Department of Political Science American Government. Fall 2015 Office: RT 1751 Hours: T-Th 3-4 pm Phone: (216)

Transcription

1 Department of Political Science American Government PSC 111 Dr. Joel Lieske Fall 2015 Office: RT 1751 Hours: T-Th 3-4 pm Phone: (216) and by Appt. This course is an introduction to American government and politics. It has no prerequisite and assumes no previous course work in political science. But some of the readings are intellectually challenging. Therefore I expect you to spend an average of two hours of preparation outside of class for every hour in class. I also expect you to keep abreast of political developments by reading a good national newspaper (e.g. The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post) or magazine (e.g. Time, Newsweek, U. S. News and World Report). The course is organized around five major topics: (1) the historical and cultural forces that have shaped the American political system; (2) the political opinions, interests, and organizations that structure American politics; (3) the major institutions of national government; (4) the politics of key domestic and foreign policy issues; and (5) the American democratic experiment. Required Readings Thomas R. Dye and Ronald Keith Gaddie, Politics in America, 2014 Election Edition (Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2016). [Dye] Patrick J. Buchanan, Suicide of a Superpower: Will America Survive to 2025? (New York: St. Martin s Press, 2015). [Buchanan] The Dye text and Suicide of a Superpower are available at the book store. You may also purchase an electronic version of the Dye text online. Course Responsibilities 1. Completion of all reading assignments. 2. Eighteen online chapter quizzes. 3. Six midterm online examinations: Sept. 8, Sept. 22, Oct. 6, Oct. 22, Nov. 5, Nov Final in-class essay examination: Dec Daily class attendance. 6. Participation in class discussions. 7. Courteous and respectful behavior. For best results, read each assignment before class. The available dates for the quizzes and exams can be found in the Assessments tab for this course in Blackboard. If for some reason you 1

2 cannot take a scheduled exam, you must let me know in advance. If you are sick, leave a phone or message no later than the day of the exam. Extensions for students who fail to notify me by the date of the scheduled exam will be given only in exceptional cases and must be justified on the basis of compelling personal circumstances or supporting documentation (e.g. a doctor s excuse). Missed exams will be recorded as zeroes in my grade book. Each missed exam will lower your final grade on average by a whole letter. Grades Your final grade in this course will be based on six midterm examinations, a final examination, attendance, and class participation. Your test grade will be based entirely on your scores on the examinations. But you can earn extra credit by regular class attendance and participation in class discussions. Exceptional and sustained participation can raise your final grade by as much as a whole letter. Each midterm examination will consist of 100 multiple-choice questions, while the final will be entirely essay. Each midterm will be worth 14 percent of your grade. The final will be worth another 16 percent. The final examination will test you on your knowledge and understanding of the Buchanan text and be strictly essay. You do not have to agree with his views to get an A on the final. To help you prepare for the six midterm examinations, I have created 18 chapter quizzes that draw upon the same test bank that is used to create the examinations. So you should do them, if for no other reason, to learn the correct answers. You will probably see a large proportion of the questions again on the midterm examinations. All of the quizzes and exam will be taken on Blackboard Learn. But you can only take them when they are scheduled. For the six midterms the quiz windows will be open until the day before the exam. There is a one-day window for each midterm exam. Each will be scheduled for the day following the completion of a three-chapter block. All of the quizzes and the midterm exams can be accessed from the Assessments tab of this course in Blackboard Learn. You can log on to Blackboard using your CSU identification number and your password. Quiz results will be made available immediately upon their completion. But you will not know your scores on the exams until the expiration of the examination window. Your test grade will be determined by where your total percentile score falls on the following grade distribution: A 94+ A B

3 B B C C C D F <50 Your final grade will take into account class attendance and participation. University grading policies require instructors to attach minuses and pluses in the A to C range. After that, only whole letter grades are recorded. Free Speech Policy I believe free speech is absolutely essential to the democratic process and the academic enterprise. I also believe in the Jeffersonian marketplace of ideas. Good ideas will ultimately triumph over bad ones. In addition, I believe that free minds and free ideas will help create and maintain a free society. Finally, I place a very high value on intellectual honesty. I do not conform, nor do I expect you to conform, to the so-called canons of political correctness. So feel free to challenge any idea, nostrum, or sacred cow that you wish, including those advanced by the good professor. But I have zero tolerance for students who are disrespectful of others or make unauthorized grand exits in the middle of class. If you need to leave for a scheduled appointment, please let me know ahead of time and sit near a door so you can leave with minimal disruption to the class. Hygienic emergencies are another matter. Other than checking for vital class related information, I will not tolerate texting and the use of cell phones during class meetings. COURSE OUTLINE Date Topic Assigned Readings August 25 Overview of the Course I. THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM August 27 A. The Study of American Government Dye, Ch. 1 and Democracy September 1 B. American Political Culture Dye, Ch. 2 September 3 C. The Federal Constitution Dye Ch. 3 U. S. Constitution 3

4 Declaration of Independence Madison, Federalist Nos. 10 & 51 September 8 First Examination September 10 D. American Federalism Dye, Ch. 4 II. POLITICAL PROCESSES September 15 A. Public Opinion and Political Dye, Ch. 5 Participation September 17 B. The Media Dye, Ch. 6 September 22 Second Examination September 24 C. Political Parties Dye, Ch. 7 September 29 D. Campaigns and Elections Dye, Ch. 8 October 1 E. Interest Groups Dye, Ch. 9 October 6 Third Examination III. INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT October 8 A. The Congress Dye, Ch. 10 October 13 Columbus Day Holiday October 15 B. The Presidency Dye, Ch. 11 October 20 C. The Bureaucracy Dye, Ch. 12 October 22 Fourth Examination October 27 D. The Judiciary Dye, Ch. 13 IV. THE POLITICS OF PUBLIC POLICY October 29 A. Civil Liberties Dye, Ch. 14 4

5 November 3 B. Civil Rights Dye, Ch. 15 November 5 Fifth Examination November 10 C. The Economy Dye, Ch. 16 November 12 D. Social Welfare Dye, Ch. 17 November 17 E. Defense Policy Dye, Ch. 18 November 19 Sixth Examination V. THE DEMOCRATIC EXPERIMENT AND THE AMERICAN FUTURE November 24 A. The Passing of a Superpower Buchanan, Preface, Intro. & Ch. 1 B. The Death of Christian America and Buchanan, Chs. 2-3 the Crisis of Catholicism November 26 Thanksgiving Day December 1 C. The End of White America and Buchanan, Chs. 4-5 Demographic Winter D. Equality or Freedom? and Buchanan, Chs. 6-7 the Diversity Cult December 3 E. The Triumph of Tribalism and Buchanan, Chs. 8-9 The White Party F. The Long Retreat and the Last Buchanan, Chs Chance December 8 Final Examination 4-6 p.m. University Commitment to Students with Disabilities Educational access is the provision of classroom accommodations, auxiliary aids and services to ensure equal educational opportunities for all students regardless of their disability. Any student 5

6 who feels he or she may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Disability Services at (216) The Office is located in MC