PSCI 200: LIBERAL DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA
MWF 10:10-11:00
Professor H. Abbie Erler
Horowitz House, 03
Tel: 427-5733
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: MW 2-4; Tuesday 1-3; and by appointment
1. Course Objectives
ThiscourseisdesignedasabroadoverviewoftheAmericanpoliticalsystemandis
suitableforbothpoliticalsciencestudentsaswellasthosefromothermajors.This
class has three main goals. First, this course should prepare you to be an active
participant in political life and an intelligent consumer of political information.
Secondly, this class will help you develop the skills necessary to think critically
aboutpoliticalproblemsandto developpotentialsolutions.Finally,thisclasswill
give you the foundation needed to pursue more advanced topics within American
politicsandpoliticalscience.
2. Student Responsibilities and Grading
This class will involve critical analysis and discussion of the assigned texts. Students are
expected to complete the readings in advance and come to class prepared to discuss them.
Regular attendance is necessary for your success in this class. Lectures and discussions
will often contain information not found in the readings. Active and valuable
contributions to class discussion are part of your final grade. To ensure that students are
completing the reading assignments, periodic quizzes may be given.
Gradeswillbedeterminedasfollows:
Paper#1(5to7pages):30%
Paper#2(5to7pages):30%
Participation/Quizzes:10%
FinalExam(3hours):30%
Papers:Therewillbetwopapersassignedduringthesemester.Papersshouldbe
analytical in nature and not simply summaries of the readings. Papers must be
typed,double‐spaced,andinTimesNewRoman,12point.Papersshouldbewell‐
organized, well‐written, and proofread. Paper grades will be based on the
originality and clarity of the thesis, the logic, persuasiveness and depth of the
argument,theevidenceprovided,andonorganizationandstyle.Papertopicswill
bedistributedinclass.Paper#1willbedueonOctober1.Paper#2willbedueon
November28.
Papersmustbehandedinatthestartofclassonthedaytheyaredue.Latepapers
willbemarkeddownonelettergradeforthefirstdaytheyarelateandone‐halfa
lettergradeforeachdaythereafter(thisincludesweekends).
FinalExam:Thefinalexamwillbe3hoursandwillbeadministeredonDecember
17,6:30p.m.ThefinalwillconsistofIDsandtwoessayquestions.Aselectionof
essayquestionswillbedistributedonthelastdayofclass;twoofthemwillbeon
thefinalexam.
AcademicHonesty:PleaseconsulttheStudentHandbookfortheCollege’spolicyon
academic honesty. Plagiarism of any kind will not be tolerated. All papers must
havepropercitations.Ifyouareunclearonwhenand/orhowtociteawork,please
see me. You are encouraged to discuss your papers with your fellow classmates
and/ormewhileworkingonthem.
Disabilities:Ifyouhaveadisabilitythatwillaffectyourparticipationinclassplease
letmeknowandcontactErinSalva,CoordinatorofDisabilityServices,atx5453or
byemail.
3. Readings
JohnAgresto,TheSupremeCourtandConstitutionalDemocracy
Abramson,Aldrich,andRohde,ChangeandContinuityinthe2008and2010Elections
Hamilton,Jay,andMadison,TheFederalistPapers(anyedition)
MarcLandyandSidneyMilkis,AmericanGovernment,2ndedition
DavidMayhew,Congress:TheElectoralConnection
RichardNeustadt,PresidentialPowerandtheModernPresidents
AlexisdeTocqueville,DemocracyinAmerica,vol.1
AdditionalreadingswillalsobeplacedonMoodle.
4. Class Schedule
AUGUST
31
MancurOlson,TheLogicofCollectionAction,selection.(Moodle)
I. The Political Ideas of the Founders
SEPTEMBER
3
Tocqueville,Introduction(pp.3‐15)andPart1,Chapter2(pp.27‐45).
5
ConstitutionoftheUnitedStates
FederalistPaper#84
7
ArticlesofConfederation
FederalistPapers#1‐6,15,23
10
FederalistPapers#9,#10,#14,#37
12
FederalistPapers#47,48,51
14
FederalistPapers#52,54,56,57,62,63
17
FederalistPapers#39,49,50
19
TheFederalFarmer,Letters1‐3
Brutus,Letter1
II. Federalism
21 LandyandMilkis,Chapter5
FederalistPapers#17,45,46
Tocqueville,Part1,Chapter5(pp.56‐93).
