This course has a number of different objectives.  One goal is to introduce students to the basic institutions and processes of American government.  The distribution of power among different branches and levels of government is complimented by the distribution of responsibilities and rights among citizens.  A broader concern is to think about how the historical and philosophical foundations of republican government, from the time of the 1787 Constitutional Convention, relate to the workings of democracy in a country that has changed in many different ways since the time of the American Founders.  One can easily see that the framers of the Constitution were quite concerned about the role of religion in society while insisting on a wall of separation between church and state; they were no less preoccupied with issues of character and fundamental values in campaigns and public service; they worried somewhat about the role of parties and special interests; and they tried to balance the power of the national government with rights and powers reserved to the separate states.

            Still another course objective is to consider how American domestic politics is increasingly influenced by international economic and political developments.   George Washington's historical Farewell Address (1796)–repeatedly cited by both Democratic and Republican leaders–underscores the connection between by the internal workings of American government and the basic obligations of American foreign policy.  For the first half century of the American republic, public debate was stirred by the question of whether successful republican government–one committed to the protection of individual liberties–was compatible with a large military establishment.  Did American "leadership" of democratic causes require active involvement in the world, or was leadership to be exercised by providing the world a "model" to emulate?  The issues have sharpened much more today with American engagement–economically, politically, and maybe culturally–an accepted part of the international landscape.  But the costs of involvement (intervention), how those costs affect democracy in America (not to mention democracy in other lands), and how global issues shape political battles in and outside government–all of these longstanding concerns have become perhaps more–rather than less–important for any understanding of the American political system.  American politics are not insulated from forces of globalization

Assigned Texts

Sabato & O'Connor, Essentials of American Government (2002).
Hamilton, Madison, and Jay, The Federalist.
Gergen, Eyewitness to Power, the Essence of Leadership: Nixon to Clinton (2000).

Assigned Op-Ed Column at the New York Times

Pulitzer Prize winner Thomas Friedman writes an international column every Wednesday and Sunday in the New York Times.  Students will be held responsible for all columns once class begins.  Electronic subscriptions are free to the NY Times.  Students are encouraged to print out a copy of each column as the Times will charge a fee for columns older than two weeks.  For those who have an interest in globalization and world affairs, see Friedman's The Lexus and the Olive Tree.

Washington's Farewell Address

A copy of this historic address is available on my web site, in addition to many other sites on the WWW.  Otherwise, you might look at http://thisnation.com/library/washington-farewell.html.  What was Washington worried about?    What kind of links did he see between the operations of American government and foreign involvement?  Why was he worried about character, morality, and religion?  And how does all of these "value" issues relate to democratic government?
 

Course Requirements

Class attendance is mandatory and graded.   Roll will be called at each class meeting.  Either late arrivals or early departures do not meet the expectations of the attendance policy.  Absences are excused in cases of serious illness, hospitalization, or family emergency.  Full medical or other appropriate documentation must be provided.  Absences may also be excused only in cases involving Provost-approved and university-sponsored activities (which carry course credit) or legally required activities such as emergency military service or jury duty.  Student athletes should make arrangements with the instructor before any absence from campus.
 

Students are expected to have completed the assigned readings and to be prepared (if called upon) to contribute to class discussion.  Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent him or her from fully demonstrating his or her abilities should contact me personally as soon as possible so we can discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full participation and facilitate your educational opportunities.  Students are fully responsible for adhering to all university deadlines and regulations that may be relevant to their enrollment in this course.

Evaluation

There will be two midterm examinations and a final examination.  Exam reviews will be distributed a week before each test date.  The exam format will usually be a combination of objective and short answer questions.  Each of the three exams will be equally weighted at twenty-five percent of the final course grade.  The remaining twenty-five percent of the grade will consist of a series of short writing assignments based on the Federalist essays.  While no grades will be dropped, or any extra credit work accepted, the tabulation of the final course grade may–in borderline cases–take into consideration a student's improvement over the course of the semester.  That improvement must carry consistent class attendance and be continuous over the three exams and writing assignments.
 

Writing Assignments

All students are expected to complete three short essays on key topics and positions laid out by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay in the Federalist.  Writing assignments will be due at the end of September, October, and November.  Essay questions will be distributed early in the month.  These essays, though not a formal research paper, should be typed neatly and conform to accepted rules of grammar and punctuation.  When in doubt, consult either the Turabian or Chicago style manuals (both available at Bizzell Library).  No secondary source citations will be required, but outside reference works will be accepted and considered in calculating the grade.

