Eastern Michigan University
PLSC 112, INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
Winter 2014
MW, 3:30 – 4:45
Dr. Raymond A. Rosenfeld
601J Pray-Harrold
487-0058 (office)
248-875-7350 (cell)
Raymond.Rosenfeld@emich.edu
Office hours: MW 1:00-3:30; M 4:45-5:30
and by appointment
I. INTRODUCTION. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the national
government of the United States. It deals with the origins and principles, structures and
organization, and political behavior of individuals and groups within the political process. The
objective of the course is to indicate some different perspectives that can be utilized in evaluating
the performance and adequacy of government institutions.
General Education Foundation: This course provides students with critical exposure to the methods
used by social scientists in creating knowledge. It provides a thorough grounding in American
government. It also provides a strong introduction to the discipline of political science. In this course,
students gain exposure to how knowledge is generated in the social sciences through the lens of one
content area, that of American government. Through material covered in the course, students gain
practice in asking important questions about the political world and answering them using the methods
practiced in this social science discipline.
II. COURSE ADMINISTRATION. Students are expected to keep up with the reading assignments
listed in this syllabus, prior to each class. The materials covered in class lectures and discussions
will complement the reading assignments. Grades will be determined as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
three tests (25% each)
final exam
policy paper (extra credit)
class participation/attendance
75%
20%
10%
5%
If a student finds that s/he is unable to take a test on the date scheduled in this syllabus or a date
rescheduled in class, s/he should contact the instructor at least once class period in advance to
schedule a make-up exam.
III. BOOKS. Each student should purchase the following book:
Gary Wasserman, The Basics of American Politics Fourteenth Edition, Longman/Pearson, 2011.
PLSC 112, Winter 2014
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IV. TOPICS AND ASSIGNMENTS
Jan. 6, 8, 13
1. Basic Concepts: functions of government: social order, collective goods,
promote equality; politics, power, public policy, democratic theories:
classical, egalitarian, elite, pluralist. Read: Chapter 1.
Read “Liberty’s Lost Decade”:
http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21582525-war-terror-hauntsamerica-still-it-should-recover-some-its-most-cherished?frsc=dg|c
Jan. 15, 22
2. Constitutional Origins: Articles of Confederation, key experiences going into
Philadelphia Constitutional Convention, Great Compromise, Madisonian
Model, bicameral, checks and balances, separation of power, federalism, life
tenure for judges/justices, Bill of Rights. Read: Chapter 2.
Jan. 27, 29
3. Federalism: definition, characteristics in U.S., McCulloch v. Maryland—
supremacy clause, expressed powers, implied powers or elastic powers,
necessary and proper, reserved powers and 10th Amendment, equal
protection, full faith and credit, advantages, dilemma, intergovernmental
relations, grants and regulations, state and local governments.
Feb. 3, 5, 10
4. Civil Rights and Liberties and Equality: public opinion, first amendment
freedoms, religion, establishment clause, procedural rights, selective
incorporation, criminal rights, Miranda v. Arizona, equal opportunity or
equal results, race relations in America, Brown v. Board of Education, Plessy
v. Ferguson. Read: Chapter 6.
Feb. 12
EXAM #1
Feb. 17, 19
5. Congress: incumbency, committees, subcommittees, staff, scandal,
representative roles – trustee and delegate, differences in House and Senate,
Speaker of House, Senate Majority Leader, constituency services, pork
barrel legislation gerrymandering, Congressional Research Service,
Congressional Budget Office, Government Accountability Office, filibuster,
vote of cloture. Read: Chapter 4. Also Read: “For Freshmen in the House,
Seats of Plenty” http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/11/us/politics/forfreshmen-in-the-house-seats-of-plenty.html?_r=0
Also Read “As Swing Districts Dwindle Can a Divided House
Stand” http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/27/as-swingdistricts-dwindle-can-a-divided-house-stand/
Mar. 3
6. President: too much power or too little? Presidential powers, veto,
appointments, Executive Order, Presidential roles, power of persuasion,
Executive Office of President, Office of Management and Budget, National
Security Council, Council of Economic Advisers. Read: Chapter 3 (47-70).
