U.S. P RESIDENCY – U NIVERSITY OF W YOMING
POLS 4430/5430 | S P R I N G 2016
Instructor:
Meg Corwin, Ph.D.
970-980-7746
mcorwin1@uwyo.edu
If you need to reach me immediately, please shoot me a text at the above phone
number. If it is not urgent, e-mail me at the above address, or through the Canvas
course website.
C O U RS E D E S C RI P TI O N :
Analyzes office of president, its roles, development, relationships with other
governmental agencies and problems in the contemporary world.
C O U RS E O B J E C TI VE S /G O AL S
Most of us see the president as the center of American politics, and we expect a lot. We want a strong leader who
can fix everything, but are wary of allowing one person to have too much power. We want a leader who is selfconfident, without being arrogant; bright, but not too bright. We want our presidents to provide charismatic
leadership, rise above ‘politics’ and have the vision to govern in the best interests of everyone. Yet we also
demand they be responsive to the popular ‘will of the people’ and enact their party platform. Given these high and
often contradictory expectations, how can any President practice successful leadership? This is the underlying
theme of this course.
During this semester, we will examine the institutional context of presidential leadership, and the ways in which
presidents’ personalities and political conditions combine to both expand and constrain the parameters for
executive leadership and governance. We will explore the dynamics of the interaction between the president and
Congress, the president and the bureaucracy, and the president and his (someday her)
public. Our goal is to identify the elements of presidential leadership that seem to ‘work’
and those that don’t.
C O U RS E R E S O U R CE S :
There are 2 texts required for this class:
Edwards, George C. Stephen J. Wayne. 2014. Presidential Leadership: Politics and
Policymaking, 9th ed. Cengage Learning.
Pfiffner, James and Roger H. Davidson. 2012. Understanding the Presidency. 7th ed.
Routledge.
Additional Readings
There will be additional readings assigned. All will be available on the Canvas course
website.
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C OURSE A CTIVITIES /A SSIGNMENTS :
News Journals
It is important to keep up with the news, if we are to study and analyze politics. Given this, you will be required to
read the news, particularly as it relates to some aspect of the presidency. Every other week, you will be required
to submit a 2-3-page news journal on a topic relevant to the Presidency. You will use sources such as academic
journals, newspapers, policy papers from think tanks, etc. Please do not gather your news information from the
TV news.
Your journal will include a brief summary of the article and your reaction to it. When writing the journal entries,
ask yourself a variety of questions. For example, ‘what did I find most informative and interesting about the
article?’, ‘what is the perspective of the author?’, ‘does the article broaden my knowledge of the subject, or is it
largely ‘fluff’?’ ‘Do I agree/disagree with the article, and why?’ ‘Does the article seem to accurately represent the
facts, or is there another perspective?’ Journal entries will be due every other week by Sunday at midnight.
I will post more detailed criteria and guidelines for the journals on Canvas.
Presentations/Microlectures
Most weeks there will be an Instructor presentation related to the readings, either audio or in writing. The
presentation will be focused on synthesis and expansion of the reading materials, but it is your responsibility to
gain a basic understanding of the reading materials.
Quizzes
You will be required to complete three quizzes every other week. These quizzes will consist of
approximately ten to fifteen multiple choice, fill in the blank, true/false and short answer
questions based on the readings and presentations. You are expected to complete all readings
and listen to the presentation before you take the quiz. You must get 70% on the quiz in
order to receive credit. You may enter the quiz only once. All quizzes must be completed the week they are due by
Saturday night at 11:59 pm.
Exams
There will be one mid-term and one final, both essay format.
Discussions
There will be a variety of discussion topics and discussion activities. Everyone is
expected to participate and you will be graded on these discussions. The discussion
format will vary. In some weeks, you will be required to post an initial thread,
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and reply to at least two other threads. Some weeks, you will be required to post a response to questions I
will pose. Other weeks, there will be a limited number of original posts allowed, on a first-come, first-served
basis, and everyone else will be required to respond. Regardless of the format, you must post at least 3 different
times each week, on three different days. Your first post must be made by noon, Wednesday, of each week.
You must complete your postings by 11:59 pm every Saturday.
Research Paper
Each student is expected to write an 8-10-page paper on a topic related to the Presidency. I will provide complete
criteria and suggested topics on the course web site.
C OURSE P OLICIES :
Student Feedback/Communication
I welcome all feedback on the course. My preferred method of communication with individual students on this
topic is via email. I will respond to email within 24 hours (Monday – Friday).
If you experience a legitimate emergency which will prevent you from completing required
coursework on time, I expect you to communicate with me at the earliest reasonable
opportunity. Please state the nature of the emergency, and when you expect to turn in the
coursework. A legitimate emergency is defined by me as temporary military service, a death
in the immediate family, major illness, court appearances and jury duty. Other things may
come up and we can discuss these on a case-by-case basis. If you need to reach me
immediately, feel free to text me at the number listed at the top of the syllabus.
Submitting Electronic Files
All electronic files must be submitted in .doc or .pdf format. If you do not have Microsoft Word, you can download
Open Office Writer for free at http://www.openoffice.org/. This will allow you to open the instruction files, make
changes and save in .doc or .pdf.
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Late Work
LATE WORK DUE TO PROCRASTINATION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. LATE WORK DUE TO
LEGITIMATE EMERGENCY MAY BE ACCEPTED.
Late work due to technology failure will not be accepted. Plan ahead and give
yourself plenty of time to submit your work early in case of computer or learning
platform failure.
THE DUE DATE AND TIME ASSOCIATED WITH EACH QUIZ,
DISCUSSION, EXAM AND ASSIGNMENT ARE STATED CLEARLY IN THE
COURSE SCHEDULE AND IN THE UNIT SCHEDULES.
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University Policies
Honor Pledge
Students will be held accountable to the Honor Pledge which they have agreed to: “I pledge, on my honor, to
conduct myself with the foremost level of academic integrity.”
Academic Dishonesty
The Instructor of this course will take appropriate actions in response to Academic
Dishonesty, as defined the University’s Code. Please read by following the link below:
http://www.uwyo.edu/generalcounsel/_files/docs/uw-reg-6-802.pdf
My response to proven academic dishonesty is an ‘F’ for the course.
Special Needs
Students with ADAdocumented physical, sensory, emotional or medical
impairments may be
eligible for reasonable accommodations. Veterans may
also be eligible for services. All accommodations are coordinated through the University Disability Support
Services. Alternate format materials (Braille, large print or digital) are available with advance notice. For more
information:
UW Outreach Students | University Disability Support Services | University of Wyoming
Calendar and Deadlines | Office of the Registrar | University of Wyoming
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A S S I GN M E N T D UE D AT E S
Research Paper Proposals:
Research Paper:
Discussions:
Journals:
Midterm:
Final:
Quizzes:
February 6, 11:59 pm
Last name starts with the letter N-Y: 4/16, midnight
Last name starts with the letter A-M: 4/30, midnight
Due by midnight Saturday each week, unless otherwise noted in the Unit schedule
Due every other week, beginning on Feb. 14.
Due 11:59 pm, 3/13
Due 11:59 pm, 5/14
Due date for each will be posted in the Unit section
Grading:
Your grade will be based on the following:
Component
Points
Percentage
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Discussions
Journals
Quizzes
Research Paper
225
300
225
300
150
300
15%
20%
15%
20%
10%
20%
Total Points
1500
100%
Your grade will be calculated using the following scale:
Grade
Percentage
Range
Points
A
100 – 90%
1500-1350
B
89 – 80%
1335-1200
C
79 – 70%
1185-1050
D
69 - 60%
1035-900
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S C HE D UL E :
WEEK
T OP IC
C OU R SE W O RK
DUE
TH I S
WEEK
1
1/25-1/31
2
2/1-2/7
3
2/8-2/14
Introductions to each other/
Introduction to the study of
the Presidency



