U.S. Federal Government
Political
Science 150
David
S. Calihan
Fall
2007 Ruffner
234 (#2215)
The focus of this course is on the means and the manner in which this
country’s public affairs are conducted. Initial consideration will be given to
some critical premises and limitations of our political thinking and of our
political organizations: What is “politics?” Thereafter, we will survey some of
the theories, structures, and operations of most of the components of our
national political system: political parties, interest groups, our election
system, the Presidency, the Congress, the Courts, and the bureaucracies. We
will consider the formal outlines of the institutions, but we will also
consider how they relate in practice to each other and to us as citizens. The
course will be concerned as much with dynamic processes as with structure.
Students’ learning objectives should
therefore include at least:
¨
A
sense of the political process
¨
An
understanding of the formal structures, the general operations, and the
relationships of the Presidency, the Congress, the national Courts, and the
national bureaucracies
¨
An
understanding of the principles of political behavior and of the channels of
organized political participation in the U.S.
¨
Development
of the tools needed to function in the larger political system
¨
Broadened
data and skill bases for making reasoned judgments concerning matters of public
policy
Please secure access to
Bardes, American Gov’t & PoliticsToday:
The Essentials, 2007, and
Calihan, “Supplementary Materials” for
regular use in this course.
Course grades will be based primarily on the results of four announced
examinations and a brief written research paper. Significant consideration will
also be given to each student’s oral class participation. The essay portions of
exams shall be written legibly in blue or black ink and in reasonably proper
English form in order to receive any credit. A passing grade in the course requires at least the timely
completion of all announced exams and assigned research, a 60% examination
average, a 60% grade on at least half of the examinations, a “pass” grade on
the assigned research, and satisfactory class attendance. The Attendance Policy for this course is as follows: All students are expected to attend all
classes; six unexcused absences will result in a one-letter-grade
penalty; twelve unexcused absences will result in a two-letter-grade
penalty; fifteen unexcused absences will result in a failing grade.
Absence from an examination will ordinarily be excused only if justified
on the basis of a written notice from the office of the Dean of the School of
Liberal Arts or a licensed medical professional.
Non-assigned research projects may be accepted for the purpose of amending
an exam grade. However, the subjects and formats of such efforts must be
cleared with the instructor prior to submission. No such projects
will be accepted without such prior approval, as verified by a signed
proposal/approval form. No such project
will be accepted after 5:00 p.m., Monday, Dec 3, 2007.
The
submission of any comment (whether oral or written) for credit in this course
shall be according to the terms of the Longwood College Honor Code.
U.S. Federal Government
Fall 2007
I.
Introduction Supplement,
p 1 - 3
A.
How
do Government and Politics
Affect Us? (The Police Powers)
B. The Political Processes Text, pp 3 - 5
Supplement,
p 4
Schattschneider,
Semi-
Sovereign People,
Chap 1&4 (Lib. Reserve)
Coplin
& O’Leary, Every-
Man’s PRINCE, Chps 1
& 2 (R)
Supplement, pp 5 - 14
C. Models of Political Power in Text, pp 8 - 9
The United States
D. Models of Political Analysis
II.
Environment of Our National Government Supplement, pp 15 - 16
A. The Origins Text, pp 31 - 36
B. The Basic Structure Text, pp 39 – 51, 79 - 86 Supplement, pp 17 - 20
A. Definitions Supplement, pp 21 - 25
Text,
pp 249 – 250
B.
History of American Parties Text, pp 250 - 261
C. Structure & Organization Text, pp 261 - 274
Supplement,
pp 26 - 34
D. Functions & Roles of
Parties
1.
Citizens
Supplement, pp 35 - 59
Text,
p 275 - 277
2.
Candidates Supplement, pp 60 - 61
3.
The Political System Schattschneider, Chp 8
IV.
Campaigns and Elections Supplement, pp 62 - 63
B. Candidacy Motivations Supplement, pp 64 - 71
C. Organization and Finances Homan, “Lure of
the
Road (R)
Supplement, pp 72 - 106
D. Voter Rationales Text, pp 311 - 313
Supplement, pp 107 –
124
E. Communications Text, pp 314 -
325
F. Voting Behavior
Text, pp
197 - 203
V.
The Presidency Text, pp 302 - 304
Supplement, pp 129 -
131
A.
General
Theory of Structure
B. Compensation & Support Supplement, pp 132 - 142
C. Succession Text, pp 373 – 374, 396 - 399
Supplement, pp 143 - 150
D. Alternative Views on the Supplement, pp 151 - 164
Significance of the Presidency Text,
pp 375 - 393
Supplement, pp 164 - 183
And Centralization
F. Operational Limits of the
Presidency
1.
Constitutional Interpretations Supplement, pp 184 - 196
“All the President’s Men”
(VHS, (R)
2. The Presidency and the
Press Powell, “The
Right to Lie” (R)
Supplement, pp 197 – 200
3.
Circumstances and Processes Supplement, pp 201 - 207
G. Administrative Styles Text, pp 394 - 396
H. Presidential Personality “Thank You, Mr. President”
(VHS, (R)
Supplement,
pp 208 – 213-A
VI.
Democratic Policymaking: The Congress Supplement, pp 214 - 215
A. The Environment of the Congressional Text, pp 336 - 342
Sub-System
1.
Elections Supplement,
pp 216 - 221
Text,
pp 346 - 352
Supplement,
pp 222 - 235
2.
Demography Text, pp 344 - 345
Supplement, p 236
3.
Compensation & Support Text,
pp 352 - 353
Supplement, pp 237 - 240
4.
Structure & Organization Text,
pp 357 - 361
B.
Sources
of Input
1.
The
Administration
2. The
Public (s) Thomas,
“Influence
Peddling”
(R)
Supplement, pp 240 - 246
3. The Members Themselves Supplement,
pp 246 - 248
C.
Operations
of the Congressional “Advise
& Consent”
Sub-System
(VHS (R)
1. Seniority Supplement,
pp 251 - 154
2. Committees Text,
pp 354 - 357
Supplement,
pp 255 - 256
3. Parties &
Miscellaneous
4. The Legislative Process Leamer, “Byrd & Kennedy”
Woll, Behind The Scenes,
5th edition, (R),
pp 248-254
5. Policy Sub-Systems Supplement,
pp 257 - 263
VII.
The Judicial System Text, pp 432 - 435
Supplement,
pp 264 - 277
A.
The
Nature of the Judicial System
B.
Definitions
C.
The
National Courts
1.
The
Judicial Courts
2.
The Inferior Courts Text,
pp 435 - 439
3.
The
Supreme Court Text, pp 440 – 443
Woodward, “The Brethren” (R)
D.
The
Courts In the Political Process
1. Judicial Recruitment Text, pp 443 - 446
2. Judicial Activism and Judicial Text, pp 446 - 449
Restraint Nagel, “How the Right
Learned to Love Earl
Warren (R)
3. Policy Impact Text,
pp 449 - 452
VIII.
The Bureaucracies Text, Chp 12
Secretaries Do All Day” (R)
Woll,
5th Edition, Reserve,
pp 348 - 358
“You don’t get to control
any outcome, only every choice you make along the way.”