Political Science 1101 -- An Introduction to American Politics
Fall Semester, 2013
(Lectures: Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00-11:50, Fine Arts 300 at 11:00)
(Breakouts on Mondays, various times and locations)
Dr. Paul-Henri Gurian
PHGurian@uga.edu
Office Hours: Wednesdays 2:30-5:00
Department of Political Science
306-B Baldwin Hall
School of Public and International Affairs
“We hold these Truths to be self-evident,
that all Men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness that to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men,
deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed,
that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends,
it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it,
and to institute new Government, laying its Foundations on such Principles,
and organizing its Powers in such Forms,
as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
The Declaration of Independence, 1776
Students in this class should develop a broad understanding of American government and politics.
By the end of the semester, students should have an appreciation of the ideals of American democracy and
how those ideals have been incorporated into the system of government. They should have a working
knowledge of the Constitution, not only what the Constitution says but also how it has been interpreted
and applied. Students should also understand the roles and functions of political parties, campaigns,
elections, and other components of American politics. They should be able to see the connections
between the ideals of democratic rights and the realities of a diverse, pluralistic society. They should
understand how political power is organized through federalism and the separation of legislative,
executive and judicial powers. Finally, they should be able to apply these concepts to current political
issues and events.
There will be two midterm exams and a final exam. Each midterm will consist of multiple choice
questions, a few short answer questions and one essay. The final will probably consist of multiple choice
questions and two essays. Unannounced quizzes may be administered in breakout (discussion) sections.
Two midterm exams: each counts as 25% of your grade.
Final Exam: 35% of your grade
Participation in breakout sections: 15% of your grade
Attendance in breakout sections is required.
2 points off your semester grade for each unexcused absence.
Students must provide TAs with reasonable notice of religious holidays on which they plan to
be absent.
If, for any reason, you cannot take one of the exams at the scheduled time, contact your
teaching assistant (TA) before the exam. (Be sure you know your TA’s email address and office hours.)
Makeup exams will be administered only under certain circumstances such as serious health or other
unavoidable problems. In such cases, contact your TA immediately.
All academic work must meet the standards contained in “A Culture of Honesty.” Students are
responsible for informing themselves about those standards before performing any academic work.
All students are responsible for maintaining the highest standards of honesty and integrity in every phase
of their academic careers. The penalties for academic dishonesty are severe and ignorance of the rules is
not an acceptable defense.
If you have a problem with a grade, an exam, or anything else, discuss it with your TA first. He or she
should be able to take care of any such problems. If your TA is unable to help, contact Dr. Gurian.
Text: American Government and Politics Today by Schmidt, Shelley, Bardes and Ford
(2013-2014 edition; no separate policy chapters)
Reader: Georgia Politics in a State of Change by Bullock and Gaddie
(text only, no online access required)
These books are available at local bookstores, on or off campus. Off Campus Bookstore on Baxter St.
(and perhaps other bookstores) have these books available new, used or as rentals. For more information
concerning the text, including the e-book, go to centagebrain.com/micro/gurian.
You will also need a “clicker” for this course (ResponseCard NXT:Rcxr-03; it’s the standard clicker
used at UGA). You can buy one new or used or rent one for the semester. OCB and the UGA bookstore
carry them.
The Declaration of Independence can be found in Appendix A of the textbook.
The U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights and Amendments, can be found in Appendix B.
Federalist Paper #51 can be found in Appendix C.
The authors have inserted some explanatory notes in italics colored blue in the Constitution.
These notes are helpful to read but they are not part of the Constitution.
Throughout the semester, we will refer to the Declaration and the Constitution. You should bring a
copy of the Constitution (including amendments) with you to class every day until the first midterm exam.
(You can bring the textbook, or a photocopy, or an electronic version. You should highlight or underline
the specific sections we cover in class.)
There is a eLC for this course; eLC is like a website devoted exclusively to this class; access is limited
to students enrolled in the class. Information about the eLC will be announced in class. News articles
(required reading) will be assigned every week. Additional readings may be assigned in lecture or in
breakout sections.
