Eastern Michigan University
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
PLSC 112: American Government:
Winter 2015
Instructor: Alex Zamalin
M/W: 12:30-1:45
Pray- Harrold: 306
Email: azamalin@emich.edu
Course Description
This course explores the development of the American political system over time. We begin with
the foundations of American politics, with a special emphasis on the United States Constitution
and the shifting meaning Americans have attached to fundamental rights and liberties. Next we
examine the various ways in which people have participated in politics, including parties,
elections, interest groups, and social movements. In the third unit of the course we turn to the
principal units of the national government, especially congress, the presidency and judiciary.
Lectures explore each topic from an historical and theoretical perspective, tracing the
development of institutions and practices from the founding era to the present and examining
their diverse meanings for citizenship today. Class discussion will investigate in greater depth
topics introduced in the lectures through the analysis of primary source documents and secondary
readings by political scientists, historians, and sociologists. Throughout the semester we pay
particular attention to how past decisions shape the choices open to political actors, including
leaders and citizens today.
Learning Objectives
This course seeks to develop effective reading, writing, and critical thinking skills that will be of
value to students in their future academic lives and beyond.
Lectures explore the evidence and theories that political scientists use to explain political
outcomes and assess different explanations for the development of key political institutions and
historical themes.
In the classroom, students will be pressed to “interrogate” whether evidence is conclusive or
indeterminate, to reconcile conflicting evidence that seems to support different theories (or no
theory), and to consider why particular authors select certain evidence and omit other material.
Finally, the written assignments and exams are designed to improve writing skills, including the
ability to summarize and critique the main points of an argument succinctly, use language
precisely, demonstrate familiarity with political science terminology, and make an argument that
consists of taking a position (stating a thesis) and supporting it through the use of evidence.
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Speaking
This course is speaking intensive. Class sessions will be organized Socratically, that is, our
knowledge will advance through conversations in class and we will seek to undermine our own
foundations continually. While regular attendance in class is required, bodily presence in the
classroom is not an end in itself. Students should be in class not only to benefit from lectures, but
to interact with their fellow students in a community of learning. Though this is a writing
intensive class, we will not be privileging writing at the expense of other skills. The instructor
strives to engage all students in each class session.
Reading
Students will have to commit time for reading. This course will move at a fairly quick pace, so
students will need to cultivate a study ethic that involves quiet, concentrated periods of active
reading (meaning: pen in hand, recording thoughts and questions). Warning: Some instructors
abridge their syllabi to accommodate the fast pace of introductory courses. Mindful that students
in this course are receiving the same three credits as other classes, I have not changed the
intensity or volume of reading or assignments for this course. Students should review the reading
schedule carefully (when I finalize it) and consider whether they should take this course at this
time.
Finally, a plea: All written communication with me reflects upon your writing abilities and
seriousness about your academic work. Do not send me an email with egregious grammatical and
spelling errors and then forget to sign your name.
. Course Requirements
· Complete reading assignments before class. You must bring a paper copy of the readings
to class.
·
Attend lectures regularly and on time. Attendance will be taken and figure in your course
grade. No more than 3 absences are permitted. If you exceed this limit, you will be
penalized ½ of a letter grade from your participation for each subsequent absence.
· No sleeping or talking in class. Each case will count as an absence.
· Participate in discussion. This course is discussion intensive and you will be encouraged
to engage in the critical analysis of the development of the American political system.
· Complete the examinations. The three exams (one for each unit of the course) will
consist of essay questions. Exams will be based on lectures, class discussion and
assigned readings.
· Complete the 1, 5-page policy paper. Details to follow in class.
Grading
·
Class participation and attendance (10%)
·
1st Exam (20%)
·
2nd Exam (25%)
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·
3rd Exam (30%)
·
Policy Paper (15%)
Plagiarism
Not only are plagiarism and cheating serious academic offences, they also signify inadequate
learning. If it is found that you have committed plagiarism in this class, you will at a minimum
fail the course and be referred to the Dean for further action. Students will submit all work to
turnitin.com to screen for plagiarism so that we can remove the possibility of plagiarism
corrupting our learning environment. Papers will not be graded until submitted to the web site.
Guidelines for using TurnItIn.com will be distributed with the first paper assignment.
Disabilities
In compliance with the American Disability Act of 1990 (ADA) and with Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, I am committed to ensuring educational parity and accommodations
for all students with documented disabilities and/or medical conditions. Please let me know if you
should require any assistance or accommodations in meeting course requirements.
