Political Science W3201: American Government & Politics

Spring 2000

Prof. Gregory Wawro 854-8540

741 International Affairs Bldg. gjw10@columbia.edu Office Hours: Tues. and Thurs. 1-2 and by appt.

It is almost an understatement to say that government and politics touches every aspect of our lives. Yet many Americans lack even the most basic knowledge of how the national government operates. The goal of this course is to provide you with a fundamental knowledge of American government and politics and with some of the tools that you will need to acquire a much more sophisticated understanding of political behavior and institutions.

Course Requirements

In addition to attending class and discussion sections diligently, you are required to write a midterm and a final exam. Students will also write an 8 to 10 page paper. I will provide a list of paper topics that you can choose from. You are required to turn in a 1 to 2 page summary of your paper which includes a thesis statement, general outline of your argument, and preliminary list of sources. Students are strongly encouraged to use Strunk and White's Elements of Style as a guidebook for their writing (this book is available in just about any book store and can also be accessed over the Web at http://www.bartleby.com/141/index.html/ ). The paper will account for 30% of the final grade, the midterm for 20%, and the final exam for 40%. Participation in discussion sections accounts for the remaining 10% of your grade. Note the exam dates and due dates for the paper. Make-ups will not be given and late work will not be accepted except for reasons of certified medical necessity or family emergency.

The times for the discussion sections are to be announced.

Course Readings (available from the Columbia Bookstore, Labyrinth Books, and College Reserves)

Theodore Lowi and Benjamin Ginsberg, American Government, 5th ed.

Peter Woll, American Government: Readings and Cases, 13th ed. (W)

Reader for Introduction to American Government and Politics (R)--available from the Village Copier.

In addition to the course readings, I expect you to follow current political events. To assist you in your efforts, a subscription to the Washington Post National Weekly Edition is included with the purchase of the Lowi and Ginsberg text. Students should also follow political events as reported in The New York Times or some other major national daily newspaper.

Web Site

I have set up a Web site that contains numerous links to sites that are relevant to this course. The URL is http://www.columbia.edu/~gjw10/w3201.html . Students should check the Web site regularly for course announcements.

Course Outline

1. Foundations

   Jan 18-20: Introduction

   • Lowi and Ginsberg, Chapter 1
   • Locke, ``Second Treatise, Of Civil Government'' (W)
   • The Declaration of Independence (W)
   • The Articles of Confederation (Lowi and Ginsberg)

   Jan 25-27: The Founding and the Constitution

   • Lowi and Ginsberg, Chapter 2
   • Roche, ``The Founding Fathers: A Reform Caucus in Action'' (W)
   • Beard, ``Framing The Constitution'' (W)
   • The Constitution (W)
   • The Federalist 10, 47, 48, 51 (W)

   Feb 1-3: Federalism

   • Lowi and Ginsberg, Chapter 3
   • The Federalist 16, 17, 39 (W)
   • Tocqueville, ``The Federal Constitution'' (W)
   • McCulloch v. Maryland (W)
   • Grodzins, ``The Federal System'' (W)

   Feb 8-10: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

   • Lowi and Ginsberg, Chapter 4
   • Gideon v. Wainwright (W)
   • Brown v. Board of Education (W)
   • Engle v. Vitale (W)
   • Reno v. ACLU (W)
   • Roe v. Wade (W)

2. Institutions

   Feb 15-17: The Legislative Branch

   • Lowi and Ginsberg, Chapter 5
   • The Federalist 53, 56, 57, 58, 62, 63 (W)
   • Fiorina, ``Rise of the Washington Establishment'' (W)
   • Fenno, ``Home Style and Washington Career'' (W)
   • Mayhew, ``Congress: The Electoral Connection'' (W)
   • Dodd, ``Congress and the Quest for Power'' (W)
   • Oleszek, ``The New Era of Congressional Policy Making'' (W)

