Political Science Y103 (Section 08): Introduction to American Politics
Spring 2008 Craig Ortsey
TR 1:30-2:45 ortseyc@ipfw.edu
SB 185 Library 201C
Office Hours: TR 3:00-4:00 Phone: 481-6955
and by appointment
“But what is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.” --James Madison, Federalist 51
This quote from Federalist 51 captures, better than perhaps any other statement on what individuals face when they try to construct a new government, the profound dilemma that the Founders faced in writing the Constitution. On the one hand, they recognized that a powerful central authority was necessary in order to prevent anarchy. On the other, giving power to any overarching authority creates the strong possibility that it will be abused, so restrictions had to be placed on the new institutions--but not to the point where the government could no longer maintain security and national unity. More than two hundred years later, Americans are still arguing about the propriety of the federal government’s powers even though the basic checks and balances and federal systems that the Founders created remain intact. Over the course of this semester, you will be able to participate in this debate by judging for yourself whether these institutions still require some tinkering after two centuries of change.
This class is divided into four major segments. In the first section, we discuss the origins of the twin foundations of American democracy, its Constitution and federal system. The political institutions that comprise our federal government (the legislature, presidency, bureaucracy and judiciary) are studied in the second part of the course. The features of the American electoral system (parties, interest groups, public opinion and the media) are the subject of the next portion of the class. Finally, the product of American governmental institutions and elections, public policy, will round out our semester-long study of American politics.
Course Textbooks--The following textbooks are required for this course:
Barbour, Christine and Gerald Wright. 2006. Keeping the Republic: Power and Citizenship in American Politics (Third Edition). CQ Press. Washington.
Wootton, David (ed.). 2003. The Essential Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers. Hackett Publishing. Indianapolis.
The Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers are also available as web links from Reserves Express (REx), the Helmke Library’s reserve system. All reading assignments are to be completed by the day they are to be discussed in class in order to facilitate discussion. I also reserve the right to add or delete readings as the semester progresses; any additional readings will also be made available through REx. The Barbour and Wright textbook (hereafter B&W) has a web site associated with it that provides chapter summaries, links to related sites, practice tests and other helpful resources. Its URL is: http://republic.cqpress.com/
Course Requirements--The final grade will be based upon the following distribution:
|
15% |
participation |
|
60% |
unit tests |
|
25% |
final exam |
Participation: Since success in this course and faithful attendance at lecture are highly correlated, I have decided to make attendance mandatory and worth fifteen percent of the final grade. I will start to take attendance during the second week of class. Usually, that will mean by passing around a signature sheet more than five minutes after the beginning of lecture. Students who arrive later than 1:35 may not be able to sign the sheet, so promptness is strongly recommended. However, I may occasionally ask you to complete a short written assignment to prove that you were in attendance. You may miss three classes for any reason without penalty; after that, ten points will be deducted from your score for each successive absence regardless of the reason for it (e.g., five absences will give you a total of 80 points for participation). If you miss eight or more classes during the semester for any reason, you will receive a zero for your attendance score. Be sure to manage your absences wisely, as no distinction will be made between “excused” and “unexcused” absences! If you are going to be chronically absent from class for university-related, work or family reasons, please see me during my office hours or after class so we can discuss the matter.
Tests: There will be three unit tests, each of which will count as 20% of your overall grade in this course. These exams will consist of numerous multiple choice and a few identification questions. The final exam, which is worth 25% of your overall grade, will have the same format as the other tests (with one key exception) and will be given during the scheduled final exam period (see below). On the final, in addition to the unit-specific multiple choice and identification questions found in a standard unit test, there will also be a comprehensive short answer section (more details later).
Class Policies
Make-up tests: If you are going to be absent from class for a university-sponsored or work-related function on the day of a test, please contact the instructor well ahead of time so appropriate arrangements can be made for an earlier substitute exam time. No make-up exams will be given for any reason. If you are absent on the day of a test without prior arrangement, you will take a special comprehensive exam (in addition to the last test) during the final exam period to replace the missing assignment. The comprehensive test may not be substituted for the final exam.
Late withdrawals and incompletes: If you must withdraw from the class after the drop deadline (March 21) or exceptional circumstances force you to take an incomplete, you must meet with the instructor so we can discuss the situation in detail. Otherwise, you will receive an F for the class.
Grading: In order to pass this course, you must take all four exams, achieving passing (60% or above) scores on at least two of the tests. No unscheduled opportunities for extra credit work will be available to students in this class, and all such assignments must be submitted on time to receive any credit.
Academic misconduct: No form of academic misconduct will be tolerated in this class. If the instructor discovers that plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, or any other form of misconduct has occurred on an exam or another assignment, the penalty will be an F for the course and (if the case so warrants) referral to the relevant academic authorities. Please consult the student handbook for the official definitions of the different forms of misconduct, as these interpretations will be followed to the letter. If you have any questions about this policy or whether something constitutes a violation, please contact the instructor as soon as possible.
