Political Science 101: American Government
Spring 2008 M W F: 1:00-2:20
Instructor: Dr. David Paul Office: Founders 2034
e-mail: paul.68@osu.edu Phone: 366-9472
Office Hours: MWF Noon-12:50 & by appointment
Course Description:
This course is designed to go beyond simply introducing you to American political institutions and processes: it is also designed to help you become a more effective citizen. Political scientists Michael Delli Carpini and Scott Keeter argue that individuals need to understand three factors to become effective citizens:
A) The rules of the game, or the institutions and processes of elections and governance
B) The people and the parties of politics, including the promises, performances, and attributes of public official and political parties
C) The substance of politics, including the major issues of the day, the current social and economic conditions, and key policy initiatives.
In order to fulfill the goals of the course, we will discuss concepts that are important to understanding the processes and institutions of our political system, as well as the major political actors and political issues of the day. Toward that end, we will discuss current events as they are relevant to the course, and you have a responsibility to follow the news while enrolled in the course. This class is not designed to tell you what to think: instead, I am trying to ensure that you can form your own opinions about U.S. politics based on fundamental facts and theories.
This course helps fulfill your General Education Curriculum (GEC) requirements. GEC courses are designed to help increase your analytical skills (including your capacities to read, listen, think) and to teach you to write more critically and comprehensively. In addition, GEC courses are intended to sharpen your ability to make informed judgments and choices. Finally, GEC courses should help expand your understanding of academic disciplines and how different areas of study may be connected. Towards these ends, this course requires students to:
1. attend and be actively engaged in class, as well as participate in course discussions.
2. read the assigned materials, and consider how the materials relate to other readings, course discussions, and other classes.
3. complete a writing assignment.
This is a five credit course, and OSU guidelines prescribe that the average first-year student should dedicate 15 hours per week (including time in the classroom) to this course in order to earn a “C” grade (see rule 3335-7-24).
Required Books:
Keeping the Republic, 2nd Brief Edition. Christine Barbour and Gerald C. Wright. CQ Press. ISBN 1-933116-87-0
Additional readings will be uploaded to the course’s Carmen website. You are responsible for readings these articles as well.
Accommodations:
If you need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability, you should contact me to arrange an appointment as soon as possible in order to discuss the course format, anticipate your needs, and explore potential accommodations. I rely on the Office for Disability Services for assistance in verifying the need for accommodations and developing accommodation strategies. If you have not previously contacted the Office for Disability Services, I encourage you to do so.
Miscellaneous Course Requirements and Information:
You are welcome to schedule appointments at times other than the stated office hours.
We will be using the plus and minus system to record the final grades.
If you need to reschedule an exam, give me a letter from the relevant authority (athletic staff, teacher of another course, administrator in charge of a program, etc.) explaining the situation at least a week in advance.
I reserve the right to revise the syllabus when needed.
Unless otherwise noted, all assignments should be turned into me at the beginning of class. Do not leave an assignment in my office or on my desk. If you must turn in something when I am not available, e-mail the assignment to me and leave a hard copy my box.
Students determined to be in violation of the University regulations regarding academic honesty will be subject to University penalties.
© 2008. All lectures are the property of the instructor and may not be reproduced without his permission.
Grading:
The first midterm exam is on April 14 and will be worth 20% of your overall grade.
The second midterm exam is on May 5 and will be worth 20% of your overall grade
The final exam is on June 4 and will be worth 25% of your grade.
A critical essay is due on May 28, and will be worth 20% of your grade. Details on the paper are below.
Participation will be worth 15%. Your attendance and contributions to class discussions will be used to calculate your participation grade. In addition, a number of participation exercises will be distributed throughout the term, and these exercises will also be used to calculate your participation grade. The highest participation grade that a student who misses one quarter of classes will receive is a 75 (out of 100).
Calendar of Events:
Week 1
3/24 Introduction & Expectations
3/26 Democracy and Politics
Read: Barbour and Wright, Chapter 1
3/28 Democracy and Politics
Read: The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution
(both are in appendix of Barbour and Wright)
Week 2
3/31 Constitution
Read: Barbour and Wright, Chapter 2
4/2 Constitution and Federalism
Read: Barbour and Wright, Chapter 3
Plagiarism assignment due at beginning of class
4/4 No Class: Midwest Political Science Association
Week 3
4/7 Civil Liberties
Read: Barbour and Wright, Chapter 4
4/9 Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Read: Barbour and Wright, Chapter 5
4/11 Civil Rights: No new readings
Week 4
4/14 Midterm 1
4/16 Congress
Read: Barbour and Wright, Chapter 6
4/18 Congress & Representation: No new readings
Week 5
4/21 Presidency
Read: Barbour and Wright, Chapter 7
4/23 Presidency: No new readings
4/25 Bureaucracy
Read: Barbour and Wright, Chapter 8
Week 6
4/28 The Courts
Read: Barbour and Wright, Chapter 9
4/30 Domestic and Foreign Policy
Read: Barbour and Wright, Chapter 14
5/2 Domestic and Foreign Policy
Readings on Carmen.
Week 7
5/5 Midterm II
5/7 Public Opinion
Read: Barbour and Wright, Chapter 10
5/9 Public Opinion & Ideology
Readings on Carmen
Week 8
5/12 Linkage Institutions: Political Parties
Read: Barbour and Wright, Chapter 11
Ideology Participation Exercise Due
5/14 Political Parties
Read: Barbour and Wright, Chapter 11
5/16 Interest Groups
Readings on Carmen
Week 9
5/19 Campaigns & Elections
Read: Barbour and Wright, Chapter 12
5/21 Political Participation
Readings on Carmen.
5/23 Political Participation: No new readings
Week 10
5/26 Memorial Day: No Class
5/28 The Media
Critical Essay Due
5/30 The Media
Readings on Carmen.
Finals Week Wed. 6/4 Final Exam at 2:00 pm.
Civil Liberties Critical Essay
Purpose of Exercise: We are said to live in the "Land of the Free." This assignment is designed to compel you to think about what are the most important freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.
Directions: Your assignment is to write 4-5 page essay that does the following:
A) Identify and discuss the three most important freedoms protected by the Constitution. There are a host of freedoms from which you can choose. Focus more on the freedom (e.g., free speech or right to bear arms) and less on how the freedom is protected (e.g., First Amendment or Second Amendment). Explain why each freedom is so important.
B) Of the three freedoms chosen, explain which is the most important and why.
Due Date: Your 4-5 page paper is due by Wed., May 28.