Introduction to American Government

PSCI 1101: The American Political System Recitation Syllabus

Instructor: Scott Minkoff Email: [email protected] Office: Ketchum 403 Office Hours: Mondays 9:30 to 11:30 and by appointment

Section 106: Section 113: Mondays 8:00 to 8:50 AM Wednesdays 8:00 to 8:50 AM Muenzinger E130 Hellems Arts and Sciences 271

The objective of this course is to introduce you to the scientific study of politics in the United States as well as the institutions, processes, actors, and behaviors which comprise the American political system. Recitation is an opportunity for you to expand upon the topics covered in lecture and in assigned readings as well as to engage in a scholarly and informed discussion about the course themes. The success of any discussion-based class is contingent upon class preparation. Because we learn from each others’ observations, questions, and comments, failure to prepare will substantively hinder the learning of your classmates. Consequently, it is expected that you will come to class (1) having attended lecture, (2) having completed all assigned readings, and (3) prepared to participate by way of asking questions or offering comments. Additionally, you should use me as a resource. I want you to do well in this class; however, as college students the burden is on you to seek out my help if you are struggling with the material, an assignment, or if you simply wish to discuss a topic further. My office hours are listed on top and I am available by appointment.

The recitation schedule below indicates the readings we will be discussing during each recitation. These readings are in addition to the readings assigned for lecture. You are expected to come to class having carefully read the week’s assigned reading. All of the readings can be found in your Principles and Practice of American Politics book.

The work you do in recitation counts for 25% of your overall grade. That 25% is divided as follows:

Attendance and Class Participation (5%): Attendance and class participation will be evaluated together. Each student will receive a participation grade at the end of the semester. Participation comes in many forms including offering comments, asking questions, or even regularly visiting me during my office hours to further discuss course material. You cannot get a good participation grade unless you show up to class; consequently, your participation grade will be reduced by 1/3rd of a grade for each class missed. For example, if you receive a B in class participation and miss 2 classes, your attendance/class participation grade will be reduced to a C+.

Reading Quizzes (10%): Quizzes will be unannounced and will typically (but not always) require you to write a summary of the week’s recitation reading or answer a single analytical question. No make-up quizzes will be given, students not in attendance on days when a quiz is given will receive a 0.

1 Short Paper (10%): You are responsible for writing one short (4 page) paper. The paper is to be a critical response to a reading of your choice (with the exception of Week 10 and Week 15). While the approach you take is up to you, it is expected you will treat the paper seriously and thoughtfully. The paper should not be a summary of the reading, but should instead offer a critical and insightful discussion of the reading in the context of course themes. For instance, you might choose to put the reading in the context of current events (using newspaper and magazine articles); alternatively, you might offer a discussion of how the reading connects to other readings covered in recitation and lecture. Your paper is due the week after the reading is assigned in order for you to take advantage of class discussion on the 1 topic, information covered in lecture, and office hours. For this reason students may not write a response paper for the readings covered in Week 10 and Week 15. Papers that simply regurgitate class discussion will receive a low grade. All papers should be formatted in 10 to 12 point Times New Roman font with 1 inch margins. I have provided you with some additional thoughts on the paper as well as some basic thoughts on writing at the end of this syllabus.

Recitation Schedule This schedule is subject to change. Readings are to be read for the week indicated. All page numbers are from the Principles and Practice of American Politics book.

Week 1 (Week of 1.15.07): No Class

Week 2 (Week of 1.22.07): Introductions and Syllabus Overview, Designing Institutions Reading: Excerpt from The Logic of Collective Action: Public Goods and the Theory of Groups by Mancur Olson Jr. (pp 1-11)

Week 3 (Week of 1.29.07): The Constitutional Framework Reading: Federalist 10 and Federalist 51 by James Madison (pp 59-68)

Week 4 (Week of 2.5.07): Federalism Reading: “Federalism: Battles on the Front Lines of Public Policy” by Donald F. Kettl (pp 86-106)

Week 5 (Week of 2.12.07): Civil Rights Reading: “American Diversity and the 2000 Census” by Nathan Glazer (pp 122-133)

Exam 1 on Thursday, February 15th in Lecture

Week 6 (Week of 2.19.07): Civil Liberties Reading: Roe v. Wade (1973) (pp 190-198)

Week 7 (Week of 2.26.07): Congress Reading: “The Senate in Bicameral Perspective” by Richard F. Fenno Jr. (pp 221-244)

Week 8 (Week of 3.5.07): The Presidency Reading: Excerpt from Going Public by Samuel Kernell (pp 295 -310)

