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Political science overview, Study Guides, Projects, Research of Political Theory

City University of New York (CUNY) - Bernard M Baruch College Political Theory

This sheet is an overview of what to expect when taking a political science class

Typology: Study Guides, Projects, Research

2019/2020

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POLS 1101

Fall 2018

Political Science 1101—American Government: Practices and Values

Professor Mercedes Wilby Office: Vertical Campus, 5th Floor, Rm 280

Section BTRA, T/Th 9:05-10:20am Office Hours: T/Th 10:30-11:30 & by appt

Room: Vertical Campus 4-412 Email: Mercedes.Wilby@baruch.cuny.edu

Course Description:

In this course we will analyze the ideas and values that shaped the nature of the American

government. We look at the institutions of government; electoral politics and the relationship

between institutions, the public, the media, and politicians; and the policies that come out of

government and affect the lives of the American Public. This course will prepare students for

future political science courses, courses in the other social sciences, and civic participation.

Learning Objectives:

Students will be able to:

•Identify the differences among the three branches of government and how they interact

•Demonstrate understanding of the American Constitution’s construction and implementation

•Analyze the role of non-governmental players—i.e. voters, interest groups, and the media

•Identify ways in which government institutions create or mitigate collective action problems

•Critically evaluate evidence

•Produce reasoned arguments using evidence to support conclusions

Course Structure, Requirements, and Grading:

•Grade Distribution:

Attendance and Participation: 15%

Homework: 20%

Short writing assignments: two, 10% each

Long writing assignment: 20%

Final Exam: 25%

•Homework: You will be expected to take a quiz online before each class. The quizzes will

cover the homework readings and material from previous lectures. You will have a

limited time to complete each quiz—I reserve the right to deduct points if you go over the

allotted time. Your lowest two quiz grades will be dropped. They are due by 9:00 am

each class day, unless noted on the syllabus. Make up homework will not be accepted.

•Writing Assignments: You are encouraged to use the writing center and other resources

when completing these assignments. No extensions will be granted, unless approved

before the deadline.

•Final Exam: The final exam will be given during the set exam period at the end of term. No

makeup exams will be given, unless approved before the exam.

Partial preview of the text

Download Political science overview and more Study Guides, Projects, Research Political Theory in PDF only on Docsity!

Political Science 1101—American Government: Practices and Values

Professor Mercedes Wilby Office: Vertical Campus, 5th Floor, Rm 280 Section BTRA, T/Th 9:05-10:20am Office Hours: T/Th 10:30-11:30 & by appt Room: Vertical Campus 4-412 Email: Mercedes.Wilby@baruch.cuny.edu

Course Description:

In this course we will analyze the ideas and values that shaped the nature of the American government. We look at the institutions of government; electoral politics and the relationship between institutions, the public, the media, and politicians; and the policies that come out of government and affect the lives of the American Public. This course will prepare students for future political science courses, courses in the other social sciences, and civic participation.

Learning Objectives:

Students will be able to:

Identify the differences among the three branches of government and how they interact
Demonstrate understanding of the American Constitution’s construction and implementation
Analyze the role of non-governmental players—i.e. voters, interest groups, and the media
Identify ways in which government institutions create or mitigate collective action problems
Critically evaluate evidence
Produce reasoned arguments using evidence to support conclusions

Course Structure, Requirements, and Grading:

• Grade Distribution:

Attendance and Participation: 15% Homework: 20% Short writing assignments: two, 10% each Long writing assignment: 20% Final Exam: 25%

• Homework:^ You will be expected to take a quiz online before each class. The quizzes will

cover the homework readings and material from previous lectures. You will have a limited time to complete each quiz—I reserve the right to deduct points if you go over the allotted time. Your lowest two quiz grades will be dropped. They are due by 9:00 am each class day , unless noted on the syllabus. Make up homework will not be accepted.

• Writing Assignments:^ You are encouraged to use the writing center and other resources

when completing these assignments. No extensions will be granted, unless approved before the deadline.

• Final Exam:^ The final exam will be given during the set exam period at the end of term. No

makeup exams will be given, unless approved before the exam.

• Extra Credit:^ I will, from time to time, offer opportunities for you to earn extra credit.

These may involve attending events, responding to a news story, writing short papers, or something else entirely. They will be worth different amounts and boost different grades depending on the assignment.

• Accommodations:^ Students with disabilities will be provided reasonable academic

accommodations based on eligibility. Please discuss this with me and the Office of Disability Services (at 646-312-4590) as soon as possible.

• Blackboard:^ Readings, quizzes, assignments, and other course materials will be posted on

the course’s BB site. As noted above, all assignments are due via BB by the start of class. Please check BB regularly for updated class notices, readings, and grades.

