AMERICAN GOVERNMENT & POLITICS POL Fall 2015 MWF 11:30-12:20 p.m. 103 GRISSOM HALL

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1 AMERICAN GOVERNMENT & POLITICS POL Fall 2015 MWF 11:30-12:20 p.m. 103 GRISSOM HALL Professor Valeria Sinclair-Chapman Office Hours 2224 Beering Hall MW 12:30-1:30 p.m. (765) or by appointment Teaching Assistants: Mariliz Kastberg-Leonard Tuesdays, 10-11:30 a.m Beering Hall Thursdays, 3:00-4:30 p.m. Michael Simrak 2231 Beering Hall Tuesdays, Noon-1:30 p.m. Thursdays, 10:00-11:30 a.m. Course Description This course will examine how the government of the United States is organized, explanations for its organization, and the ways citizens, political actors, and political institutions interact to achieve political goals. As we consider the foundations of American government, major political institutions, and mechanisms that link citizens and government, we will make particular note of the diversity of the American experience. This course is appropriate for political science majors who wish to gain a foundation in American politics as well as for non-majors who simply wish to gain a better understanding of American government and processes. Objectives To acquaint students with the fundamentals of American government To introduce students to key political science concepts and research To develop students critical thinking and analytical skills Required Texts Kollman, Ken The American Political System (Core 2nd edition, 2014 Update). Kollman, Ken Readings in American Politics: Analysis and Perspectives (3 rd edition). Supplemental readings listed on the syllabus and/or placed on Blackboard Learn (BL) Grading Course Assignments % Attendance 10 Quizzes (5) 10 Short Papers (2) 15 Midterm Exams (2) 40 Comprehensive Final Exam 25

2 POL 101 American Government & Politics Fall 2015 (VSC) Reading and any additional assignments should be completed before class on the day assigned. Pay careful attention to the syllabus and any adjustments that may occur. Lectures from guest speakers and teaching assistants are important contributions to the class and considered fair game for exams. Notes will not be supplied for students who have missed class, so plan to make other arrangements. Late and make-up assignments will be allowed only with a doctor s note or other equally serious documented reason for the absence. Athletes and other students who will miss class due to extra- or co-curricular travel should inform their TA of the relevant dates early in the semester. Students with any other special needs should inform the proper University officials for documentation and assistance and meet with me early in the semester so that proper accommodations can be made. Class participation and attendance will account for 10% of your final grade. Attendance will be taken at least once weekly and, sometimes, more frequently. Obviously those who do not attend class cannot participate in class discussion. Because the exchange of ideas is an important part of learning, you are encouraged to frequently ask questions and share your informed opinions. In order to maintain an atmosphere conducive to learning, students should use professional language in class discussions and written work. Quizzes will account for 10% of your final grade. Quizzes will be self-administered and must be completed by 11:59 on the day that course lectures on the topic are concluded. For instance, students who wish to count a quiz on federalism toward their quiz grade must submit the completed quiz by 11:59 p.m. on Sept 25. (This requirement will become clearer as the course proceeds.) Your average performance on five (5) quizzes will count toward your final grade. Completing fewer than the required number of quizzes will result in a grade of zero for missing work.** Two short papers will be used to calculate 15% of your final grade. Short papers will require the analysis of course readings and/or current events and may involve research online or in the library. (Paper topics and due dates are listed below. Detailed descriptions can be found at the end of the syllabus.) Papers should be 1-2 pages in length, typed, and double-spaced with 1-inch margins and a 12-point font. Your opinion alone is not sufficient; support your arguments with evidence from course readings or other documented, reputable sources. You are required to complete at least two (2) short papers to receive full credit; failure to do so will result in a grade of zero for the missing work.** Papers should follow proper writing and grammar rules and must be uploaded to Blackboard Learn by 11:59 p.m. on the due date. Scheduled due dates for SPTs are: Sept 11 (Institutions), Sept 18 (Constitution), Oct 9 (Civil Rights/Civil Liberties), Nov 6 (Congress/ Presidency), and Dec 4 (Political Autobiography). **Because of flexibility built into the syllabus, NO LATE quizzes or short papers will be accepted. You may select the weeks when you submit quizzes, as well as which short papers you wish to complete. My advice is to select quiz and paper topics that challenge you and/or that truly interest you. Do not postpone all of your work until the last half of the semester as doing so 2

