POLS Y103 - Introduction to American Politics
Summer 1 2008
Distance Education
Elliot Bartky
email bartky@ipfw.edu
Please be sure to read
the Introductory Letter on the course Web Page!
http://www.ipfw.edu/pols/assets/syllabi/bartky/homepage.htm
NOTE: PROF. BARTKY COMMUNICATES WITH STUDENTS
THROUGH HIS EMAIL bartky@ipfw.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION
An
introductory inquiry focusing on the ideas, institutions, processes, policies
and people shaping the American Republic. Particular attention will be directed
to the historical development of the American political order and the problem
of establishing justice and securing liberty in the United States.
COURSE TEXTS
1. We The People: An Introduction to American Politics, Ginsberg, Lowi,
Weir
Be certain to have the correct edition! 5th edition
2. Sources
of American Founding (SAF) available on Bartky’s course web page
3. You are also required to
be informed about contemporary American politics by reading a national daily
newspaper or through other news sources. The internet provides access to many
fine news sources and tools for political research. The Department of Political
Science Web page- www.ipfw.edu/pols/
- provides access to many fine sources of political information.
COURSE GOALS
Course Goals: The course is designed to further the students’ ability to:
a) think about the problem of establishing justice and securing liberty in the USA;
b) enter debates about
fundamental political issues;
c) think, speak, and act in accord with the unity amidst the diversity of American
culture;
d) better prepared to increase their earning potential;
e) better prepared to find and maintain a mate;
f) better prepared to contribute to the well being of society;
g) better prepared to establish a record appropriate for securing a position in
the world to come
This course fulfills the General Education requirement for Area Three: The Individual, Culture, and Society.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Reading Assignments
Follow the reading assignments on the course syllabus "Course Reading and
Lecture Schedule." Your understanding of the lectures and performance on
the tests will benefit by your having read the materials prior to viewing the
lectures (whether on DVD, Video tape, or Cable TV access).
It is especially important that you are able to integrate the reading material with the course lectures.
Exams
There are three exams. Each exam will count for one-third of the final grade.
The exams consist of multiple choice, short answer and essay questions that
indicate your progress integrating and comprehending course readings, lectures,
and discussions. For students to demonstrate their proficiency they will need
to acquire a basic knowledge of the dynamics and mechanics of American
politics, as well as knowledge of the ideas and controversies that shape the
way Americans think, speak and act in the political order.
Reviews for the exam will be
available on the course web page.
Exams must be taken at the IPFW Office of Testing Services or at a pre-arranged testing center on your local campus:
Students should make individual appointments with the Office of Testing services. Call 260-481-6600 to schedule an appointment to take the test. See the Testing Services website: http://www.ipfw.edu/accs/testing/distance.shtml
After you have completed an exam, you
must notify me by email at bartky@ipfw.edu.
NOTE:
Exam 1 (5/29) and exam 2 (6/10) may be taken three days earlier or three days
after the scheduled date. The third exam is scheduled for 6/25. You may take
the final exam as early as 6/23 but you must take it by 6/25.
|
Exam 1: |
Exam 2: |
Exam 3: |
|
5/29 -Scheduled date 5/26 -Earliest date 6/2 -Latest date |
6/10 -Scheduled date 6/5 -Earliest date 6/12 -Latest date |
6/25 -Scheduled date 6/23 -Earliest date 6/25 -Latest date |
A Note on Academic Honesty:
Students should familiarize themselves with and abide by the IPFW Code of
Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct.
Students who violate the Code through cheating, plagiarism or other misconduct,
or who assist others in engaging in prohibited conduct, will be subject to
appropriate disciplinary action.
COURSE READING AND LECTURE SCHEDULE: The reading schedule is meant to provide a guide assisting you in allocating the time necessary to complete the course.
Note that the reading schedule does not follow the order of the chapters
established by the authors of the course text. Required readings are marked
with an asterisk *
1. INTRODUCTION: THE TWO FOUNDINGS OF THE REPUBLIC
Lecture 1: Introductory
lecture
May 19
2. FROM PURITAN
FOUNDING TO THE CONSITUTION
Lecture 2
*Ch. 2 May 19
*Excerpts from Winthrop and Locke (see SAF)
*The Declaration of Independence (Appendix A 3-5)
Lecture 3
* Ch. 2 continued
*The Constitution (Appendix A 10-15) May 20
*Federalist 10, 51 (Appendix A 21-25)
3. FEDERALISM
& THE PROBLEM OF POLITICAL ORDER
Lectures 4 & 5
*Ch. 3 May 20
*Tocqueville (see SAF)
4. THE CONGRESS
Lectures 6 & 7
*Ch.
12 May
22
5. THE PRESIDENCY
Lectures 8 & 9
*Ch. 13 May 27
6. BUREAUCRACY AND DEMOCRACY
Lectures 10 & 11
*Ch. 14 May 29
Exam 1: May 29 (between 5/26-6/2) note: There is no Lecture # 12 as it is an exam day
7. POLITICAL
PARTIES
Lectures 13 & 14
*Ch. 9 June 2
8. VOTING & POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
Lecture 15
*Ch. 8 June 3
9. CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS
Lecture 16 & 17
*Ch.
10
June 5
10. INTEREST GROUPS
Lectures 18 & 19
*Ch. 11 June 9
Exam 2: June 10 (between 6/5-6/12)
11. FEDERAL COURTS
Lectures 21 & 22
*Ch. 15 June 12
* Bill of Rights (Appendix A 16)
12. CITIZENSHIP,
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT & THE WELFARE STATE
Lecture 23 & 24
*Ch.
4
June 16
Lecture 25 & 26
*Ch. 5 June 17
13. GOVERNMENT AND THE
ECONOMY: PUBLIC POLICY
Lectures 27 & 28
*Ch.
16
June 19
14. GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY:
Lectures 29 & 30
*Ch.
17
June 23, 24
Exam 3: June 23-25