommended Additional Reading
Visit Federal Agency Web pages as assigned/discussed in class.
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS
Students must have:
- A reliable working computer that runs Windows XP or Windows Vista.
- A TROY e-mail account that you can access on a regular basis (see "TROY
e-mail" above)
- E-mail software capable of sending and receiving attached files.
- Access to the Internet with a 56.9 kb modem or better. (High speed connection
such as cable or DSL preferred)
- A personal computer capable of running Netscape Navigator 7.0 or above,
Internet Explorer 6.0 or above or current versions of Firefox or Mozilla.
Students who use older browser versions will have compatibility problems with
Blackboard.
- Microsoft WORD software. (I cannot grade anything I cannot open! This means
NO MS-Works, NO WordPad, NO WordPerfect unless discussed with me first)
- Virus protection software, installed and active, to prevent the spread of
viruses via the Internet and e-mail. It should be continually updated! Virus
protection is provided to all Troy students free of charge. Click on the following
link https://it.troy.edu/downloads/virussoftware.htm
and then supply your e-mail username and password to download the virus software.
If you wish to use software such as MS-Works or Wordperfect, contact me for
instructions.
COURSE SCHEDULE/CALENDAR OF WEEKLY ASSIGNMENT:
(Any required weekly work is due by 8:00 PM, Sunday of the week in question unless otherwise posted, due dates are further explained in the discussion board area of the course): MATERIAL SUBMITTED AFTER THE DUE DATE WILL RECEIVE A GRADE PENALTY OF AT LEAST TEN POINTS PER DAY. Weekly assignments will be posted in the Weekly Assignment folder in Blackboard at the appropriate time, and will consist of weekly discussion questions and ethics scenarios for student submission in the corresponding Weekly Discussion Board for my review and response.
Assignments (Weekly discussion questions and any additional instructions will be posted in the Blackboard Assignments area)
Week One: NOTE: Weekly Discussion Board postings are due by 8:00 PM Sunday evening of each week unless otherwise instructed.
- Class Introduction, Discussion of Course Requirements
- Read: Szypszak, Chapters 1 and 15
- Discussion: Understanding the Law and Legal research. Respond to weekly discussion questions by posting in the discussion board.
Week Two:
- Read: Szypszak, Chapters 2-4
- Discussion: The US Constitution; Due Process, Equal Protection and Civil Rights; Freedom of Speech and Religion. Respond to weekly discussion questions by posting in the discussion board.
Week Three:
- Read: Szypszak, Chapters 5-7
- Discussion: Freedom of Information; Property and Contract Law. Respond to weekly discussion questions by posting in the discussion board.
Week Four:
- Read: Szypszak, Chapters 8-9
- Discussion: Employment Law and Torts. Respond to weekly discussion questions by posting in the discussion board.
Week Five:
- Read: Szypszak, Chapters 10-11
- Discussion: Criminal Law and Procedure; Administrative Law. Respond to weekly discussion questions by posting in the discussion board.
Week Six:
- Read: Szypszak, Chapters 12
- Discussion: Public Sector Ethics. Respond to weekly discussion questions by posting in the discussion board.
Week Seven:
- Read: Szypszak, Chapters 13-14
- Discussion: Civil Litigation and Dealing with the Legal Profession. Respond to weekly discussion questions by posting in the discussion board and post group presentation.
Group presentations are due by 8:00 PM Friday evening of this week to allow
other class members to respond. Students must respond to presentations posted
by all groups except their own.
Final exam will be available after the seventh week for completion during
week eight.
Week Eight:
Final Exam There will be no weekly postings required to allow students to complete the proctored final exam planned for the eighth week of the course.
Week Nine:
Discussion of Course Project.
Examination Schedule & Instructions
There will be a final examination in the course which will be scheduled for Week 8 of the course. The examination will consist of complex essay and case scenario questions and will be used to measure students' understanding of course material and the ability to analyze and articulate key issues. The examination is a closed book, no notes.
The exam will be delivered online via Blackboard and will become available in the exam section of Blackboard at the end of week 7 and will remain available until the beginning of week 9. Specific times and dates will be made available in the exam sextion, and an announcement will be posted once the course begins. The examination will be timed and points will be deducted if the student overruns the time limit for the exam.
Proctored Examination
The course final examination will not require a proctor, but it will be an online examination consisting of complex essay and/or a complex cases analysis with security arrangements to be detailed during the course.
