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Instructor: Dr. Harbour
Office: Ruffner 228
Office telephone: 395-2219
Office hours:
MWF 10:00-11:00 TR 9:30-10:30
harbourwr@longwood.edu
Table of Contents
Course
Description
Texts
Course
Objectives
Class
Schedule
Course
Requirements
Grading
Attendance
Policy
Honor
Code
Class
Discussion
Critical
Thinking Writing Exercises
Taking
Exams
Bibliography
Course Description:
An introduction to the American political system, with an emphasis upon the
national political institutions, processes, groups, public behavior, and issues
which shape contemporary society.
George
C. Edwards III, Martin P. Wattenberg, and Robert L. Lineberry. Government
in America.
Thirteenth Edition. New York: Person/Longman
Publishers, 2008.
Ann G. Serow and Everett C. Ladd. Editors. The Lanahan Readings in the American Polity. Fourth Edition. Baltimore, Maryland: Lanahan Publishers, 2006.
Other Reading:
Students
will also be required to purchase a discounted subscription to the New York
Times from the Bookstore. Being aware of current political
developments is important to good citizenship. Each exam will have at
least one question requiring students to reflect on current political news and
relate such developments to the material we are studying about the American
political system.
Students may also keep up with current political events and may follow the news
through the following online sites:
http://www.nyt.com/
http://www.cnn.com/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Students may also read the Online editions of CQ
Weekly and The CQ Researcher published by Congressional Quarterly
Inc. These may be found by going to the CQ Library site
at: http://library.cqpress.com/
Students can also make use of Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports and
Issue Briefs found online at:
http://www.opencrs.com/
There will be specific assignments from the above and other Web sources.
Click HERE for the Study Guide which contains questions for reading and thinking about the assignments, links to useful web sties containing materials on the topics being explored, and suggestions on developing your research for the critical thinking writing assignments.
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a capacity for critical and analytical thought about issues central to the American political system.
2. Demonstrate an ability to communicate in writing their knowledge and beliefs about the institutions and forces shaping the American political system.
3. Describe the essential features of the American political system.
4. Identify information regarding the American political system which is necessary for useful and responsible citizenship.
5. Discuss important philosophical and ethical issues associated with the practice of politics and the challenges facing this nation's system of government.
6. Describe the major ways in which political scientists have tried to understand American politics.
7. Discuss how American government and politics have shaped and been shaped by the dynamic social forces of the 20th century.
8. Demonstrate an awareness of the diversity of persuasions and interests within American society.
9. Discuss elements of both continuity and change within the American political system.
This course satisfies Goal 8 of the new General Education requirements adopted by the University for students entering Longwood beginning in 2002-2003 as well as Goal 8 of the general education system existing for current students already in attendance prior to that time.
GOAL 8: An understanding of the forces shaping contemporary society as
revealed in the social sciences (three
credits).
Outcomes: Students will
Understand the major
methods of social science inquiry
Recognize and explain
major contributions of social science to our cultural heritage
Understand how social
science has been used to address significant contemporary issues
General Education courses will have at least nine characteristics in common,
reflected in the nine General Education course
criteria. Together, they define what a General Education course is at
Longwood. Courses satisfying all goals except Goals 12
and 15 will:
1. teach a disciplinary mode of inquiry (e.g.,
literary analysis, statistical analysis, historical interpretation,
philosophical
reasoning, aesthetic judgment, the scientific method) and provide students with
practice in applying their disciplinary mode of
inquiry, critical thinking, or problem solving strategies.
2. provide examples of how disciplinary knowledge changes through creative applications of the chosen mode of inquiry.
3. consider questions of ethical values.
4. explore past, current, and future implications
(e.g., social, political, economic, psychological or philosophical) of
disciplinary
knowledge.
5. encourage consideration of course content from diverse perspectives.
6. provide opportunities for students to increase
information literacy through contemporary techniques of gathering,
manipulating, and analyzing information and data.
7. require at least one substantive written paper,
oral report, or course journal and also require students to articulate
information
or ideas in their own words on tests and exams.
8. foster awareness of the common elements among disciplines and the interconnectedness of disciplines.
