Associate Professor Bob Turner, PhD [email protected] Office Ladd 316 https://academics.skidmore.edu/blogs/bobturner Office Hours MWF, 11:10-12, 1:20-2, TR 12-2 or whenever my door is open or by appointment

Introduction to American Politics PL 101 Fall 2018

This course is an introduction to the foundations and workings of the American political system. The main focus of the course is on the institutions and activities of the national government. The assignments and lectures are designed to enhance your ability to think critically about politics, political choices, political institutions, and public policies. The course covers four main topics: the foundation of American politics, citizen participation in the political process, political institutions, and public policy.

Learning Objectives Upon completing this class, students should understand: 1. the theoretical and practical considerations that inspired the founding of the American political system and how they help and hinder democratic government today; 2. the causes and consequences of different forms of political participation; 3. the structures and activities of Congress, the Presidency, and the Judiciary; 4. the extent and causes of economic inequality in the ; 5. how individuals and groups can influence American politics; 6. how political scientists make empirical and normative arguments.

Requirements The grades for the course will be based on first midterm (15%), second midterm (25%), a short research paper (30%), and a final exam (30%). Class participation will be taken into account for borderline grades. As befitting your status at one of the “New Ivies” (US News and World Report 2006), I have high expectations of student performance.

Course Absences A well functioning class that promotes learning requires good attendance. Students should inform me prior to class if they must miss class on a specific day. You are allowed two personal days (absences), after that I will deduct 2.5% from your final grade. For example, you receive a 90% as your final grade, but have missed four classes; your final grade is an 85%.

Disability If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need academic accommodation, you must formally request accommodation from Meg Hegener, Coordinator for Student Access Services. You will also need to provide documentation which verifies the existence of a disability and supports your request. For further information, please call 580-8150 or stop by the office of Student Academic Services in Starbuck Center.

Books and Readings 1. William Bianco and David Canon, American Politics Today, Fourth Core Edition 2. Morris Fiorina, Unstable Majorities: Polarization, Party Sorting, and Political Stalemate 3. PL 101 Class Reader indicates readings are in class reader 4. Stay current with American politics

1 I plan on three hours of reading for every one hour of class time. You should complete the assigned readings before the topic is discussed in lecture. Class discussions will use the readings and current events as a point of departure. The time to begin caring about your grade is at the beginning of the semester, not the night before an exam or, even worse, the last week of the semester.

Please be tolerant of other in the class (including me) who may say things that are upsetting or offensive to you. These moments will occur for each and every one of us. In these moments, you have an opportunity to educate others, to learn about yourself, agree to disagree, or all of the above.

Laptop Policy A wide range of research has found that use of a laptop (or similar device) in lecture courses will, on average, reduce understanding of the course material and result in lower grades for you and your classmates. The negative impact on learning and grades affects those who sit around someone using a laptop, as well as the user. Therefore, you may not use your laptop for note taking. See

Sana, F., Weston, T., & Cepeda, N. J. (2013). Laptop multitasking hinders classroom learning for both users and nearby peers. Computers & Education, 62, 24-31. Rosen, L. D., Mark Carrier, L., & Cheever, N. A. (2013). Facebook and texting made me do it: Media-induced task-switching while studying. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(3), 948- 958. Fried, C. B. (2008). In-class laptop use and its effects on student learning. Computers & Education, 50(3), 906- 914.

Academic Integrity Students are responsible for reading, understanding, and upholding Skidmore’s Honor Code and provisions of Skidmore’s Academic Integrity Handbook and Student Handbook. Academic dishonesty in any form is not tolerated. By submitting materials to meet course requirements you assert that the work is your own original work and cannot be submitted to more than one class. The penalty for violations of academic integrity are automatic failure of the class and referral to a judicial board and Skidmore administrators for further action.

Title IX Statement Skidmore College considers sexual and gender-based misconduct to be one of the most serious violations of the values and standards of the College. Unwelcome sexual contact of any form is a violation of students’ personal integrity and their right to a safe environment and therefore violates Skidmore’s values. Sexual and gender-based misconduct is also prohibited by federal regulations. Skidmore College faculty are committed to supporting our students and upholding gender equity laws as outlined by Title IX. If a student chooses to confide in a member of Skidmore’s faculty or staff regarding an issue of sexual or gender-based misconduct, that faculty or staff member is obligated to tell Skidmore’s Title IX Deputy Coordinator. The Title IX Deputy Coordinator will assist the student in connecting with all possible resources for support and reporting both on and off campus. Identities and details will be shared only with those who need to know to support the student and to address the situation through the college’s processes. If the student wishes to confide in a confidential resource, The Counseling Center Staff, Health Services, and Victim Advocates are all options available. More information can be found at https://www.skidmore.edu/sgbm/ or by contacting the Title IX Deputy Coordinator.

