PO 101 American National Government

Course Objectives Course Requirements Schedule of Readings & Assignments Selected Class Materials American Government Lasser, American Politics, Website

Fall 1999

            Political Science 101: American National Government

Course Objectives

In this course we will explore the institutions, practices, and processes that shape how Americans govern themselves. Much of our discussion will focus on the theory of democracy and whether American political institutions and practices are congruent with democratic values. Recurring themes will include the tension between majority rule and minority interests, the degree to which the public can be expected to participate in the political process, and whether public participation is even desirable. This will be combined with an examination of the federal government as an organization. Students will be expected to understand the basic structure, processes and actors in the federal political system. Several short papers will require students to develop their ability for research, critical thinking and expository writing.

Course Requirements and Methods of Evaluation

Knowledge of basic subject matter will be tested through two midterm exams and a final exam, which will be multiple choice, administered in-class, and last approximately 40 minutes. The final exam will include questions from the materials covered since the second midterm. Questions for all exams will be drawn from the textbook, the reader, and lectures. There will also be a multiple choice test on the U.S. Constitution which you have two opportunities to take; only the higher grade will be recorded. The questions on this test are quite detailed, and you should study the text of the Constitution with an eye towards all of its fine points. You are required to know the numbers of the amendments attached to the Constitution. The Constitution test will occupy the first 30 minutes of the class session of the day indicated.

In addition, there will be an ongoing series of writing assignments, which will involve research that can be done over the Internet or using common reference texts. You will be asked to use a particular resource to research a question and then write a three page paper describing your questions, what you found, and its significance. While there will be approximately ten such assignments, you are required to do three. You may do four and drop the lowest score. Each assignment will be made for a period of two weeks; at the end of that period, the assignment will "time out" and you may only submit the new assignment made for that next week. The assignment's purpose is to improve your research, writing and analytical skills; I will grade on the basis of writing and analysis as much as description. Do not expect to submit an unrevised first draft and receive a satisfactory grade. Further details will be provided with the first assignment.

You are expected to attend class and to participate in discussion. This course is deliberately designed to take advantage of the important debates and controversies which have typified American politics and American political science for the past 200 years, and to minimize the amount of "textbook" learning. You are expected to have read the assigned readings before the dates specified. I strongly urge you to take notes on the readings - this will better prepare you for both our in-class discussions and the examinations. Plan to bring the Lasser reader to class for almost every session.

We will be using William Lasser, American Politics (2nd Ed), hereafter AP, and William Lasser, Perspectives on American Government (2^nd Ed), hereafter PER (followed by selection number), available at the University bookstore. An interactive website accompanies the Lasser text and includes self-tests and additional information at: http://www.hmco.com/college/polisci/lasser/ace/ace_index.html.

Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:

Schedule of Readings and Discussion

This schedule is approximate and subject to change.

Aug. 24 - Introductory meeting

Aug. 24 - Theory of Representative Government

AP, Chap. 1

PER: 1.2 Declaration of Independence (also in AP)

1.3 Franklin Delano Roosevelt, "Four Freedoms"

Begin studying the U.S. Constitution in AP or PER.

Aug. 31 - The American Constitution - History and Separation of Powers

AP, Chap. 2

PER: 2.1 James Madison, The Federalist No. 10 (also in AP)

2.2 James Madison, Federalist 47

2.4 James Madison, Federalist 51 (also in AP)

Box: Articles of Confederation and the Constitution, p. 43

2.8 Gordon Wood, "The Worthy Against the Licentious"

The U.S. Constitution in AP or PER.

Sept. 7 - Federalism

AP, Chap. 3

PER: 3.1 Herbert Storing, What the Antifederalists Were For

3.2 James Madison, Federalist 39

3.4 McCulloch v. Maryland

14.3 Martin v. Hunter's Lessee

3.6 Carl Van Horn, "The Entrepreneurial States"

Sept. 14 - Public Opinion and Political Culture

AP, Chaps. 6, 7

PER: 4.1 Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America

4.2 Samuel Huntington, American Politics: The Promise of Disharmony

5.1 V. O. Key, Public Opinion and American Democracy

5.2 Michael Johnson, "Disengaging from Democracy"

5.4 Michael Barone, "The Power of the Presidents' Pollsters"

6.3 Almond and Verba, The Civic Culture

Sept. 21 - The Media

AP, Chap. 11

PER: 10.1 Tom Rosenstiel, "The News Media and the Gennifer Flowers Case"