3 POL 101 American Government & Politics Fall 2015 (VSC) will increase the odds that you will miss one or more assignments and fall short of the course requirements. Midterm exams constitute 40% of your final grade. Two mid-term exams are each worth 20% and will take place during class on Oct 16 and Nov 16 (dates may change). Make-up exams will be administered only with prior approval. A comprehensive final exam will account for 25% of your final grade. This exam will take place at the official date and time assigned by the University. Please do not make plans to leave campus for the semester without first confirming that you will be in town to complete the final exam at its scheduled time. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: A GUIDE FOR STUDENTS (Excerpt from the Office of the Dean of Students) Purdue University values intellectual integrity and the highest standards of academic conduct. To be prepared to meet societal needs as leaders and role models, students must be educated in an ethical learning environment that promotes a high standard of honor in scholastic work. Academic dishonesty undermines institutional integrity and threatens the academic fabric of Purdue University. Dishonesty is not an acceptable avenue to success. It diminishes the quality of a Purdue education, which is valued because of Purdue's high academic standards. DEFINITION OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY Purdue prohibits "dishonesty in connection with any University activity. Cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to the University are examples of dishonesty." [Section B-2-a, Code of Student Conduct] Furthermore, the University Senate has stipulated that "the commitment of acts of cheating, lying, and deceit in any of their diverse forms (such as the use of substitutes for taking examinations, the use of illegal cribs, plagiarism, and copying during examinations) is dishonest and must not be tolerated. Moreover, knowingly to aid and abet, directly or indirectly, other parties in committing dishonest acts is in itself dishonest." [University Senate Document 72-18, December 15, 1972] Per university policy: In the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements, deadlines and grading percentages are subject to changes that may be necessitated by a revised semester calendar or other circumstances beyond the instructor s control. Whenever possible, you will be alerted to any such changes via , Blackboard, or announcement in class. ******************************************************************* SHORT PAPER TOPICS AND DUE DATES (1-5) Complete two (2) of the following short papers for 10% of your final grade. Please read over each assignment carefully as some of the details about length and submission may differ. All papers must be uploaded on BL prior to the start of class on the date assigned. Late papers will not be accepted. Short Paper Topic 1: Institutions, Due Sept 11 Complete the following assignment: Watch this short YouTube video on the prisoner s dilemma ( Come up with a silly/funny prisoner s dilemma AND a real-world government example. Write up your examples in a 1-2 page document and upload on BL by 11:59 p.m. on Sept 11. Short Paper Topic 2: Constitution, Due Sept 18 3

4 POL 101 American Government & Politics Fall 2015 (VSC) Complete this short assignment: Watch this video of Chief Justice Roberts on opposition to the Bill of Rights Write a short essay (1-2 pp) that identifies one or more reasons why some loyal citizens opposed ratification of the Bill of Rights AND one or more reasons why others supported ratification. In your opinion, was it necessary to include the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution? Upload your paper on BL by 11:59 p.m. on Sept 18. Short Paper Topic 3: Civil Rights/Civil Liberties, Due Oct 9 Take a position on one of the following civil rights or civil liberties issues: expanding the right to vote vs voter ID laws, expanding gun rights vs restricting gun rights, extending marital rights to same sex couples vs limiting marital rights. In a 2-3 pp. essay, explain a core concern of the debate, take a position and explain it. Write a thoughtful and persuasive essay using professional language. In your informed opinion, can the conflict you ve identified be resolved politically? Why or why not? Upload your responses on BL by 11:59 p.m. on Oct 9. Short Paper Topic 4: Congress and the Presidency, Due Nov 6 In a 2011 State of the Union Address, President Obama vowed to veto any bill that contains earmarks. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, in a televised interview, promptly dismissed the president s statement as an applause line, and noted that lawmakers have a constitutional duty to direct spending that Congress authorizes, in order words a duty to earmark. Typical Americans want the benefit of earmarks and reward legislators who deliver them with reelection, but they don t want to foot the bill for spending in some other district or state. Identify a current issue (last two years) related to pork barrel spending. What factors make the bill an earmark? Given the potential costs to legislators for supporting earmarks, why do legislators continue to structure bills with plenty of pork to go around? Is the president s veto threat likely to change legislative behavior? Why or why not? Upload your responses in 1-2 pp. on BL by 11:59 p.m. on Nov 6. Short Paper Topic 5: My Political Autobiography, Due Dec 4 Politically speaking, who are you? Write your own political autobiography describing the factors that have contributed to your political makeup. You may consider the questions listed below as guidance. You need not answer every question, but you should answer some. Remember to write your autobiography as a formal paper with coherent organization and transitions between thoughts and paragraphs. In other words, do not simply devote a paragraph to each question and move on TELL YOUR POLITICAL STORY. (Take this assignment as an opportunity to reflect on what makes you tick politically. You will be graded on the merits of your work, not on your political beliefs or ideology. Refer to your course readings and lecture notes for this assignment as well as reference materials from the library or online, if you like.) Cite your sources. Upload your 2-3 pp. response on BL by 11:59 p.m. on Dec 4. Questions: 1. Do you consider yourself to be a liberal, conservative, both, or neither? Why? What people or experiences helped shape your ideology? 2. Do you consider yourself to be a Republican, Democrat, or Independent? Are you a registered member of any political party? Which one? Why or why not? What people or experiences helped shape your partisanship? 3. Are you a registered voter? Have you ever voted in an election? Why or why not? What people or experiences helped shape your voting behavior? 4. Have you participated in politics beyond voting (protest demonstrations, rallies, campaigning)? Why or why not? What people or experiences helped shape your political behavior 4

