Fall 2004
Dr. Daniel P. Franklin
(dfrankli@gsu.edu)
1038 General Classroom Building
Office Hours: Wed 1:00 - 3:00 (Or By Appointment)
Ext. 1-4849
Introduction to American Government
Political Science 1101
Democracy is the worst system
of Government except for all others. Capitalism is the worst way to run an
economy except for all others. Not only are these systems in some ways flawed,
they are sometimes in conflict. In the United States, we face the constant
struggle of integrating a free market system with a political democracy. In
order to enjoy the best (or least worst) of all worlds, however, we have to
live with the contradictions of living in a capitalist-democratic state. In this
course we will discuss the source of and methods of resolution for this most
deep-seated dispute in American politics. By the end of the course, students
will be expected to analyze and understand the sources of, the contradictions
in, and the system for conflict resolution associated with much of American
political life.
READINGS
The following book will be
available for purchase at the Park Place Book Store:
The Challenge of Democracy (Alternate Edition Seventh Edition) by Janda, Berry and Goldman (The correct
edition has a chapter on Georgia Politics included at the end of the book.)
I will also place several articles on the WebCT home page for this
class that will be required reading for the course. Students are also expected to read a good daily newspaper or
weekly news magazine.
http://www.nytimes.com/ (The New York Times)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ (The
Washington Post)
There are also several web sites of which you should be aware:
http://college.hmco.com/polisci/janda/chall_dem/7e/students/index.html This is the website for the textbook with plenty of
supplements, study aids and practice exams.
http://www.rvc.cc.il.us/faclink/pruckman/PSLinks.htm (This is a great political science resource list - very comprehensive and nicely designed!)
http://www.apsanet.org/ The American
Political Science Association
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS
In this course there will be
three midterm exams that will include at least one essay question. Grades will be
assigned according to the following formula:
First Exam - 30%
Second Exam - 30%
Third Exam - 40%
100%
CLASS SESSIONS
Class sessions will be roughly
divided between lectures and class discussion. In particular, we will focus on
a discussion of the assigned readings for the week. Students are expected to
complete the reading assignment in advance of the class session for which those
readings are assigned.
GENERAL POLICIES
- Students who do not attend class and do not drop the class through the registrar will be given an F for the course.
- Students are required to log on to the WEBCT home page of the class by the end of the first week of the semester. Students who do not visit the home page are liable to be dropped from the course by the instructor.
- Be forewarned, make-up exams will not be given except in the most extenuating circumstances (nuclear attack, catastrophic earthquake, the second coming, etc.).
- Attendance is not required. However, students will have problems doing well in this course without attending class regularly.
- Academic dishonesty is defined as the unattributed use of someone else's ideas or writings.
- "If You Fly, You
Flunk" If you have travel plans that conflict with the final exam, change
your plans or take another course!
ACADEMIC DECORUM
It is unfortunate that I am forced to mention this on the syllabus but I have found lately that a small minority of students is engaging in behaviors that are disrespectful and disruptive. Therefore, I am about to list a set of behaviors that can get you flunked in this class. If you can't abide by these restrictions please find another class now.
-No Sleeping (Do your sleeping at home or outside)
-No Eating (No eating in class - drinks are OK)
-No Leaving in the Middle of Class (If you are here at the beginning of class you are here for the entire class - If you have to leave early, please inform the instructor at the beginning of class and leave quietly by the back exit.)
-Arrive on Time
-No reading in class (Do your studying or read the sports section outside of class.)
Notice: The course
syllabus provides a general plan for the course; deviations may be necessary.
CLASS SESSIONS
AUGUST 24 - 26: The Study of Politics and Political Ideologies
Readings: The
Challenge of Democracy: Chap. 1; Federalist #10 (Web)
AUGUST 31 SEPTEMBER 2: The Meaning of Equality and American Constitutionalism
Readings: The
Challenge of Democracy: Chaps. 2 and 3; Federalist #51 (Web)
SEPTEMBER 7 - 9: Participation; Formal and Informal
Readings: The Challenge of Democracy: Chaps. 5, 7 and 9
SEPTEMBER 14 - 16: Participation (Cont.) - Political Parties and Interest Groups
Readings:
The Challenge of Democracy: Chaps. 8 and 10
SEPTEMBER 21: FIRST
EXAM
SEPTEMBER 23 - 28: Congress
Readings: The
Challenge of Democracy: Chap. 11
SEPTEMBER 30 OCTOBER 7: The Presidency
Readings:
The Challenge of Democracy: Chap. 12
OCTOBER 21 - 23: The Bureaucracy
Readings: The Challenge of Democracy: Chap. 13
OCTOBER 12 - 14: The Bureaucracy (cont.)
Readings: To Be Arranged (WebCT)
OCTOBER 19 - 21: The Courts
Readings: The Challenge of Democracy: Chap. 14
OCTOBER 26 - SECOND EXAM
OCTOBER 28 NOVEMBER 4: Federalism: State and Local Government (Georgia Politics)
Readings: The Challenge of Democracy: Chap. 4 and the Fleishman chapter on Georgia Politics at the end or your book.
NOVEMBER 9 - 11: Implementation (What Government Does Well and What it Doesnt)
Readings: The Challenge of Democracy: Chap. 15 and 16
NOVEMBER 16 18: Politics and the Media
Readings: The Challenge of Democracy: Chap. 6
THANKSGIVING BREAK NOVEMBER 23 27
NOVEMBER 30 DECEMBER 2: CASE STUDY - Tax Policy in the U.S.
Reading: WEBCT To be Arranged
DECEMBER
7: CASE STUDY Making War
THIRD EXAM: Thursday, December 9