| Reading Timetable: Janda
Website; US politics.
HC Students' outline links. |
|
| First session: Explanation of course, check info,
themes of the course.
Janda/Hula, Essentials 1: Dilemmas of Democracy, combines Full 1 & 2. [Discussion] 
Janda, Full 1: Freedom, Order or Equality? Publisher: Janda, Full 1 Is there a political dilemma between freedom and order? [Janda] Is there a modern dilemma between freedom and equality? [Janda] How can these two dilemmas give us four types of political belief in modern US? [Janda] What kinds of policy or values are upheld by each political belief? [Janda] How do the four boxes of political beliefs differ from a traditional European spectrum of politics? [Janda] |
|
| Homework:
Idealog
(Web) [How to print
or capture graphs] ['06]
['07] ['08]
['09]
['10] ['11]
['12]
Are you liberal, libertarian, communitarian or conservative?
print screen or capture resulting graph, send to <jLewis>. Amitai Etzioni. 2013. "Communitarianism" in Joel Krieger (ed), Oxford Companion to Comparative Politics. (NY: OUP). pp. 221-223. [Local PDF] What are common goods or public goods -- and how do classical liberals and communitarians differ about these? Article: Ryan Lizza, "Leap of Faith," The New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2011 [Dbox] [Notes][Reporter?] What ideas does Michele Bachmann advance, and how would she fit into the four categories of Janda's scheme? How did a theologian influence her political views -- and does that make any difference? Web fun: Politics on YouTube, 2007- |
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| Janda/Hula, Essentials 1: Dilemmas of Democracy,
combines Full 1 & 2. [Discussion]
Janda, Full 2: Majoritarian or Pluralist Democracy? Publisher: Janda, Full 2 How can we make democracy work? [Janda] Should a majority rule on every question? [Janda] Are minority rights better protected by interest groups than by majoritarian democracy? [Janda] Will a larger Republic give us a safe balance of interest groups? [Janda] |
|
| Serow 1: American Ideology
1: Alexis de Tocqueville, "Democracy in America." [Kaison]
2: James Bryce, "the American Commonwealth." [Skye]
Does democracy require social and economic as well as political equality? [Tocqueville, Bryce] What types of equality do Americans enjoy? [Tocqueville, Bryce] In what way did inequality in the US change between the 1830s and the 1880s? |
|
| Serow 1: 5:
Cornell West, "Race Matters" [Daylan]
What types of equality are consistent with the US Founders ideas? Is US democracy incomplete without social or economic equality? [West] Arguments made in speeches during the Republican National Convention, 2012 |
|
| Fun:
Online Political Quotes Game (Wadsworth)
Fun: Beloit College's mindset of freshmen: what did YOU grow up with? Who authored these famous political quotations? What elements of popular culture ended when present freshmen were born? [Beloit] What analogies in the classroom would not make sense to current freshmen? [Beloit] And -- what do freshmen know that leaves professors ignorant? [Beloit] |
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| Janda/Hula, Essentials 2: Constitution
| Lecture notes
| Fixed
or elastic? Constitutional
excerpts
Notes to Full 3: Constitution | Publisher: Janda, Full 3 US Constitution (text) | (annotated version) How was the constitution formed and ratified? [Janda] What plans were proposed for the US constitution? [Janda] What compromises were made to secure approval of the constitution? [Janda] Is the constitution fixed or elastic (living)? Should we follow the original intent -- and was that to let the constitution evolve? What amendments have been made to the US constitution? [Janda] |
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| Serow 2: Constitution & American Democracy:
8: Richard Hofstadter, "The American Political Tradition." 10: James Madison, The Federalist Papers, No. 10" 12: C. Wright Mills, "The Power Elite." 14: Robert Dahl, "Who Governs?" Is there an identifiable American political tradition? [Hofstadter] How can the mischief of factions be controlled? [Madison] What are the wicked projects that the Larger Republic will prevent? [Madison] Who runs the US behind the scenes, a small elite or a broad set of groups? [Mills, Dahl] |
|
| Alex
Altman, "The Prophet," How Ron Paul Became One of the Most Influential
..." Time, 5 Sep. 2011 [Dbox]
What were the ideological influences on this libertarian leader? Why does the author argue Rep. Paul has become influential? Arguments made in speeches during the Democratic National Convention, 2012 Check for AL World Affairs Council (AWAC) speaker event |
|
| Dr.
and Mrs. Lewis invite current and former students, with friends, to their
home for an annual
candle-lit dinner, 3-6 pm on Sunday 9 Sep. 2012.
