PLSC 112-26 Fall 2015
MW 11:00-12:15
Pray-Harrold 421
[CRN 13438]
[Credit Hours: 3]
American Government
Dr. Henschen
601Q Pray Harrold
Hours: MW 12:30-1:30; 3:30-4:30,
and by appointment
E-mail: bhenschen@emich.edu
Phone: 734.487.3113; 734.487.1398
In this course we will examine American political institutions and processes at the
national level. We will discuss the context of American politics and look at how
individuals and groups participate in the political system. We will also examine the
behavior of political actors in government institutions and explore the making of
public policy. A recurring theme will be the complexity that characterizes American
politics. This semester, special attention will be given to the run-up to the 2016
presidential elections.
Book: (Required) Sidlow, Edward and Beth Henschen. GOVT 7. Boston: Cengage
Learning, 2016, 2014.
Reading, Assignments, and Exam Schedule
September
9/Wednesday
Politics and the Art of Governing—ch.1
14/Monday
Creating the Constitution: An Exercise in Compromise—ch.2
16/Wednesday
Enduring Constitutional Principles—ch.2
21/Monday
Dividing Power in the Political Arena—ch.3
23/Wednesday
Civil Liberties: Balancing Interests/Drawing Lines—ch.4
Shouting Fire (DVD)
28/Monday
Telling the Story of Civil Rights—ch.5
30/Wednesday
Scenes from the Civil Rights Movement
Eyes on the Prize: Bridge to Freedom (DVD)
October
5/Monday
Mobilizers of Political Participation—ch.6
7/Wednesday
Exam I
12/Monday
Noisy Politics and the Two Party System—ch. 7
(chapters 1-6)
60 points
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14/Wednesday
People in the Polity—ch.8
19/Monday
Noisy Politics and Voting Behavior—ch.8
21/Wednesday
The Constant Campaign: Whose Idea Was This?—ch.9
26/Monday
The World Series (or Tennis)—ch.9
*Directed Writing Assignment due in class
28/Wednesday
30 points
The Media —ch.10
November
2/Monday
Televised Campaign Ads: Relics of the Past?—ch.10
4/Wednesday
Exam II
9/Monday
Congress: The Institution—ch.11
11/Wednesday
Congress: The Legislative Process—ch.11
16/Monday
Presidential Roles and Job Descriptions—ch.12
18/Wednesday
The Expansion of Presidential Power—But Just How Powerful
is the President?—ch.12; ch.13
23/Monday
Bureaucratic Politics—ch.13
25/Wednesday
No Class
30/Monday
Courts—ch.14
(chapters 7-10)
80 points
December
2/Wednesday
Judges—ch.14
7/Monday
Public Policy and the Art of Governing—ch.15; ch.16
9/Wednesday
My Favorite Color Is Gray
**Elections Journal due in class
14/Monday
30 points
Presidential Politics—2015-2016
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18/Friday
Final Exam (9:30-11:00)
100 points
(chapters 11-16; some additional material from previous exams)
Summary of Graded Exercises:
October 7/Wednesday
Exam I
60 points
October 26/Monday
*Directed Writing Assignment due
30 points
November 4/Wednesday
Exam II
80 points
December 9/Wednesday
**Elections Journal due
30 points
December 18/Friday
Final Exam (9:30-11:00)
100 points
Grading scale:
282-300 points A
270-281
A261-269
B+
249-260
B
240-248
B231-239
C+
219-230
C
210-218
C201-209
D+
189-200
D
180-188
DBelow 180
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%
Note: On occasion, there may be an in-class writing exercise to ensure that you
are keeping up with the reading. These exercises will be considered extra credit
opportunities.
Depending on the circumstances, any make up exams that are necessary/warranted
may be given during the last week of classes. The exam format may be different.
Class attendance, good note taking, and careful reading are essential to doing well in
this course. It is also important to be present—to be fully engaged during lectures and
in class discussions. Laptops closed, phones put away…
Check your university e-mail frequently for announcements related to class.
Additional information regarding classroom matters will be discussed in class.
