Professor Parker Hevron Roosevelt Hall, 107 Chapman University 1 University Drive Orange, CA 92866

Transcription

1 POLITICAL SCIENCE INTRO TO AMERICAN POLITICS FALL 2011 COURSE OUTLINE AND SYLLABUS Professor Parker Hevron Roosevelt Hall, 107 Chapman University 1 University Drive Orange, CA Office Hours: Wed., 4:00 5:00pm (or by appointment) hevron@chapman.edu Course Goals: This course is designed to provide a broad overview of the American governmental process and to give you the foundation for future coursework in political science at Chapman. Along the way, we will examine the workings of American government through the lens of political science. We will critically discuss dominant and competing ideas and institutions in American politics. We will tackle fundamental questions, such as: does the American system of government work as the Founders intended? Does our system of separate institutions sharing powers promote democratic values? We will learn to analyze, both empirically and normatively, cause-and-effect relationships in American politics. More generally, this course is designed you to become more insightful readers, more persuasive writers, and more analytical thinkers. Moreover, it will teach you to carefully examine American governmental processes and your place within them. Learning Expectations: At the end of this course, you should be able to: Demonstrate the habit of accessing sources of political knowledge and the skill to critically interpret, assess and apply evidence. Demonstrate an appreciation for the possibilities and responsibilities of national and global citizenship, including understanding opportunities for political participation and an ability to use critically the many sources of information about politics to make political choices and solve political problems. Employ a clear understanding of current theoretical debates, cutting edge methodological techniques, and deep area knowledge to answer important substantive questions in the world today so as to become a new generation of leading political scientists. 1

2 Required Text: Bianco, William T., and David T. Canon (ed.) American Politics Today (Core Second Edition). New York: W.W. Norton & Company. Any additional readings will be posted to the course s Blackboard page. Though I will not assign you newspaper articles to read, I strongly encourage you to read a daily newspaper, such as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, or Washington Post. All three newspapers provide a much higher quality of reporting than anything you will find on the major cable news networks. I will regularly bring current events into our class discussions, so I encourage you to keep up-to-date on what is happening both in America and abroad. Grading: Grades will be based on your performance on the following: Paper #1 (15%) The first assignment is a 4-7 page paper that is due at the beginning of class on Wednesday, October 12. We will discuss the assignment in greater detail over the next few weeks. Mid-Term Examination (25%) The mid-term will be a closed book, in-class exam. It will take place on Wednesday, October 26. We will hold an in-class review session on Monday, October 24. Final Paper Topic (10%) After the mid-term, I will hand out an extensive description of the final paper assignment. Your paper topics are due at the beginning of class on Monday, November 7. They should be 1-2 pages, double-spaced. Final Paper (40%) Your final papers should be pages, double-spaced. They are due at the beginning of class on Monday, December 5. Attendance and Performance (10%) Your attendance and quality of participation will count for ten percent of your final grade. I strongly encourage you to attend class every week. The reason for grading attendance and quality of participation is simple. Our class is small. As such, it is essential that we explore the readings in detail and that you are willing to exchange ideas with your peers. NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE ANY WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT (I.E., EXAMS OR PAPERS) WILL RESULT IN AN AUTOMATIC F FOR THE COURSE, REGARDLESS OF PERFORMANCE ON OTHER ASSIGNMENTS 2