Expectations:

• Attendance and Absences:^ Attendance is mandatory and you must arrive on time.^ Your

grade will suffer from latenesses and unexcused absences. Students who are consistently late or have excessive unexcused absences may be dropped from the course. Absences due to illness and religious observance are excused and will not count against students. A doctor’s note may be required in the case of multiple medical absences. If you feel your absence/lateness should be excused, I encourage you to speak with me.

• Late Writing Assignments:^ Assignments are due hard-copy at the beginning of class^ and

via BB by the beginning of class unless otherwise noted. Late assignments must be submitted via BB as soon as they are completed to stop the clock. You will need to give me a hard copy as soon as possible thereafter. For every day an assignment is late, one- third of a grade will be deducted. The clock starts at time the assignment is due and will stop when it is submitted on BB. That means an A quality paper submitted after the beginning of class on the day it is due will receive an A-. If it is submitted after the time class would start on following day, it will receive a B+, and so forth.

• Food and Drink:^ I know we meet in the morning, but I have a strict no eating in class

policy. Beverages in covered containers (i.e., coffee cups with lids, water bottles, etc.) are allowed.

• Electronic Devices:^ Please turn cellphones off or put them on silent (not vibrate). No

electronic devices (including laptops) are allowed in class without my prior permission.

Academic Honesty:

I strictly enforce Baruch College’s Policy on Academic Honesty. For details on what constitutes academic dishonesty—including cheating and plagiarism—see: www.baruch.cuny.edu/academic/ academic_honesty.html. You may also wish to read the Student Guide to Academic Integrity, written by Baruch students. This can be found at: http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/facultyhandbook/ documents/StudentGuidePDF.pdf. If questions remain, please ask me.

Sept 4 The Constitution

Readings:

KJKV, Chapter 2, pages 47-63 and 72-79 (“Drafting a New Constitution,” “Designing Institutions for Collective Action: The Framers’ Tool Kit”).
“Sources and Concepts of the Framers.” In^ American Government: Power and Purpose. 50-51. Edited by Theodore J. Lowi, Benjamin Ginsberg, and Kenneth A. Shepsle. 10th ed. New York and London: WW Norton & Company, 2008.
Tribe, Laurence H., and Michael C. Dorf. “How Not to Read the Constitution.” In American Government: Readings and Cases. 47-50_._ Edited by Peter Woll. 16th ed. New York; Pearson Longman, 2006.
The Constitution (but not the Amendments) in KJKV or at^ https://www.archives.gov/ founding-docs/constitution-transcript. (skim)

Sept 6 The Federalist Papers and the Anti-Federalists

Assignments:

First short assignment handed out Readings:
KJKV, Chapter 2, pages 63-72 (“The Fight for Ratification,” “The Theory Underlying the Constitution”).
Federalist #10 and #51, James Madison in KJKV
Anti-Federalist Centinel I Suggested Readings:
Federalist #1 and #70, Alexander Hamilton at^ https://www.congress.gov/resources/display/ content/The+Federalist+Papers.

Sept 11 No class

Sept 13 The Amendments

Readings:

Rutland, Robert Allen. “The English Beginnings.” In^ The Birth of the Bill of Rights , 3-13. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1955.
“The Bill of Rights: A Brief History.” American Civil Liberties Union. 2017. At^ https:// www.aclu.org/other/bill-rights-brief-history.
The Bill of Rights (Amendments I-X) in KJKV.
Amendments XIII, XIV, XV, XIX, XXIV, XXV, XXVI in KJKV.

Sept 18 No class

Sept 20 Federalism

Assignments:

First short assignment due Readings:
KJKV, Chapter 3.
Rosen, Jeffrey. “States’ Rights for the Left.”^ The New York Times , December 4, 2016, New York Edition ed., Sunday Review sec. December 3, 2016. https://www.nytimes.com/ 2016/12/03/opinion/sunday/states-rights-for-the-left.html?_r=0. Suggested Readings:
Grozdins, Morton. “The Federal System.” In^ American Government: Readings and Cases, 84-88_._ Edited by Peter Woll. 16th ed. New York; Pearson Longman, 2006.

Unit II: Institutions

Sept 25 Congress: Structure

Readings:

KJKV Chapter 6, pages 213-222, 232-254. (Introduction, “Congress in the Constitution,” “The Basic Problems of Legislative Organization,” and “Organizing Congress.”)
Sinclair, Barbara. “The ‘60 Vote Senate.’”^ The Lanahan Readings in the American Polity. 162-168. Edited by Ann G. Serow and Everett C. Ladd. 4th Ed. Baltimore, MD; Lanahan Publishers. 2007.
Savage, Charlie, “The Senate Filibuster, Explained.”^ The New York Times , April 3, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/03/us/politics/filibuster-supreme-court-neil- gorsuch.html. Suggested Readings:
Bresnahan, John, Burgess Everett, and Sarah Ferris. “Trump to GOP: Dump the Filibuster Before Schumer Does.” Politico , June 26, 2018. https://www.politico.com/story/ 2018/06/26/donald-trump-kill-the-filibuster-677151.

