PLSC 113-2 (26405) Winter 2019 MW 2:00-3:15 Porter 215 American Government-Honors Dr. Henschen 601 F Pray Harrold Hours: MW 12:30-1:30 (office) and by e-mail and appointment bhenschen@emich.edu 734.487.3113; 734.487.1398 In this course we will examine American political institutions and processes at the national level. We will discuss the context of American politics and look at how individuals and groups participate in the political system. We will also examine the behavior of political actors in government institutions and explore the making of public policy. Throughout the semester, we ll emphasize the complexity that characterizes American politics. I want you to understand political decision making and policy choices as more nuanced than a sound bite on cable television can convey. You will come to recognize that things political are rarely black and white, and I ll try to make that lesson memorable by frequently reminding you that my favorite color is gray. We will also be mindful of how serendipity and chance play a role in charting the course of political history and we will consider how some important changes came about in American politics as the result of unexpected events. If you take away from the course a more sophisticated view of the context in which American politics takes place and how contemporary issues in American politics are complicated issues about which reasonable people can disagree and if you have some fun along the way our time together will have been well spent. Books: (Required) Sidlow, Edward and Beth Henschen. GOVT 10: Principles of American Government. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2019, 2018. Gillon, Steven M. 2006. 10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America. New York: Three Rivers Press/Random House. 1
Reading, Assignments, and Exam Schedule The Context of American Politics January 7 January 9 January 14 January 16 January 21 January 23 Politics and the Art of Governing Governmental Arrangements, Political Culture, and Ideology GOVT, chapter 1 10 Days: chapter 1. Massacre at Mystic Creating a Constitutional Democracy GOVT, chapter 2 10 Days: chapter 2. Shays Rebellion: The First American Civil War Constitutional Principles and the Division of Powers GOVT, chapter 2 GOVT, chapter 3 Martin Luther King, Jr. campus-wide events: no class Federal-State Relationships GOVT, chapter 3 Opening Round: Bottle Bills (Group 1) 40 points Go to <bottlebill.org> and explore the Bottle Bill Resource Guide. Identify the states that have adopted bottle deposit laws. Beyond having bottle laws, are these states similar in other ways? How do the bottle laws differ from state to state? How do the states compare in terms of redemption rates? Which states are currently considering bottle deposit legislation? What do bottle laws tell us about federalism? January 28 January 30 February 4 Civil Liberties GOVT, chapter 4 Civil Rights GOVT, chapter 5 10 Days: chapter 3. Gold Rush 10 Days: chapter 4. Antietam Civil Rights GOVT, chapter 5 10 Days: chapter 10. Freedom Summer Participation in the Political Process February 6 Interest Groups and Political Parties in the American Political System GOVT, chapter 6 GOVT, chapter 7 2
February 11 Exam I 70 points GOVT: chapters 1-5 10 Days: chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 10 February 13 February 18 Political Parties over Time Political Socialization, Public Opinion, and Voting Behavior GOVT, chapter 7 GOVT, chapter 8 Campaigns and Elections GOVT, chapter 9 Opening Round: Political Party Platforms (Group 2) 40 points Go to the website of the American Presidency Project at <presidency.ucsb.edu> and find the link to party platforms. Compare the 2016 Democratic and Republican Party platforms, discussing similarities as well as differences. Now compare the 2016 platforms of the two major parties with the 2012 platforms. How useful are platforms for understanding the policy positions of the political parties? How might they affect political campaigning, electoral behavior, or governing? February 20 Understanding the Electoral College System GOVT, chapter 9 February 25-February 27 Winter Recess March 4 Politics and the Media GOVT, chapter 10 Governmental Institutions and Policymakers March 6 Congress: The Institution GOVT, chapter 11 March 11 Exam II 50 points GOVT: chapters 6-10 March 13 March 18 March 20 The Legislative Process GOVT, chapter 11 The Presidency: Constitutional Powers GOVT, chapter 12 The Presidency: Politics and Performance GOVT, chapter 12 10 Days: chapter 6. Murder at the Fair: The Assassination of President McKinley 3
March 25 March 27 The Presidency in the Nuclear Age GOVT, chapter 12 GOVT, chapter 16 10 Days: chapter 8. Einstein s Letter The Federal Bureaucracy GOVT, chapter 13 Opening Round: State Department Travel Warnings (Group 3) 40 points Go to the home page of the U.S. State Department and click on the travel link <https://www.state.gov/travel/>. Read the current travel advisories. What are the specific conditions the State Department is warning or alerting travelers about? Do any patterns emerge with respect to the types of problems the State Department issues warnings about and the regions of the world that are considered to be the most dangerous? What other information related to travel does the State Department provide? April 1 April 3 April 8 April 10 The Federal Judicial System GOVT, chapter 14 Judicial Policymaking GOVT, chapter 14 American Political Culture: Change and Continuity 10 Days: chapter 7. Scopes: The Battle Over America s Soul 10 Days: chapter 9. When America Was Rocked The Complexity and Serendipity of American Politics April 15 Exam III 50 points GOVT: chapters 11-14; 16 April 17 Institutional Power and Democratic Culture 10 Days: chapters 6, 8, 7, and 9 Work on Your Essays April 22 Essays Due (1:30-3:00) 50 points *In-Class Exercises: There will be four (unannounced) short in-class exercises designed to make sure you are keeping up with the reading and taking good notes during class discussions and video presentations. Each will be worth 20 points. Your top 2 scores will count toward your final grade in the course. 4