Read: “Obama’s Recess Appointment Bet Sours”
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/obamas-recess-appointmentsbet-sours-86756.html
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PLSC 112, Winter 2014
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Mar. 5
7. Executive Branch: Cabinet, secretary, public images, bureaucracy,
implementation, political neutrality, efficiency, policy versus
implementation, rule making, independent agencies, independent
regulatory agencies/commissions, oversight, appointment process. Read:
Chapter 3 (70-89)
Mar. 10, 12
8. Federal Courts: Federalist Paper #78 -- court independence and judicial
review, Marbury v. Madison, democracy, structure of Federal courts, US
District Courts, US Circuit Court of Appeals, chief justice, policy making role,
judicial restraint versus an activist court, stare decisis, state and local courts.
Read: Chapter 5
Mar. 17
EXAM #2
Mar. 19
9. Voters: political socialization, agents of socialization, what we believe, beliefs
and public policy, public opinion polls, types of participation, gender gap,
liberal and conservative beliefs in America. Read: Chapter 7 (192-202).
Mar. 24
10. Elections: Why so many elections? Removal of restrictions, poll taxes, voter
registration, campaign reform, finances and primaries, role of federal versus
state governments in elections, voting turnout, electoral college votes,
majority versus plurality election, proportional representation, referendum,
recall , role of party ID in voting decisions , retrospective and prospective
voting, demographic changes impacting elections
Mar. 26, 31
11. Political Parties: linkage institution, party brands, historical development,
single-member districts and plurality elections, recruitment, recent changes,
party structure, Democratic coalition, Republican coalition, party in
Congress, party conventions, national parties. Read: Chapter 7 (202-227).
Apr. 2, 7
12. Groups/Interests: Pluralism, positive and negative views, material benefits,
purposive benefits, source of strength, techniques of influence
(electioneering, insider strategies, lobbying, going public) types of interest
groups, Madison’s view of interest groups. Read: Chapter 8 (229-243).
Read: “Fiscal Footnote: Big Senate Gift to Drug Maker”
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/20/us/medicare-pricing-delay-ispolitical-win-for-amgen-drug-maker.html
Apr. 9
13. Media: The special place of the media in a democracy.
Read: Chapter 8 (243-263)
Apr. 14
EXAM #3
Apr. 16
14. Public Policy: The Economy: fiscal policy, monetary policy, Federal Reserve
Bank System, open market operations, progressive and regressive taxes,
budget deficit, US debt, “mandatory spending”.
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PLSC 112, Winter 2014
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Apr. 21
15. Public Policy: Social Welfare: Limited benefits and
incentives for independence, Social Security (old age retirement, survivors,
disability, indexing), means testing, TANF, Medicare, Medicaid,
unemployment compensation, Food Stamps (SNAP),
Apr. 28
FINAL EXAM @ 3:00-4:30
V. RESEARCH PAPER FOR EXTRA CREDIT
Each student may write a short (maximum five double spaced pages, typed) essay on some public
policy issue that interests you. The essay will answer the following questions (these should be your
topical headings).
What is the public policy problem?
What are some possible solutions?
What are the pros and cons of these solutions?
Which solution do you prefer and why?
In doing the research for this paper, you should consult a variety of library materials to include at a
minimum:
a. 2 articles from two different think tanks such as Brookings Institution, American Enterprise Institute,
Economic Policy Institute, The Heritage Foundation, The Hoover Institute, The Urban
Institute (others require professor approval before use)
b. 2 articles from a national newspaper: New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal,
Christian Science Monitor
c. 2 articles from either C.Q. Weekly Report or the National Journal
d. 2 government web sites (those that end in .gov)
This paper should be double-spaced, and stapled in the upper left corner. It should be carefully
prepared in terms of writing style, spelling, punctuation, grammar, and documentation, in accordance
with Chicago/Turabian author/date style manual. All web citations should include the complete http
web address for the document utilized along with the name of the organization. It is due on April 16.
Papers will not be accepted after this date.
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EMU Policies and Regulations
Students should consult “Policies Affecting You @EMU 2013-2014” prepared by the Office of the Ombudsman
.It can be downloaded at www.emich.edu/ombuds.
 Religious Holidays – “Current University policy recognizes the rights of students to observe religious
holidays without penalty to the student. Students will provide advance notice to the instructor in order to
make up work, including examinations they miss as a result of their absence from class due to observance of
religious holidays. If satisfactory arrangements cannot be made with the instructor, the student may appeal to
the Political Science Department Head.”