Sept 27 Congress: Lawmaking and Representation

Readings:

KJKV Chapter 6, pages 229-232, 254-270 (“Who Serves in Congress?,” “Making Laws,” and “Evaluating Congress.”)
Fenno, Richard. “Home Style”^ The Lanahan Readings in the American Polity.^ 150-156. Edited by Ann G. Serow and Everett C. Ladd. 4th Ed. Baltimore, MD; Lanahan Publishers.
Barker, David C., and Christopher Jan Carman. “This is why so many Republicans are ready to ignore public opinion on health care.” The Washington Post, June 27, 2017. https:// www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/06/27/this-is-why-so-many- republicans-are-ready-to-buck-public-opinion-on-health-care/?utm_term=.dc7915bb631f.

Oct 16 The Judiciary: Civil Liberties

Assignments:

Second short assignment handed out Readings:
KJKV Chapter 5, pages 170-193, 204-210 (Introduction, “Nationalization of Civil Liberties,” “Writing Rights and Liberties into the Constitution,” “Freedom of Speech,” “Freedom of the Press,” “Freedom of Religion,” “Privacy,” and “Assessing Civil Liberties as Public Policy.”) Suggested Readings:
KJKV Chapter 5, pages 193-204 (the rest of the chapter)

Oct 18 A Fourth Branch?: The Media

Readings:

KJVK Chapter 14
Hertzberg, Hendrik. “Senses of Entitlement.”^ The New Yorker , April 8, 2013.^ http:// www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/04/08/senses-of-entitlement. Suggested Readings:
Chokshi, Niraj. “Behind the Race to Publish the Top-Secret Pentagon Papers.”^ The New York Times, December 20, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/20/us/pentagon-papers- post.html.
Franke-Ruta, Garance. “The NSA Leaks and the Pentagon Papers: What's the Difference Between Edward Snowden and Daniel Ellsberg?” The Atlantic, June 15, 2013. https:// www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/06/the-nsa-leaks-and-the-pentagon-papers- whats-the-difference-between-edward-snowden-and-daniel-ellsberg/276741/. Note: No office hours

Unit III: Politics

Oct 23 The Media and Campaigns

Readings:

Review KJVK Chapter 14
DelBello, Alfred B. “Campaign Reporting.”^ The New York Times.^ March 22, 1984.^ https:// www.nytimes.com/1984/03/22/opinion/campaign-reporting.html
Rutenberg, Jim.^ “The Mutual Dependence of Donald Trump and the News Media.”^ The New York Times, March 20, 2016. https://nyti.ms/1pVI8HL.
O’Connell, Michael. “Political Ad Spending to Hit $11.7 Billion in 2016; Trump's Free Coverage Unprecedented.” The Hollywood Reporter, March 31, 2016. https:// www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/political-ad-spending-hit-117-879699.
Bialik, Kristen and Katerina Eva Masta. “Key Trends in Social and Digital News Media.” October 4, 2017. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/10/04/key-trends-in-social- and-digital-news-media/.

Oct 25 Voter Behavior / Why Vote?

Assignments:

Second short assignment due Readings:
KJVK Chapter 11, pages 438-452, 472 (Introduction, “The Logic of Elections,” “The Right to Vote,” and “Who Uses the Right to Vote?”)
Bialik, Carl. “No, Voter Turnout Wasn’t Way Down From 2012.”^ FiveThirtyEight. November 15, 2016. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/no-voter-turnout-wasnt-way- down-from-2012/.
Gabriel, Trip. “In Virginia, a 11,608-to-11,607 Lesson in the Power of a Single Vote.”^ The New York Times, Dec 19, 2017. https://nyti.ms/2oR0lec.

Oct 30 Public Opinion

Readings:

KJKV Chapter 10 Suggested Readings:
Pew Research. “Wide Gender Gap, Growing Educational Divide in Voters’ Party Identification” March 20, 2018. http://www.people-press.org/2018/03/20/wide-gender-gap- growing-educational-divide-in-voters-party-identification/.

Nov 1 Political Parties

Readings:

KJVK Chapter 12 Suggested Readings:
Pew Research. “Political Polarization in the American Public.” June 12, 2014.^ http:// www.people-press.org/2014/06/12/political-polarization-in-the-american-public/ Assignments: - Long writing assignment (essay) topics handed out

Nov 6 Election Day—No Class

Assignments:

Who’s on the ballot? (Assignment details on BB) Readings:
None (so there’s no quiz!)

