Political Science 2302 Online

Transcription

1 Political Science 2302 Online Required Texts Voices of Dissent: Critical Readings in American Politics, by W.F. Grover and J.G. Peschek, 9th Edition, Texas Political Science website at UT Austin: PDF documents: Course Description This course is an introduction to U.S. politics with a particular focus upon foreign policy, the three branches of government, and public policy. ASU Mission Statement Angelo State University, a member of the Texas Tech University System, delivers undergraduate and graduate programs in the liberal arts, sciences, and professional disciplines in a learning-centered environment distinguished by its integration of teaching, research, creative endeavor, service, and co-curricular experiences, ASU prepares students to be responsible citizens and to have productive careers. Course Objectives This is an Introductory course so the course objectives are modest: 1. Students should gain some conceptual knowledge; new terminology, classifications, and concepts (i.e. capitalism, exceptionalism, democracy, ideology and so on). The point is NOT to memorize "facts" and "data" about the mechanisms of government, some of which should have been achieved in high school courses, but to develop more mature ways of thinking about these concepts. 2. Students should develop a clearer understanding of, and commitment to personal values; by the end of this course you should have a deeper sense of YOUR own core values, and of first principles, and why you have them (i.e. how you view human nature, are you a moral relativist or absolutist and so on). 3. Students should be more adequately equipped to analyze, and critically evaluate ideas, arguments, and points of view (following how this was done in class; the spirit of questioning, the use of irony, paradox, evaluation of interest and so on).

2 Course requirements All course requirements must be met in full for the successful completion of the course. All assigned work must be completed. All FOUR tests must be completed regardless of cumulative course GPA. Honor Code ASU expects its students to maintain complete honesty and integrity in their academic pursuits. Students are responsible for understanding the academic honor code, which is available at: Assessment 4 Short Multiple test quizzes 25% each test consists of 30 questions on all aspects of the course content, including all the assigned readings from the textbook. The quiz will be taken on Blackboard, the settings are as follows: one hour, no backtracking, force completion, and presentaion of one question at a time, radomized. This is not intended to be an open book test and stutdents who attempt to check lecture, textbook and other references while taking the test are likely to find themselves in time trouble. Students can opt to submit a final paper as long as they have taken all four multiple choice tests, and if they notify me by the end of week 12. I will calculate the final grade for the course based upon the best three test scores, as long as ALL FOUR TESTS were completed, regadless of grades. Grading Scale A-90% and over. Outstanding. B-80% very good. C-70% satisfactory. D-60% minimum required. F-less than 60%. The Course Calendar (I reserve the right to make course changes from time to time)

3 BLOCK 1 (Weeks 1-4) INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS IN THE U.S. Themes Democracy and Criticism, Neo-liberalism, Capitalism and Globalization, Bowling Alone, American Individualism, The Vital Statistics of the U.S. Economy. Listening and Reading Assignments : Listen: The Intro and Block 1 Podcasts Reading 1 The Straightjacket of Thin Democracy by F. M. Lappe Reading 2 Reading 5 A Short History of Neo-Liberalism by Susan George What is the American Dream by Jennifer N. Hochschild Reading 38 Reclaiming the Commons by Naomi Klein Texas Politics website at UT Austin: Sections Texas Political Culture, including the video clips. Political Economy, including the video clips The Politics of Language FIRST QUIZ: Friday of week four. BLOCK 2 (Weeks 5-8) FOREIGN POLICY AND THE WAR ON TERROR

4 Themes Identity Politics and Patriotism, Foreign Policy and The Bush Doctrine, Empire, Terrorism and the War on Terror. Listening and Reading Assignments: Listen: The Block 2 Podcasts Reading 7 The Theology of American Empire, by Ira Chernus Reading 35 Merchants of Doubt, by Oreskes & Conway Reading 36 9/11 and the Imperial Mentality, by Noam Chomsky The National Security Strategy of the United States, 2006 (annotated version) The Seven Sins of U.S. Foreign Policy The Haynes Torture Memo Secret CIA flights Extraordinary Rendition SECOND QUIZ: Friday of week eight BLOCK 3 (Weeks 9-12) Themes THE PRESIDENCY

5 The Modern Presidency and the Federal Bureaucracy, War Powers, Presidential Dynasties, Watergate as a Watershed, The Texas Governor Listening and Reading Assignments : Listen: The Block 3 Podcasts Reading 25 Reading 26 The Limits of Presidential Power by Michael A. Genovese The Presidential Spectacle by Bruce Miroff Reading 27 Militarism and the American Presidency, by Tom Englehardt Raeding 28 The Obama Presidency and the Economic Crisis, by Joseph G. Peschek Texas Politics website at UT Austin: Section The Executive Branch Section The Texas Bureaucracy Collier on the Roosevelt Clan Bush Approval Rating up to 2003 World Opinion Favors Kerry The Most Rested American Some 2004 Election Statistics The Electoral College THIRD QUIZ: Friday of week 12

6 BLOCK 4 (Weeks 13-16) THE CONGRESS, THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE, the SUPREME COURT and some issues in Public Policy Themes Corporate Influence on the Congress, How Congress Really Works, The Democratic Deficit, The Texas House, The Supreme Court, Corporate Influence on the Court, Economics, Welfare and other issues. Listening and Reading Assignments : Listen: The Block 4 Podcasts Reading 21 Reading 22 Cause Reading 23 Reading 29 Reading 31 Congress and Big Business by John C. Berg Democracy on Drugs: How a Bill Really Becomes a Law by Common Wall Streets Big Win by Matt Taibbi Supreme Court Inc. by Jeffrey Rosen. This Dangerous Patriot's Game by Patricia J. Williams Texas Politics website at UT Austin: Section The Legislative Branch (Texas) Congress Overrides the President's Veto Congressional Ethics - House members have sex. etc

7 Sex in Congress Again - Chronicle of Higher Education Report Final test: Monday Dec 8