9. provide a rationale as to why knowledge of this
discipline is important to the development of an educated citizen.
Class Schedule:
Click HERE for the Study Guide which contains
questions for reading and thinking about the assignments, links to useful web sties containing materials on the topics being explored,
and suggestions on developing your research for the critical thinking writing
assignments.
Week 1 (Jan. 12-16) Introduction to the Study of American Politics; The
Constitutional System
Read: Edwards, Chpts. 1, 2; Serow,
Part Two and Part Three
The Constitution
The Federalist, No. 51
Special Topics:
T: What is politics all about? How do political scientists try to
understand politics?
R: What are the most important features of the American constitutional system?
Critical Thinking Writing Exercise No. 1
First read The Federalist, No. 51 and carefully study the
Constitution. Then write a three page essay on what you believe to be
Madison's understanding of the necessity, requirements, and advantages of the
system of checks and balances in the constitutional system. Explain how the
design of the Constitution reflects Madison's basic objectives.
This assignment is due by 4:00 on Thursday, Jan. 15.
Week 2 (Jan. 19-23) The Constitutional System; Federalism
Read: Edwards, Chpts. 2, 3; Serow,
Part Three and Part Four
The Constitution
Special Topics:
T: How have the rules governing American institutions and politics been changed
by amendments added to the Constitution?
R: What are the essential attributes of American federalism?
Critical Thinking Writing Exercise No. 2
This assignment is based upon your reading the Supreme Court decision:
McCulloch v. Maryland, 1819. You can read this decision online by using the
Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe at: http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/
There you will find a summary and outline of the case,
the arguments presented to the Court by both sides, and the opinion handed down
by the Court. In your three page essay you should explain why this case was so
important to the evolution of the federal system.
This assignment is due by 4:00 on Thursday, Jan. 22.
Week 3 (Jan. 26-30) Constitutional Liberties; Civil Liberties and Civil
Rights
Read: Constitutional Amendments
Edwards, Chpts. 4, 5; Serow;
Part Nine
Special Topics:
T: What are the most important rights protected by the Bill of Rights?
R: What are the most important equal rights issues facing this country?
Critical Thinking Writing Exercise No. 3
You are to write a three page essay on the debate
over whether state governments and public school officials should try to reduce
cyberbullying by legislation and administrative
actions. Explore the concerns involved in cyberbullying.
How far should government and our public schools officials go in dealing with
the problem? Do proposed actions to address the problem violate the First
Amendment? How should society balance concerns for the safety and well
being of students with free speech rights? You may start by going to the
Congressional Quarterly Library online at: http://library.cqpress.com/
Go to the link on the Congressional Researcher (CQ Researcher
Online). There you can find the link to an article: "Cyberbullying" by Thomas J. Billitteri
in the May 2, 2008 issue of the Congressional Researcher:
http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2008050200
This assignment is due by 4:00 on Thursday, Jan. 29.
Week 4 (Feb. 2-6) American Political Culture
Read: Declaration of Independence; Serow, Part
One
Special Topics:
T: What are the most important features of American political culture?
R: First test
NOTE: You will have your first test on Thursday, Feb. 5.
This test will count for 1/5 of your semester grade.
Week 5 (Feb. 9-13) Public Opinion; Political Ideology; Political
Participation
Read: Edwards, Chpt. 6; Serow,
Part Ten,
Special Topics:
T: What are some of the most important observations which can be made about
public opinion in American politics? What are the most important observations
one can make about citizen participation in American politics?
R: What role does ideology play in American politics?
Critical Thinking Writing Exercise No. 4
After reading the text material on political ideologies, do some web-based
research on the views advanced by these different ideologies. Then write
a three page essay in which you explain what are the most
important differences between contemporary liberalism and conservatism in
American politics. What really sets these two schools of thought
apart?
This assignment is due by 4:00 on Thursday, Feb. 12.