See Dates page,
and check email for driving directions. |
|
| Janda/Hula, Essentials 3: Federalism |
PPT
| Notes to Full 4: Federalism
| Publisher: Janda,
Full 4
US Constitution, Article I, Sections 8-10: powers of Congress & states US Constitution, Article IV, Sections 1-4: relations among states US Constitution, Amendments IX and X: powers reserved to people & states US Constitution, Article VI: supremacy clause How has the relation of federal to state and local government changed over time? [Janda] What does the federal government provide to states and localities? [Janda] What is the proper relation of federal government to states? [Janda] How does the "necessary and proper" clause affect federal relations? Are amendments IX and X in tension with the "necessary and proper" and "Supremacy clauses? Can the Governor (or Chief Justice) of Alabama "nullify" a federal law? Which should be supreme, the federal government or our state? Should there be a right of secession? |
|
| Serow 3 & 4: Separation of Powers &
Federalism
15: James Madison, Federalist No. 51." 17: James Sterling Young, "The Washington Community." 18: James Madison, "Federalist Papers, Nos. 39 and 46." 20: Daniel Elazar, "American Federalism." Why do we separate powers into different institutions? [Madison] How can the branches of government be made to check each other? [Madison] Can the Congress make policy efficiently? [Wilson] Did the C19th Congress become the dominant branch? [Wilson] How did the early Congress develop? [Young] What is the relation of federal to state and local governments? [Madison, Elazar] |
|
| THURSDAY
week 4, TEST 1, covers
all the above, and may include both multiple choice and written work (bring
Scantron card, pencil and dark ballpoint pen)
JusticeLearning.org [notes] explains US constitution & justice issues http://www.constitutionday.us/ has useful links. Cornell.edu also has a fine, more advanced, US constitution site. CNN, "... Myanmar announces election," via Tin Aye, Sep. '10 |
|
| Janda/Hula, Essentials 4: Public Opinion, Political
Socialization and the Media [Discussion]
(Combines Janda Full edition, chapters 5 & 6) Notes to Janda, Full 5: Public Opinion and Political Socialization | Publisher: Janda, Full 5 Michael Anft, "With Due Respect to James Madison," Johns Hopkins Magazine, Fall 2011 [Dbox] |
|
| Serow 10: Public Opinion
57: V.O. Key, "Public Opinion and American Democracy." [Kaison]
58: Thomas Cronin, "Direct Democracy." [James]
59: Lawrence Jacobs and Robert Shapiro, "Politicians don't Pander"NEW[+Mike]
60: David Moore, "The Opinion Makers" [+] [Nick] Can public opinion provide a democratic check on political elites? [Key] What is the role of public opinion and elite decisionmaking? [Key] Is direct democracy feasible -- or will it destroy republican government? [Cronin] What are the initiative, referendum and recall? [Cronin] Do politicians follow or lead public opinion? [Jacobs and Shapiro] Can polls be wrong, and if so, how? [Moore] |
|
| Test returned with
exemplary paragraphs presented
Web fun: Political Compass: plots your ideological position from a quiz; explanation of the two dimensions of political thinking [local file]. (More sophisticated than Idealog). Web fun: Critical thinking exercise on poll: Barack Obama Test Web fun: Match your policy choices to a (surprising) candidate for president in 2008 Mother Jones video channel, Mitt Romney speaks at fundraiser about Obama Voters
NEW
Colbert Nation, Mitt Romney's Secret Video, parody, 18 Sep. 2012 NEW |
|
| Notes
to Janda Full 6: Media [Discussion]
Publisher: Janda,
Full 6
Lecture on the relationship of public opinion with the media
Lecture on media organizations, audiences, interests, and techniques How much media coverage is of politics? [Janda] How do the media vary in their needs and qualities? [Janda] Do citizens receive enough information to be sovereign in politics? [Janda] |
|
| Serow 14: Media
77: Larry Sabato, "Feeding Frenzy." [Daylan]
78: Morley Winograd and Michael Hais, "Millennial Makeover" [+] [James?] 79: Cass Sunstein, "Republic.com 2.0" [+] [Joseph]
80: Diana Mutz, "How the Mass Media Divide Us" [+] [Blair]
81: Russell Peterson, "Strange Bedfellows" [+] [Dom]
Has reporting of politics deteriorated since Watergate into personal scandals? [Sabato] Do the new electronic media create a new kind of politics? [Winograd] Have political debate shows polarized us? [Mutz] Can political comedy shows replace political news? [Peterson] |
