Professor Mark Cassell POL 10110-004

Office: Bowman 302, Room 35 Spring 1999

Office Phone: 330-672-4869 T-Th, 9:15-10:30, BOW 204

Office Hours: T 1:45-3:45; W 9:30-12:30; by appointment

E-mail: mcassell@kent.edu

Home Phone: 216-932-8250

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Course Description

This course is an introduction to politics and government in the United States; it will cover the major themes, theories and concepts of this subfield of political science. In particular, we will consider the fundamental principles of the constitutional framework (federalism, separation of powers, civil liberties and civil rights); participatory processes; institutions; and public policy process and outcomes.

Course Objectives

The course has four central objectives. The first is to help you gain a basic understanding of how the institutions and processes of U.S. government work. Whether or not you ever study politics formally again, such a grounding will help you participate effectively in public processes. Second, the course is designed to help you to identify, clarify, and develop your own public philosophy. A third objective is to expose you to a wide range of interesting careers in the public sector at the local, state and national levels; for some students, this course will prompt consideration of whether the public service is for you. Finally, I intend the course to attract some of you to consider political science as a major or minor.

Readings

There are three very different books required for the course.

Benjamin Ginsberg, Theodore Lowi, and Margaret Weir 1997. We the People: An Introduction to American Politics, NY: Norton (shorter edition).

Bruce Miroff, Raymond Seidelman and Todd Swanstrom 1999. Debating Democracy , New York: Houghton Mifflin Company (Second edition).

Alex Kotlowitz 1991. There Are No Children Here, New York: Doubleday Books.

The Ginsberg et al. book is a textbook. Miroff et al. is a reader; a set of short pieces, classic and contemporary, that complement the text. Kotlowitz’s book is a non-fictional story of two kids growing up on Chicago. In addition to being perhaps more readable than the text or the reader, There Are No Children Here connects the larger political issues and debates to the lives of individuals and their struggles. You are expected to complete the reading before the topic is discussed in class.

I also urge you to stay current with government and politics by regularly reading a newspaper (e.g. New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal or news magazine (e.g. Newsweek, Time, American Prospect, National Review). It is important to read a local paper as well.

Participation

Attendance at class is required. Class time will be used for lectures, discussions, films and keeping track of germane current developments. Your thoughtful questions and comments on both assigned material and current developments are welcome.

Quizzes and Questions ("Q’s")

Q's are intended to help you keep up with the reading and class attendance. A quiz is taken at the beginning of a class, before we discuss the reading; I'll tell you in the prior class that one is coming up. "Questions" have two formats. I may give you a question to think about while doing the reading; you prepare a one-page, typed response to hand in on the due date. A second possibility is an in-class question which I will provide you in advance on an assigned reading or topic. There will be approximately ten Q's during the semester. There are two possible scores: 1 ("good enough") and 0 ("a miss"). At the end of the semester, the scores will be added and the standard grading scale applied to the total score. For example, if we end up with 10 Q's and your total score is 10 (100 percent), that will be an A. A total score of 9 would be equal to 90 percent, an AB. Etc. There are no make-up quizzes or late questions. If you are not in class to take a quiz or hand in a question, that will count as a zero.

Short Paper

You will each select an organization within the federal public service (a cabinet-level department, a bureau within a department, a government corporation, an executive agency or an independent commission) that interests you. You will research this organization and write a three-page paper on it. Further details of the assignment will be provided in the first few weeks of the semester.

Exams

There will be three exams on the assigned reading and material discussed in class. The format will include multiple choice and true/false questions.

Final Grade

Each of the first two exams will count for 20 percent of the final grade and the final exam for 25 percent. The research paper will count for 20 percent and the quizzes/questions score for 15 percent. At the margins, I may bump a grade up if there has been steady improvement throughout the semester or down if attendance has been poor.

Make-up policy

All make-up exams will be 100 percent essays. Tests must be made up within one week of the regularly scheduled exam or the grade of zero will be recorded for the exam. The instructor must be notified prior to the exam if you are unable to take the exam at the scheduled time. Failure to provide such notification will result in the grade of zero for the exam. Make-up exams will be given at the instructor’s convenience and at a time other than when the class meets.

Additional assistance

I would like to hear from anyone who has a disability that may require some modification of seating, testing, or other class requirements so that appropriate arrangements may be made. Please do not hesitate to contact me after class or during my office hours.

Week Foundations of Government

1: Jan. 19 & 21 American Political Culture and Political Philosophy

2: Jan. 26 & 28 The Constitution

5: February 18 Exam

7: March 2 & 5 Public Opinion and Political Participation

G, L & W Chapter 7

Jarol B. Manheim "Packaging the People" in Miroff et al. Chapter 8.

Douglas Rushkoff "People Shape the Media" in Miroff et al. Chapter 8.

9: March 16 & 18 Campaigns and Elections

10: March 25 Exam II

March 27 – April 3 Spring Break

11: April 6 & 8 Congress

12: April 13 & 15 Presidency

15: May 6 Discussion/Activity

FINAL EXAM: Monday, May 10 7:45am-10am