Week 9 (Week of 3.12.07): The Bureaucracy Reading: “The Politics of Bureaucratic Structure” by Terry M. Moe (pp 350-364)

Week 10 (Week of 3.19.07): The Judiciary (no papers will be accepted for this reading) Reading: Federalist 78 by Alexander Hamilton (pp 410-415)

Exam 2 on Thursday, March 22nd in Lecture

Spring Break

Week 11 (Week of 4.2.07): Public Opinion Reading: “America’s Ignorant Voters” by Michael Schudson (pp 492-499)

Week 12 (Week of 4.9.07): Voting, Campaigns, and Elections Reading: Excerpt from The Reasoning Voter: Communication and Persuasion in Presidential Campaigns (pp 511-518)

Research Paper Due on Thursday, April 12th in Lecture 2 Week 13 (Week of 4.16.07): Political Parties Reading: Excerpt from Why Parties? by John H. Aldrich (pp 566-578)

Week 14 (Week of 4.23.07): Interest Groups (papers for this reading do the following week) Reading: “Blunt’s K Street Team” by Bara Vaida and Lisa Caruso (pp 614-620)

Week 15 (Week of 4.30.07): The News Media (no papers will be accepted for this reading) Reading: “The Market and the Media” by James T. Hamilton (pp 621-636)

Final Exam on Wednesday, May 9th at 10:30 AM

Administrative Issues

Late Papers: Late papers will not be accepted. If you choose to do a paper for a given week’s readings, it is due at the beginning of the class following the class the reading was assigned for.

E-Mail Communication: I have setup an email list to contact you with class updates, additional readings, and questions you should consider while reading. You should be sure to check your email regularly in order to keep up with course changes and happenings.

Academic Integrity: In an academic community our ideas are our capital—in the end, they are really all we have. Consequently, I take issues of academic integrity very seriously. Plagiarism and other academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. All work is expected to be original, and not previously or simultaneously turned in for credit in another course. All forms of academic dishonesty will result in an F for the course. Per the University of Colorado at Boulder: “All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include: heating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council ([email protected]; 303-725-2273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member and non- academic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Other information on the Honor Code can be found at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html.”

Disability Issues: If you are a student with a disability and require specific accommodations, please contact me as soon as possible. The university provides appropriate services/accommodations for students with documented disabilities.

Sexual Harassment: There are university policies governing the prevention of sexual harassment in the university setting. I will direct you to these resources if you have questions.

3 Tips for Writing Your Short Paper

Below I have outlined some of my expectations for your paper and have provided some thoughts about writing in a political science course. It should go without saying that I expect that what you hand in is your best work. Please feel free to contact me with questions.

Generally, the best response papers will do the following: 1. Display an understanding of the week’s reading without summarizing. 2. Offer an insightful and critical analysis of the reading and its implications for American politics. 3. Connect the reading to broader course themes. 4. You may choose to put the reading in the context of current events (using newspaper and magazine articles) 5. You may offer a discussion of how the reading connects to other readings covered in recitation and lecture. 6. The paper may offer your own take on the topics discussed in the reading. 7. The paper may point out portions of the reading or the argument that were not well understood; however, you should avoid writing a paper on a reading that you had a particularly difficult time understanding.

Additional thoughts about your paper and the writing process: 1. Take pride in what you hand in. Do not hand in first drafts. Proofread and edit. Papers that have clearly not been proofread and revised reveal that you do not take your work seriously. It is always best to sleep on anything you have written for at least one night. Have someone else read it over, read it aloud, do whatever it takes to make sure a fresh set of eyes looks at your paper before you hand it in. 2. Assume an informed and knowledgeable reader. Avoid all but the briefest summary of the week’s reading—you should jump right into the interesting part of your paper. Your argument and analysis should be proof enough that your have a thorough understanding of the relevant readings and course material. 3. Include appropriate citations and a bibliography. Whether you are including a direct quotation or merely got the idea from somewhere else, make sure to indicate where you got it from with a citation. For example, if you are citing the week’s reading, include the author and the page number parenthetically after the quotation or referenced material. Wikipedia is not an academic source. 4. Avoid using the 2nd person (you). 5. Do not use contractions in formal writing (can’t, don’t, won’t, they’re). 6. Avoid using the passive voice (Write: “Political scientists study government.” Do not write: “Government is studied by political scientists”) 7. Avoid drawing definitive conclusions you are not prepared make. 8. Give your paper a title and make sure your name, the date, the instructor, and the class are written at the top of the first page or on a cover sheet. Be certain to staple everything together in the appropriate order.