Unit IV: Policy

Nov 22 No class—Happy Thanksgiving!

Nov 27 Policy Change

Readings:

KJKV Chapter 15, pages 600-602, 621-623 (Introduction, and “Conclusion”)
Krutz, Glen.^ American Government. Edited by Sylvie Waskiewicz. July 14, 2016.^ https:// openstax.org/details/american-government. 589-611.

Nov 29 Foreign Policy

Readings:

KJKV Chapter 15, pages 606-610 (“The Obstacles to Taking^ Domestic^ Action to Stop Global Climate Change”).
Krutz, Glen.^ American Government. Edited by Sylvie Waskiewicz. July 14, 2016.^ https:// openstax.org/details/american-government. 627-656.
Rosenberg, Elizabeth. “The War Over Who Controls U.S. Foreign Policy Has Begun.” Foreign Policy , July 28, 2017. http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/07/28/the-war-over-who- controls-u-s-foreign-policy-has-begun/.

Dec 4 Domestic Policy

Readings:

KJKV Chapter 15, pages 602-606, 613-616 (“Free Riding and Health Care” and “The Prisoner’s Dilemma of Entitlement Reform.”)
Krutz, Glen.^ American Government. Edited by Sylvie Waskiewicz. July 14, 2016.^ https:// openstax.org/details/american-government. 601-605.
Zelizer, Julian. “How Medicare Was Made.”^ The New Yorker , February 15, 2015.^ http:// www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/medicare-made.
“The fix for American health care can be found in Europe.”^ The Economist , August 10, 2017, United States section. https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21726124- policymakers-should-take-close-look-fix-american-health-care-can-be-found. Suggested Readings:
Newkirk, Vann R., II. “The Limits of Using Reconciliation to Repeal Obamacare.”^ The Atlantic , January 13, 2017. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/01/ reconciliation-obamacare-repeal-gop-strategy/513059/.
Newkirk, Vann R., II. “Making Sense of the Obamacare Repeal Process.”^ The Atlantic , July 26, 2017. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/07/trying-to-make-sense-of- whats-happening-senate-reconciliation/534942/.

Dec 6 Economic Policy

Readings:

KJKV Chapter 15, pages 610-613, 616-621 (“High Stakes Maneuvering: Why We Tiptoe Up To, but Have Not Fallen Off, the Fiscal Cliff” and “The Success and Failure of Collective Action: A Tale of Two Tax Reforms”).
Krutz, Glen.^ American Government. Edited by Sylvie Waskiewicz. July 14, 2016.^ https:// openstax.org/details/american-government. 611-619.

Political science overview, Study Guides, Projects, Research of Political Theory

Related documents

Partial preview of the text

Download Political science overview and more Study Guides, Projects, Research Political Theory in PDF only on Docsity!

Political Science 1101—American Government: Practices and Values

Course Description:

Learning Objectives:

Course Structure, Requirements, and Grading:

• Grade Distribution:

• Homework:^ You will be expected to take a quiz online before each class. The quizzes will

• Writing Assignments:^ You are encouraged to use the writing center and other resources

• Final Exam:^ The final exam will be given during the set exam period at the end of term. No

• Extra Credit:^ I will, from time to time, offer opportunities for you to earn extra credit.

• Accommodations:^ Students with disabilities will be provided reasonable academic

• Blackboard:^ Readings, quizzes, assignments, and other course materials will be posted on

Expectations:

• Attendance and Absences:^ Attendance is mandatory and you must arrive on time.^ Your

• Late Writing Assignments:^ Assignments are due hard-copy at the beginning of class^ and

• Food and Drink:^ I know we meet in the morning, but I have a strict no eating in class

• Electronic Devices:^ Please turn cellphones off or put them on silent (not vibrate). No

Academic Honesty:

Sept 4 The Constitution

Sept 6 The Federalist Papers and the Anti-Federalists

Sept 11 No class

Sept 13 The Amendments

Sept 18 No class

Sept 20 Federalism

Unit II: Institutions

Sept 25 Congress: Structure

Sept 27 Congress: Lawmaking and Representation

Oct 16 The Judiciary: Civil Liberties

Oct 18 A Fourth Branch?: The Media

Unit III: Politics

Oct 23 The Media and Campaigns

Oct 25 Voter Behavior / Why Vote?

Oct 30 Public Opinion

Nov 1 Political Parties

Nov 6 Election Day—No Class

Unit IV: Policy

Nov 22 No class—Happy Thanksgiving!

Nov 27 Policy Change

Nov 29 Foreign Policy

Dec 4 Domestic Policy

Dec 6 Economic Policy

Dec 11 Review

Dec 14-21 Final exam period (exam date TBD)

Note: Readings are subject to change. I will provide notice in class and via BB

announcements/emails if changes are made.