POSC 110.001 and .

002 Douglas Telling

Introduction to American Politics 327 May Hall
Spring 2011 (508) 626-4827
dtelling@framingham.edu Office Hours:
Thurs and Fri 9:30-10:20
Thursday 1:30-2:30
And by appointment

Objectives:

1. Becoming a more efficient reader;

2. Becoming a more critical reader and writer;
3. Gaining an understanding of key concepts and terms of American politics;
4. Gaining an understanding of the principles of American politics and their
relationship to politics;
5. Developing an ability to apply the principles and concepts of American politics;
6. Gaining an understanding of the relationship between principles and interests;
7. Gaining an understanding of the practices of American politics;
8. Gaining an understanding of the structures of American politics and their
relationship to politics;
9. Gaining an understanding of the tension between power and freedom and how it
shapes both the structure and practice of politics;
10. Learning the various actors and their roles;
11. Becoming a more discerning and critical reader of the news.

Rationale:

I begin this course with the basic assumption that both politics and government matter.
They are worth thinking about, discussing, and even arguing over. Why? Politics and
government in the United States influence whether or not you live or die, how much
money you keep, how much security you have in your daily life, whether you are at peace
or war, how free you are (even what freedom means), how equal we are collectively, and
to what extent you matter in choosing our individual and collective future. At any given
moment, you might look around and see politics and government as removed from you,
but it shouldn’t take you long to see that it isn’t. Take one example, central to my life:
baseball. Yes, even here both government and politics matter. Baseball receives special
exemption from anti-trust laws, for example. This semester, we explore the U.S. political
and governmental system, as well as develop the tools necessary to think and argue about
it intelligently and systematically. The course satisfies General Education Goal 10 and
the Constitution requirement.

Required Books (available at the FSU Bookstore):

Ginsberg, Lowi, and Weir: We The People, shorter 8th edition (GINSBERG)
Barbour and Streb, eds, Clued in to Politics , 3rd edition (Clued In)
 2

The Ginsberg text is the backbone to the class. In it, the key terms and concepts are
described, explained, and applied. The text offers the usual narrative that texts provide as
well as several asides: debates, short case studies, and short essays. All of these features,
along with the usual charts, tables, and figures, are important. Students in previous
semesters told me that. Clued In offers readings that use the concepts of the course. The
book is designed to develop your skills as a critical thinker about politics. The course is a
mixture of lecture and discussion. I do not try to cover everything in class; much of what
is important is found only in the readings. Thus, it is important that you ask questions if
you are confused. It means, as well, that you need to take center stage in your learning. I
can help; you can learn.

Evaluation:

Exams 300 points

Quizzes 50 points
Blog 50 points
Class Participation and web assignments 50 points
Short essays 50 points
500 points total

Class Participation and Attendance:

This class combines lecture and discussion; attendance is expected. I expect active and
informed in-class discussion. I will also factor student visits to my office, email
correspondence on matters germane to the course, and postings on the class Blackboard
discussion board into the calculus of this grade, but you cannot earn an A or B for
participation without speaking in class. Breathing in class counts for something, but not
participation credit. At some point in your life, you will have to speak publicly. You
might as well start now.

Attendance is expected; excessive absences and/or being late excessively (weather

permitting) will result in the lowering of your class participation grade. You should note
that participation is a significant portion of your grade. Perfect attendance will earn
you five points on your final grade. One absence earns you four points. Two
absences get you three points. Three absences get you two points. More than three
absences? Nada.

Policies:

All written work must be completed; late work will be penalized. Make-ups will be given
only upon the approval of the instructor. The request must be made in a timely and
reasonable manner. All written work is due in class and handed in by you. I do not
accept emailed work except under extraordinary situations and only after you consult
with me.

I expect everyone to be on time to class and to complete all business before class so
as not to disrupt the class by leaving early or answering phones. That means a) go to
 3

the bathroom before class and b) turn off your phones (no, not the ringer, the phone,
because some people, who care less about your education than you, might do something
as outrageous as text message you in class).

