American Politics: RPOS 101
Spring 2008 – SUNY Albany
TuTh 1:15 – 2:35 pm
Room: Earth Science 245
Professor: Wesley Nishiyama
E-mail: wn8492@albany.edu
Office Hours Tues 2:40 – 3:40 & Wed 12:30 – 1:30 and by appointment
Office - Political Science Contact Office, Humanities 16 (in the basement)
The Project at Hand
Politics (or political power) concerns who or what determines who gets what, when and how
much. In an ideal American democracy, the people determine the who, what and how much; and
in an American liberal democracy, such politics operates through individual rights. In this course
we will explore what ways current politics supports or denies liberal (liberal not in Liberal)
democracy.
Required Books:
The Democratic Debate: An Introduction to American Politics, 4th ed. by Bruce Miroff,
Raymond Seidelman and Todd Swanstrom, 2007, Houghton Mifflin Publishers.
Principles and Practice of American Politics: Classic and Contemporary Readings, 3rd ed.
Edited by Samuel Kernell, Stevens S, Smith, 2007, CQ Press
Course Requirements and Grade Breakdown:
Two Midterms – Each 15%
Two Papers (4-5 pages) – Each 20%
Four Quizzes (TBA)– Each 2.5%
Final – 15%
Class Participation & Attendance
30%
40%
10%
15%
5%
100%
Late Papers and Missed Exams
Late papers will be graded down half a grade for everyday they are late (including weekends and
holidays) unless the student has an excused note from the Dean. Only students who have a note
from the Dean can make up an exam (unless I say otherwise). I will not accept e-mailed papers
(unless I tell you otherwise).
Problems
Please inform me of any difficulties you might have that might impede on your performance in
this course. These problems include but are not limited to: physical disabilities, learning
disabilities, medical problems, legal misfortunes, military obligations etc.
Plagiarism
Don’t do it!!! Plagiarism means to pass off someone else’s work as your own or to pass off the
work from one course for another (even if the work is your own). Any student who plagiarizes
will be failed from the course and be reported to Judicial Affairs where further action may be
taken.
Now sit back and enjoy the course!
Reading Assignments and Due Dates
Note: This is subject to change.
I - Foundations
Weeks #1 & 2 - Introduction:
The Democratic Debate (Miroff et al. Chp. 1)
The Revolution and the Constitution (Miroff et al. Chp. 2)
Roche – The Founding Fathers (Kernell & Smith, p. 34)
Madison - Federalist No. 10 (Kernell & Smith, p. 59)
Madison – Fedralist No. 51 (Kernell & Smith, p. 66)
II - Institutions
Week #3 - Congress
Miroff et al. Chp. 11
Fenno – The Senate in Bicamerral Perspective (Kernell & Smith, p. 221)
Mayhew - Congress: The Electoral Connection (Kernell & Smith, p. 245)
Smith - Congressional Trends (Kernell & Smith, p. 254)
Week #4 - President
Miroff et al. Chp. 12
Neustadt – Presidential Power and Modern Presidents (Kernell & Smith, p. 274)
Kernell – Going Public (Kernell & Smith, p. 295)
Week #5 – Bureaucracy
Miroff et al. Chp. 13
Wilson – Bureaucracy (Kernell & Smith, p. 327)
February 26 – First Midterm
Week #6 - Supreme Court
Miroff et al. Chp. 14
Scalia – A Matter of Interpretation (Kernell & Smith, p.378)
Breyer Activie Libert (Kernell & Smith, p. 396)
Week #7 - Federalism
Miroff et al. Chp. 15
Kettl – Federalism (Kernell & Smith, p. 86)
III - Participation
Week #7 (continued) - The Media
Miroff et al. Chp. 6
Hamilton – The Market and the Media (Kernell & Smith, p. 621)
Week #8 - Public Opinion
Miroff et al Chp. 4
Stimson et al. – Dynamic Representation (Kernell & Smith, p. 477)
Schudson – America’s Ignorant Voters (Kernell & Smith, p. 492)
Fiorina – Culture War? (Kernell & Smith, p. 500)
March 11th First Paper Due
Week #9 - Voting
Miroff et al Chp. 5
Popkin – The Reasoning Voter (Kernell & Smith, p. 511)
Putnam – “Tunning In Tunning Out” (This piece will be supplied in class)
Week #10 – Spring Break March 21st – 30th
Week #11 - Interest Groups/Political Parties
Miroff et al. Chp. 9
Schattschneider – The Scope and Bias of the Pressure System (Kernell & Smith, p. 597)
Miroff et al. Chp. 7
Aldrich – Why Parties (Kernell & Smith, p. 566)
Week #12 – Campaigns;
Miroff et al. Chp 8
West – Air Wars (Kernell & Smith, p. 536)
April 10th – Second Midterm
Week #13 - Mass Movements
Miroff et al. Chp. 10
IV - Policy
Week #13 (continued) - Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Miroff et al Chp.16
Epstein et al. – The Effects of War on the Supreme Court (Kernell & Smith, p. 165)
Week #14 - Economic and Social Policy
Miroff et al Chp. 17
Week #14 (continued) - Foreign Policy
Miroff et al Chp. 18
April 22 – Second Paper Due
Week #15 – American Political Economy
Mirrof et al. Chp 3
Week #15 (continued) – Catch-up & Conclusion
Week #16 - Review
Important Note: First, I will discuss in lecture some ideas that are not found in the two texts;
you will be responsible for these ideas. If you miss class be sure to copy notes from a classmate.
Second, I will not cover in lecture all the information in the two texts, however, you are
responsible for such information and they may appear on exams and quizzes.