|
| Howard
Kurtz, "Roger's Reality Show," Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2011
Do networks have points of view, and are journalists directed to these? Do networks report news -- or do they also behave as political actors? NBC Nightly News archive, a video package on the 1996 Iowa Caucuses. How is a reporter's work packaged for TV news? What is the role of 'expert' analysts? |
|
| Web fun:
Media
parody; reliance on media reports
Roger Simon's parody of Paul Ryan/Mitt Romney tension is taken seriously, Sep. 2012 NEW "Time announces new version of magazine aimed at adults," Onion News Network (accessed 30 Aug. 2010). "Guatemalan flight data-recording parrot holds clues to crash," Onion News Network (accessed 30 Aug. 2010). "Jennifer Anniston Adopts 33-year-old boyfriend from Africa," Onion News Network (accessed 30 Aug. 2010). "Girl raised from birth by Wolf Blitzer taken into protective custody," Onion News Network (30 Aug. 2010). |
|
| Note: think critically
about email hoaxes I suspected one, googled, & found:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/tyler.asp Here's another frequent hoax -- Ollie North himself has disavowed the claims: http://www.snopes.com/rumors/north.asp Weblog: Steven Taylor (Troy U) PoliBlogger.com Did you know? Taylor found that of the top 20 political blog writers, almost all hold PhDs. |
|
| Janda/Hula, Essentials
5: Participation & Voting
Notes to Full 7: Participation and Voting | Publisher: Janda, Full 7 What types of participation are conventional or unconventional? [Janda] How well do Americans turn out to vote? [Janda] What causes high or low electoral turnout? [Janda] Is US turnout rising or falling, and does it matter? [Janda] Why was voting so common in the C19th? [Janda] What is the effect of education on turnout? [Janda] Should voting be mandatory? |
|
| Lecture
on Opinion Polling
How do pollsters construct an accurate poll? How do they sample? How do they construct fair questions and answers? How can they predict a large electorate from a small sample? See Dates page for Test 2, which may include both multiple choice and written questions on the materials covered before the test. Co-curricular activity: Presidential debate analysis party, 7:30 pm Wed. 3 Oct. 2012 |
|
| Serow 12: Voting & Elections:
[Civics
Model]
69: David Campbell, "Why We Vote" (2006) [+] 70: Chuck Todd and Sheldon Gawiser, "How Barack Obama Won" (2009) [+] Why would a young adult choose to vote, anyway? [Campbell] What people and what events caused the inexperienced Sen. Obama to be elected US President? [Todd] |
|
| Time, "Poll results: American's views on teachers tenure, merit pay ..." (Survey data, Sep. 2010, on ways to improve US schools) | |
| Janda/Hula, Essentials 6: Political Parties,
Elections & Campaigns [Discussion]
Notes to Full 8: Political Parties | Publisher: Janda, Full 8 What are the functions of political parties? [Janda] What are the US political parties like? [Janda] How do US political parties differ from those in Europe? [Janda] Are political parties gathering strength or weakening over time? [Janda] Are parties private organizations or public, regulated ones? [Janda] How has the US system of parties changed over time? [Janda] Are some elections more important than others? [Janda] |
|
| Cartoon of the 1896 election, where Mark Hanna
and William McKinley hold hands with Trust [Dbox]
Mo Rocca, "Electoral College 101", an Op-Doc, brief version of PBS documentary film, hosted by NY Times NEW |
|
| Serow 13: Political Parties
71: Walter Dean Burnham, "Critical Elections and the Mainsprings of American Politics." (1970)
[Zac]
72: Morley Winograd & Michael Hais, "Millennial Makeover" (2008) [+] [Kaison]
73: John Judis, "America the Liberal: The Democratic Majority: It Emerged!" (2008) [+] [Jon] NEW
74: Stuart Rothenberg, "Is 2008 a Realigning Election? Numbers Offer Some Clues." (2008) [+] [Dom]
75: Ronald Brownstein, "The Second Civil War" (2007) [+] [Mike]
76: Kate Zernike, "Boiling Mad" (2010) [+] [Nick] NEW
Are some elections more important than others? [Burnham] What is a realignment of voters, and is one occurring currently? [Burnham] How are millenials becoming active and are they changing the nature of politics? [Winograd] Has there been a Democratic realignment [Judis] -- and will it last? [Rothenberg) Are the political parties now really polarized? [Brownstein] Has the Tea Party enhanced American Politics? What does it stand for? [Zernike] [+] |
