University of Southern California
School of Policy, Planning, and Development
POLICY, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT 240
CITIZENSHIP AND PUBLIC ETHICS
Spring Semester 2011
Instructor:
Melissa A. Gaeke, Ph.D.
Office Location:
BKS 400
Classroom:
RGL 100
Time:
Monday and Wednesday 8:00 – 9:50 am
Telephone:
(W) (213) 821-1101
E-Mail Address:
[email protected]
Office Hours:
Monday 10-12 and Friday 11-1 or by appointment
Course Objectives
This course will begin by examining the key concepts of democracy, public good, citizenship,
and community. And then continue by reviewing the specific legal and ethical traditions of U.S.
citizenship with an emphasis on the latter. These concepts will be reviewed in light of
responsible conduct of Public Administrators. All of this will be discussed with an eye towards
their implications for the current practice of citizen participation in public policy making and
governance. Examples of active citizenship, public participation and civic engagement will be
examined.
The specific objectives of the course are to:
1. Examine the factors that encourage and discourage active citizenship in the U.S.
2. Recognize the limitations of the legal tradition of citizenship and gain a general
understanding of the sources of ethical tradition, which gave rise to a practice of active
citizenship.
3. Consider the relevance of these traditions for the current and future practice of public
administration.
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4. Acquire knowledge of techniques and methods for encouraging active citizenship and
citizen participation in governance.
5. Examine contemporary proposals for achieving an expanded role for citizens in public
policy making and management.
6. Reflect on the various dimensions of responsibility in the context of individual behavior
and individuals within organizations, especially as it relates to ethical decision making.
Required Books
1. Cooper, Terry L. An Ethic of Citizenship for Public Administration. Englewood Cliffs,
N.J.: Prentice Hall, 1991. (This will be found as a custom reader in that section of the
bookstore.)
2. Cooper, Terry L. The Responsible Administrator: An Approach to Ethics for the
Administrative Role, 5th edition. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2006.
3. Etzioni, Amitai, Volmert, Andrew, and Rothschild, Elanit. The Communitarian Reader:
Beyond the Essentials. New York: 2004.
4. King, Cheryl Simmrell and Stivers, Camilla. Government is Us: Public Administration in
an Anti-Government Era. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1998.
There will also be selected readings assigned throughout the semester that will be given to
students in class.
Blackboard and Email
A Blackboard web site has been established for the course that you may access at
https://blackboard.usc.edu/ using your regular university username and password. At this site
select PPD 240. Through this website you will have access to an online version of the course
syllabus, course assignments, resources that may be useful to you, announcements posted from
time to time, and easy e-mail capability to communicate with the class. Each student should check
the site at regularly, particularly the evening before each class for any announcements that may be
posted concerning preparation for the class session. This electronic tool should make efficient
communication with the instructor possible, support your research, and facilitate dialogue and
exchange of information among individual students.
Your USC e-mail should be checked at least three times each week and the evening before each
class.
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Course Requirements
Citizenship Essay:
Due on January 31, 2011
This is 2-page essay [double spaced, 12 pt font] that illustrates a modern example (within the last
3 years) of one of Cooper’s “ethical traditions of citizenship.” Your essay must summarize the
example and discuss how it exemplifies Cooper’s description of the ethical tradition with specific
references to the material in An Ethic of Citizenship.
Semester Group Project:
Due in parts over the semester (see below):
This is a group project where you will explore a public policy issue or local problem using a
variety of lenses - citizenship, administrative problem-solving and civic engagement, along with
others. Over the course of the semester, you will prepare “portraits” that describe/discuss the local
problem or policy issue in the particular context we are working on and will answer prompts that
relate to the concepts we are discussing in class. ADDITIONAL DETAILS PROVIDED
DURING CLASS
Getting Started: Identify a specific public policy issue or local problem (referred to as your focal
issue) in a specific place or locale, which needs to be addressed and that has some public
(community) importance. For example: creating a skate park for local youth; dealing with the
problem of homelessness and adequate housing for women and children; advancing or maintaining
historic preservation, etc.
Group Formation and Project Proposal (1-2 pages): Prepare an overview of the focal issue and
identify the possible individuals or groups involved in influencing this issue.
Due on January
26, 2011
Portrait 1 - (2-3 pages): Identify the “community,” either groups or individuals, who is concerned
about your focal issue. Your portrait will describe these citizens, how their actions exemplify
“citizenship,” and the aspects of the community that has been created to address this issue/problem.