10.2 Charles Peters, How Washington Really Works: The Press

10.3 Kiku Adatto, "The Incredible Shrinking Sound Bite"

10.4 Lichter, Rothman, Lichter, The Media Elite

10.5 Herbert Gans, "U.S. Journalists are Not Dangerously Liberal"

Sept. 28 - Political Parties

AP, Chap. 9

PER: 7.1 V.O. Key, "The Nature and Function of Political Parties"

7.2 Paul Herrnson, "American Political Parties: Growth and Change"

7.3 Stephen Gettinger, "Was 1994 a Realignment?"

8.3 Kathleen Hall Jamieson, Packaging the Presidency

Oct. 5 - First Research Paper Must Be Submitted by this Date

Oct. 5 - Participation and Elections

AP, Chap. 9

PER: 6.1 Ruy Teixeira, "Why is American Voter Turnout Going Down?"

6.2 Ruy Teixeira, "Turnout in the 1992 Election"

6.5 Robert Kuttner, "Why Americans Don't Vote - and Why They Should"

6.6 Charles Krauthammer, "In Praise of Low Voter Turnout"

Oct. 12 - Interest Groups

AP, Chap. 8

PER: 9.1 E.E. Schattschneider, "The Scope and Balance of the Pressure System"

9.2 Ciglar and Loomis, "The Changing Nature of Interest Group Politics"

9.3 Hedrick Smith, "Old Breed and New Breed Lobbying"

8.2 M. Margaret Conway, "PACs and the Political Process in the 1990s"

Oct. 19 - Congress

AP, Chap. 12

PER: 11.2 James Madison, Federalist 57

11.3 Louis Fisher, "Congress as Administrator"

11.4 Richard Rose, "Courting Congress"

11.6 Irving Kristol, "Twelve Years and Out"

11.7 Hodding Carter III, "Limits on Congressional Terms"

11.8 Rhodes Cook, "Incumbent Advantage Lost in November 1994 Elections"

Oct. 26 - The Presidency

AP, Chap. 13

PER: 12.1 Alexander Hamilton, Federalist 68

12.2 Alexander Hamilton, Federalist 70

12.3 Richard Neustadt, Presidential Power

12.4 Hedrick Smith, "The Coalition Game"

12.6 Samuel Kernell and Samuel Popkin, "Chief of Staff"

Nov. 2 - The Bureaucracy

AP, Chap. 14

PER: 13.1 Max Weber, "Bureaucracy"

13.2 James Q. Wilson, Bureaucracy

13.4 Charles Peters, "Firemen First or How to Beat a Budget Cut"

Nov. 9 - The Courts

AP, Chap. 15

PER: 14.1 Alexander Hamilton, Federalist 78

14.2 Marbury v. Madison

14.4 Frank Johnson, "The Constitution and the Federal District Judge"

14.5 Donald L. Horowitz, The Courts and Social Policy

14.6 David O'Brien, Law Clerks in the Chambers

14.7 Edwin Meese III, "End Judicial Activism"

14.8 William Brennan, "A Defense of Judicial Activism"

Nov. 16 - Civil Rights

AP, Chap. 4

PER: 17.1 Plessy v. Ferguson

17.2 Brown v. Bd of Education

17.4 Mississippi University for Women v. Hogan

Nov. 23 - Civil Liberties

AP, Chap. 5

PER: 16.3 Roe v. Wade

16.4 Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey

16.5 Rosenberger v. University of Virginia

Nov. 30 - Domestic Policy

AP, Chap.16

PER: 15.2 Davidson and Oleszek, "Congress and Domestic Policymaking"

15.3 Allan Schick, "Why Clinton's Health Bill Failed"

13.5 John H. Cushman, "A Cost-Benefit Blend That's Hard to Swallow"

Dec. 7 - Third Research Paper Must Be Submitted by this Date

Dec. 7 - Foreign Policy

AP, Chap. 17

PER:18.1 Alexis de Tocqueville, "Conduct of Foreign Affairs by the American Democracy"

18.8 Jesse Helms, "Remarks on the Crisis in the Persian Gulf"

18.9 Joseph Biden, "Remarks on the Crisis in the Persian Gulf"

Final Exam - Tuesday Dec. 14 at 6:30 pm