3 AND WHETHER THE STUDENT IS TAKING THE CLASS ON A PASS/FAIL BASIS. General Expectations for Class Meetings: As this is a course about politics and not mathematics or physics, there are no right answers when discussing normative issues in politics. Accordingly, I ask above all that you be respectful of one another. I hope that our discussions are lively and spirited, but personal attacks on each other because of political beliefs will not be tolerated. Moreover, I promise not to inflict my political beliefs on you in a dogmatic manner if you promise to do the same for me. Throughout the semester, I expect you to be prompt and prepared. Take this class as seriously as I do and actively participate in building a supportive and instructive learning environment. If you would rather check Facebook or Twitter, read the paper, , surf on the Internet, listen to music, or text your friends, please do so outside the classroom. Deadlines: All deadlines are firm. Late papers will be marked down by one-third of a grade. For each additional day a paper is late, the final grade will be lowered an additional onethird. So, the final grade of a paper due on Wednesday, but handed in on Thursday, would be reduced two-thirds of a grade: one-third for being late on Wednesday and onethird for being handed in a day late. (So, for example, a B paper would receive a C+.) Weekends will count as one day. Extensions will be granted only for good cause such as a documented medical problem and whenever possible, must be arranged with me prior to the due date of the assignment. You MUST turn in a hard copy of any papers or assignments to me. Last, I will not accept any papers that are not stapled. (NOTE: HAVING AN AIRPLANE RESERVATION ON THE DAY OF A TEST OR EXAM IS NOT A VALID EXCUSE.) Office Hours: I encourage you to come to office hours for help with the material, readings, or assignments. If you cannot make the scheduled hours, I will try to set up an appointment. In addition, I am available via . If your concern requires a long explanation or a back and forth dialogue, I would prefer to see you in office hours. Academic Accommodations: Any student requesting academic accommodation based on a disability is required to register. Details regarding registration procedures can be found here: 3

4 Academic Integrity: Chapman University is a community of scholars that emphasizes the mutual responsibility of all members to seek knowledge honestly and in good faith. Students are responsible for doing their own work, and academic dishonesty of any kind will be subject to sanction by the instructor and referral to the university s Academic Integrity Committee, which may impose additional sanctions up to and including expulsion. For more on academic integrity, see: PROPOSED COURSE OUTLINE NOTE: Remember to complete all the readings for the week before the first lecture, as I will incorporate readings during our sessions. Additionally, certain seminal texts of American politics, i.e. the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, selections from The Federalist Papers, etc. are located in the Appendix of the Bianco and Canon textbook. I will let you know which of these you need to familiarize yourself with and when. The course is divided into three sections: Foundations, Politics, and Institutions. In the first part of the course, Foundations, we will discuss the founding of the American state and along with it a whole host of issues concerning the structure and makeup of the federal government. We will turn a critical eye toward the elasticity of the Constitution and how decisions made by the Founders two-hundred years ago still have enormously important (and often unintended) consequences for contemporary politics. In the second portion of the course, Politics, we will look at the consequences of a democratic system of government that affords its citizens the freedom to peaceably assemble, practice religion, and criticize their government in the press. These freedoms have manifested themselves in a robust two-party system of government under the watchful eye of an active press. Do our parties represent the interests of a majority of Americans? Do the modern media hold government accountable? The third part of the class will be an examination of the formal Institutions of American government. We will train our focus on Congress, the presidency, the courts, and bureaucracy. A common trope is that the Founders set up the American system of government to be replete with checks and balances among institutions that have clearly separate powers. How do the branches of government check one another? Are they doing a sufficient job? Moreover, might the American system of government be better classified as separate institutions sharing powers? 4

5 Part I: Foundations Tentative Schedule: Week Topic Assignment 8/29 and 8/31 Introduction Understanding American Politics 9/5 and 9/7 9/5: No class (Labor Day) Understanding American Politics cont d. Bianco & Canon, pp Bianco & Canon, pp /12 and 9/14 The Constitution and the Founding Bianco & Canon, pp /19 and 9/21 Federalism Bianco & Canon, pp /26 and 9/28 Civil Liberties Bianco & Canon, pp Tentative Schedule: Part II: Politics Week Topic Assignment 10/3 and 10/5 Public Opinion and the Media Bianco & Canon, pp /10 and 10/12 Political Parties and Elections 10/12: Paper #1 due at the beginning of class Bianco & Canon, pp /17 and 10/19 Interest Groups Bianco & Canon, pp /24 and 10/26 Mid-Term review 10/26 Mid-Term Exam 5

6 Part III: Institutions Tentative Schedule: Week Topic Assignment 10/31 and 11/2 Congress Bianco & Canon, pp /7 and 11/9 The Presidency 11/7: Final paper topic due Bianco & Canon, pp /14 and 11/16 The Bureaucracy Bianco & Canon, pp /21 and 11/23 The Courts 11/23: No class (Thanksgiving) Bianco & Canon, pp /28 and 11/30 The Courts (continued) Bianco & Canon, pp /5 Civil Rights and Wrap-Up 12/5: Final paper due Bianco & Canon, pp **This proposed course outline is not written in stone. I reserve the right to modify the readings and schedule as we go along. 6