Political Science 250                          Todd Donovan
The American Political System                  AH 424 x3018
Winter 1995                               Office: M, Tu  2-4
                                         Wed. 2-3; by appt.

   Political Science 250 serves as an introduction to 
American (national) politics, and to the study of politics 
more generally.  The first half of the course consists of an 
examination of political institutions in the U.S.  We begin 
with a critical analysis of the U.S. Constitution, then 
proceed to a discussion of the distribution of power among 
major political institutions.  Following this, the latter 
portion of the class focuses more directly on issues related 
to the political activity of individuals.

   Since this is an introductory course, we are concerned 
with a number of broad themes and questions.  What, for 
example, are the consequences of having a political system 
built around the teachings of a document that was written 200 
years ago? Can we still look to this document as a source of 
contemporary civil rights and liberties?  Should we be 
concerned about the fact that nearly half of all Americans 
fail to vote?  Have our elected officials been corrupted by 
the pursuit of campaign money (or were they already corrupt)? 
What implications do the answers to these questions have for 
the prospects of contemporary democratic practices in the 
U.S.?

COURSE TEXTS:

    You will need to acquire the following books:
Bennett, W. Lance (1994) Inside The System: Culture, 
Institutions and Power in American Politics (Custom Version).  
Harcourt Brace.
Pfiffner, James P. (1995) Governance and American Politics.  
Harcourt Brace.

COURSE TASKS:

   Your evaluation (grade) will be based upon your 
performance on two mid-term examinations, a final 
examination, and participation in your discussion section.  
Exams will include multiple-choice and essay questions.  
Ideally, you would also write an essay for the course, but 
the class is just too damn big for that this year.  

Grading:

   midterm examinations:         60% (two at 30% each)
   final examination:            30% 
   contributions to discussion:  10%

Lecture Schedule and Discussion Sections:

   In order to facilitate smaller-group discussion of the 
reading assignments and lecture topics, four discussion 
sections will be offered. You must enroll in one section. Our 
schedule is set such that the Donovan will lecture in MH163 
on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday  beginning with the second 
week. THE FIRST WEEK (Thur & Fr) WILL BE LECTURES. Two 
Thursday lectures will also be given (TBA). Discussion 
sections begin in the second week and are offered as follows:

Thursday:    8-9 a.m. AH18
Thursday:  11-12 a.m. ES418 
Friday:     9-10 a.m. AH12
Friday:    10-11 a.m. AH18

Discussion section reading assignments will be announced in 
advance.

COURSE OUTLINE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS:  (Subject to change)

I. Introduction: 
   A. Theories of Democratic Government  
      READ: Bennett; Chapter 1
   B. The Liberal Tradition in American Politics      
      READ: S. Huntington (Pfiffner 46-53)

II. Constitutional Foundations of U.S. Government:
   A. Federalists and Anti-Federalists  
      READ: Bennett (Chapter 2)
   B. Civic Republicanism vs. Self-Interest
      READ: Beard, Roche, Diamond (Pfiffner 13-46)
   C. Madisonian Democracy                           
      READ: Madison Fed #39, 51 (Pfiffner 59-64; 276-80)  
   D. The Modern State: Rise of National Supremacy                     
      READ: Bennett Chapter 3; Suggested (On Reserve):  
         Marbury v. Madison; McCulloch v. Maryland




III. Contemporary Institutions:
   A. Political Parties; Functions
      READ: V.O. Key (Pfiffner 376-390) 
   B. Parties, System Change and Accountability
      READ: Sundquist (Pfiffner 280-94)
   C. Is the Party Over?
      READ: Bennett Chpt 9; Schlesinger (Pfiffner 390-407) 


MIDTERM EXAM I  Jan 24th

III. Contemporary Institutions (cont.)
   D. Interest Group Influence
      READ: Madison (Pfiffner 471-77); Rauch (Pfiff 496-506)
      READ: Bennett Chapter 8)
   E. The Media: Are the Media Biased? 
      READ: Bennett Chapter 11; Gergen (Pfiffner p. 520-27)
   F. Money and Corruption in American Politics
      READ: Thompson; Jackson (Pfiffner 317-336


IV.  Campaigns, Voting and Elections:
   A.  Public Opinion and Voting
       READ: Bennett Chapter 6 and Chapter 7
   B.  Campaigns to Manipulate Voter Behavior
       READ: Adatto (Pfiffner 512-520); Jamieson (Pf 440-56) 
   C.  Does Low Turnout Matter?
   D.  Elections and Parties
       READ: Bennett Chapter 10; Dionne (Pfiffner 407-18)


V.  The Congress:
   A. The Decline of Legislative Government
      READ: Bennett Chapt. 12; Fiorina (Pfiffner 112-19)
   B. The Move to Limit Legislative Terms
      READ: Polsby (Pfiffner 127-34)
   C. Order from Chaos? Organization of each house         
      READ: Bennett Chapter 13; Polsby (Pfiffner 102-12)


MIDTERM EXAMINATION II Feb 15th





VI. The Executive:
   A. Presidential Powers: Imperial or Imperiled?
      READ: Bennett Chapter 14; Schlessinger (Pfif 150-60)
   B. Presidential Character
   C. The War Powers
      READ: Pfiffner; Mann (Pfiffner 564-581)
   D. Administrative Government
      READ: Bennett Chapter 15

VII. The Judiciary, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
   A. The Federal Court System and Judicial Review
      READ: Bennett Chapter 16; Bork, Tribe (Pfif 231-45)
   B. Nationalization of the Bill of Rights
      READ: Bennett Chapter 5; Stephenson (Pfiffner 599-607)
          Ginsburg (Pfiffner 245-52)

VIII. Domestic Politics: Wealth and Poverty in America
      READ: Philips, Heclo (Pfiffner 542-63)


FINAL EXAMINATION: Monday March 13. 8:00-10:00 am