California State University, Northridge
Seminar in Executive & Legislative Processes
Political Science 471A
Spring 1996
Professor: Matthew Cahn Wed 2:00-5:00 pm
Office: Halsted 1176 Phone: (818) 885-4797
Office Hours: MW 11:00 am-2:00 pm
Course Description
This course analyzes the evolution of the Presidency and Congress since 1789. The President's role as party leader, chief executive, chief administrator, and national symbol are evaluated. Issues of particular concern include the President's constitutional powers and limitations, present responsibilities, and political and administrative tools available. The legislative process is detailed through analysis of the structure, operations, and activities of the Congress. And, the executive and legislative bureaucracies are evaluated in light of their contributions to the policy process and execution.
Reading List
As a seminar, the reading for this course is extensive. Students are expected to read the "Required Texts" as assigned for presentation and analysis. The reading load amounts to an average of one book per week. In those weeks when more than one book is assigned, read at least one book and skim the others.
Required Reading (Available in Course Reader):
Charles Jones, Separate But Equal Branches
(Chatham, N.J.: Chatham House Publishers, 1995)
Steven Shull and Lance LeLoup, Congress and the President:
The Policy Connection (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Pub., 1993)
John Kingdon, Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies
2nd ed. (NY: HarperCollins College Publishers, 1995)
Richard Cohen, Changing Course in Washington: Clinton and the New
Congress (NY: Macmillan College Pub. Co., 1994)
Gary Jacobson, The Politics of Congressional Elections
3rd ed. (NY: HarperCollins, 1992)
Frank Sorauf, Inside Campaign Finance: Myths and Realities
(New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1992)
James Barber, Presidential Character
(Dallas, TX: The Center, 1978)
Steven Shull, A Kinder, Gentler Racism?
The Reagan-Bush Civil Rights Legacy (Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Sharpe, 1993)
Richard Fenno, Home Style Government: House Members in their Districts
(Glenview, Ill.: Scott, Foresman, 1980, 1989)
Richard Neustadt, Presidential Power and the Modern Presidents:
The Politics of Leadership from Roosevelt to Reagan
(New York : Free Press, 1990)
Jeffrey Birnbaum and Alan Murray, Showdown at Gucci Gulch:
Lawmakers, Lobbyists, and the Unlikely Triumph of Tax Reform
(New York: Vintage Books, 1988)
Stanley Renshon, The Clinton Presidency: Campaigning,
Governing, and the Psychology of Leadership (Boulder: Westview, 1995)
David Price, The Congressional Experience: A View from the Hill
(Boulder: Westview Press, 1992)
Course Requirements
As a seminar, the quality of the course is directly related to the effort each of us puts forward. Therefore, participation is a critical element in the seminar environment. Students are expected to attend class sessions regularly and to keep up with assigned readings. Further, students are expected to participate actively in class discussions and projects. Finally, students are expected to be prepared to summarize and critically analyze readings within the seminar.
Participation: 20%
Midterm: 25%Paper: 25%
Final Exam: 30%
Papers
A seminar paper analyzing some aspect of the Presidency and/ or Congress is also required. The paper should be written in scholarly format, with full citations and bibliography. Recent scholarly literature beyond the assigned course reading must be included. Topics should be discussed with the instructor.
SEMESTER OUTLINE
Week 1 2/16: Introduction: The Role of Divided Government
Jones, Separate But Equal Branches
Week 2 2/23: The Evolution of the Presidency
Jones, cont.
Week 3 3/2: Presidential Powers and Responsibilities
Shull and LeLoup, Congress and the President
Week 4 3/9: The Evolution of Congress
Shull and LeLoup, cont.
Week 5 3/16: Congressional Powers and ResponsibilitiesShull and LeLoup, cont.
Week 6 3/23: The Policy Connection
Kingdon, Agendas, Alternatives and Public Policies
Week 7 3/30: Presidential and Congressional Elections
Cohen, Changing Course in Washington: Clinton and the New Congress
Jacobson, The Politics of Congressional Elections
Sorauf, Inside Campaign Finance
Week 8 4/6: Midterm
Week 9 4/13: Presidential Leadership Styles: Agendas and OpportunitiesBarber, Presidential Character
Shull, A Kinder, Gentler, Racism?
Week 10 4/20: Congressional Leadership Styles: Agendas and Opportunities
Fenno, Home Style Government
Week 11 4/27: The Executive Bureaucracy
Neustadt, Presidential Power
Week 12 5/4: The Congressional Bureaucracy
Birnbaum and Murray, Showdown at Gucci Gulch
Week 13 5/11: Institutional Changes in the Presidency
Renshon, The Clinton Presidency
Week 14 5/18: Institutional Changes in Congress
Price, The Congressional Experience
Week 15 5/25: Final Session: Bringing it all together
Paper Due at Final
Final Exam: 5/27 2:00 pmBack to Syllabi
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Matthew Cahn
Department of Political Science
California State University Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8254
(818) 677-3488
matthew.cahn@csun.edu