American National
Government and Politics
examines
the features of American politics with the goal of preparing you for
lifelong
political participation and
observation... whether or not you're a
political
science major or plan to become a politician!
First, we'll
go back in time to examine
why American political institutions were set up the way they were. We
revisit some of the Framers' key
decisions
at the Constitutional Convention. We are aided by a simulation
package that allows us to play the parts of actual Framers, and to
debate
and decide the issues that they decided. Then we return to the
present day to study contemporary issues in American public policy,
such as the economy, health care, and the environment.
Each student prepares a variety of writing and speech assignments. Recent assignments have included comparisons of candidate web sites, research on contemporary issues using key politics sources, and letters to newspapers and members of Congress. The goal is to have students practice the types of research, speaking and writing they might be doing in the rest of their political lives. There are also three exams during the semester, one on each section of the course. Students are further credited for participation in classroom discussion.
American National Government and Politics is a prerequisite for advanced American politics courses needed for the Political Science major or minor. It counts in the "Social Science" category for fulfilling general education requirements.
TEXTS (SPRING 2009)
Ralph Ketcham (ed), The Anti-Federalist Papers and the Constitutional Convention Debates (Mentor, 1986)
Michael E. Kraft and Scott R. Furlong, Public Policy: Politics, Analysis, and Alternatives, 2nd ed. (CQ Press, 2007)
Bruce F. Nesmith, Simulating the U.S. Constitutional Convention (online at coemoodle.coe.edu)
COURSE OUTLINE
Course introduction
I. THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Constitution--Theory: Simulating the Convention, ch. 1
Constitution--History: Simulating the Convention, ch. 2
Constitution--Setting: Simulating the Convention, ch. 3
Constitution--Issues: Simulating the Convention, ch. 4
VIDEO: "Are We to be a Nation?"
QUIZ I
Debate 1--Powers of the national government:
Debate 2--Representation in Congress:
Debate 3--Voting and elections: Ketcham, pp. 39-41, 49-53, 114-116, 145-149 + Simulating the Convention, ch. 7
Debate 4--Powers of the president:
Debate 5--The national economy:
Last course: Introduction to Politics
Next course: State and Local Government
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updated 6/23/09