|
| Recommended:
Campaign 2010 coverage: links (moved from here to extra materials index) Web, Polls: http://www.electoral-vote.com/states/alabama.html http://www.electoral-vote.com/ US map by poll data |
|
| Notes to Janda,
Full 9: Nominations, Elections and Campaigns [Discussion]
Publisher: Janda,
Full 9
What are the stages of the nomination process? [Janda] What kinds of primary and caucus are there? [Janda] Does the presidential nomination process deliver good quality candidates? [Janda] How well do third parties fare in campaigns? [Janda] How does the election system count the votes? [Janda] Can the "wrong" president be elected? [Janda] Is the role of money in US elections excessive? [Janda] What is the role of PACs and 527 groups in US elections? [Janda] How are US elections exceptional compared to other rich countries? Should political TV advertising -- or opinion polling -- be banned? |
|
| Serow 12: Voting & Elections:
66: Dante Scala, "Stormy Weather" (2003) [+] 67: Dennis Johnson, "No Place for Amateurs" (2001) 68: David Mark, "Going Dirty" (2006) [+] Is New Hampshire the right state to hold the first primary? [Scala] How is campaigning unusual in NH? [Scala] What are the functions of a campaign consultant, and is it worth hiring one? [Johnson] What role do professionals play in campaigns? [Johnson] Is negative campaigning a new strategy, and is it changing the nature of campaigns? [Mark] |
|
| Web:
RCP
poll data; CNN electoral college map; Pollster.com
on AL
Web fun: JibJab election 'Toons. Report on Bright-Love debate 2008, at HC, for Alabama's 2nd Congress district. Collection of political TV ads from YouTube, by year |
|
| Guest Speaker, Tues. 16 Oct.: Prof. Jim Slack,
Regent University, on counselling Death Row inmates. |
|
| Tuesday, week 10, Test
3 on all the above, which may include both multiple choice and written
work.
Honors students (and those taking research project option): tutorial in office, on research projects.
Janda/Hula, Essentials 7: Interest Groups | Notes to Janda, Full 10: Interest Groups | Publisher: Janda Full 10 How can interest groups influence US politics? [Janda] Does lobbying produce a balance of interests? [Janda] Do interest groups represent all voters -- or mostly the upper classes? [Janda] |
|
| Serow 11: Interest Groups:
61: Alexis de Tocqueville, "Democracy in America." (1835) 62: EE Schattschneider, "The Semisovereign People." (1960) 63 Richard Skinner, "More Than Money" (2007) [+] 64: Robert Kaiser, "So Much Damn Money" (2009) [+] 65: Joe Garcia,"La Gran Opportunidad /Up For Grabs /The Hispanic Opportunity" (2009) [+] [PPT]
How active are Americans in joining interest groups? [Tocqueville] Are active interest groups compatible with democracy? [Tocqueville] Who does the interest group balance favor? [Schattschneider] Are interest groups increasing or fading in influence in US politics? [Skinner] How can a lobbying firm be built up and what role does it play? [Kaiser] Will Hispanics ever become a powerful force in US politics? What do they seek? [Garcia] What are the political characteristics of Hispanics? |
|
| Janda/Hula, Essentials 8: Congress [Discussion;
2011
additions] Notes to Janda
Full 11: Congress | Publisher: Janda
Full 11 |
Does the member of Congress function as a Trustee, a Delegate -- or a "Politico"? US Constitution, Article I, Section 8: powers of Congress How is congress organized? [Janda] What are the powers of Congress? [Janda] How does a bill become law? [Janda] What are the differences between House and Senate? [Janda] How do committees work? [Janda] |
|
| Serow 5: Congress
22: David Mayhew, "Congress, The Electoral Connection." [Zac X] 23: Richard Fenno, "Home Style" [Blair]
24: Sarah Binder, "Stalemate" (2003) [+] [Daylan]
25: Gregory Wawro & Eric Schickler, "Filibuster" (2006) [+] 26: Michele Swers, "The Difference Women Make" (2002) [+] 28: Paul Starobin, "Pork: A Time Honored Tradition Lives On" 29: John Ellwood and Eric Patashnik, “In Praise of Pork” 30: Senator John McCain, "Hey There! SenJohnMcCain is Using Twitter" (2009) [+] 31: David Price, "The Congressional Experience" Does congressional behavior work purely toward re-election? [Mayhew] What methods do congressmen use in serving constituents for re-election? [Mayhew] How do members represent themselves in their home districts? [Fenno] How do US Reps. ensure re-election? [Fenno] Is there much gridlock stopping policymaking -- and what are the causes? [Binder] Why do many bills and nominations never pass the Senate? [Wawro] Has it made any difference having women in Congress? [Swers] What is the reason for pork barreling? [Starobin; Ellwood] What pork projects do politicians obtain -- even when they oppose pork? [McCain] What is the experience like for a new US Rep.? [Price] |