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS (See eTROY Policies and Procedures in Blackboard)
COURSE REQUIREMENTS/ASSIGNMENTS:
a. Class Preparation and Participation: Students are expected to read all assigned material and to participate in class discussion. Active participation will enhance understanding of the course material. Weekly Participarion is required and failure to submit weekly discussions on time will result in significant grade reduction.
b. Presentations: Group Presentations: Students will be assigned legal topics related to the course for graded group presentations using Powerpoint® slides with story boards/notes pages. Presentations, which will be used to support online discussion and must include a professional quality presentation using an appropriate computer presentation program. Presentations must be posted in the discussion board area for the appropriate week for which they are assigned. Presentations must be in the form of a formal case analysis (using the attached PA6699 case analysis worksheet (as modified in class) as an outline: Case Analysis Worksheet ).
c. Research or Case Analysis Paper: Students must prepare and discuss in class, a research or case analysis paper on a topic approved by the instructor. An e-mail outline must be submitted by week three of the course for instructor approval. Papers should be at least 15 pages in length and should represent the student's best effort in academic writing. Traditional academic style according to the APA style guide is required (other style guides such as Turabian can be considered in special circumstances).
d. Examinations: An examination, designed to measure students' understanding of and ability to integrate course material will be administered during week eight of the term. This will not require a formal proctor, but I will establish appropriate security measures.
Examination Schedule and Instructions: A three to four hour closed book final examination will be administered during Week 8 of the course and will consist of complex essay questions and/or cases requiring students to explain and apply course concepts and case analysis methodology.
Weekly assignments must be posted to the discussion board by the submission
deadline. I do not permit attachments in the discussion board except for the
group presentation. Instead, text should be pasted directly into the discussion
board submission to allow me and your classmates to read the material online
without opening another program. The weekly assignments will be the primary
interaction mechanism for the course. Instructor comments and discussion of
student submissions will be provided each week. These assignments will assist
the student in preparing for the examination, all portions of which will have
been discussed in this manner.
Submit papers in Standard English using a 12-point format, 1-inch margins, and double spacing in MS-Word format. The American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines are the standards for writing and referencing papers in the MPA program. Use the APA Research Style guidelines found at:
lhttp://troy.troy.edu/writingcenter/research.html
Failure to submit assignments on time will result in point deductions. Assignments posted to the appropriate discussion board area for the week by Sunday evening at 8:00 PM unless otherwise instructed. (note: Blackboard and I operate on central US time).
eTroy Courses At Troy University
All eTroy courses at Troy University utilize Blackboard Learning System. In
every eTroy course, students should read all information presented in the Blackboard
course site and should periodically check for updates—at least every 48 hours.
Site Map for Your Blackboard Course Site
To obtain a site map to enable students to navigate through the Blackboard course,
please go to the Blackboard course site and click on the “Start Here” button
found in the course functions menu on the left.
Late Registration
Students who register during the first week of the term, during late registration,
will already be one week behind. Students who fall into this category are expected
to catch up with all of Week #1 and Week #2's work by the end of Week #2. No
exceptions, since two weeks constitutes a significant percentage of the term's
lessons. Students who do not feel they can meet this deadline should not enroll
in the class. If they have registered, they should see their registrar, academic
adviser, GoArmyEd/eArmyU representative, or Military Education officer to discuss
their options.
Also note that late registration may mean you do not receive your book in time
to make up the work you missed in Week #1. Not having your book on the first
day of class is not an excuse for late work after the deadlines in the Schedule.
ATTENDANCE POLICY: In addition to interaction via Blackboard and Email contact, students are required to contact the instructor via Email or telephone by the beginning of the course. Although physical class meetings are not part of this course, participation in all interactive, learning activities is required. Student assignments and student/instructor communications will be conducted via Blackboard, although students will be allowed access to the instructor via telephone, mail, or fax if necessary. Weekly class participation will be used as the attendance in the course, and weekly scores will be assigned for participation. As such, students must actively participate to earn participation points and verify their "attendance" from week to week. Inability to participate for "excused periods" must be coordinated with the instructor ahead of time except in an emergency. Unexcused absences from weekly discussions/interaction will be assessed a penalty, and even excused absences must be limited to allow proper class interaction.
MAKE UP WORK POLICY: Missing any part of this schedule may prevent completion of the course. If you foresee difficulty of any type (i.e., an illness, employment change, etc.) which may prevent completion of this course, notify the instructor as soon as possible. Failure to do so will result in failure for an assignment and/or failure of the course. See “Attendance,” above.