Week 6 (Feb. 16-20) Voters, Elections, and Campaigns
Read: Edwards, Chpts. 9, 10; Serow,
Part Twelve
Presidential Election Results, 1789-2004
Study the exit polls from 2004 at: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/US/P/00/epolls.0.html
Study the exit polls and results from 2008 at: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/president/
and: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/polls/#USP00p1
Study the electoral vote map for 2008 (and access maps from earlier elections)
at: http://www.270towin.com/
Study the electoral vote maps for 2008 and 2004 by state and county at: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/2008/
Special Topics:
T: What are the most important observations one can make about voting behavior
in the United States?
How has research and knowledge about voting behavior
developed by political scientists influenced how political
consultants plan campaigns? How are election campaigns
driven by the empirical knowledge developed by the social
sciences?
R: What are the principal aspects of the presidential selection process?
Critical Thinking Writing Exercise No. 5
One of the major issues emerging from the controversial 2000 presidential
election involves the electoral college system for
electing a president. For this assignment you are to write a 3 page essay
in which you explain the main arguments for abolishing the system, the main arguments
for keeping it, why it would be very difficult to do away with that
system. You need to go to the Congressional Quarterly Library online at: http://library.cqpress.com/
After you login, click on The CQ Researcher (which is
a valuable source for articles on current political issues) where you then can
do a search for the following article: Jost, Kenneth
and Giroux, Gregory L. "The Electoral
College." The CQ Researcher
10, no.42 (December 8, 2000): 977-1008.
In this essay you will need to discuss the importance of this topic and the
principal concerns advanced by both sides in the debate over the electoral college system.
This assignment is due by 4:00 on Thursday, Feb. 19.
Week 7 (Feb. 23-27) Political Parties; Interest Groups
Read: Edwards, Chpts. 8, 11; Serow,
Part Eleven and Part Thirteen
The Federalist, No. 10 and No. 51
Special Topics:
T: What are the most important of characteristics of American political parties?
R: What is the role played by interest groups in American politics?
Do interest groups advance or diminish democracy in
America? Do Interest groups advance or diminish the common
good?
Critical Thinking Writing Exercise No. 6
Read Federalist, No. 10 and carefully study the course material you have
been reading about interest groups. Then write a three page essay in
which you explain Madison's theory about factions, what they are, where they
come from, the problems they pose to popular government, and what can be done
about those problems. Then relate his theory about factions to
contemporary debates about the role of interest groups in our political system.
You need to address both the good and bad aspects of what interests groups represent
in American politics. In this essay you should defend a position as to
whether interest groups are basically good or bad for our political system.
This assignment is due by 4:00 on Thursday, Feb. 26.
Week 8 (March 2-6) Mass Media Politics
Read: Edwards, Chpt. 7; Serow,
Part Fourteen
Special Topics:
T: How has the media influenced politics in the United States?
What does content analysis (a method used by social
scientists to analyze communication) employed by political scientists
tell us about important changes taking place in
American politics? How has the study of the media's impact on American politics
modified our overall understanding of the political
system?
R: Second Test
NOTE: You will have your second test on Thursday, March 5.
This test will count for 1/5 of your semester grade.
SPRING BREAK March 7-15
Week 9 (March 16-20) The Congress
Read: Edwards, Chpt. 12; Serow,
Part Five
Special Topics:
T: What is the role of Congress in the American political system? Who has power
in Congress?
What is the role of political parties in Congress?
R: What is the role played by committees in Congress?
Critical Thinking Writing Exercise No. 7
Imagine that you have been asked to give a speech to a group of foreign students
or to lecture to your old high school civics class on the most important steps
in the legislative process in Congress, with special emphasis on the key steps
in the the House of Representatives. This
assignment requires that you write a three page essay that would serve as the
basis for such a speech. In order to become thoroughly familiar with how
bills make their way through the House of Representatives, you must read the
following: "HOW OUR LAWS ARE MADE" Revised and Updated by
Charles W. Johnson, Parliamentarian, United States House of
Representatives, June 30, 2003. This manual may be found online by
going to the Thomas website at: http://thomas.loc.gov/and
going to: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/lawsmade.toc.html
In developing this essay you need to reflect
critically on the House procedures and write about what you regard as the most
crucial steps in the legislative process. Do not try to copy the manual;
rather, develop an essay that would allow you to explain the most important
aspects of the process.
