Department of Political Science
American Government
PSC 111
Spring 2016
Class Meetings: MC 440 M-W-F 10:15-11:05 AM
Office Hours: M-W 2-3 PM and by Appt.
Dr. Joel Lieske
Office: RT 1751
Phone: (216) 687-4547
Email: j.lieske@csuohio.edu
This course is an introduction to American government and politics. It has no prerequisite and
assumes no previous course work in political science. But some of the readings are intellectually
challenging. Therefore I expect you to spend at least two hours of preparation outside of class
for every hour in class. I also expect you to keep abreast of political developments by reading a
good national newspaper (e.g. The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post) or
magazine (e.g. Time, Newsweek, U. S. News and World Report).
The course is organized around five major topics: (1) the historical and cultural forces that have
shaped the American political system; (2) the political opinions, interests, and organizations that
structure American politics; (3) the major institutions of national government; (4) the politics of
key domestic and foreign policy issues; and (5) the American democratic experiment.
Required Readings
Thomas R. Dye and Ronald Keith Gaddie, Politics in America, 2014 Election Edition (Upper
Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2014). [Dye]
Patrick J. Buchanan, Suicide of a Superpower: Will America Survive to 2025? (New York: St.
Martin’s Press, 2011). [Buchanan]
The Dye text and Suicide of a Superpower are available at the book store.
Course Responsibilities
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Completion of all reading assignments.
Eighteen online chapter quizzes.
Six midterm online examinations: Feb. 3, Feb. 19, Mar. 4, Mar. 25, Apr. 6, Apr. 20
Final in-class essay examination: May 9.
Daily class attendance.
Participation in class discussions and debates.
Courteous and respectful behavior.
For best results, read each assignment before class. The available dates for the quizzes and
exams can be found in the Assessments tab for this course in Blackboard. If for some reason you
cannot take a scheduled quiz or exam, you must let me know in advance. If you are sick, leave a
1
phone or email message no later than the day of the exam. Extensions for students who fail to
notify me by the date of the scheduled exam will be given only in exceptional cases and must be
justified on the basis of compelling personal circumstances or supporting documentation (e.g. a
doctor’s excuse). Missed quizzes and exams will be recorded as zeroes in my grade book.
Each missed exam will lower your final grade on average by a whole letter. The midterm
exams will be exclusively objective in nature. Since the midterm exams are taken online, I will
not take attendance when they are scheduled. The final will be an in-class essay exam.
Grades
Your grade in this course will be based on your scores on six midterm examinations, a final
exam, 18 chapter quizzes, and class attendance. Each midterm examination will be worth 100
points. The final will count 120 points. The quizzes will each be worth 25 points. And class
attendance will count a final 120 points. The quizzes will consist of multiple-choice questions.
Each midterm will cover three chapters in the Dye and Gaddie text and be multiple-choice. The
final examination will test you on your knowledge and understanding of the Buchanan book and
be strictly essay. You do not have to agree with his views to get an A on the final.
You can only take the Blackboard quizzes once and only when they are scheduled. This is also
true for the Blackboard exams. For the six midterms the quiz windows will be open until the day
before the exam. There is a one-day window for each exam.
All of the quizzes and the midterm exams can be accessed from the Assessments tab of this
course in Blackboard Learn. You can log on to Blackboard using your CSU identification
number and your password. Quiz and exam results will be made available at the close of the
Blackboard window.
Your final grade will be determined by where your total percentile score falls on the following
grade distribution:
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD
F
84+
80-83
75-79
70-74
65-69
60-64
55-59
50-54
40-49
<40
University grading policies require instructors to attach minuses and pluses in the A to C range.
After that, only whole letter grades are recorded.
2
You can earn additional credit by participating in class discussions and any ad hoc class debates.
Exceptional and sustained participation can raise your final grade by as much as a whole letter.
Free Speech Policy
I believe free speech is absolutely essential to the democratic process and the academic
enterprise. I also believe in the Jeffersonian marketplace of ideas. Good ideas will ultimately
triumph over bad ones. In addition, I believe that free minds and free ideas will help create and
maintain a free society. Finally, I place a very high value on intellectual honesty. I do not
conform, nor do I expect you to conform, to the so-called canons of “political correctness.” So
feel free to challenge any idea, nostrum, or sacred cow that you wish, including those advanced
by the good professor. But I have “zero tolerance” for students who are disrespectful of others or
make unauthorized “grand exits” in the middle of class. If you need to leave for a scheduled
appointment, please let me know ahead of time and sit near a door so you can leave with minimal
disruption to the class. Hygienic emergencies are another matter. Other than checking for vital
class related information, I will not tolerate texting and the use of cell phones during class
meetings.
COURSE OUTLINE
Date
Topic
January 20
Overview of the Course
I.
Assigned Readings
THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM
January 22
A. The Study of American Government
and Democracy
Dye, Ch. 1
January 25 & 27
B. American Political Culture
Dye, Ch. 2
January 29 &
February 1
C. The Federal Constitution
Dye Ch. 3
U. S. Constitution
Declaration of
Independence
Madison, Federalist
Nos. 10 & 51
February 3
First Examination
February 5 & 8
D. American Federalism
3
Dye, Ch. 4
II.
POLITICAL PROCESSES
February 10 & 12
A. Public Opinion and Political
Participation
February 15
President’s Day: No Class
February 17
B. The Media
February 19
Second Examination
February 22 & 24
C. Political Parties
Dye, Ch. 7
February 26 & 29
D. Campaigns and Elections
Dye, Ch. 8
March 2
E. Interest Groups
Dye, Ch. 9
March 4
Third Examination
III.
Dye, Ch. 5
Dye, Ch. 6
INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT
March 7 & 9
A. The Congress
Dye, Ch. 10
March 11 & 21
B. The Presidency
Dye, Ch. 11
March 13-20
Spring Break
March 23
C. The Bureaucracy
March 25
Fourth Examination
March 28
D. The Judiciary
IV.
Dye, Ch. 12
Dye, Ch. 13
THE POLITICS OF PUBLIC POLICY
March 30 & April 1
A. Civil Liberties
Dye, Ch. 14
April 4
B. Civil Rights
Dye, Ch. 15
April 6
Fifth Examination
April 8
C. The Economy
Dye, Ch. 16
4
April 11 & 13
D. Social Welfare
Dye, Ch. 17
April 15 & 18
E. Defense Policy
Dye, Ch. 18
April 20
Sixth Examination
V.
THE DEMOCRATIC EXPERIMENT AND THE AMERICAN FUTURE
April 22
A. The Passing of a Superpower
Buchanan, Preface,
Intro. & Ch. 1
April 25
B. The Death of Christian America and
the Crisis of Catholicism
Buchanan, Chs. 2-3
April 27
C. The End of White America and
Demographic Winter
Buchanan, Chs. 4-5
April 29
D. Equality or Freedom? and
the Diversity Cult
Buchanan, Chs. 6-7
May 2
E. The Triumph of Tribalism and
“The White Party”
Buchanan, Chs. 8-9
May 4
F. The Long Retreat and the Last
Chance
Buchanan, Chs. 10-11
May 6
The American Democratic Experiment
May 9
Final Examination 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
University Commitment to Students with Disabilities
Educational access is the provision of classroom accommodations, auxiliary aids and services to
ensure equal educational opportunities for all students regardless of their disability. Any student
who feels he or she may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should
contact the Office of Disability Services at (216) 687-2015. The Office is located in MC 147.
5