Course Syllabus
Introduction to
American Politics
Fall 2009, Donovan
Office: AH 418
Voice: x3018
Office Hours: T, Th @
11-12; F 10 & arrange
http://www.wwu.edu/~donovan
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, with a focus on who
has the power to declare war.
Following this, the latter portion of the class focuses more directly on
issues related to the political activity of individual citizens and
groups. We conclude with a discussion of civil rights and liberties. In several of our discussions sections,
we will focus on key institutions to assess how (or if) various processes
should be made 'more' democratic.
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 a document that was written over 200 years ago? Can we
still look to it for guidance when declaring a war? Does it serve as an
adequate source of contemporary rights and liberties? Should we be concerned
about the fact that nearly half of all Americans fail to vote, and that
election results fail to reflect the preferences of most of those who do bother
to vote? Have our elected officials been corrupted by the pursuit of campaign
money? What implications do the answers to these questions have for the
prospects of contemporary democratic practices in the U.S.?
COURSE
TEXTS & MATERIALS:
Coleman,
Goldstein and Howell. 2010. Understanding American Politics and
Government. Pearson Longman.
Donovan and
Bowler. 2004. Reforming the Republic: Democratic
Institutions for the new America.
Prentice Hall. (provided as .pdf files)
Additional
readings on-line, and provided.
COURSE
WEB PAGE:
Look to the
course web page for links to exam review questions, occasional lecture notes,
supplementary exercises, and other materials (http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~donovan).
COURSE
TASKS:
Your
evaluation (grade) will be based upon your performance on two mid-term
examinations, a final examination, and participation in your discussion
sections. Exams will be based on essay questions drawn from the lecture
and reading material.
GRADING
CRITERIA:
two
midterm examinations:
30% each
final
examination:
30%
participation in discussion
section 10%
CLASS
SCHEDULE :
Our
schedule is set such that Donovan will lecture to the full class Monday thru
Thurs. Small(er) group discussions will meet on Thursday and Friday. Reading
assignments for discussion will be announced in advance, in lecture.
COURSE
OUTLINE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS:
I.
Democracy:
A.
What is democracy? American democracy?
READ:
(on-line & in text) US Constitution
READ:
(text) Coleman et al, Chapter 1
B.
American's 'liberal' tradition.
READ:
Coleman et al Chapter 2 Do Web
Supplement 1.
II.
Constitutional Foundations of U.S. Government:
A.
Federalists and Anti-Federalists, and the new Republic
READ:
Coleman Chapter 3, and Antifederalist
#9 and Antifederalist
#84
and Articles
of Confederation (also
in Web Supplement 2).
B.
Madisonian Democracy
READ:
Federalist # 39 (on
-line), Federalist # 51
(in Coleman text)
READ:
Bowler and Donovan, Chapter
7 (pdf )
Discussion: October 1 / 2; Do we want a
republic, or democracy?
II,
C. The Modern State: Rise of National Supremacy
READ:
McCulloch v.
Maryland (on-line).
III.
Contemporary Institutions:
A.
Political Parties; Structure and Functions
B.
Party Systems and System Change
READ:
Coleman, et al Chapter 9
C.
A Third Party for the US? Do Web Supplement 3
READ:
Donovan and Bowler, Chapter
4 (pdf)
Discussion
October 8 / 9: Does the US Need More Parties? What "third" party might have success if there was
PR in the US?
MIDTERM
EXAM I (October 15)
D.
The Media
READ:
Coleman et al Chapter 8
VIEW: Stewart: On Cross-fire,
(youtube); Media Research Center: Current
examples of liberal bias.
HEAR McChesney; Corporate
Media and Democracy, (Real Audio).
Do Web Supplement 5
(yes,
out of order).
Discussion:
October 22 / 23 What's Wrong with the News Media?
E. Interest Groups and Lobbying
READ:
Coleman Chapter 10
READ:
Donovan and Bowler Chapter 8; Do Web Supplement 4
IV.
Campaigns, Voting and Elections:
A.
Public Opinion &
Voting
Do Web
Supplement 6
READ:
Coleman, Chapter 6 & 7
(213-236)
Discussion
October 29 / 30: What is role does
money play in US politics and elections?
Is the public too cynical about the role of money in politics?
IV,
B. Participation in America's Democracy
READ:
Coleman, Chapter 7 (236-66) Do Web supplement 7
Discussion
November 5 / 6: TBA
V.
The Congress:
A.
Powers (or lack thereof)
READ:
Coleman, Chapter 11
READ:
Donovan and Bowler, Chapter 3
B.
Order from Chaos? Organization of each house. Web Supplement 8
MIDTERM
EXAMINATION II (about
November 10)
VI.
The Presidency as an Institution:
A.
Presidential Powers: Imperial or Imperiled?
READ:
Coleman, Chapter 12
READ:
Bowler and Donovan, Chapter 4
or Chapter 5
Discussion
November 12 /13: Are there better
ways to elect Congress and the President?
B.
The President and War
READ:
War Powers Act, on
line
Discussion
November 19/20: Do we need a War
Powers Act?
VII.
Courts, Rights and Liberties
A.
The Coleman, Chapter 13
B.
Selective Incorporation/Nationalization of the Bill of Rights.
READ:
Coleman, Chapter 4 & 5 Do Web supplement 9
C.
The Right to Privacy
READ:
Griswold
v. CT, Roe v. Wade; Bowers v.
Hardwick (on
line).
Discussion
December 3 /4: Is there a Constitutional Right to Privacy?
CASES
Final as scheduled by university