Due on February 9, 2011
Portrait 2 - (2-3 pages): Identify the values, beliefs and practices that unify the group or
individuals in addressing your focal issue. Your portrait will describe the efforts that are made by
this group to engage with others and to influence decisions. Due on March 7, 2011
Portrait 3 - (2-3 pages): Identify a governmental agency or department that has jurisdiction over
your focal issue. Your portrait will describe identify a key Public Administrator and describe a
recent decision making event, review the impressions of both the Administrator and group of the
other, and the effectiveness of their relationship. Due on April 4, 2011
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Culminating paper – (8-10 pages): Due on May 2, 2011 MORE DETAILS WILL BE
PROVIDED IN CLASS
a.
Briefly summarize the information presented in the portraits.
b. What concept from class best illustrates or can be applied to the case you have
explored all semester?
c. Identify and describe 2 sources from the literature that help explain the connection
you have identified.
d. What have you learned about your role as a citizen from this experience?
Culminating Presentation: Prepare a 15-minute Power Point presentation of your paper and
project. It must include all of the most relevant aspects of your paper, but not REPEAT your
paper. More information will be distributed in class. Held on April 27, 2011 (notes pages or
slides must be turned in at class time)
Your grade will be based on the quality of each assignment, which will be assigned to the group
as a whole. At two points in the semester, midterm and final, each person’s individual
involvement in the project and with the group will be evaluated by their peers and will be taken
into account when calculating the individual final grades. It is expected that each student will be
a contributing member of a group throughout the semester.
Midterm Exam: February 23, 2011
This is a closed book (no notes), two-hour exam based on essay questions. Blue books will be
required. It will cover all readings and lectures up to this date.
Final Exam: Monday, May 9, 2011
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Blue books will be required for this examination. It will be a closed book (no notes) two hour
exam based on essay questions covering the entire semester's work (readings and lectures).
Reading Quizzes:
Five times during the semester a brief quiz on the reading assigned for that day will be conducted.
This will consist of a single question concerning the assigned reading for which each student will
be required to prepare a short answer of a paragraph or two. No advance notice of these quizzes
will be given.
Students with Disabilities
Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register
with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved
accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me as early
in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open early 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.,
Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776.
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Class Participation and Grades:
Students will be expected to attend all class sessions and participate in class discussions in a
manner that reflects thorough engagement with the assigned readings. It is expected that every
student will act in a responsible manner with respect to attendance, participation during
each class, and all assignments. This means that you are responsible for your involvement in
class. With regard to attendance, I assume that everyone will have a good reason for being absent
two or three times during the semester. However, if absences become excessive (meaning 8 or
more), this poor attendance will impact your overall participation grade and in some cases will
affect your final grade.
As a general rule, all assignments are due by 8 am on the day scheduled and there will be no
extensions unless arranged IN ADVANCE. All requests for extensions must be received at least
24 hours prior to the due date and made in writing (by email). Extensions will be granted on a case
by case basis and will be based on circumstance. If an assignment is turned in late, 1 point will be
deducted from the grade for each 24 hour period past the due date.
Academic Integrity
Students in this class are expected to conform to the standards of academic integrity established
by the university. These standards are explained and illustrated in class as well as on the
following websites: http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/SJACS/
You are responsible for reading and comprehending these materials. If there is anything you
do not understand about the academic integrity standards of the university you are responsible for
asking for clarification. If you have any doubts about how to cite your sources or what constitutes
plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity violations, be sure to discuss these concerns with
the professor.
Any violation of these standards will result in a grade of F for the assignment or exam, and
possibly an F in the course. In any case, violations will be reported to the Office of Student
Conduct.