Class Schedule

Please note that assignments from the Federalist (which will overlap readings from the two other main texts used in this course) will be covered on a separate handout.

Aug. 27: First Class Meeting
                      Washington's Farewell Address (on line, at Bizzell, or my web page)

Aug. 29: O'Connor/Sabato, Chap. 1

Sept. 10: O'Connor/Sabato, Chap. 2

Sept. 17: O'Connor/Sabato, Chap. 3

Sept. 24: O'Connor/Sabato, Chap. 4

Oct. 1: First Federalist Writing Assignment Due

Oct. 3: FIRST MIDTERM EXAMINATION
                      O'Connor/Sabato, Chap. 6
                      Gergen, Chaps. 1 & 2

Oct. 15: O'Connor/Sabato, Chap. 7
                      Gergen, Chap. 3

Oct. 24: O'Connor/Sabato, Chap. 9
                      Gergen, Chap. 4

Oct. 31: Second Federalist Writing Assignment Due

Nov. 5: SECOND MIDTERM EXAMINATION
                      O'Connor/Sabato, Chap. 10
                      Gergen, Chap. 5

Nov. 14: Gergen, Chaps. 6 & 7

Nov. 19: O'Connor/Sabato, Chap. 11

Nov. 26: Gergen, Chaps. 8 & 9

Dec. 3: Third Federalist Writing Assignment Due

Dec. 5: O'Connor/Sabato, Chap. 12

Dec. 10: Gergen, Chap. 10 & Conclusion

Dec. 18: FINAL EXAMINATION
 

Political Science 1113
Fall 2002
Prof. Russell
 

Please note that assignments from the Federalist are made on a monthly basis.  Students will assume full responsibility for complete the required number of essays for each month.  Reading from the Federalist will overlap with assignments from the Sabato-O'Connor and Gergen texts.
 
 

SEPTEMBER ASSIGNMENT

I:  Principles of Constitutional Design
 

The assumptions, view of human nature, and principles underlying the United States Constitution--and how they fit together, including:

                     Individualism
                     The role of experience in constitutional design
                     Constitutional design as a Science and an Art
                     The Principle of Relative Advantage
                     The Assumptions of human fallibility & human learning
                     The Principle of Political Constraint--the logic of mutually productive relationships
                     The distinction between a Constitution and a Law

Primary focus papers as follows, emphasis on those with asterisk (*): Federalist Nos 1, 2*, 10*, 15, 37, 51*, 60 & 63.

(Relevant papers include Federalist Nos. 1-4, 6-10, 15, 16, 23, 30, 37, 38, 41, 46, 47, 51, 53, 81, & 85.)
 

OCTOBER ASSIGNMENT

II: Republicanism

                     The Principle of Political Representation
                     The Principle of Majority Rule
                     Republicanism as a type of democratic system
                     The function and meaning of Equality in representative government
                     The problems and paradoxes involved with Representation
                     Virtue and the Principle of Merit
                     Different modes of election and their mixture
                     The Size Principle and legislatures
                     The Republican Disease--majority tyranny
                     A republican remedy--the extended compound republic in America

Primary focus papers as follows, emphasis on those with asterisk (*): Federalist Nos. 10, 37*, 39, 55*, 57 & 58.

(Relevant papers also Federalist Nos. 7, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 27, 28, 35, 39, 49-66.)
 

NOVEMBER ASSIGNMENT

III:  The Separation of Powers

                     Political power versus political function
                     Distribution of power as a constitutional principle
                     Shared versus separated powers
                     Checks and balances
                     Separation of powers and diverse constituencies
                     Separation of powers and the deliberative process
                     Separation of powers and freedom

Primary focus papers, with emphasis on those with asterisk (*): Federalist Nos. 47*, 48*, 50, 51*, 60, 63, 66.

(Relevant papers include Federalist Nos. 9, 10, 15, 37, 41, 47-51, 55-57, 62-68, 73, 75, 76, 78, & 81.)
 

IV:  Limited Government & Constitutionalism--Liberty Under Law

                     The nature of liberty or freedom
                     A constitution as a "higher law"
                     Popular sovereignty and delegated powers
                     A constitutionally guided political process
                     An independent judiciary and the Power of Judicial Review
                     The Bill of Rights--origin and development

Primary focus papers, with emphasis on those with asterisk (*): Federalist Nos. 14*, 39, 78, 84 & 85*.

(Relevant papers include Federalist Nos. 1-6, 8-10, 12, 14, 17, 21, 23, 25-28, 31, 37-39, 41, 42, 44, 48-49, 57, 58, 63, 70, 77, & 83-85.)