This assignment is due by 4:00 on Thursday, March 19.
Week 10 (March 23-27) The Congress; The Presidency
Read: Edwards, Chpts. 12, 13; Serow,
Part Five and Part Six
Congress has important agencies helping it to analyze public policy issues and
serve as a watchdog on the Executive Branch:
You may go to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) site at: http://www.cbo.gov/
You may go to the Government Accountability Office (GA0) site at: http://www.gao.gov/
You may go to the Congressional Research Service (CRS) site at: http://www.loc.gov/crsinfo/aboutcrs.html
You may access many of the CRS reports at the following site: http://www.opencrs.com/
Special Topics:
T: What processes must a bill go through in order to become a law?
R: What functions are performed by the presidency in the American political
system? What are the key elements of
presidential power?
Critical Thinking Writing Exercise No. 8.
Drawing on all the material in both of your texts, write a three page essay in
which you explain the most important elements of presidential leadership?
What characteristics and skills do successful presidents need? What are
some of most important lessons about presidential leadership that can be
learned from the study of presidential behavior?
This assignment is due by 4:00 on Thursday, March 26.
Week 11 (March 30 - April 3) The Presidency; The
Bureaucracy
Read: Edwards, Chpts. 12, 14, 15; Serow,
Part Six and Part Seven
Special Topics:
T: What institutional forces shape the modern presidency? How important is
presidential personality to the office?
R: What are the most important characteristics of the federal bureaucracy?
Critical Thinking Writing Exercise No. 9
This assignment deals with the problems presidents face in dealing with the
bureaucracy. Read this week's assignment on the bureaucracy and reflect
back on the material studied earlier regarding Congress and Interest
groups. You are to write a three page essay in which you explain why
presidents find dealing with the bureaucracy so frustrating. What
institutional tools are available to presidents in dealing with the
bureaucracy?
This assignment is due by 4:00 on Thursday, April 2.
Week 12 (April 6-10) The Judiciary
Read: Edwards, Chpt. 16; Serow,
Part Eight
The Federalist, No. 78
Special Topics
T: What role does the judiciary play in the American Political System?
R: Third Test
NOTE: You will have your third test on Thursday, April 9.
This test will count for 1/5 of your semester grade.
Week 13 (April 13-17) Domestic Policy Making; Economic and Budget
Policies; Social Welfare Policies
Read: Edwards, Chpt. 17, 18; Serow,
Part Fifteen
Special Topics:
T: What are the major steps in the policy making process?
R: What are the principal forces shaping economic and budget policies?
What are the competing values at stake in debates over
social welfare policies?
Critical Thinking Writing Exercise No. 10
Discuss the challenges to Social Security and Medicare posed by the aging of
the population and the impending retirement of the "Baby Boom"
generation. You may also want to understand this issue in a broader
global context.
You must start by going to the Congressional Quarterly Library online at: http://library.cqpress.com/
Go to the link on the Congressional Researcher (CQ Researcher
Online). Look for the October 19, 2007 article by Alan Greenblatt, "Aging Baby Boomers."
http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2007101900
Also read the Nov. 21, 2008 article by Sarah Glazer, "Declining
Birthrates." http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2008112100
This assignment is due by 4:00 on Thursday, April 16.
Week 14 (April 20-24) Policymaking for Health Care and the Environment;
Foreign and Defense Policies
Read: Edwards, Chpts. 19, 20; Serow,
Part Sixteen
Special Topics:
T: What are some of the most important health care and environmental issues
facing the country?
R: What forces have shaped the making of American foreign policies and defense
policies since World War II?
Classes end April 24
Reading Day: April 25
Final Exam Period: April 27-May 1 The final exam is on Monday,
April 27 at 8:00 - 10:30 a.m.
The final exam will be worth 1/5 of your semester grade.
Commencement May 9
Course Requirements:
Ten critical thinking writing assignments
Three tests
Final comprehensive examination
Grading:
Your semester grade will be based on the combined score for all your weekly
essays, three tests given during the course of the semester, and a final examination.