Grade Weights and Point Totals
Citizenship Essay - (5 points)
Project: Portrait 1 –(5 points)
Portrait 2–(5 points)
Portrait 3–(5 points)
Paper - (15 points)
Presentation - (10 points)
5%
5%
5%
5%
15%
10%
5
Midterm exam – (15 points)
Final exam – (20 points)
15%
20%
Participation - (10 points)
Reading quizzes – (10 points total)
10%
10%
Class Schedule
Introduction and Overview
Session 1
January 10
Introductions and Course Overview
Democracy and Citizenship
Session 2
January 12
Perspectives on Democracy, Citizens and Government
Readings posted on Blackboard
NO CLASS January 17
Martin Luther King Holiday
______________________________________________________________________________
Session 3
Session 4
Session 5
January 19
Citizenship – an Introduction
Assigned reading
Cooper, An Ethic of Citizenship, ch. 1
January 24
Citizenship – Legal Tradition
Assigned reading
Cooper, An Ethic of Citizenship, ch. 2
January 26
Citizenship – Ethical Tradition
Assigned reading
Cooper, An Ethic of Citizenship, ch. 3
Group Project Proposal Due Today
_______________________________________________________________________________
Session 6
January 31
Perspectives on Citizenship and Community
Citizenship Essay Due Today
One Strategy to Restore Active Citizenship
Session 7
Session 8
February 2
Communitarianism, an Introduction
Assigned reading:
Etzioni, pages 1-24
February 7
No Community, No Democracy
Assigned reading:
Etzioni, ch. 1
6
Session 9
February 9
Value Pluralism
Assigned reading:
Etzioni, ch. 2
Portrait 1 Due Today
Session 10
February 14
Legislating Morality
Assigned reading:
Etzioni, ch. 3
February 16
Enforcing Norms
Assigned reading:
Etzioni, ch. 6 and 7
February 23
MID TERM EXAM
Session 12
February 28
NO READING
Social Capital and Trust
Session 13
March 2
Communitarian Problems/Solutions
Session 11
Reading/Presentations by Groups – groups will be assigned one of the following
chapters – Etzioni – ch. 15, 16, 18, 24, 25 – and will prepare a one page summary
****Assignments will be made on 2/16
Session 14
March 7
What’s to be done?
Portrait 2 Due Today
Session 15
March 9
NO READING
NO CLASS MARCH 14-18
Citizen-Administrators, An Introduction
SPRING BREAK
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Citizen-Administrator Collaboration
Session 16
March 21
Citizens Alienated from Government
Assigned reading: King and Stivers, chs. 1-2
Session 17
March 23
Citizen Administrators
Assigned reading:
King and Stivers, ch. 3
Citizen Participation
Session 18
March 28
Models of Citizen Participation
Assigned reading: King and Stivers, chs. 5-6
Session 19
March 30
Models of Citizen Participation, Continued
Assigned reading: King and Stivers, ch.12
Session 20
April 4
Reflections on Citizen Participation
NO ASSIGNED READING
Portrait 3 Due Today
______________________________________________________________________________
Administrative Ethics and Responsible Conduct
Session 21
April 6
Introduction to Ethics and Ethical Decision Making
Assigned reading: Cooper, Resp. Adm., ch. 1-2
Session 22
April 11
The Context of Administrative Ethics
Assigned reading: Cooper, Resp. Adm., ch. 3
Session 23
April 13
Administrative Responsibility
Assigned reading: Cooper, Resp. Adm. ch. 4
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Session 24
April 18
Conflicts of Responsibility
Assigned reading: Cooper, Resp. Adm. ch. 5
Session 25
April 20
Maintaining Responsible Conduct
Assigned reading: Cooper, Resp. Adm., ch. 6
Session 26
April 25
Ethical Conduct – A Design Approach
Assigned reading: Cooper, Resp.Adm., ch 9-10
Session 27
April 27
Class Presentations
_______________________________________________________________________________
Extra Session May 2
Class Review
(optional, time TBD)
FINAL PAPAER Due Today
_____________________________________________________________________________
FINAL EXAMINATION—Monday, May 9, 2011 at 11:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m. in RGL 100
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Grading Scales
Citizenship Essay
Citizenship Essay (5 points)
A
3.5-5
B
2-3.4
C
1.5-1.9
D
1-1.4
F
Below .9
Project
Portraits (5 points each – there are 3 of them):
A
3.5-5
B
2-3.4
C
1.5-1.9
D
1-1.4
F
Below .9
Paper (15 points):
A
13.5-15
B
12-13.4
C
10.5-11.9
D
11.8-9
F
Below 9
Presentation (10 points):
A
9-10
B
8-8.9
C
7-7.9
D
6-6.9
F
Below 6
Exams
Midterm Exam (15 points)
A
13.5-15
B
12-13.4
C
10.5-11.9
D
11.8-9
F
Below 9
Final Exam (20 points)
A
18-20
B
16-17.9
C
14-15.9
D
12-13.9
F
Below 12
Other
Participation (10 points)
A
9-10
B
8-8.9
C
7-7.9
D
6-6.9
F
Below 6
Five Short Reading Tests (10 points total)
(Each reading test is valued at a total of 2 points)
A
9-10
B
8-8.9
C
7-7.9
D
6-6.9
F
Below 6
On each individual short quiz:
A=1.8-2, B=1.6-1.7, C=1.4-1.5, D=1.2-1.3, F=Below 1.2
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