Required Course Materials
The Logic of American Politics, Samuel Kernell, Gary C Jacobson, Thad Kousser and Lynn
Vavreck (Acceptable Editions, Used or New: 4th through 6th).
Primary course readings posted online
Please note: I reserve the right to make adjustments to the course materials during the semester.
SCHEDULE OF LECTURES, READINGS & EXAMS
Unit I: Foundations
Jan 5: Introduction
Sept 7: American Political Culture
Selections from: Louis Hartz, The Liberal Tradition; Gordon Wood, The Creation of the
American Republic; Rogers Smith, Civic Ideals.
Jan 12: Foundational Texts
Logic of American Politics, Chapter 2, 40-60
“The Declaration of Independence,” in Benjamin Ginsberg, Theodore J. Lowi, and Margaret
Weir, We the People: An Introduction to American Politics, shorter 4th ed. (New York: Norton,
2003), pp. A3-A4.
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Howard Zinn, Chapter 5 “A Kind of Revolution” in A People’s History of the United States (New
York: Harper Perennial, 1990), pp. 76-101.
Jan 14: Founding Texts
Logic of American Politics, Chapter 2, 60-85
“The United States Constitution,” in Samuel Kernell and Steven S. Smith, eds., Principles and
Practice of American Government, 2nd ed. (Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2004), pp. 621-38.
“The Articles of Confederation,” in Benjamin Ginsberg, Theodore J. Lowi, and Margaret Weir,
We the People: An Introduction to American Politics, shorter 4th ed. (New York:
Norton, 2003), pp. A6-A9.
Jan 19: No Class
Jan 21 Federalists/Anti-Federalists
Federalist 10, No. 39 and 51 in Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, The
Federalist: The Gideon Edition, ed. by George W. Carey and James McClellan
(Indianapolis: Liberty Fund: 2001), pp. 193-99, 267-72.
Jan 26: Anti-Federalists/Critics
“The Seneca Falls Declaration and Resolutions,” in Kenneth M. Dolbeare, ed, American Political
Thought, 2nd ed. (Chatham, NJ: Chatham House Publishers, 1989), pp. 255-58.
Essays of Brutus, II and V in Herbert J. Storing, ed., The Anti-Federalist (Chicago: University of
Chicago Press, 1981, 1985), pp. 117-22, 133-38.
Jan 28: Federalism
Logic of American Politics, Chapter 3, 85-105
Thomas Jefferson, “The Kentucky Resolutions,” in Merrill Peterson, ed., The Portable Thomas
Jefferson (New York: Penguin, 1977), pp. 281-89.
Martha Derthick, Keeping the Compound Republic: Essays on American Federalism
(Washington, DC: Brookings Institution, 2001), chap. 1 “How Many Communities?” pp.
9-15.
Feb 2: Federalism
Logic of American Politics, Chapter 3, 105-128
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“Statement and Proclamation of Governor George C. Wallace, University of Alabama, June 11,
1963.” Archived on-line at the Alabama Department of Archives & History,
http://www.archives.state.al.us/govs_list/schooldoor.html.
United States v. Lopez 514 U.S. 549 (1995), excerpts. Supreme Court Collection, Legal
Information Institute. http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/.
Feb 4
First Exam
Unit II: The People
Feb 9: Civil Rights
Logic of American Politics, Chapter 4, 128-148
Abraham Lincoln, “First Joint Debate,” in Robert W. Johannsen, ed., The Lincoln-Douglas
Debates of 1858 (New York: Oxford University Press, 1965), pp. 51-55.
Eric Foner, “Preface” in Reconstruction: America’s Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877 (New
York: Harper & Row, 1988), pp. xix-xxvii.
Feb 11: Civil Rights
Logic of American Politics, Chapter 4, 148-158
Frederick Douglas, “What To The Slave Is The Fourth of July?” July 5, 1852,
TeachingAmericanHistory.org,
http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?documentprint=162
Feb 16 Civil Rights
Logic of American Politics, Chapter 4, 158-175
Martin Luther King Jr., Letter From A Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963,
http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html
Feb 18: Civil Rights
Logic of American Politics, Chapter 4, 175-182
Malcolm X, “The Ballot or the Bullet” in Lowi and Kramnick. American Political Thought, (New
York: Norton, 2008), pp. 1322-328.
Cornel West from “Race Matters” in Lowi and Kramnick. American Political Thought, (New
York: Norton, 2008), pp. 1471-1476.