Each of these will count for 1/5 of your semester grade for the class.
Attendance Policy:
The attendance policy for this course is the college policy found in the
University Catalog and Student Handbook.
Honor Code:
Students are expected to live by the Longwood University Honor Code. All work
done for the class must be pledged. Your instructor will not tolerate any form
of cheating.
Class Discussion:
Your instructor values class participation. Those students who make consistent
contributions to class discussion will discover that if their semester average
is on the borderline between two grades that they will receive the higher of
the two grades. Students are encouraged to ask questions and to express their
knowledge and beliefs about the material and issues being dealt with in class.
Taking Exams:
All tests and exams must be taken on time. You are expected to provide
proof for any legitimate reason (illness, participation in a University
sponsored activity, or recognizable emergency) you have for missing a test or
exam. Quizzes, critical thinking worksheets, and papers handed in past the time
they are due will lose points.
Bibliography:
Required Reading:
The Edwards text and Serow text required for the
course
Online CQ Library publications
Current online news sites
Suggested Reading or Reference:
James David Barber. The Presidential Character.
4th Edition. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey:
Prentice-Hall, 1992.
Colin Campbell & Bert A. Rockman.
Editors. The Clinton Legacy.
New York: Chatham House Publishers, 2000.
Thomas E. Cronin & Michael A. Genovese. The Paradoxes of the American Presidency. New
York: Oxford University Press, 1998.
Byron W. Daynes & Glen Sussman. The American
Presidency and the Social Agenda. Upper Saddle River, New
Jersey:
Prentice-Hall, Inc., 2001.
Byron W. Daynes, Raymond Tatalovich,
Denis L. Soden. To Govern a Nation: Presidential
Power
and Politics. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1998.
Robert E. DiClerico. The
American President. Fifth Edition.
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2000.
Robert E. DiClerico. Political
Parties, Campaigns, and Elections. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey:
Prentice Hall, 2000.
George C. Edwards III & Philip John Davies. New Challenges for the American Presidency. New York:
Longman, 2004.
E.J. Dionne. Why Americans Hate Politics. New York: Simon and Schuster,
1992.
James M. Fallows. Breaking the News: How the MediaUndermine
American Democracy. New
York: Pantheon, 1996.
Abraham J. Henry and Barbara Perry. Freedom
and the Court. 5th Edition. New
York: Oxford
University Press, 1994.
John S. Jackson III & William Crotty.
The Politics of Presidential Selection. Second Edition. New York: Longman, 2001.
Bruce W. Jentleson. Editor.
Perspectives on American Foreign Policy. New
York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2000.
Lance T. LeLoup & Steven A.
Shull. Congress and the The
President: The Policy Connection.
Belmont, California: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1993.
James P. Pfiffner & Roger H.
Davidson. Editors. Understanding the Presidency. Second Edition. New York: Addison
Wesley Longman, Inc., 2000.
Nelson W. Polsby and Aaron Wildavsky. Presidential
Elections. 10th Edtion.
New York: Chatham House Publishers, 2000.
Gerald M. Pomper et. al. The Election of 2000.
New York: Chatham House Publishers, 2001.
Larry Sabato. Editor.
Overtime: The 2000 Election Thriller. New York: Longman, 2002.
John Spanier and Eric Uslaner. American Foreign
Policy and the Democratic Dilemmas. Sixth
Edition. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company,
1994.
Sidney Verba, Kay Lehman Schlozman, and Henry Brady. Voiceand
Equality: Civic Voluntarism in
American Politics. Chicago: University of Chicago
Press, 1995.
Shirley Anne Warshaw. The Domestic Presidency:
Policy Making in the White House. Boston:
Allyn and Bacon, 1997.
Martin P. Wattenburg. The Decline of American
Political Parties, 1952-1992. Cambridge, Mass.:
Harvard University Press, 1994.
Stephen P. Wayne. The Road to the White House 1996: The Politics of
Presidential Elections. New
York: St. Martin's Press, 1997.
Academic Journals:
American Political Science Review
Presidential Studies Quarterly
Journal of Politics
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