UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE SPRING 2008 POL 201 HONOR AMERICAN GOVERNMENT William Mishler Office: Social Science 314a Phone 621-1093 Hrs: MWF 10-12;TTh 1-3 E-mail: mishler@email.arizona.edu & by appointment Course Home Page : http://www.u.arizona.edu/~mishler/ DESCRIPTION: This is a Tier-Two General Education course in the area of Individuals and Societies. It also is one of the introductory courses to Political Science. This course provides a general introduction to the basic political institutions and processes of American government. It focuses primarily on national politics and is concerned, in particular, with evaluating the structure of political power and the nature, extent, and quality of citizen participation in political life. Two questions are central throughout: Who governs America, and who should? Given that 2008 is a Presidential election year, the course will give special attention to the Presidential nomination and election processes. REQUIREMENTS, GRADES AND DATES: A mid-tem and an end-of-term examination are required as is a research paper. The following indicates the weight given to each assignment and the class date (@ or approximate date) that each is due. Requirement Grade Percentage Apprx Date Mid-Term Exam 30% @ Mar 3-10 End-of-Term Exam 30% May 15 2-4pm Paper 30% @ Apr 14 Class Participation 10% Daily Paper: All students are required to write a page paper analyzing the 2008 Presidential Elections. Additional details of this assignment will be provided early in the semester. MAKE UP EXAMS: Students who miss an exam with a satisfactory excuse will be allowed to take a make-up exam within one week of the exam. It is the student s responsibility to provide an excuse and schedule the make-up with the instructor. Students who fails to make up an exam in the required time will receive a course grade of E on that assignment. Policy on Academic Integrity: Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. Cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be subject to disciplinary action consistent with University rules. Students are expected to familiarize themselves with University regulations regarding plagiarism and academic dishonesty. If you have any doubt as to what is expected in these regards, please ask.
BOOKS AND READINGS: All of the assigned readings in the course are from two books which can be purchased through the ASUA bookstore. Used copies of both books should be available. In addition, students must choose one of three optional books to review in the course. These books also are available in the bookstore. Please note, you only need to purchase one of the three optional books: Required Books (You should purchase the following all of which have been ordered through the U of A bookstore but are available new and used on-line at Amazon.com. Amazon New Prices are listed below): 1. William Hudson, American Democracy in Peril ISBN-10: 1933116730 ($30 new but cheaper used at Amazon). 2. Robert Dahl, How Democratic is the United States Constitution (2 nd Edition), Yale University Press, ISBN: 0 300 09524 4 ($10 at Amazon) 3. Morris Fiorina, Culture Wars ISBN-10: 0321366069($16 at Amazon) 4. L. Sandy Maisel, American Political Parties and Elections: A Very Short Introduction ISBN-9780195301229 ($10 at Amazon) 5. Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein, The Broken Branch, Oxford University Press 0195174461 ($17 at Amazon). 6. Louis Fisher, Constitutional Conflicts Between President and Congress, Univ. Of Kansas Press, 0700615342 ($17 at Amazon). In addition, students are required to read the New York Times every day. The New York Times can be found free on-line at: http://nyt.com/ COURSE OUTLINE: Required and optional readings for each topic are listed below. Approximately one topic will be covered every two week, although this will vary with the length of the readings and the level of class interest. The required reading for each topic is very modest; therefore students are expected to have read all of the required reading for a topic before that topic is discussed in class. Optional readings are listed as a guide to students who want to pursue a subject in greater depth; they are not required. All dates in the Course Outline are tentative; the instructor will keep students informed as to when to proceed to the next topic. TOPIC I (Jan 22): What is the Purpose of Government? No Readings 2