If
I have not heard from you by the deadline
dates for assignments, exams, or forums, no make-up work will be allowed
(unless extraordinary circumstances existed, such as hospitalization). Requests
for extensions must be made in advance and accompanied by appropriate
written documentation if the excuse is acceptable to the instructor. "Computer
problems" are not an acceptable excuse.
Policy
for Requesting and Granting an Incomplete
Missing any part of the Course Schedule may prevent completion of the course.
If circumstances will prevent the student from completing the course by the
end of the term, the student should complete a request for an incomplete grade.
Note: A grade of Incomplete or “I” is not automatically assigned to students,
but rather must be requested by the student by submitting a Petition for and
Work to Remove an Incomplete Grade Form. Requests for an incomplete grade must
be made on or before the date of the final assignment or test of the term. The
form will not be available after the last day of the term. A grade of “I” does
not replace an “F” and will not be awarded for excessive absences. An Incomplete
will only be awarded to a student presenting a valid case for the inability
to complete coursework by the conclusion of the term. It is ultimately the instructor’s
decision to grant or deny a request for an incomplete grade, subject to the
policy rules below.
Policy/Rules for granting an Incomplete (I)
An incomplete cannot be issued without a request from the student.
• To qualify for an incomplete, the student must:
a. Have completed over 50% of the course material and have a documented reason
for requesting the incomplete (50% means all assignments/exams up to and including
the mid-term point, test, and/or assignments).
b. Be passing the course at the time of their request.
• If both of the above criteria are not met an Incomplete cannot be granted.
• An Incomplete is not a substitute for an F. If a student has earned an “F”
by not submitting all the work or by receiving an overall F average, then the
F stands.
Please see the Graduate Catalog for information on the time limit for removal of an Incomplete as well as student responsibilities. No incomplete may exceed nine weeks from the date it is assigned.
The penalty for plagiarism will result in 0 points for that assignment and may result in a failing grade for the course.
GRADING POLICY
a. Class Preparation: Students are expected to read
all assigned material and participate in online discussion.
b. Group Presentations: Students will be assigned legal issues for
graded group presentations using Powerpoint® slides with story boards.
Presentations, which will be used to support online discussion must include
a professional quality presentation using an appropriate computer presentation
program. Presentations must be posted in the discussion board area for the
appropriate week for which they are assigned.
c. Examinations: One end-of course examination will be
administered. Complex essay and case scenario questions will be used to measure
students' understanding of course material and the ability to analyze and
articulate key issues.
d. Research Paper: Students must prepare, a term/research paper dealing
with public sector legal issues/adminsitrative law. A research topic
outline must be submitted for instructor approval via e-mail no later than
the end of week two. Papers should be at least 20 pages in length and should
represent the student's best effort in academic writing. Papers must
be prepared using a traditional academic style guide. The APA Style Guide
is the TROY MPA Program's required style guide. Paper writing tips and requirements
will be discussed during the class.
The course grade is a compilation of scores achieved on the four course elements noted under the grading scale below. All work is graded on a 100 point scale. Those scores are then multiplied by the percentage weight noted below. Weekly homework is valued at a maximum of 100 points per week, with the participation grade being an average of the scores for the seven weeks of weekly discussion requirement. Late work is assessed a penalty of at least 10 points for the first day, 20 points for the second day, 30 points for the third day. A zero value will be awarded for assignments later than day 3. Weekly homework scores are not computed into the course grade book total weighted score until after all weekly work due dates have passed. Students can view their progress in the Blackboard grade book at any time. The final course weighted score will tell students what their course grade will be in accordance with the grading standard below.
| a. Grading Standard: | b. Weighted Percentages: |
| 90-100 = A | Class Participation 25% |
| 80-89 = B | Group Presentation 25% |
| 70-79 = C | Term Project 25% |
| 60-69 = D | Course Examination 25% |
Below 60 is an "F" Grade. Additionally an "FA" grade may result from lack of participation in the course. "FA" indicates the student failed due to attendance. This grade is given to any student who disappears from the course for three or more weeks. See the Attendance section of this syllabus for additional information.
eTROY Policies and Procedures
Click on the syllabus link in Blackboard to review all important eTROY policies and procedures you are responsible to understand and comply with. Contac me for any questions.