Classroom civility: Occasionally, we may discuss sensitive subjects in this class and individuals’ opinions will clash. The university is a place for emotional arguments and debate, so polite disagreement is welcome. However, I expect professionalism from everyone in the class; any intimidation, threats or bullying violate the student code and will be dealt with by the instructor in an appropriate manner. I also expect students to refrain from rude behavior such as reading the newspaper, working on other courses, listening to music, or making snide comments about the class during lecture. For my part, I pledge to treat appropriate student contributions with respect, and encourage everyone to participate in discussion as far as they feel comfortable. You can read more about this subject at: www.ipfw.edu/senate/stu_code.htm.
Disputing grades: Students who believe that mistakes were made by the instructor in grading their work are entitled to dispute their score. However, you must allow a 24-hour grace period to elapse after receiving an assignment back before contacting the instructor about it and provide a written explanation (preferably by e-mail) as to what errors you feel were made. You should also accept that any regrading may result in a reduction of your overall score if the instructor finds errors not in your favor. Please refrain from raising individual or overall grading questions in class, as that is not the appropriate forum for this kind of discussion and I will not answer these questions if they are asked.
Electronic devices: No electronic devices (see exceptions below) should be in your physical possession during lecture, especially on test days. Such devices include mobile phones, digital cameras, handheld gaming systems, and beepers; they must be turned off or muted and placed in your purse, pocket, or backpack before your arrival at class. Should one of these machines make noise during class, you must shut it off without delay. In emergency situations (sick relative, imminent birth), you may quietly leave the classroom to deal with the important message, however. Students may use a taping system to record lectures or take notes on a laptop computer or PDA, but only if these tools are not utilized for other purposes (e.g., surfing the Web, playing games).
SSD students: Students who have documented cases with SSD should contact the instructor as soon as possible if they must make alternative arrangements to take exams.
IPFW Writing Center: The IPFW Writing Center may be able to assist you in completing the written assignments for this class. Their consultants can help you brainstorm; develop and logically organize your ideas; learn strategies for a better writing style; and improve your documentation and proofreading skills. Since they are very busy during certain times of the semester, it is extremely important that you sign up for an appointment ahead of time at the Center (KT G19). You can also check their web site at www.ipfw.edu/casa/wc for their hours of operation, or call them at 481-5740 to arrange a meeting.
Calendar of Events--Please note that I reserve the right to make alterations to this schedule as the semester progresses.
Week 1: January 15, 17 Course Introduction, What is Politics?
B&W, introduction, Ch. 1; Federalist (FP) 1
Week 2: January 22, 24 American Political Culture and Ideology
B&W, Ch. 2; Extra Credit: “Snapshots of America”
Week 3: January 29, 31 The Articles of Confederation and the US Constitution
B&W, Ch. 3; Mason
Week 4: February 5, 7 Federalism and State Politics
B&W, Ch. 4, 16 (pp. 681-707 only)
Week 5: February 12, 14 The Executive Branch
B&W, Ch. 8; FP 70; Cato 4
Test 1, February 12 (Weeks 1-4)
Week 6: February 19, 21 The Executive Branch and the Bureaucracy
B&W, Ch. 9
Week 7: February 26, 28 The Legislative Branch
B&W, Ch. 7; FP 55, 63; Cato 5; Extra Credit: “Redistricting”
Week 8: March 4, 6 The Judicial Branch
B&W, Ch. 10; FP 78; Brutus 15
Test 2, March 6 (Weeks 5-8)
Spring Break, March 11, 13 (No Class)
Week 9: March 18, 20 Political Parties
B&W, Ch. 12; FP 10
Week 10: March 25, 27 Interest Groups
B&W, Ch. 13; FP 51
Week 11: April 1, 3 Public Opinion and Political Socialization
B&W, Ch. 11
Week 12: April 8, 10 The Media
B&W, Ch. 15; Extra Credit: “McGeever, Ch. 11”
Test 3, April 10 (Weeks 9-12)
Week 13: April 15, 17 Voting, Campaigns and Elections
B&W, Ch. 14
Week 14: April 22, 24 Public Policy
B&W, Ch. 17 (pp. 721-737 only); 18 (entire)
Week 15: April 29, Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
May 1 B&W Ch. 5, 6 (pp. 207-213 only); FP 84
Final Exam: Thursday May 8, 1:00-3:00 PM (Weeks 13-15)
Appendix: Useful Web Sites
Federalist Papers: www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/federal/fed.htm
Anti-Federalist Papers: www.constitution.org/afp/afp.htm
www.wepin.com/articles/afp/index.htm
Common Sense: www.bartleby.com/133/