2 Sep 5 Introduction—Is American Democracy at Risk? Bianco and Canon Chapter 1, Understanding American Politics Recommended Podcast, Ezra Klein, How Democracies Die, discussion with Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt Jacob Hacker & Paul Pierson on Winner Take All Politics with Bill Moyers,

SECTION I. THE FOUNDATIONS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY Sep 7 Creating the Constitution Bianco and Canon Chapter 2 The Constitution and the Founding, US Constitution Web Assignment #1, Constitutional Scavenger Hunt, Optional: Akhil Reed Amar, America's Constitution: A Biography, CSPAN, Oct 30, 2005

Sep 10 Federalists vs. the Anti-Federalists: Debating the Constitution Mock Constitutional Debate: Federalists vs. the Anti-federalists Bianco and Canon -Appendix A, James Madison, The Federalist, Nos. 10 and 51. Brutus, Anti-Federalist Papers, 18 October 1787 Trevor Burrus, The Anti-Federalists Predicted Today’s Political Morass, and Can Help Us Get Out, The Federalist on November 7, 2016.

Sep 12 Interpreting the Constitution Charles Beard, An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution, p. 68-70 John Roche, A Reform Caucus in Action, p. 70-74 Martin Diamond, A Reconsideration of the Framers Intent, p 74-78 William Riker, Trading Votes at the Constitutional Convention, p. 72-83 Gordon S. Wood, How Democratic Is the Constitution, New York Review of Books, Feb 23, 2006

Sep 12 and 14 Interpreting the Constitution Jeffrey Toobin, Our Broken Constitution: Everyone agrees that government isn’t working. Are the founders to blame? The New Yorker, Dec 9, 2013 Eric Lane and Michael Oreskes, The Genius of America: How the Constitution Saved our Country and Why It Can Again Yoni Appelbaum, America’s Fragile Constitution; The Founders misread history and established a dysfunctional system of government. A case for a little less reverence., Oct 201

Sep 17 Federalism in Theory; Happy Constitution Day, Come to class as your favorite founder Bianco and Canon Chapter 3, Federalism

Sep 17 REQUIRED Evening Lecture- Amy Siskind, Is Our Democracy at Risk?, 8pm, Gannett Auditorium, https://theweeklylist.org/

Sep 19 Wednesday Yom Kippur NO CLASS Drop/Grade Option (S/U) Deadline

Sep 21 Federalism in Practice: Laboratories of Democracy or a Race to the Bottom? Eggers and O’Leary, Beyond the Beltway Donahue, The Devil in Devolution Josh Keller and Adam Pearce, NYT, This small Indiana county sends more people to prison than San Francisco and Durham, N.C., combined. Why?

Sep 24 What is the role of the market in a democracy? Friedman, Capitalism and Friedman Bowles and Edwards, The Market Erodes Democratic Government3 Jane Mayer, Covert Operations, The billionaire brothers who are waging a war against Obama, The New Yorker, Aug 30, 2010

Sep 26 What is the role of a citizen in a democracy? Mueller, Democracy’s Romantic Myths Loeb, The Active Citizen Michael Schudson, Good Citizens and Bad History: Today's Political Ideals in Historical.

Sep 28 American Political Culture, Is America an Illiberal Democracy Rogers M. Smith, “Beyond Tocqueville, Myrdal, and Hartz: The Multiple Traditions in America” Ezra Klein podcast, Carol Anderson on White Rage and , or https://overcast.fm/+F_9GQGcxE

Oct 1 FIRST MIDTERM

Section II. POLITICAL PARTICIPATION Oct 3 Public Opinion Bianco and Canon Chapter 6, Public Opinion

Oct 5 Does the Public Have Opinions Worth Listening To? Amy Gershkoff and Shana Kushner, Shaping Public Opinion: The 9/11-Iraq Connection in the Bush Administration’s Rhetoric, Perspectives on Political Science Sept 2005 Vol. 3/No. 3, p. 525-537

Oct 8 Media and Politics Bianco and Canon Chapter 7, The Media

October 10 Media Bias Peter Dreier and Christopher R. Martin. How ACORN Was Framed: Political Controversy and Media Agenda Setting, Perspectives on Politics, September 2010 | Vol. 8/No. 3

Oct 12 Citizen Participation Bianco and Canon Chapter 9, Elections

Oct 15 Voting and Campaigns Stephen Ansolabehere and Shanto Iyengar, Winning, but losing: How negative campaigns shrink electorate, manipulate news media John Geer, The News Media and the Rise of Negativity in Presidential Campaigns Laura Reston, Ad Wars: Are Attack Ads Good for Democracy? New Republic

Oct 17 Interest Groups Bianco and Canon Chapter 10, Interest groups

Oct 19 Are Special Interests in Washington a Problem? E.E. Schattschneider, The Scope and Bias of the Pressure Group System, 640-49, Review Madison, Federalist #10 Groombridge, America’s Bittersweet Sugar Policy, Center for Trade Policy Studies, Cato Institute, Dan Morgan, Sugar Industry Expands Influence. Amy Brittain, ‘Big Candy’ is lobbying the Trump administration, Washington Post 2017

