PLSC 305-0 Fall 2014
MW 9:30-10:45
Pray-Harrold 303
[CRN: 14834]
Law and Policy in a Constitutional Democracy
Dr. Henschen
601 Q Pray-Harrold
Hours: MW 8:30-9:00, 1:00-1:30; 3:30-4:30,
and by appointment
E-mail: bhenschen@emich.edu
Phone: 734.487.3113; 734.487.1398
[Credit Hours: 3]
In this course we will examine the political processes that have shaped the evolution of major
constitutional principles and discuss the various ways in which the laws that govern
American society are made. As we focus on people and events that helped to forge our
national experience, the meaning of American democracy will be a recurring theme.
Books: REQUIRED
Miroff, Bruce, Raymond Seidelman, and Todd Swanstrom (eds). 2012. Debating
Democracy (7e). Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Gillon, Steven M. 2006. 10 Days that Unexpectedly Changed America. New York: Three
Rivers Press.
Readings and Exam Schedule
September 3
Thinking About Democracy
Democratic Principles in the Contours of the American Political System
September 8
Debating Democratic Values
Miroff, et.al, Chapter 2, Democracy: Overrated or Undervalued?
Gillon, Chapter 1: Massacre at Mystic
September 10
The Constitutional Context
Miroff, et.al, Chapter 1, The Founding: Debating the Constitution
Gillon, Chapter 2, Shays’ Rebellion: The First American Civil War
September 15
The Federal Arrangement
Miroff, et.al, Chapter 3, The New Federalism: Does It Create Laboratories of
Democracy or a Race to the Bottom?
September 17
Free Expression
Miroff, et.al, Chapter 6, Civil Liberties: Is Corporate Spending on Elections
the Equivalent of Free Speech?
September 22
Church and State
Miroff, et.al, Chapter 8, Church-State Relations: Was the United States
Founded as a Christian Nation?
September 24
Civil Liberties: Interpreting Religious Freedom
Gillon, Chapter 7, Scopes: The Battle Over America’s Soul
September 29
Civil Rights: Setting the Stage
Gillon, Chapter 4, Antietam
October 1
Civil Rights: Legislative and Judicial Policymaking
October 6
Civil Rights: Social Movements
Gillon, Chapter 10, Freedom Summer
October 8
The Evolution of Rights
Miroff, et.al, Chapter 7, Civil Rights: Debating Same-Sex Marriage
October 13
Exam I
45 points
Democratic Principles in American Politics, Institutions, and Policy Processes
October 15
The Media and Politics
Miroff, et.al, Chapter 9, Digital Media: Do They Expand or Shrink
Democracy?
October 20
The American Electorate
Miroff, et.al, Chapter 10, Political Polarization: How Divided Are We?
October 22
Seeking Office
Miroff, et.al, Chapter 11, Campaigns and Elections: Do Negative Ads
Damage Democracy?
October 27
Legislative Lawmaking
Miroff, et.al, Chapter 13, Congress: Can Our Representatives Serve the
Public Good?
October 29
Presidential Politics
Miroff, et.al, Chapter 14, The Presidency: How Much Difference Does the
Individual Make?
November 3
Presidential Power
Gillon, Chapter 6, Murder at the Fair: The Assassination of President
McKinley
November 5
Policymaking By Judges
Miroff, et.al, Chapter 15, The Judiciary: How Should It Interpret Our
Constitution?
November 10
Lawmaking: Legislatures, Executives, Agencies, Courts
November 12
Domestic Policymaking
November 17
Politics and the Economy
Miroff, et.al, Chapter 5, Political Economy: How Democratic is the Free
Market Economy?
Chapter 12, The Federal Budget: Is the Deficit a Threat to the Nation?
Chapter 16, Economic Inequality: A Threat to Democracy?
November 19
The Role of the United States in the World
Miroff, et.al, Chapter 17, Foreign Policy: Has the United States Become an
Imperial Power?
November 24
Science, Technology, and Awesome Power in a Democracy
Gillon, Chapter 8, Einstein’s Letter
December 1
American Political Culture
Miroff, et.al, Chapter 4, Immigration: Does It Strengthen or Threaten
Democracy?
December 3
Democracy and Popular Culture
Gillon, Chapter 9, When America Was Rocked
December 8/
December 10
Democratic Themes: Paper Presentations/Papers Due
50 points
Wednesday, December 17 9:00-10:30
Exam
60 points
Course Assignments and Grades
There will be several types of assessments used in this course, including exams, inclass writing exercises, a paper, and a brief paper presentation.
The first exam (Monday, October 13) is worth 45 points.
The second exam (Wednesday, December 17) is worth 60 points.
[Exam reviews will take place in class.]
You will each write a paper on a topic related to the coursework; the paper (and your
brief presentation of it to the class on December 8 or 10) is worth 50 points.
[Specific information regarding the paper will be provided in a separate document.]
There will be 4 in-class writing exercises, randomly offered. Your best grades on
three of those exercises will count toward your final grade. Each exercise is
worth 15 points.
There will also be two opportunities for extra credit. I will announce those in class.
Grading scale:
188-200 points A
180-187
A174-179
B+
166-173
B
160-165
B154-159
C+
146-153
C
140-145
C134-139
D+
126-133
D
120-125
DBelow 120
F
94-100%
90-93
87-89
83-86
80-82
77-79
73-76
70-72
67-69
63-66
60-62
Below 60%
Please be aware of the following Fall Semester 2014 dates:
Part of Term 1: 9/3/14 - 12/18/14 (15 weeks)
9/9/14
10/24/14
9/12/14
11/11/14
(b)
9/29/14 (b)
10/24/14
(b)
12/11/14
(b)
9/12/14
12/11/14
Last date to add courses via the web (a)
Last date to add courses with departmental authorization
Last date for 100% tuition refund and census date (individual or total
withdraw from term)
Last date for individual class withdrawal (with W grades) - No Refund
Last date for 50% tuition refund (total withdrawal only) with W grades
Last date for 25% tuition refund (total withdrawal only) with W grades
Last date for total withdrawal from term (with W grades) - No Refund
Last date to declare pass/fail grading option or select to audit a course
Last date to remove pass/fail grading option and receive letter grade
Codes
(a) Initial registration occurring on or after the Part of Term start date will incur a
one-time $135 late registration fee
(b) Date applicable only if student's classes are ALL within the same Part of Term
and/or a later starting Part of Term
(**) A written request must be faxed to the Office of Records and Registration at
734.487.6808 before midnight
NOTE THAT THE UNIVERSITY WRITING CENTER OFFERS A NUMBER OF SERVICES. FOR
MORE INFORMATION, GO TO THE CENTER’S WEBSITE.
University Writing Center
http://www.emich.edu/uwc/about/
115 Halle Library
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
734.487.0694
writingcenter@emich.edu
BE AWARE OF THE UNIVERSITY’S POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY—GO TO
WWW.EMICH.EDU/STUDENTCONDUCT/INDEX.PHP
Additional information regarding classroom matters will be discussed in class.