Quizzes:

For all of the Ginsberg, Lowi, and Weir chapters assigned, take the online quiz found on
the text website which you can access from Course Information on our Blackboard site.
Answer at least twenty (20) questions and fill out the form to send the results to you and
to me (use dtelling@framingham.edu). The quizzes are due the day after the chapter is
due. (If the chapter is divided over two days, the quiz is due the day after the second
assignment.) They will help you test how well you were able to pull out the key ideas
and concepts. Please be sure to keep the copy of the quiz sent to you; it is your record
that you took it.

Blog:

A major objective of the class is to provide the skills necessary to engage the news and
current events in a more discerning and critical manner. Learning to read and dissect the
news is like learning to play the piano: practice, practice, practice. To that end, you will
write five (5) blogs over the course of the semester. I will make some suggestions of
articles at the beginning; afterwards you are responsible to find the article. The due dates
are posted below and cover the topics since the preceding blog. In other words, you can
choose which chapter to discuss or discuss several chapters. Each blog entry will include
a link to the article(s) and a paragraph where you apply the concepts and issues found in
those chapters and class work to the article(s).

The best source of material is Google News (newspaper articles only) or you may go
directly to one of the following New York Times, Washington Post, or Boston Globe.
Note: all articles must be on American politics.

Web Assignments:

This part of the class includes the Policy Debate: You Decides and Simulations found on
the Ginsberg webpage. You will do them for chapters 4, 6, 8, 10, 14 and submit them as
you do the quizzes. The goal of these assignments, as well as the blog, is to provide a
“real world” context for the material in the text.

Short Essays:

From time to time I will ask you to write a short essay on the Clued In readings. These
will allow you to work on critical thinking and writing skills that are part of the General
Education program.

Where Are You?

Throughout this class, you should ask yourself where you are in the story that is
unfolding. I think of the class as a story made up of several sections and chapters (plots
 4

and subplots). You are one of the characters. Think about it.
Schedule of Readings (Due on the dates below; dates subject to change):
A. Constitutionalism

This section of the class examines the foundation upon which day to day politics plays
out. This foundation consists of the key principles of American politics and the structure
and politics that the Constitution spawns. Specifically, look for how democracy is
defined. Is it valued as the ultimate end? Why have some expressed reservations about
it? What is the relationship between democratic politics and the US Constitution? What
is the relationship between democratic politics and civil rights and civil liberties? What
do we mean by liberty (freedom)? Equality? But the key issue is the fact of a written
constitution and a government limited and defined by law—the constitution. The
structure and politics this document spawned challenges the idea of democracy as
majority rule. In fact what we find are many anti-majoritarian practices and
arrangements.

Introduction: Politics and Political Culture

1/21 Clued In ch. 1

1/24 Clued In ch. 2
Ginsberg, pp. 17-24

I. Constitutional Principles and Politics

Liberalism and the Founding

1/26- Ginsberg, pp. 36-42

1/27 Declaration of Independence (Ginsberg, p. A1)
Massachusetts Constitution Abridged (Blackboard)

The Constitution: Separation of Powers

1/28 Ginsberg, pp. 43-61

U. S. Constitution (Ginsberg Appendix, p. A8)
1/31 Ginsberg, pp. 62-70
Clued In readings 3.3 - 3.5
2/1 ch. 2 quiz due

The Constitution: Federalism

2/2-2/3 Clued In, pp. 36-43

Ginsberg, pp. 74-79, 82-101 (no quiz due for this chapter)
Blog # 1 due

First Examination: February 4

 5

II. Principles and Politics of Rights and Liberties

Civil Liberties

2/ 7 Ginsberg, pp. 110-131

2/9 Clued In reading 4.1
Simulation ch. 4
2/10 Ginsberg, pp. 131-140
Clued In readings 4.3, 4.4
Policy Debate: You Decide ch. 4
2/14 Ginsberg, pp. 140-146
Clued In reading 4.2
2/15 Chapter 4 Quiz due

Civil Rights

2/16 Ginsberg, pp. 150-176

2/17 Clued In readings 5-1-5.3
2/18 Ginsberg, pp. 176-192
2/19 Chapter 5 quiz due
2/23- “Science, Discrimination, and the Blood Supply” (handout)
2/24
2/24 Blog # 2 Due

