POS 310 Professor Keating
American National Government Spring 2005
Spitzer, Essentials of American Politics
Ginsburg, Politics by Other Means
GRADING:
The number and types of exams will be discussed on the first day of class. Final grades will be A/B/C/D/E with no + or - grades.
OFFICE:
Room: Coor Hall 6698
Phone: 480-965-1336 (ASU), 480-774-0342 (home)
Hours:MWF: 8:00-9:30, 10:40-11:30, TTH: 8:00-NOON, M: 5:00-6:30 and by appointment
E-Mail: Thomas.Keating@asu.edu
WHAT I NEED FROM YOU:
1. Your Attention - classroom attendance is optional. When you come to class, come because you choose to spend your time in this way. If you would rather read a newspaper, eat your breakfast or dinner, catch up on your sleep, or chat with friends, then please do so - but not in this classroom. I find it very difficult to teach anything to a person who would rather be elsewhere, doing other things.
2. Your Involvement - the most difficult circumstances for me to teach under are when students assume I am responsible for lecturing and they are responsible for listening and taking notes. For me, teaching and learning are much more dynamic than this - they require an active interchange between student and teacher. So if you have a comment, questions, or simply do not understand what is being discussed, please speak up - your doing so will help me in teaching this class and help you in learning from it.
RULES OF THE GAME:
1. Make- up exams will not be given in this class. If you miss an exam for an approved reason, that exam will not count toward your final course grade. If you miss an exam and do not have an acceptable reason, you will receive a grade of zero on that exam. If you miss an exam, contact me as soon as possible - preferable before the exam is given - to find out if your reason for missing the exam is acceptable. I can be contacted in person or by one of the phone numbers listed above or by e-mail..
2. Cheating in any form will result in a failing grade in the course, and my recommendation that you be expelled from the University.
PART ONE: THE BASICS
TOPICS ONE: Politics and Government Reading: Spitzer, Ch 1
What is Politics? What is the purpose of Government?
Political Communities - essential characteristics
Collective vs. cooperative activity
Importance of differences vs. similarities
Outcome of collective activity
Public goods and services
Outcome of cooperative activity
Economic goods and services
Preference for economic goods and services in the U.S.
Paradox of growing government in the U.S.
Critical Stages in collective decision-making
What makes politics democratic?
Misconceptions about democracy
Western tradition of democracy
Advantages of democracy
Conflict and support
Problem solving
“Problem of power”
-Participatory democracy
-Representative democracy
TOPIC TWO: POLITICAL CULTURE
Definition
Fundamental American Values
Individualism
Equality of opportunity
Optimism
Rule of law
TOPIC THREE: U.S. CONSTITUTION Reading: Spitzer, Chs. 2, 3, 4
Symbolic importance
Practical importance
Basic constitutional features
Division of powers (federalism)
Advantages of federalism
Problems of federalism
Separation of powers
Separate branches
Checks and Balances (?)
Potential for congressional dominance
Constitutional Supremacy
Constitutional law and statutory law
Judicial review
Limited government (Bill of Rights)
Civil liberties
Civil rights
EXAM 1 - TO BE ANNOUNCED
PART TWO: INTEREST REPRESENTATION
TOPIC FOUR: POLITICAL PARTIES Reading: Spitzer, Ch 6
Importance of Parties
Characteristics of American party system
Two party system
Competition varies
Weak minor parties
Difference between Democratic Party and Republican Party
Between supporters of each party
Policy and ideological differences
Differences on campaign issue positions
Primary vs. general elections
TOPIC FIVE: ELECTIONS AND VOTERS
What wins elections?
Policy issues
Candidate image
Party label
Nominating candidates for office
Party conventions vs. Primary elections
Money and elections
Costs of campaigns
Sources of Money
Campaign Finance “reform”
Party organizations and campaigns
Attracting campaign workers
Voters and elections
Choice of whether to vote
Importance of elections turnout
Choice of whom to vote for
Voting for the party
Voting for the candidate
TOPIC SIX: INTEREST GROUPS Readings: Spitzer, Ch 7
Interest groups compared with political parties
Interest groups compared with each other
Reasons for being created
Eligibility for membership
Tactics of Interest Groups
Resources of Interest Groups
Impact of interest groups
Political Participation
Government Benefits
EXAM 2 - DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED
PART THREE: POLICY-MAKING INSTITUTIONS
Intentions of Founding Fathers
Twentieth-century trends
TOPIC SEVEN: CONGRESS Readings: Spitzer, Ch. 8
House of Representatives and Senate
Uniqueness of Congress
Internal organization of Congress
Political parties
Role in Choosing leadership
Party caucuses
Standing committees
Compared with other committees
Importance of specialization and division of labor
Comparing parties and committees
As they affect the public
As they affect members of Congress
TOPIC EIGHT: PRESIDENCY Reading: Spitzer, Ch. 9
Electoral College
Intentions vs. reality
Mechanics of electoral college
Biases of electoral college
Reform?
Internal division of executive branch
Executive office of the president vs. executive agencies
Organizing each Presidency
Key aides and advisors
Can a President have too much control?
TOPIC NINE: BUREAUCRACY Reading: Spitzer, Ch. 10
What is it?
What does it do?
How is it criticized?
Are there solutions?
Comparing situations:
Whose money are you spending?
Residual claims or not?
For whose benefit are you spending?
Effective feedback or not?
TOPIC TEN: FEDERAL JUDICIARY Reading: Spitzer, Ch 11
Important distinctions
Federal vs. state courts
Trial vs. appellate courts
Civil vs. criminal cases
Structure of federal courts
District courts
Courts of appeal
Supreme Court
Appointment of judges
Activities of court
Questions of fact
Questions of law
Questions of policy
Supreme Court Procedures
Accepting cases on appeal
Deciding cases on appeal
Debate about Supreme Court
Strict vs. loose construction
Judicial activism vs. self-restraint
Checking the Supreme Court
EXAM 3 - DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED
TOPIC ELEVEN: CONCLUSIONS Reading: Ginsburg, ALL
EXAM 4 - TO BE ANNOUNCED