   Feb 22-24: The Presidency

   • Lowi and Ginsberg, Chapter 6
   • Federalist 70 (W)
   • Rossiter, ``The Presidency--Focus of Leadership'' (W)
   • Neustadt, ``Presidential Power'' (W)
   • Wildavsky, ``The Two Presidencies'' (W)
   • Milkis, ``The Presidency and Political Parties'' (W)

   Feb 29-March 2: The Bureaucracy

   • Lowi and Ginsberg, Chapter 7
   • Woll, ``Constitutional Democracy and Bureaucratic Power'' (W)
   • Wilson, ``The Rise of the Bureaucratic State'' (W)
   • Knott and Hammond, ``Introduction'' from Reforming Bureaucracy (R)

   March 7: The Courts

   • Lowi and Ginsberg, Chapter 8
   • Federalist 78 (W)
   • Marbury v. Madison (W)
   • Roche, ``Judicial Self-Restraint'' (W)
   • Brennan, ``How the Supreme Court Arrives at Decisions'' (W)

   March 9 Midterm

   March 14-16 Spring Break

3. Politics and Pressure

   March 21-23: Political Parties

   • Lowi and Ginsberg, Chapter 11
   • Schattschneider, ``Party Government'' (W)
   • Mayhew, ``Divided, We Govern'' (W)
   • Aldrich, ``Politics and Parties in America'' from Why Parties? (R)
   • Riordan/Mann, ``Introduction'', ``How to Become a Statesman'', ``To Hold Your District: Study Human Nature and Act Accordin''' from Plunkitt of Tammany Hall (R)

   March 28-30: Interest Groups

   • Lowi and Ginsberg, Chapter 12
   • Truman, ``The Governmental Process'' (W)
   • Lowi, ``The End of Liberalism'' (W)
   • Key, ``Pressure Groups'' (W)
   • Magelby and Nelson, ``The Money Chase'' (W)
   • Sabato, ``The Misplaced Obsession with PACs'' (W)

   April 4-6: Political Participation, Voting, and Elections

   • Lowi and Ginsberg, Chapter 10
   • Key, ``A Theory of Critical Elections'' (W)
   • Brady and Stewart, ``When Elections Really Matter'' (W)
   • Pomper, ``The Presidential Election'' from The Election Of 1996 (R)
   • Hershey, ``The Congressional Elections'' from The Election Of 1996 (R)
   • Thernstrom, ``Introduction'' and ``Conclusion'' from Whose Votes Count? (R)

   April 11-13: Public Opinion and the Media (Summary of paper due on the 13th)

   • Lowi and Ginsberg, Chapters 9 and 13
   • Berelson, Lazersfeld, and McPhee, ``Democratic Practice and Democratic Theory'' (W)
   • Key, ``The Responsible Electorate'' (W)
   • Barone, ``Polls are Part of the Air that Politicians Breath'' from The Public Perspective, April/May 1997 (R)
   • Jacobs and Shapiro, ``Debunking the Pandering Politician Myth'' from The Public Perspective, April/May 1997 (R)
   • Cook, ``Media Power and Congressional Power'' (W)
   • Reedy, ``The Press and the President'' (W)

4. Politics and Policy

   April 18: Economic and Fiscal Policy

   • Lowi and Ginsberg, Chapters 14 and 15
   • Krugman, ``The Budget Deficit'' from Peddling Prosperity (R)
   • Wildavsky, ``After the Deficit'' from The National Journal, 12/29/97 (R)
   • Schneider, ``The Red Ink's Drying Up. Now What?'' from The National Journal, 1/10/98 (R)

   April 20: The Politics of Social Welfare Policy

   • Lowi and Ginsberg, Chapter 16
   • Roosevelt, ``Call for Federal Responsibility'' (R)
   • Hoover, ``Against The Proposed New Deal'' (R)
   • Starobin, ``Rethinking Capitalism'' from The National Journal, 1/18/97 (R)

   April 25: Foreign Policy

   • Lowi and Ginsberg, Chapter 17
   • Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (R)
   • War Powers Resolution (R)

   April 27: Conclusion--Term papers due

   May 9:Final Exam