Feb 23-March 1
No Class
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March 2: Civil Liberties
Logic of American Politics, Chapter 5, 182-200
Cass R. Sunstein, Chapter 5 “Free Speech,” in Why Societies Need Dissent (Cambridge: Harvard
University Press, 2003), pp. 96-110.
March 4 Civil Liberties
Logic of American Politics, Chapter 5, 200-215
Senator Russell Feingold, “On Opposing the U.S.A PATRIOT Act”, October 12, 2001,
http://www.archipelago.org/vol6-2/feingold.htm
Corey Robin, Part 2 “Fear, American Style” in Fear: The History of A Political Idea (New York:
Oxford University Press, 2004), pp. 161-166.
Andrew McCarthy, “The PATRIOT Act Without Tears” in Cannon et. Al. The Enduring Debate:
Classic and Contemporary Readings in American Politics, 6th Ed. (New York: Norton, 2006), pp
131-138.
March 9: Political Participation
Alexis de Tocqueville, “On the Use Which the Americans Make of Associations in Civil Life,” in
Tocqueville, Democracy in America (Garden City, NY: Anchor Books, 1969), pp. 513-17.
Robert D. Putnam, Chapter 2 “Civic Participation” in Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival
of American Community (New York, Simon and Schuster, 2000), pp. 31-47.
March 11 Voting
Logic of American Politics, Chapter 11, 480-510
Frances Fox Piven, “Does Voting Matter?” Why Americans Still Don’t Vote, And Why Politicians
Want It That Way (Boston: Beacon Press, 2000), pp. 1-22.
March 16: Parties
Logic of American Politics, Chapter 12, 524-576
William L. Riordon, Plunkitt of Tammany Hall (New York: E. P. Dutton, 1963), pp. 3-20.
March 18 Interest Groups
Logic of American Politics, Chapter 13, 576-596
James M. Berry, “The Advocacy Explosion” in The Interest Group Society, 3rd ed. (New York:
Longman, 1997), pp. 17-42.
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March 23: Social Movements
Frances Fox Piven and Richard Cloward, “Introduction” and “The Structuring of Protest” in Poor
People’s Movements: Why They Succeed, How They Fail (New York: Vintage, 1979), pp.
ix-24
March 25
Second Exam
Unit III: Political Institutions
March 30: Congress
Logic of American Politics, Chapter 6, 230-255
Eric Schickler, “Institutional Development of Congress,” in Paul J. Quirk and Sarah A. Binder,
eds., The Legislative Branch (Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 2005), pp. 35-62.
April 1: Congress
Logic of American Politics, Chapter 6, 255-298
John R. Hibbing and Elizabeth Theiss-Morse “Too Much of a Good Thing: More Representative
is not Necessarily Better” in Cannon et. Al. The Enduring Debate: Classic and Contemporary
Readings in American Politics, 6th Ed. (New York: Norton, 2006), pp. 151-157.Thursday, July 8.
Senate, Continued.
David Mayhew, from Congress: The Electoral Connection in Cannon et. Al. The Enduring
Debate: Classic and Contemporary Readings in American Politics, 6th Ed. (New York: Norton,
2006), pp. 141-144.
April 6: Presidency
Logic of American Politics, Chapter 7, 298-320
Seymour Martin Lipset, “George Washington and the Founding of Democracy” in Journal of
Democracy 9.4 (1998) 24-38.
April 8: Presidency
Policy Paper
Logic of American Politics, Chapter 7, 320-346
Abraham Lincoln, “Letter To Hodges, April 4, 1864” in Gore Vidal ed., Lincoln: Selected
Speeches and Writings (New York: Vintage/Library of America, 1991), pp. 419-21.
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Federalist No. 78 in Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, The Federalist Papers
(New York: New American Library, 1961), pp. 464-72.
April 13: Judiciary
Logic of American Politics, Chapter 9, 392-415
Cass R. Sunstein, “Judges and Democracy: The Changing Role of the United States Supreme
Court,” in Kermit L. Hall and Kevin T. McGuire, eds., The Judicial Branch (Oxford and New
York: Oxford University Press, 2005), pp. 32-59.
John Marshall, from “Marbury v. Madison (1803)” in in Lowi and Kramnick. American Political
Thought, (New York: Norton, 2008), pp. 323-327.
David O’Brien, “The Court in the American Life” from Storm Center: The Supreme Court in
American Politics” in Cannon et. Al. The Enduring Debate: Classic and Contemporary Readings
in American Politics, 6th Ed. (New York: Norton, 2006), pp. 255-261.
April 15: Judiciary/Review
Exam 3
April 20
Logic of American Politics, Chapter 15, 664-694
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