Courts

2/25- Ginsberg, ch.15 due

3/2
2/26 Chapter 15 Quiz due

Second Exam: March 4

B. Representation

In Part A, we examined how the Founders sought to create a system that provided for an
effective and energetic government while keeping itself in check. The section ended with
a discussion of how freedom and governmental power need to be separate (civil liberties)
and also work together (civil rights). In Part B we examine the means by which citizens
are linked to the government so as to express what they want government to do. We
explore the different ways in which people, ideas, and desires are organized. This is
called mobilization. What is the organizational form? How inclusive or open is it? This
section is about efforts by individuals and groups working inside as well as outside of the
government to determine what government will do and on whose behalf it will be done.
This is part of what is meant by bias. A related question is who governs and how? This
is participation. Has the move toward more popular control had the intended effect of
enhanced governmental power and authority while keeping it in the citizen’s control?
 6

I. Shaping Wants, Needs, Desires, and Interests

Political Socialization

3/7 Ginsberg, pp. 196-222 (no quiz due)

3/10 Public Opinion exercise on Blackboard
You Decide ch. 6

Media

3/11 Ginsberg, pp 239-244 and 255-265 (no quiz due)

II. Principles and Politics of Representation

Voting and Participation

3/21 Ginsberg, pp. 268-291

3/23 Ginsberg, pp. 291-301
3/24 Ch. 8 quiz due
You Decide ch. 8

Interest Groups

3/28 Ginsberg, pp. 416-430

3/30 Ginsberg, pp. 430-449
3/31 Chapter 11 Quiz due
3/31- Clued In readings 12.1-12.4
4/1
4/1 Blog #3 due

Political Parties

4/4 Ginsberg, pp. 318-341 and p. 347 (chart)

4/6 Ginsberg, pp. 341-359
4/7 Chapter 9 quiz due
4/7- Clued In ch. 11
4/8

Elections

4/11 Ginsberg, ch. 10

4/12 Chapter 10 quiz due
4/14 You Decide, ch. 10
Clued In readings 13.1 and 13.3
Blog # 4 due

Third Exam: April 15

 7

C. Governing

The institutions of government make and enforce policy. This is governing. Let’s be
clear what this means: they establish laws that determine much of what we may do and
how we may do it. These are techniques of power. These laws may grant us a benefit
(reduced tuition at a state college); they may regulate how we do things (speed limits,
pollution control); they may redistribute resources or values (taxes, abortion). If we
break these rules, the state may fine or imprison us or simply deny us future benefits. Or,
as the citizens of New London, Connecticut, learned recently, the government may take
their home (with reasonable compensation but not consent). Why does the government
pass these laws? On whose behalf? Governing takes place in a democratic system. That
means that public officials must act on behalf of the national interest, and they must
respond as well to the wants, needs, and desires of the public. The government must be
democratic. This is representation. In the last section we examined the making of laws
through passing statutes. Next, we look at the execution of the laws through the
executive branch and the relationship between the presidency and the media.

As you read through these chapters and debates, look at how governing, power, and
democracy coexist in an often tense balance. In Section A we sketched out how the
Constitution set up these institutions to check and balance each other to allow governing
within a system of limited power. In Section C we examine what checks and balances
means in “real life.”

Principles and Politics of Governing

Congress

4/20 Ginsberg, ch. 12

4/21 Chapter 12 quiz due
4/21 Clued In readings 6.2-6.4
4/22 “The Committee Chair, The Assistant Secretary, and Bureau Chief” (handout)

Presidency

4/25 Ginsberg, ch. 13

4/26 Chapter 13 quiz due
4/28-
4/29 Clued In 7.1-7.4 and 13.2
Read The Policy Debates on the text’s website chs. 13 and 14
 8

Bureaucracy

5/2 Ginsberg, ch. 14

5/3 Chapter 14 Quiz due
5/5 Clued In 8.2 and review “The Committee Chair, The Assistant Secretary, and
Bureau Chief”
5/6 Blog #5 due

Fourth (and final) Examination:

Section 1 (10:30): May 13 8AM (Friday)

Section 2 (11:30): May 9 8AM (Monday)