TROY E-Mail
Just a reminder that all e-mail correspondence from me will go to your TROY e-mail account. Be sure to check it frequently, and be sure to empty the account of old e-mails from time to time so your account storage is not exceeded, which would result in e-mails being rejected causing you to miss important notices.
COURSE SCHEDULE:
(Any required weekly work is due by 8:00 PM, Sunday of the week in question unless otherwise posted, due dates are further explained in the discussion board area of the course): MATERIAL SUBMITTED AFTER THE DUE DATE WILL RECEIVE A GRADE PENALTY OF AT LEAST TEN POINTS PER DAY. Weekly assignments will be posted in the Weekly Assignment folder in Blackboard at the appropriate time, and will consist of weekly discussion questions and ethics scenarios for student submission in the corresponding Weekly Discussion Board for my review and response.
CLASS SCHEDULE:
Week One:
- Class Introduction, Discussion of Course Requirements
- Read: Szypszak, Chapters 1 and 15
- Discussion: Understanding the Law and Legal research
Week Two:
- Read: Szypszak, Chapters 2-4
- Discussion: The US Constitution; Due Process, Equal Protection and Civil Rights; Freedom of Speech and Religion
Week Three:
- Read: Szypszak, Chapters 5-7
- Discussion: Freedom of Information; Property and Contract Law
Week Four:
- Read: Szypszak, Chapters 8-9
- Discussion: Employment Law and Torts
Week Five:
- Read: Szypszak, Chapters 10-11
- Discussion: Criminal Law and Procedure; Administrative Law
Week Six:
- Read: Szypszak, Chapters 12
- Discussion: Public Sector Ethics
Week Seven:
- Read: Szypszak, Chapters 13-14
- Discussion: Civil Litigation and Dealing with the Legal Profession
Group presentations are due by 8:00 PM Friday evening of this week to allow other class members to respond. Students must respond to presentations posted by all groups except their own.
Final exam will be available after the seventh week for completion during week eight.
Week Eight:
Final Exam There will be no weekly postings required to allow students to complete the proctored final exam planned for the eighth week of the course.
Week Nine:
Discussion of Course Project.
Course Design Matrix PA 6644
| Course Objective | Module | Content | Strategy | Assessment | |
| 1 | Discuss the significance of administrative law for public administrators. | Weeks 1-2 & 5 | Szypszak Chapters 1-14 | - Discussion Board |
- Participation - Exam |
| 2 | Explain legislative delegation and the power of judicial review. | Weeks 1-2 | Szypszak Chapters 1-4 | - Discussion Board | - Participation - Exam |
| 3 | Define and discuss the concept of rights (entitlement and privileges) from conservative, liberal, and pluralistic views. | Weeks 2-4 | Szypszak Chapters 2-9 | - Discussion Board | - Participation - Exam |
| 4 | Describe the federal regulatory process and control of citizens through court action and administrative regulations. | Weeks 1-5 | Szypszak Chapters 1-11 | - Discussion Board | - Participation - Exam |
| 5 | Articulate arguments for and against the proposition that rule making is more efficient than adjudication on pursuing legislative outcomes through administrative law. | Weeks 1-5 | Szypszak Chapters 1-11 | - Discussion Board | - Participation - Exam |
| 6 | Describe the relationship between our court system and the executive agencies. | Weeks 1-5 & 7 | Szypszak Chapters 1-11, 13-14 | - Discussion Board | - Participation - Exam |
| 7 | Articulate how the fundamental ideas of the framers of the constitution are challenged by the evolvement and growth of federal agencies. | Week 1-7 | Szypszak Chapters 1-14 | - Discussion Board | - Participation - Exam |
| 8 | Explain the impact of the Administrative Procedures Act on the processes of public administration. | Week 5 | Szypszak Chapters 10-11 | - Discussion Board | - Participation - Exam |
| 9 | Discuss the importance of ethics in the administration of public agencies and in the regulatory process. | Week 6 | Szypszak Chapter 12 | - Discussion Board | - Participation - Exam |
| 10 | Demonstrate the ability to analyze complex public sector issues, identify potential solutions, and defend courses of action using case analysis methodology. | Weeks 7&9 | Szypszak Chapters 13-14 | - Discussion Board - Group Presentations |
- Participation - Group Presentation - Student paper - Discussion |
| 11 | Demonstrate the ability to research complex public issues and present information orally and/or in writing. | Weeks 7&9 | Szypszak Chapters 1-15 | - Student Paper Presentations & Discussion | - Participation - Group Presentation - Student paper - Discussion |