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BE AWARE OF THE UNIVERSITY’S POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY—GO TO
WWW.EMICH.EDU/STUDENTCONDUCT/INDEX.PHP
Go to http://www.emich.edu/uwc for information about the university writing center.
Dates and Deadlines
9/14/15
Last date to add courses via the web (a)
10/29/15
Last date to add courses with departmental authorization
Last date for 100% tuition refund (individual or total withdraw from
9/17/15
term)
11/16/15
Last date for individual class withdrawal (with W grades) - No Refund
10/2/15 (b) Last date for 50% tuition refund (total withdrawal only) with W grades
10/29/15
Last date for 25% tuition refund (total withdrawal only) with W grades
(b)
12/14/15
Last date for total withdrawal from term (with W grades) - No Refund
(b)
9/17/15
Last date to declare pass/fail grading option or select to audit a course
12/14/15
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 $140 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
_________________________________________________________________
This course (PLSC 112) provides students with critical exposure to the methods used by social
scientists in creating knowledge. Political Science 112 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.
Completion of this course fulfills a requirement in the Knowledge of the Disciplines/Social Sciences:
In Knowledge of the Disciplines courses, students will
Acquire introductory knowledge about the discipline.
Develop questions for inquiry that reflect an understanding of the discipline(s) in which they are
asked.
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Learn how knowledge is developed and disseminated in particular disciplines.
In Social Science courses, students will
Acquire an understanding of social science methods and of how they are used to engage in the
systematic study of society and culture.
Understand and compare formal and informal social and political structures, organizations, and
institutions.
Explore and understand power relationships and the impact of social change on different groups
and on society in general.
Develop an appreciation of different interpretations of contemporary issues, institutions, or
structures.
Use social science methods and content to interpret and analyze data and reports in the media and
to make informed decisions regarding local, national, and international issues.
Use basic social scientific research techniques to examine and present information in a clear and
concise manner.
Understand the relation between qualitative and quantitative research.
These objectives will be addressed through our examination of the historical and
constitutional context of American government, the evolving nature of civil liberties
and civil rights, the mobilization of political participation by interest groups and
political parties, the behavior of individuals in the political arena, the measurement of
public opinion, the role of the media, the power and procedures of national
governmental institutions and agencies, and an assessment of the processes by which
domestic and foreign policy is made.
_____________________________________________________________________
*Directed Writing Assignment
Complete one of the writing assignments provided below—choose the one you would
like to do.
1. Describe the agents of political socialization (see ch.8 in GOVT 7) and discuss the
ways in which they help to shape an individual’s political attitudes, opinions,
knowledge, and beliefs. How have each of these agents of socialization influenced
your own views about politics (this goes beyond political party affiliation) and the
role of government? Be specific; draw on your own experiences. Do some careful
thinking about your own political socialization.
2. Think about the impact of a federal system of government (see ch.3 in GOVT
7). Choose three states you think you might be interested in living in someday.
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Do some comparisons with respect to various public policy issues. For
example:
Go to the home page of the Guttmacher Institute and explore state differences
with respect to abortion laws;
Find information on the website of the Brennan Center for Justice about
various state voting laws;
Do you want to be a teacher? Check out the certification programs in each
state at Teach.org;
Get information from the Bottle Bill Resource Guide at bottlebill.org on bottle
deposit laws across the states;
Other potential comparisons: differences in “right to work” laws, drug laws,
income and/or sales tax rates.
Would a state’s public policies and politics influence your choice about where
you might live? Is it difficult—or interesting—to be a citizen in a nation with
a federal system of government?
Be thoughtful, thorough, and careful as you address the questions while crafting your
response in a well-written essay with appropriate citations where relevant (4-6 pages,
typed; double-spaced).
**Elections Journal
Keep up with what’s happening in the 2015-2016 presidential elections cycle. Make regular
entries (once or twice a week) in a journal about the candidates and their campaigns,
including poll numbers, highlights of speeches given, debate performances, and media
coverage during this pre-nomination phase. Be ready to share something you’ve seen or read
when class discussions turn to the race for the presidency.
Additional information about the election journal, including format, sources for polling data,
campaign funding, and debate schedules will be provided in a separate document.
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