POS 101J

Introduction to American Politics

 

Professor Ronald Schmidt                                                                       126 Bedford St.

Spring 2007                                                                                        780-4581

Office Hours: Tu 2:30-5:00 or by appointment   

Email: rschmidt@usm.maine.edu                          

 

            This course is designed to provide you with a critical understanding of American government from its constitutional framework and ideological origins to the political reforms and policy issues of the Twenty-first Century.  The central questions for our class are centered around the identity of the American republic and its citizens.  Is the United States a democratic state?  What does it mean to be democratic?  If a democracy is a state in which the people rule, how do we determine who “the people” are?  We will begin with an introduction to the ideological and historical context of our nation’s founding with special attention to the recurring debates over political membership and representation.  The first section of the course will thus be primarily an examination of the effect of these questions on both the historical and the structural foundations of the American republic. The second section of the course will cover the institutional framework of government, specifically the powers, limitations, and interactions of the three branches of government and the way that ambition and power serve to both safeguard and endanger democratic politics. Finally we will look at the outcomes of American politics among the three branches, in court decisions and in public policy.

 

            Students will need to complete reading assignments and attend all class sessions; all students should also participate in discussion whenever possible.  A subscription to the New York Times (home delivery or on-line) is recommended but not required. 

 

            Grades will be determined as follows:

 

                        First Midterm, February 14: 25%

                        Second Midterm, April 11: 30%

                        Final Exam, May 9: 35%

                        Attendance and Participation: 10%

                       

 

            The assigned reading is below, and will be available at the bookstore:

 

            The Struggle for Democracy, Eighth ed., Greenberg and Page

            American Government: Readings and Cases, Sixteenth ed., Peter Woll

           

 

 

 

 

 

POS 101J

Assignments

 

Introduction: Origins of the American Republic

            January 17:

Greenberg and Page, Chapter 1: Democracy and American Politics

                        Declaration of Independence, Greenberg and Page

Greenberg and Page, Chapter 2: The Constitution

                        The Constitution of the United States, Greenberg and Page

                        James Madison, Federalist 47, 48 and 51 (Woll)

           

Federalism

            January 24:

                        Greenberg and Page, Chapter 3: Federalism, States and Nation

                        Alexander Hamilton, Federalist 16, 17 (Woll)

                        James Madison, Federalist 39 (Woll)

                        McCulloch v. Maryland (Woll)

                       

Foundations of the American Republic: Democracy, Representation and Interests

            January 31:

                        Greenberg and Page, Chapter 4: Structural Foundations

                        Greenberg and Page, Chapter 5: Public Opinion

                        Greenberg and Page, Chapter 6: The News Media

 

            February 7:

                        Greenberg and Page, Chapter 7: Interest Groups and Corporations

                        Theodore J. Lowi, “The End of Liberalism: The Indictment” (Woll)

                        Greenberg and Page, Chapter 8: Social Movements

                        Film in class: “Eyes on the Prize: Awakenings”

 

Storm

            February 14

 

Winter Vacation

            February 21

 

Midterm

            February 28

 

Parties and Elections

            March 7:

                        Greenberg and Page, Ch. 10, Voting and Elections

                        Film in class: “The War Room”

 

 

 

March 14:

                        Greenberg and Page, Chapter 9: Political Parties

                        James Madison, Federalist 10 (Woll)

                        Buckley v. Valeo (Woll)

                        McConnell v. FEC (Woll)

 

Congress

            March 21:

                        Greenberg and Page, Chapter 11: Congress

                        James Madison, Federalist 53, 56, 57, 58, 62, 63 (Woll)

                        Edmund Burke, “Speech to Electors of Bristol” (Woll)

                        Nelson Polsby, “Congress-Bashing for Beginners” (Woll)

                        Richard Fenno, “Home Style and Washington Career” (Woll)

 

Spring Break

            March 28

 

The Presidency and the Executive Branch

            April 4:

                        Greenberg and Page 12: The President

                        Alexander Hamilton, Federalist 70 (Woll)

                        Richard Neustadt, “Presidential Power” (Woll)

                        James David Barber, “The Presidential Character” (Woll)

                        Greenberg and Page 13: The Federal Bureaucracy

                        James Q. Wilson, “Rise of the Bureaucratic State” (Woll)

 

Midterm

            April 11

 

The Courts

            April 18:

                        Greenberg and Page 14: The Courts

                        Alexander Hamilton, Federalist 78 (Woll)

                        Marbury v. Madison (Woll)

                        William J. Brennan, “How the Court Arrives at Decisions,” (Woll)

                        Gideon v. Wainwright (Woll)

                        Engel v. Vitale (Woll)

 

Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

            April 25:

                        Greenberg and Page 15: Civil Liberties

                        Greenberg and Page, Chapter 16: Civil Rights

                        Brown v. Board of Education 1954 (Woll)

                        Brown v. Board of Education 1955 (Woll)

                        Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Pena (Woll)

                        Roe v . Wade (Woll)

                        Sandra Day O’Connor, “Constitutional Liberty...” (Woll)

                        Antonin Scalia, “Liberty and Abortion...” (Woll)

 

Public Policy

May 2:

                        Greenberg and Page, Chapter 17: Domestic Policy

                        Greenberg and Page, Chapter 18: Foreign Policy and National Defense

National Security Statement of the United States of America (http://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/nss.html)

 

Final Exam

            May 9

 

Should you need services or accommodations due to a disability, please speak with me or contact the office of Academic Support for Students with Disabilities (LB 242)