PS 155. American Political Institutions

Fall 2007

 

MWF 11-11:50

USU 2207B
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Professor Jennifer De Maio

Office Hours: MWF 1:15-2:15 and by appointment

Office: Sierra Tower 233

Email: jdemaio@csun.edu

Phone: 818-677-4744

 

 

Course Overview

 

This course surveys the general institutions and cultural underpinnings of politics in the United States. We will examine the primary features of the political environment that define and influence the processes of American government. We will cover topics including the historical developments of American politics, federalism, political participation, public opinion, and decision-making in foreign and domestic policy. We will consider how these various institutions work together to create conflict and compromise within contemporary political debates. In addition, we will integrate the analysis of Californian politics into our discussions. Throughout the semester, we will apply the theoretical basis of American political institutions to analyze current events including the war in Iraq, elections, the budget deficit, the economy, scandals, immigration, health care, and terrorism.

 

Courses Objectives

 

The goals of the class are to:

 

  1. Introduce students to the processes of American and Californian government.
  2. Provide a contextual understanding of the major concepts and issues that frame US politics.
  3. Enable students to engage in political debates.
  4. Stimulate students to think critically about state and federal politics.
  5. Encourage civic engagement and political participation.

 

Requirements

 

            Texts

 

Two texts are required for the course and can be purchased at the University Bookstore. If you purchase the texts from another source, be sure that you buy the correct edition.

 

  1. Thomas E. Patterson. We The People: A Concise Introduction to American Politics. Sixth Edition. (McGraw-Hill, 2006).
  2. Steffen W. Schmidt. Readings in American Government. Fifth Edition. (Thomson Wadsworth, 2006).

 

Clickers

 

In addition to the texts, you are also required to purchase a ÒclickerÓ from eInstruction for the course. You may purchase the clicker packaged with the Patterson text or you may buy the book and clicker separately. We will be using the clickers at every class meeting to take attendance, participate in discussions, and take sample quizzes. The texts and clicker are absolutely required and necessary for you to take this course.

 

            Attendance and Classroom Conduct

 

 

Learning is not a spectator sport. I will do my best to engage you in the course material, but the responsibility to learn is yours and yours alone. For learning to happen in any course, you must take an active role in the process. For our class, you are expected to come prepared and ready to learn. You are required to attend and participate in every class. You also are required to read and to study the assigned reading before you come to class.

 

I welcome and strongly encourage you to ask questions about the material or current events in American government and politics.

 

Please turn off electronic devices (iPods, laptop computers, tape and video recorders, cell phones, pagers, games, metal detectors, etc.) during class.

 

            Assignments

 

There are reading assignments for each week: please complete these prior to the class meetings. In addition to the readings, there are 4 exams and a final.

 

            Grading

 

Your participation grade will be calculated using your responses with the clickers. YOU are responsible for ensuring that your clickers works properly. This includes making sure that you have the clicker in class, that you have backup batteries with you at all times, and making sure that you arrive in class on time to sign in with the clicker to respond to attendance and clicker questions. I WILL NOT add your name to the attendance if you are late or for any other reason. I understand that things happen (traffic delays, forgetting oneÕs clicker, illness, etc.) so each student has up to three absences without penalty during the semester. If you are caught clicking in with more than one clicker, your clickers will be confiscated and both you and the owner of the other clicker will face disciplinary action. There are 4 exams and a final. Makeup exams will only be given on the basis of a valid and documented (in writing) reason for missing the exam.

 

Participation – 15%

4 Exams – 15% each

Final Exam – 25%

 

 

Course Schedule (Tentative – All Dates Subject to Change)

 

Week 1 (1/29 – 2/2) – Introduction and American Political Culture

 

            Patterson, Chapter 1

            Schmidt, Chapter 1

 

Week 2 (2/5 – 2/9) – Constitutional Democracy

 

Patterson, Chapter 2

Schmidt, Chapter 2

 

Week 3 (2/12 – 2/16) – Federalism

 

Patterson, Chapter 3

Schmidt, Chapter 3

 

Week 4 (2/19 – 2/23) – Civil Liberties

 

FIRST EXAM (2/19)

 

Patterson, Chapter 4

Schmidt, Chapter 4

 

Week 5 (2/26 – 3/2) – Equal Rights

 

Patterson, Chapter 5

Schmidt, Chapter 5

 

Week 6 (3/5 – 3/9) – Public Opinion & Socialization

 

SECOND EXAM (3/9)

 

Patterson, Chapter 6

Schmidt, Chapter 7

 

 

Week 7 (3/12 – 3/16) – Political Participation

 

Patterson, Chapter 7

 

Week 8 (3/19 – 3/23) – Political Parties, Candidates, & Campaigns

 

Patterson, Chapter 8

Schmidt, Chapter 9

 

Week 9 (3/26 – 3/28) – Interest Groups

 