 Academic Dishonesty – “Academic dishonesty, including all forms of cheating, falsification, and/or
plagiarism, will not be tolerated in this course. Penalties for an act of academic dishonesty may range from
receiving a failing grade for a particular assignment to receiving a failing grade for the entire course. In
addition, you may be referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards for discipline that
can result in either a suspension or permanent dismissal. The Student Conduct Code contains detailed
definitions of what constitutes academic dishonesty but if you are not sure about whether something you are
doing would be considered academic dishonesty, consult with the course instructor. You may access the Code
online at: http://www.emich.edu/policies/policy.php?id=124&term=student%20conduct
 Classroom Management Issues – “Students are expected to abide by the Student Conduct Code and assist
in creating an environment that is conducive to learning and protects the rights of all members of the
University Community. Incivility and disruptive behavior will not be tolerated and may result in a request to
leave class and referral to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (SJS) for discipline.
Examples of inappropriate classroom conduct include repeatedly arriving late to class, using a mobile/cellular
phone while in the class session, or talking while others are speaking. You may access the Code online at
http://www.emich.edu/policies/policy.php?id=124&term=student%20conduct
Tech  “Materials in this course, on the course-related Web site(s) or URLs used in connection with this
course are protected by copyright and may not be copied, used, lined, revised, or retained in any manner
whatsoever without permission of its owner. The content of copyrighted material may be used only, and
solely by and for, students officially enrolled in this course for which the transmission is made, and may not be
copied, used, linked, revised, or retained in any form, or disseminated in any form or medium whatsoever
without permission by an agent of Eastern Michigan University.”
Tech  As availability of laptop computers and wireless access has grown, so have the opportunities for
students’ attention to be distracted away from activities being conducted in the classroom.
Computers are to be utilized for coursework and activities related to coursework. Do not
use computers for entertainment during in-class sessions.
You are encouraged to bring your computer to lecture, but, while in the class, you will use
your computer only for purposes related to this course.
Participation in Internet surfing, gaming, chatting, emailing, text messaging, Tweeting,
etc., while in-class will reduce your ability to participate in and focus on in-class content /
activities. In addition, it causes you to be a distraction to others sitting nearby and to the
course instructor.
Acceptable uses of computers while in-class include taking notes, following along with
the instructor on PowerPoint, with demonstrations, and other whole class activities, as
well as working on assigned in-class activities, projects, and discussions that require
laptop use. It is easy for your laptop to become a distraction to you and to those around
you. Inappropriate uses will be noted and may affect your final grade.
You are expected to be punctual, alert, and prepared for the class. You will be considerate
of the instructor and other students, which includes not keyboarding or checking e-mail
PLSC 112, Winter 2014
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while information is being presented. Please turn off instant messaging during class time
and refrain from playing games on your computer.
Please turn off cell phones when you are in the classroom.
 Student and Exchange VISitor Statement (SEVIS) – The Student exchange Visitor Information System
(SEVIS) requires F and J students to report the following to the Office of International Students 244 EMU
Student Center within ten (10) days of the event:
Changes in your name, local address, major field of study, or source of funding;
Changes in your degree-completion date;
Changes in your degree-level (ex Bachelors to Masters)
Intent to transfer to another school.
Prior permission from OIS is needed for the following:
Dropping ALL courses as well as carrying or dropping BELOW minimum credit hours;
Employment on or off-campus;
Registering for more than one ONLINE course per term (F visa only)
Endorsing I-20 or DS-2019 for re-entry into the USA.
Failure to report may result in the termination of your SEVIS record and even arrest and deportation. If you
have questions or concerns, contact the Office of International Students at 734.487.3116, not the course
instructor.
 Special Needs Accommodations – “If you wish to be accommodated for your disability, EMU Board of
Regents Policy 8.3 requires that you first register with the Students with Disabilities Office (SDO) in 240 EMU
Student Center. You may contact SDO by telephone (734.487.2470). Students with disabilities are
encouraged to register with the SDO promptly as you will only be accommodated from the date you register
with them forward. No retroactive accommodations are possible.”
NOTE: Federal law and good pedagogical practices require instructors to provide reasonable accommodations
to students who have provided documentation of a disability. The Students with Disabilities Office, 240 EMU
Student Center, or at www.emich.edu/disabilities can provide you with detailed guidance.
 Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) – “The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
(FERPA) is a Federal law designated to protect the privacy of a student’s education records and academic
work. The law applies to all schools and universities which receive funds under an applicable program of the
U.S. Department of Education and is applicable to students at EMU. All files, records, and academic work
completed within this course are considered educational records and are protected under FERPA. It is your
right, as a student in this course, to expect that any materials yo submit in this course, as well as your name
and other identifying information will not be viewable by guests or other individuals permitted access to the
course. The exception will be only when you have given explicit, written, signed consent. Verbal consent or
email is insufficient.
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