|
| Janda/Hula, Essentials 9: The Presidency
Notes to Janda, Full 12: The Presidency | Publisher: Janda Full 12 US Constitution, Article II, sections 2-3: powers of presidency US Constitution, Article II, section 1: installation and removal US Constitution, Article II, section IV: impeachment What are the powers of the presidency versus Congress and the courts? [Janda] How has the presidency swelled? [Janda] How is the presidency organized? [Janda]
How can the presidency supervise the bureaucracy? [Janda] |
|
| Serow 6: Presidency
32: Richard Neustadt, Presidential Power." (1990) [Blair]
33: Arthur Schlesinger, "The Imperial Presidency" (1973) 34: Michael Cairo, "The Imperial Presidency Triumphant" (2006) [+] 35: Thomas Cronin, "The Paradoxes of the Presidency" (1998) [Zac]
36: Craig Rimmerman, "Rise of the Plebiscitary Presidency" (1993) [+] 37: Gil Troy, "Leading From the Center" (2008) [+] 38: Bradley Patterson, "White House Chief of Staff" (2000) [+] Does the president have any power beyond persuasion? [Neustadt] Has the presidency grown too powerful, and why? [Schlesinger] Does the W. Bush presidency demonstrate the imperial presidency in foreign policy? [Cairo] Do we expect too much of the presidency? [Cronin] Did the Founders intend the presidency to base decisions on public opinion? [Rimmerman] Do Presidents govern from the radical wings or from the center? [Troy] What is the role of the WH chief of staff? [Patterson] |
|
| Janda/Hula, Essentials 9: The Bureaucracy
|
Lecture
Notes to Janda, Full 13: The Bureaucracy | Publisher: Janda Full 13 How is the bureaucracy organized? [Janda] What are the characteristics and scale of US agencies? [Janda]
How are bureaucracies influenced by Congress, the courts and the presidency? [Janda] Do bureaucracies inevitably grow, or can they be controlled and limited? [Janda] What are the characteristics and problems of bureaucracy? [Lecture]
Can bureaucracy be privatized, and what are the effects? [Lecture] If we contract out, what are the problems of controlling the monopoly? [Lecture] |
|
| Serow 7: Executive Branch
39: Hugh Heclo, "Government of Strangers." (1977) 40: Paul Light, " A Government Ill Executed" (2008) [+] 41: Reich, "Locked in the Cabinet" (1997) [Dom]
42: James Q. Wilson, "Bureaucracy" (1989) How do career civil servants and political appointees get along? [Heclo] What are the pitfalls of implementing policies? [Light] How difficult is it for a new cabinet secretary to hire appointees? [Reich] What is the nature of bureaucracy? [Wilson] |
|
| web fun:
The
Dam: letter about an environmental problem in Pennsylvania.
Honors eProject: see Dates page, Citations APSA page, and Requirements page |
|
|
19-23
Nov:
|
Thanksgiving:Whole week |
| Janda/Hula, Essentials 11: The Courts |
Notes to Janda, Full 14:
The Courts | Publisher: Janda
Full 14
US Constitution, Article III: judicial powers How are the courts structured? [Janda]
What are the functions of the courts? [Janda] How does the judicial process work? [Janda] Is judicial review compatible with democracy? [Janda]
Is constitutional review a universal feature of developed constitutions, or unique to the US?
Is judicial activism a liberal phenomenon or is it also found among conservative judges? |
|
| Serow 8: Judiciary
43: Alexander Hamilton, "The Federalist No. 78."[Blair]
44: Eugene Rostow, "The Democratic Character of Judicial Review."[Mike]
45: David O'Brien, "Storm Center." 46: David Yalof, "Pursuit of Justices" (1999) [+] 47: Richard Fallon, "The Dynamic Constitution" (2004) [+] Is judicial review compatible with a democracy? [Hamilton; Rostow] By what process does the supreme court decide cases? [O'Brien] How are Supreme Court appointees nominated and confirmed - and who determines? [Yalof] To what degree can the Supremes make law themselves, regardless of public opinion? [Fallon] |
|
| Honors, briefings
of research: the issue; the research question, the arguments; evidence;
and findings.
website: Oyez: Supreme
Court Cases | Docket
|
|
| Comprehensive Final Exam, 1430, M 3 Dec. 2012, in usual classroom |