Constitutional Origins and
Historical Perspectives on the
Presidency


Presidential Power and
Leadership





Presidential Elections: Nomination
Process
4
2/15-2/21
5
2/22-2/28
Presidential Elections:
And the Winner Is?








Read E&W, Ch. 1

Discussion

Discussion
Read, The Paradoxes of the
Presidency
Post to both topics in the week’s
Discussion
Read Nelson, Ch. 1
Ch. 3, American Creation, by Ellis
Read The Presidency in the Political
Order, by Skowronek, Canvas


News journal
Discussion
Read, Presidential Power, by
Neustadt, Canvas
Read Ch. 6, Nelson, The
Psychological Presidency
Read The Rise of the Plebiscitary
Presidency, by Rimmerman, Canvas
Write News Journal
Read Ch. 2, E&W, Nelson, Ch. 7
Post/Reply to Discussion


Discussion
Quiz #1
Take Quiz #1
Listen to the video clips on
Canvas
Read Ch. 3, E&W
Read The Myth of the Presidential
Mandate
Write journal entry
Post/Reply to Discussion


Journal
Discussion
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The President and the Public
2/29-3/6





7
Media and the Presidency
3/7-3/13
Read Ch. 9, 11 Nelson; Ch. 4, E&W
Read Legislative Success and
Political Failure, Canvas
 Discussion
 Journal
 Take Midterm
Post/Reply to Discussion
Write Journal Entry
Take Midterm Exam


Read Ch. 5, E&W, Ch. 10, Nelson

Nelson, Chs. 5 & 13; E&W, Chs.
6&7

Post/Reply to discussion

Discussion
Read, When the Press Fails
Spring Break!
3/14-3/20
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3/21-3/27
9
The President in the White
House
The President and the
Bureaucracy
3/28-4/3
10
4/4-4/10



E&W, Ch. 8
Take Quiz #2
Journal




The President and Congress



Discussion
Discussion
Journal
Quiz #2
Discussion
E&W, Ch. 9; Nelson, Ch. 15
Post/Reply to discussion
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The Politics of Budgets
4/11-4/17




12
The Dynamics of Domestic
Policy Making
4/18-4/24



13
4/25-5/1
14
The President and Foreign
Policy
Foreign Policy (cont.).
5/2-5/8









15
Wrap up
5/9-5/14
Future Challenges to the Office
of the Presidency/ Finals



E&W, Ch. 12
Watch video, The Obama
Presidency



Post/Reply to discussion
Write Journal
Read Ch. 11, E&W, Ch. 13, Nelson

Discussion
Journal
Research
papers due,
N-Z, 4/16,
11:59 pm
Discussion
Read, Decision Making in the
Obama White House, Canvas
Post/Reply to discussion
Read Ch. 13, E&W
Post/Reply to discussion
Watch Losing Iraq
Take Quiz #3




Write journal entry
Read, The Assault on the
Constitution

Discussion
Journal
Quiz #3
Research
papers due, AM, 4/ 30,
11:59 pm
Discussion
Read, Presidential Prerogative
Read, Obama’s Way
Post/Reply to discussion
Readings TBD
Post to the discussion


Discussion
Final Exam
Take Final Exam
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