Topic II (Jan 29-Feb 5): 1. Hudson, pp. 1-24 Theories of the American Political System: Democracy, Pluralism and Elitism 1. John Stuart Mill, Considerations on Representative Government. 2. J. Schumpeter, Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy. 3. R. Dahl, Preface to Democratic Theory. 4. P. Bachrach, Theory of Democratic Elitism. 5. G. W. Domhoff, Who Rules America? 6. R. A. Dahl, Democracy and its Critics 7. M. Harrington, Why We Need Socialism in America? 8. D. Truman, The Governmental Process. What is democracy and is it the best form of government for the U.S.? Topic III (Feb 5-12): American Society and Ideology Required 1. Hudson, pp. 107-142, 263-308. 1. A. de Tocqueville, Democracy in America. 2. S. M. Lipset, First New Nation. 3. L. Hartz, The Liberal Tradition in America. How do you reconcile American individualism and the National Interests? Are they necessarily in conflict? 3
TOPIC IV (Feb 12, 19): The Constitution and Traditions of American Politics 1. Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution. 2. Hudson, pp. 25-57 3. Dahl, entire 1. J. W. Peltason, Understanding the Constitution. 2. Robert Brown, Charles Beard and the Constitution 3. Forrest McDonald, The Formation of the American Republic 4. Forrest McDonald, We the People 5. Gordon Wood, The Creation of the American Republic 6. Charles Beard, An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution. What are the most and least democratic (i.e. majoritarian) features of the U.S. Constitution? What changes would make the U.S. more democratic? TOPIC V (Feb 26- Mar 4): Democratic Citizenship: Public Opinion and Participation 1. Hudson, pp. 143-178. 2. Fiorina, entire 1. S. Verba and N. Nie, Participation in America. 2. W. Kornhauser, The Politics of Mass Society. 3. R. Lane, Political Ideology. 4. Eric Fromm, Escape from Freedom. 5. Dennis Thompson, The Democratic Citizen. Why is voter turnout so low in the United Stated compared to most other nations? What can be done to increase participation in America? 4
TOPIC VI (MAR 4-11): Voting and Elections 1. Hudson, pp. 179-222.. 2. Maisel, Elections 1. Angus Campbell, The American Voter: An Abridgement. 2. Gerald Pomper, Elections in America. 3. V.O. Key, The Responsible Electorate. 4. N. Nie, et.al., The Changing American Voter. What is the role of money in American elections? What if any limits should be placed on campaign spending? Should the Electoral College be abolished? Should there be term limits for elected politicians? Mar 18 SPRING BREAK (NO CLASS) TOPIC VII (Mar 25-April 1 no-foolin ): Political Parties and Interest Groups 1. Hudson, pp. 223-262 2. Maisel, Finish. 1. W. Crotty, American Parties in Decline. 2. A. Ranney, Curing the Mischiefs of Faction. 3. J. L. Sundquist, Dynamics of the Party System. 4. E. E. Schattschneider, The Semisovereign People. 5. J. Q. Wilson, Political Organizations. 6. M. Olson, The Logic of Collective Action. What, if anything, is the value of political parties? Should political parties be abolished? Should we have more than two political parties? Are Interest Groups too powerful? 5
TOPIC VIII (Apr 8 - Apr 15): Congress: Representation and Responsiveness 1. Mann, entire 1. Eric Redman, The Dance of Legislation. 2. Mark Green, Who Runs Congress? 3. M. Fiorina, Congress: Keystone of the Washington Establishment. 4. R. Fenno, Home Style. 5. D. Mayhew, Congress: The Electoral Connection Why do 90% of Congress members get re-elected when Americans think Congress is doing such a bad job? Why is Congress so partisan? Is Congress sufficiently representative of its citizens. PAPER DUE April 15 th TOPIC IX (APR 22): The Presidency & Bureaucracy 1. Hudson, pp. 309-355. 2. Fisher, entire 1. R. Neustadt, Presidential Power. 2. J. D. Barber, Presidential Character. 3. C. Rossiter, The American Presidency. 4. C. Jones, The Reagan Legacy Is the President too powerful? Are checks and balances undemocratic? If so, should they be abolished? 6
TOPIC X (Apr 29): The Courts and the Legal System 1. Hudson, 65-106 1. A. Lewis, Gideon's Trumpet. 2. J. Frank, Courts on Trial. 3. W. Murphy, Elements of Judicial Strategy. 4. H. Jacob, Justice in America. Should the courts have the power to overturn laws passed by Congress? Should the courts be required to interpret the Constitution according to the original intent of the founders? TOPIC IX (May 6): American Democracy Revisited 1. Review Dahl Final Exam th May 15 2-4 pm 7