5 POL 101 American Government & Politics Course Schedule Fall 2015 (VSC) POLITICAL FOUNDATIONS MONDAY WEDNESDAY FRIDAY Week 1 Designing Institutions Aug 24 Introduction/Course Overview Aug 26 KK Chapter 1 Aug 28 R Locke, Second Treatise of Government Week 2 Designing Institutions Aug 31 R Olson, Logic of Collective Action Sept 2 R Hardin, Tragedy of the Commons Sept 4 Reading Day (No Class) Week 3 The Constitution Sept 7 Labor Day (No Class) Sept 9 KK Chapter 2 Sept 11 BL Roche, The Founding Fathers: A Reform Caucus in Action *UPLOAD SPT 1: INSTITUTIONS by 11:59 p.m. today Week 4 The Constitution Sept 14 R Madison, Federalist No. 10 Sept 16 R Madison, Federalist No. 51 Sept 18 R Brutus, Anti-Federalist No. 1 *UPLOAD SPT 2: CONSTITUTION by 11:59 p.m. today Week 5 Federalism Sept 21 KK Chapter 3 Sept 23 R Madison, Federalist No. 39 Sept 25 R Riker, Federalism: Origin, Operation, Significance Arizona v United States (2012) Week 6 Civil Rights Sept 28 KK Chapter 4, pp Sept 30 R Dawson, Not in Our Lifetimes (excerpt) Brown v Board of Education (1954) Oct 2 Film (Req d): Bridge to Freedom *Upload RESPONSE PAPERS by 11:59 p.m. today (1-2 paragraphs) Week 7 Civil Liberties Oct 5 KK Chapter 4, Oct 7 R Koppelman, Same Sex, Different States Oct 9 R District of Columbia v Heller (2008) United States v Windsor and Scalia Dissent *UPLOAD SPT 3: CIVIL RIGHTS & CIVIL LIBERTIES by 11:59 p.m. today Week 8 Oct 12 Fall Break (No Class) Oct 14 In-Class Exam Review Oct 16 EXAM 1 5

6 POL 101 American Government & Politics Course Schedule Fall 2015 (VSC) POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS MONDAY WEDNESDAY FRIDAY Week 9 The Congress Oct 19 KK Chapter 5 Oct 21 R Cox and McCubbins, Setting the Agenda Oct 23 R Mayhew, The Electoral Connection Harbridge and Malhotra, Electoral Incentives and Partisan Conflict in Congress Week 10 The Presidency Week 11 The Presidency Oct 26 KK Chapter 6 Nov 2 R Kernell, Going Public Howell, Power Without Persuasion Oct 28 KK Chapter 6 Nov 4 L Theories of Presidential Power Oct 30 R Neudstadt, Presidential Power and the Modern Presidents Nov 6 R Canes-Wrone, Who Leads Whom? Presidents, Policy, and the Public *UPLOAD SPT 4: CONGRESS & THE PRESIDENCY by 11:59 p.m. today Week 12 The Judiciary Nov 9 KK Chapter 8 BL Hamilton, Federalist No. 78 Nov 11 KK Chapter 8 Nov 13 R Marbury v Madison (1801) LINKAGE MECHANISMS Week 13 Public Opinion Week 14 Public Opinion Week 15 Political Participation Nov 16 EXAM 2 Nov 23 BL Pew Research Center, Beyond Red v Blue: Political Typology Complete survey / Discuss in Class Nov 30 KK Chapter 10 Nov18 KK Chapter 9 Nov 25 Thanksgiving Break (No Class) Dec 2 R Rosenstone and Hansen, Mobilization, Participation, and Democracy Nov 20 R Zaller, The Nature and Origins of Mass Opinion Nov 27 Thanksgiving Break (No Class) Dec 4 R Wong, Ramakrishnan, Lee, and Junn, Asian American Political Participation Week 16 You Decide: Topics in American Politics Comprehensive Final: Dec 7 Current Topics in American Politics Date/Time Determined by Registrar s Office Dec 9 Current Topics in American Politics *UPLOAD SPT 5: MY POLITICAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY by 11:59 p.m. today Dec 11 Final Exam Review Session (In-Class) 6