Grading scale: 282-300 points A 94-100% 270-281 A- 90-93 261-269 B+ 87-89 249-260 B 83-86 240-248 B- 80-82 231-239 C+ 77-79 219-230 C 73-76 210-218 C- 70-72 201-209 D+ 67-69 189-200 D 63-66 180-188 D- 60-62 Below 180 F Below 60% Note: Be prepared, when called on, to contribute to class discussions and to provide thoughtful observations on the course material. Depending on the circumstances, any make-up work that is necessary/warranted may be given during the last week of classes. The format of the work may differ from the original. Class attendance, good note taking, and careful reading are essential to doing well in this course. It is also important to be present to be fully engaged during lectures and in class discussions. Laptops closed except for note taking; phones put away Because this is an in-person class, there is no Canvas course shell for the course. Relevant course material and instructions related to exams and assignments will be provided in class. Check your university email frequently for announcements related to class. Resources: Library Research and Technology Help The EMU Library offers support for finding, evaluating, and using information sources for research papers and projects. Use the Library Guides link in Canvas to locate library research guides for your assignments or subject area. Self-service help on using the library, research basics, plagiarism, and citing sources can be found at http://www.emich.edu/library/help/index.php For one-to-one research help, visit the Library, call the Information Desk (734-487- 2445), or make an appointment with a subject specialist librarian. Subject specialist librarians, assigned to each EMU department, can give you expert advice on your 5
research. You can also consult a librarian online via the 24/7 Ask-A-Librarian chat service http://www.emich.edu/library/help/ask.php The Academic Projects Center (first floor of Halle http://www.emich.edu/apc/), offers drop-in help with research, writing, and technology. You can get help with brainstorming, finding sources, structuring an essay, or putting together a presentation using PowerPoint or Emich Google Apps. The APC is staffed by Library faculty as well as by writing and technology consultants. UNIVERSITY WRITING CENTER 115 Halle Library 734-487-0694 http://www.emich.edu/uwc WINTER 2019 SYLLABUS TEXT The University Writing Center offers one-to-one writing consulting for both undergraduate and graduate students. Students can make appointments or drop in during our open hours, Monday through Friday. The UWC opens for Winter 2019 on Wednesday, January 9, and closes on Thursday, April 18. For Winter 2019 hours, visit http://www.emich.edu/ccw/writing-center/contact.php The UWC also has several satellite locations that provide drop-in writing support to students in the various colleges and their programs: CAS Pray-Harrold and Mark Jefferson, CHHS Marshall, COB Owen, and COT Sill and Roosevelt. The Pray-Harrold UWC satellite (rm. 211) is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Other UWC locations and hours can be found at http://www.emich.edu/ccw/writing-center/contact.php UWC writing consultants also work in the Academic Projects Center (116 Halle Library), which offers drop-in consulting for students on writing, research, and technology-related issues. Students seeking writing support at any location of the University Writing Center should bring a draft of their writing, along with any relevant instructions or rubrics. Students are encouraged to come to the UWC at any stage of the writing process. University Dates and Deadlines go to https://www.emich.edu/registrar/documents/wi19_calendar_for_guide.pdf?v=2018-08-14t16:16:47z University Policies go to https://www.emich.edu/studenthandbook/policies/academic.php 6
This course (PLSC 113) provides students with critical exposure to the methods used by social scientists in creating knowledge. Political Science 113 provides a thorough grounding in American government. It also provides a strong introduction to the discipline of political science. In this course, students gain exposure to how knowledge is generated in the social sciences through the lens of one content area, that of American government. Through material covered in the course, students gain practice in asking important questions about the political world and answering them using the methods practiced in this social science discipline. Completion of this course fulfills a requirement in the Knowledge of the Disciplines/Social Sciences: In Knowledge of the Disciplines courses, students will Acquire introductory knowledge about the discipline. Develop questions for inquiry that reflect an understanding of the discipline(s) in which they are asked. Learn how knowledge is developed and disseminated in particular disciplines. In Social Science courses, students will Acquire an understanding of social science methods and of how they are used to engage in the systematic study of society and culture. Understand and compare formal and informal social and political structures, organizations, and institutions. Explore and understand power relationships and the impact of social change on different groups and on society in general. Develop an appreciation of different interpretations of contemporary issues, institutions, or structures. Use social science methods and content to interpret and analyze data and reports in the media and to make informed decisions regarding local, national, and international issues. Use basic social scientific research techniques to examine and present information in a clear and concise manner. Understand the relation between qualitative and quantitative research. These objectives will be addressed through our examination of the historical and constitutional context of American government, the evolving nature of civil liberties and civil rights, the mobilization of political participation by interest groups and political parties, the behavior of individuals in the political arena, the measurement of public opinion, the role of the media, the power and procedures of national governmental institutions and agencies, and an assessment of the processes by which domestic and foreign policy is made. 7