Oct 22 Political Parties Bianco and Canon Chapter 8, Political Parties

4 Oct 24 Polarization Fiorina, Unstable Majorities, Party Sorting, and Political Stalemate Ch 1-3 Alan Abramowitz, Why Donald Trump Is Winning and Why His Nomination Could Shatter the Republican Party, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, March 2016

Oct 26 Study Day- No Class

Oct 29 Polarization- Fiorina Fiorina, Myth of the Culture War, excerpt

Oct 31 Polarization and Overreach- Fiorina Fiorina, Unstable Majorities, Party Sorting, and Political Stalemate Ch 5-6

Nov 2 The Reality of a Polarized America- The Abramowitz Perspective Abramowitz, Alan and Saunders, Kyle (2005) "Why Can’t We All Just Get Along? The Reality of a Polarized America," The Forum: Vol. 3 : Iss. 2 Alan I. Abramowitz and Steven Webster, The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is the Other Party: How negative partisanship is dividing Americans and shaping the outlook for the 2016 electionit Alan Abramowitz on Partisan Politics in America, Video

Nov 5 Second Midterm

Nov 6 Midterm Elections– Vote!

SECTION III POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS Congress: The First Branch of Government

Nov 7 The Dynamics of Congressional Elections Gary Jacobson, The Republican Resurgence in 2010, Political Science Quarterly, Vol 127, 1 2011 Fiorina, Unstable Majorities, Party Sorting, and Political Stalemate, Nationalization of Congressional Elections. p. 127-143

Nov 9 Congress as a Representative Institution Bianco and Canon Chapter 10 David Mayhew, Congress The Electoral Connection, p. 272-281 Web Assignment #2 Congress as a Representative Institution due

Nov 12 Congress as a Lawmaking Institution Gary Jacobsen, No Compromise: The Electoral Origins of Legislative Gridlock 541-562. Sarah Binder, 5 lessons from a Republican year of governing dangerously, Washington Post, Dec 2017

November 14 Wed Withdrawal Deadline

The President: From Chief Clerk to Chief Executive Nov 14 Presidential Primaries and the Electoral College Greg Marx, How to Understand the ‘Invisible Primary’ An interview with Georgetown professor Hans Noel, James Ceaser, The Presidential Nomination Mess, The Claremont Review of Books Arthur Schlesinger Jr., "Not the People's Choice", The American Prospect, Mar 25, 2002.

Nov 16 The 2016 Presidential Election Fiorina, Chapter 10 and 11 p. 169-215 5

Nov 19 Presidency, Powers and Practice Bianco and Canon Chapter 11

Nov 21 and 23, Thanksgiving Break – discuss election at Thanksgiving Table

Nov 26 Presidency, Powers and Practice Fred I. Greenstein, Lessons from the Modern Presidency Stephen Skowronek, The Changing Political Structures of Presidential Leadership Richard Kreitner, What Time Is It? Here’s What the 2016 Election Tells Us; The Nation, Fred Barnes, A Presidential Report Card, The Weekly Standard, Jacobs & King. 2010. “Varieties of Obamaism: Structure, Agency & the Obama Presidency: 793-802.

The Courts, The Least Dangerous Branch? Nov 28 The Supreme Court Bianco and Canon Chapter 13 Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist, No. 78 Walter Mead, “The Nuclear Option Undermines Our Institutions,” The American Interest, Nov 2013 Jonathan Chait, “Senate Republicans: All Obama Judges Are Bad,” New York, Nov 2013,

Nov 30 The Judiciary: What Should Its Role Be in a Democracy? Antonin Scalia, Textualism and the Constitution Stephen Breyer, Active Liberty and the Constitution, Principles and Practices, 383-413 Jeffrey Toobin, No More Mr. Nice Guy The Supreme Court’s stealth hard-liner. The New Yorker, May 25, 2009 Rosenberg, The Supreme Court and the Implementation of the Abortion Decisions

Dec 3 Institutions Catch Up Day

SECTION IV ECONOMIC INEQUALITY AND PUBLIC POLICY IN AMERICA Dec 5 Economic Inequality: A Threat to Democracy? W. Michael Cox and Richard Alm, Myths of Rich and Poor Paul Krugman, The Disappearing Middle

Dec 7 Economic Inequality and Public Policy Hacker and Pierson, Abandoning the Middle, The Bush Tax Cuts and the Limits of Democratic Control Hacker and Pierson, The GOP is trying to pass a super-unpopular agenda — and that's a bad sign for democracy, Dec 7, 2017

Dec 10 Economic Inequality and Public Policy Suzanne Mettler (2010). Reconstituting the Submerged State: The Challenges of Social Policy Reform in the Obama Era. Perspectives on Politics, 8, pp 803-824.

Dec 12 Economic Inequality and Public Policy Pierson, American hybrid: Donald Trump and the strange merger of populism and plutocracy, 08 Nov 2017

Dec 17 Final Exam, Ladd 307

Dec 23, Final Research paper due

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