The course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations may be necessary. If so, they will be
announced by Dr. Gurian or by your TA, or posted on eLC. Important information will be announced in
class. If you miss a class, be sure to get good notes from someone and find out what announcements were
made during class. Material will be covered in lecture and breakout that is not in the readings.
You should get the phone numbers or e-mail addresses of a few other people in the class so you can
contact them if necessary.
Topics and Reading Assignments
A Constitutional Perspective
Week of August 12
“We hold these Truths to be self-evident...”
The Ideals of Democracy and the Constitutional System
The Declaration of Independence
Text Chapter 1 -- One Republic - Two Americas?
Federalist #51
Week of August 19
“organizing its Powers in such Forms...”
The U.S. Constitution
Text Chapter 2 -- The Constitution
U.S. Constitution: Preamble, Articles I, II and III
Week of August 26
“... endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights”
Civil Liberties, the Bill of Rights
U.S. Constitution: Bill of Rights (Amendments 1-10)
Text Chapter 4 -- Civil Liberties
Note: There will be no breakouts on Monday September 2 (Labor Day).
Week of September 2
“all Men are created equal...”
Equality: Civil Rights
U.S. Constitution: the Fourteenth Amendment, also Amendments 13, 15, 19, 23, 24, 26
Text Chapter 5 -- Civil Rights
Martin Luther King “I Have a Dream” (on eLC)
Susan B. Anthony“Women’s Right to the Suffrage” (on eLC)
Week of September 9
“The United States shall guarantee to every State...”
Federalism; Georgia government
Text Chapter 3 -- Federalism
Reader -- Chapters 1, 4, 9, 10
First Midterm Exam
and Thursday, September 12 (essay section in lecture hall)
and Monday September 16 (short answer and multiple choice in breakout sections)
A Mass Behavior Perspective
Week of September 16 “...deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed”
Political Party Systems and Realignment
Text Chapter 8 -- Political Parties
Reader -- Chapters 3, 11
Week of September 23 “...to vote in any primary or other election for President”
Systems of Voting; Presidential Primaries
Text Chapter 9 -- Voting and Elections
Additional readings to be announced (and posted on eLC)
Week of September 30 “chosen every second Year by the People of the several States”
Campaigns and Elections: 1976-1996
Text Chapter 6 -- Public Opinion and Socialization
Reader -- Chapter 13
Week of October 7
“the person having the greatest number of votes...”
The 2000 Campaign, Recount and Legal Battles
Readings to be announced (and posted on eLC)
Week of October 14
“...elected by the people thereof”
Campaigns and Elections: 2004-2016
Text Chapter 10 -- Campaigning for Office
Additional readings to be announced (and posted on eLC)
Second Midterm Exam
Monday October 21 (short answer and multiple choice in breakouts)
and Tuesday, October 22 (essay section in lecture hall)
An Institutional Perspective
Week of October 21
“The judicial Power of the United States...”
The Courts
Text Chapter 14 -- The Courts
Reader -- Chapter 7
Week of October 28
“All legislative Powers herein granted...”
The Congress
Text Chapter 11 -- The Congress
Text Chapter 7 -- Interest Groups
Reader -- Chapters 5, 12
Week of November 4
“The executive Power shall be vested in a President...”
The Presidency
Text Chapter 12 -- The President
Text Chapter 13 -- The Bureaucracy
Reader -- Chapter 6
Week of November 11 “Ambition must be made to counter ambition”
Watergate: “a third-rate break-in” or a Constitutional Crisis
Text Chapter 14 -- The Courts
Watergate - Selected Readings (on eLC)
Week of November 18 “... most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
Epilogue: Democracy in America
Declaration of Independence, Federalist #51, Bill of Rights, 14th Amendment
Note: Thursday, November 21 is the last class.
Final Exam
Thursday, December 10, 12:00 - 3:00 pm (in lecture hall: Fine Arts 300)