Political Science Y103

Introduction to American Government

Fall, 2007

Professor James Lutz                                                                                        Office Phone: 481-6688

Classroom/Medical 211                                                                                    lutz@ipfw.edu

Office Hours: MWF 11-12, WF 1:30-2:00; other times by appointment

Class Hours: MWF 10-11, WF 12-1:15, TR 9-10:15

The course is designed to be an introduction to the American system of government. It will deal with the institutions and processes that are important for understanding how the political system works.  It will not presume a great deal of prior knowledge.  By the end of the course students should better understand the American political system, the fundamental issues that it faces, the processes involved in the operation of governments, the organizations involved in the political system, and the diversity of American society and its representation in the political system.  At the end of the semester, students should be able as well to synthesize information, distinguish between fact, interpretation based on fact, and opinion, and to defend with evidence their ideas views and opinions on political issues.

The following texts (all paperback) are required for the course:

     Samuel Kernell and Gary C. Jacobson, The Logic of American Politics, 3^rd edition

     Robert DiClerico and Allan S. Hammock (eds.), Points of View, 10^th  edition

There will be three hour exams.  Your lowest grade of the three will count 20% of your final grade, the other two will count 25% each.  The final will count 30%.  The hour exams will be a combination of essay and objective questions.  The final will be comprehensive and all essay.  The objective questions will be short answer or identification, not multiple guess.  The essays will often require arguing or defending a position to some extent AND supporting that position with materials from the readings, the lectures and external information that may be relevant.  The essays will require more than simply repeating information, since the questions will be at least partially analytical in nature.

The days listed for the exams are tentative, but the tests will probably be given on those days.  Changes will be announced in class, and you are responsible for information contained in all such announcements.  If an exam is missed, a makeup will be scheduled within a reasonable period of time (my definition) or a paper on a relevant topic will be substituted for the missing grade.  There is no guarantee that the makeup will be as easy as the regular exam.  Given the grading system whereby your lowest grade on the hour exams will count less, extra credit requests or requests for retakes are not considered appropriate.

Questions, comments, and differing points of view are always welcome in class.  As should become obvious, there are many sides to most issues, as well as a variety of questions that can and often should be raised.

The readings are assigned in blocs rather than day by day in most cases.  You should have started reading the material assigned by the day indicated.  Obviously, for the longer assignments it is not expected that you will have read all the material by the first day.  Keeping up will help you to ask the right questions.  It will make it easier for me to clear up any misunderstandings that may arise.  My lectures will at times parallel the readings, at other times add clarifications, and on yet other occasions introduce topics or ideas not covered in the readings.  In many cases I will not repeat the information in the books, but you will be held responsible for that material on the tests.  The order in which the readings are listed is probably the best order in which to read them.

 Date                 Topic                                                         Readings

Aug. 22           Introduction to the Course

Aug. 24           Democracy in the United States                     Kernell & Jacobson, Chap. 1

Aug. 24           The Constitution                                             Kernell & Jacobson, Chap. 2

DiClerico & Hammock, Chaps. 2

Aug. 31           Federalism                                                       Kernell & Jacobson, Chap. 3

DiClerico & Hammock, Chaps. 3

Sept. 7             The Presidency                                                Kernell & Jacobson, Chap. 7; DiClerico &

Hammock, Chap. 11, and pp. 106-116

Sept. 26           *FIRST HOUR EXAM*

Sept. 28           Congress                                                         Kernell & Jacobson, Chap. 6; DiClerico &

Hammock, Chap. 10

Oct. 12            The Judicial System                                        Kernell & Jacobson, Chap. 9;

DiClerico & Hammock, Chap. 13

Oct. 19                        Civil Liberties/Civil Rights                             Kernell & Jacobson, Chaps. 4 & 5;

DiClerico &  Hammock, Chaps. 14 & 15

Oct. 31                        *SECOND HOUR EXAM*

Nov. 2             The Bureaucracy                                             Kernell & Jacobson, Chap 8; DiClerico &

Hammock, Chap. 12

Nov. 9             Interest Groups and Political                          Kernell & Jacobson, Chaps. 13 & 12;

Parties                                                 DiClerico & Hammock, Chaps. 9 & 8

Nov. 16           Elections                                                         Kernell & Jacobson, Chap. 11; DiClerico &

Hammock, Chap. 5, & pp. 94-105

Nov. 30           *THIRD HOUR EXAM*

Dec. 5              The Media                                                       Kernell & Jacobson, Chap. 14; DiClerico &

                                                                                                Hammock, Chaps. 4 & 6

Dec. 7              The Future: Problems and Prospects               Kernell & Jacobson, Chap. 15; DiClerico &

Hammock, Chap. 1

Dec. 10            **FINAL EXAM** (10:30-12:30)