THIRD EXAM (3/28)

 

Patterson, Chapter 9

Schmidt, Chapter 8

 

Week 10 (4/9 – 4/13) – The Media

 

Patterson, Chapter 10

Schmidt, Chapter 11

 

Week 11 (4/16 – 4/20) - Congress

 

Patterson, Chapter 11

Schmidt, Chapter 12

 

Week 12 (4/23 – 4/27) – The Presidency & Bureaucracy

 

Patterson, Chapter 12 – 13

Schmidt, Chapter 13 - 14

 

Week 13 (4/30 – 5/4) – The Judiciary

 

FOURTH EXAM (4/30)

 

Patterson, Chapter 14

Schmidt, Chapter 15

 

Week 14 (5/7 – 5/11) – Public Policy

 

Patterson, Chapter 15 – 16

Schmidt, Chapter 16 - 17

 

Week 15 (5/14 – 5/18) – Foreign Policy

 

Patterson, Chapter 17

Schmidt, Chapter 18

Instructions for Registering Your Clicker:

 

Class Name: PS 155                    Class Key: L26794N833

Before you Connect you Must Have:

 

á        An Internet connection – either a direct connection or a dialup connection (at least a 56K modem if using dialup). Verify that you can connect to the Internet by trying to connect to another site.

á        You may need a check or credit card for enrollment/coupon code purchase.

Now you are Ready to Connect to CPSOnline!

1.       Turn on your computer.

2.       Connect to the Internet.

3.       Enter www.einstruction.com into the location or address box and press the Enter key.

4.       Click on the Students button at the top of the window.

5.       Select your school or university from the drop-down menu, as specified by your instructor.

6.       Click Choose Course.

7.       Enter the class key (provided by your instructor) into the Class Key box.

8.       Enter the response padÕs serial number in the Serial Number box. The serial number is printed on the back of the response pad or under the padÕs battery cover.

9.       Enter the enrollment/coupon code into the code field. Your enrollment/coupon code may be packaged with your new McGraw Hill textbook. If you do not have an enrollment/coupon code you will need to choose 'I do not have a code' then continue through the registration process. You will be able to purchase access using a credit card or personal check. Do not type a username and password yet.

8          NOTE: This is the only time you will need the class key and enrollment/coupon code. After enrolling, you will need only your username and password.

10.     Click Join the Class.

Enrolling in your Class

11.     After clicking Join the Class, you will need to enter a username, password, first name, and last name. Choose a username and password that you can easily remember and that other people are not likely to guess. A phone number and student ID are not required unless specified by your instructor. Information you provide is available only to your instructor. You will receive a reminder message via the email address you provide from CPSOnline about your username, password, and assigned response pad number.

12.     Click Finish. You may now be presented with the following options: access for this class only, access to all classes for a semester, two year subscription, lifetime subscription.

13.     Choose the option that best fits you and continue through the payment process.

14.     Click Enter on the page that confirms that you are now a member of the class and reminds you of your username, password, and assigned response pad number for the class.

15.     To join an additional CPSOnline class, click on the enroll in a class button from the Main Menu. From that page, enter the other classÕs class key (as provided by the instructor). You can purchase access for any additional classes or use a coupon code or enrollment code.

16.     Once you have finished enrolling in all of your classes, click Log Out. For CPSOnline to properly record your information it is important that you log out of CPSOnline (as opposed to simply closing the window).

Tips

á        Be sure you are connected to the Internet. You can verify this by trying to connect to other sites, such as www.yahoo.com.

á        Print your username, password and response pad number, and put them in a safe place for reference. You can print them by clicking File and then Print from your Internet browser menu.

á        If you do not have an enrollment/coupon code, you can purchase access using a credit card or personal check during the enrollment process.

á        Enter your Class Key, enrollment/coupon code, and Serial Number, exactly as you received them.

á        To join an additional CPSOnline class, log into your CPSOnline class with your username and password and click on the enroll in a class button from the Main Menu. From that page, enter the other classÕs class key (as provided by the instructor).

á        Since the response pad numbers are assigned on a Ôfirst-come, first-serveÕ basis per class, if you are enrolled in more than one class that uses CPS and CPSOnline, then the assigned response pad number for each class may be different. Please make a note of the response pad number assigned to you at the end of the enrollment process for each class, and use the email sent to you as a reminder.

á        Reset the Signal inside the Pad - If a pad stops responding, or responds as the incorrect pad number:

1.       Take the batteries out of the pad(s).

2.       Press any answer key on the pad(s) and hold it down for approximately 10 seconds.

3.       Replace the batteries and try the pad(s) again.

 

If you have any questions about CPSOnline, log onto www.einstruction.com, and use the Customer Support menu option. From the Tech Support page, go to the bottom and type in your name to enter the live Text Chat room for immediate help.