24
JohnKincaid.1990.“FromCooperativetoCoerciveFederalism.”TheANNALS
oftheAmericanAcademyofPoliticalandSocialScience509:139‐152.
Paul Posner. 2007. “The Politics of Coercive Federalism in the Bush Era.”
Publius:TheJournalofFederalism37(3):390‐412.
III. Public Opinion and Political Participation
26
LandyandMilkis,Chapter12
Tocqueville,Part2,Chapter7&8(pp.235‐264).
28
Verba,Scholzman,Brady,andNie.1993.“CitizenActivity:WhoParticipates?
What Do They Say?” American Political Science Review 87(2): 303‐318.
(Moodle)
V.O. Key. 1961. “Public Opinion and the Decay of Democracy.” Virginia
QuarterlyReview37(4):481‐494.(Moodle)
OCTOBER
1
3
Benjamin Page and Martin Shapiro, 1992. The Rational Public, selections
(Moodle)
John Zaller, 1992. The Nature and Origins of Mass Opinion, selections
(Moodle)
Morris P. Fiorina and Samuel Abrams. 2008. “Political Polarization in the
AmericanPublic.”AnnualReviewofPoliticalScience11:563‐588.
Alan Abramowitz and Kyle Saunders. 2008. “Is Polarization a Myth?” The
JournalofPolitics70(2):542‐555.(Moodle)
IV. Political Parties
5
MilkisandLandy,Chapter11
JohnAldrich,WhyParties?,selections(Moodle)
Tocqueville,Part2,Chapters2‐4(pp.166‐186).
8
SarahBinder.2001.“CanthePartiesGovern?”(Moodle)
MorrisP.Fiorina.2006.“PartiesasProblemSolvers.”(Moodle)
V. Campaigns and Elections
10
Abramson,Aldrich,andRohde,Chapters1and2
12
FallBreak
15 Abramson,Aldrich,andRohde,Chapters5and6
17
Abramson,Aldrich,andRohde,Chapter7
19
Abramson,Aldrich,andRohde,Chapter8
22
Abramson,Aldrich,andRohde,Chapters10and11
VI. Congress
24,26 Mayhew,Congress:TheElectoralConnection,IntroductionandChapter1
29,31 Mayhew,Congress:TheElectoralConnection,Chapter2
NOVEMBER
2
5
Mayhew, “Observations on ‘Congress: The Electoral Connection’ a Quarter
CenturyAfterWritingIt.”2001.(Moodle).
AlanAbramowitz,“Mr.Mayhew,MeetMr.Delay.”2001.(Moodle)
Aldrich and Rohde, “The Logic of Conditional Party Government: Revisiting
theElectoralConnection.”(Moodle)
Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein, “Is Congress Still A Broken Branch?”,
2009.(Moodle)
MilkisandLandy,Chapter7
7
ElectionWrap‐up
VII. The Presidency
9
TheFederalistPapers#70,71,72,73
MilkisandLandy,Chapter8
12
Neustadt,PresidentialPower,Prefacesandpp.3‐28
14
Neustadt,PresidentialPower,pp.29‐72.
16
Neustadt,PresidentialPower,pp.73‐90.
19,21,23
ThanksgivingBreak
26
Skowronek,ThePoliticsPresidentsMake,selections.(Moodle).
VIII. Bureaucracy
28
LandyandMilkis,Chapter10.
TerryMoe,1989.“ThePoliticsofBureaucraticStructure.”(Moodle).
30
JohnP.Burke,2010,“TheInstitutionalPresidency.”(Moodle).
McNollGast, 1987. “Administrative Procedures as Instruments of Political
Control,”JournalofLaw,Economics,andOrganization.(Moodle).
IX. Courts
DECEMBER
3
5
7
Tocqueville,Part1,Chapter6(pp.93‐99).
FederalistPapers#78,81
MilkisandLandy,Chapter9
Agresto,TheSupremeCourtandConstitutionalDemocracy,pp.9‐40;pp.51‐5.
Agresto,TheSupremeCourtandConstitutionalDemocracy,pp.84‐107;pp.
125‐67.
X.American’s Liberal Democracy in Perspective
10
RobertA.Dahl,1956.APrefacetoDemocraticTheory,selections.(Moodle).
12
Tocqueville,Part2,Chapter6(pp.220‐235)andpp.348‐384.
RobertPutnam,1995.“TuningIn,TuningOut:TheStrangeDisappearanceof
SocialCapitalinAmerica.”(Moodle).
14
Conclusion