INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN POLITICS
Political Science 111
Fall 1997

Professor Nemec
892-2282 (office)
892-1444 (home)
327 Chambers
office hours 8:30-9:30 M,W,Th,F; 2:00-3:00 T, Th (and by appt.)

"Politics doesn't interest me. I don't follow it, don't vote, don't care. Never had time for it. Always had to make a living."

--Edward Howey, age 45, Gordo, Alabama, small businessman

"You really can't hold an intelligent conversation with people about elections or issues. I'm shocked that people are not more involved with their government and they don't read about issues, schools, the police, budgetary matters."

--Kenneth Cotton, age 33, The Bronx, NY, high school teacher

Course Objectives

The comments of Mr. Howey and Mr. Cotton, reported by Richard Morin in the Washington Post National Weekly Edition (Feb. 5-11, 1996; 6), reflect a growing concern about political apathy, cynicism, and distrust in the American body politic. Increasing alienation has been documented in a plethora of studies. In 1964, for example, the Center for Political Studies at the University of Michigan asked respondents in a national survey if they could "trust government to do what is right"; 23% said "only some of the time." By 1992, the percentage of respondents saying "only some of the time" had increased to 70%. A recent survey conducted by the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University found that 58% of nonvoters in a national sample agreed that America had "pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track." Almost one-fourth (23%) of nonvoters "completely agreed" with the statement, "Most elected officials don't care what people like me think," and 46% of nonvoters think there is a need for a third political party in the United States. Perhaps most significant, in the 1992 and 1996 presidential elections third party candidate Ross Perot won a significant share of the national vote -- including almost one in five votes in 1992. Moreover, in recent decades voters have decided more often than not to choose a president of one party and congressional majorities of the opposing party.

What's going on? Why are Americans apparently so negative about politics and politicians? Why are many Americans profoundly uninformed and uninterested in the political process? Why do many voters split their tickets, or vote for candidates outside the political mainstream? The answers to these questions lie in the nature of American politics: how the system is structured, how the modern electoral and legislative processes work, what we expect of our citizens, how the media report on politics, and how elected officials go about their business. In this course we will look at each of those aspects of American politics, seeking to take the machine apart (i.e., adopting a micropolitical approach), and then to put it back together to see how it functions (a macropolitical approach).

The central objective of this course, to be sure, is not to provide definitive answers to these questions, for that isn't an achievable goal. Instead, the goal is to develop your ability to think critically about these questions, to understand their complexity and implications, and to evaluate claims made by others. You will be expected to develop your own arguments and interpretations of available evidence -- evidence which you will have gathered from course materials and from outside reading. Accordingly, performance in this class will be only partially evaluated on the basis of your ability to give the "correct" answers on exams. A more important measure of success is the extent to which you apply what you have learned and expand upon that information to study problems in depth. This requires solid scholarship and initiative -- both in class and on written assignments. Full class discussion of all relevant topics is central to this course, for such discussions, as well as written work, provide opportunities for you to demonstrate your mastery of substantive material and your skill as a political analyst. You should thus be prepared to answer questions whether you have raised your hand in class or not.

Requirements

EXAMS. There will be three exams: two during the semester and a final exam. All will be composed primarily of essay questions; the final exam will be comprehensive.

PAPERS. Two papers will be required. Both will be limited to about 1250 words (about five typed, double-spaced pages). The topics will be discussed at length as the papers are assigned.

"ISSUE BOMBS". At various times during the semester, "issue bombs" will be "dropped." That is, you will be expected to write a brief in-class essay in answer to a question about a developing political event.

LATE WORK. The penalty for work handed in after it is due is one letter grade (i.e., 10 points) every three days; no work will be accepted more than two weeks late. Computer problems are not acceptable excuses for late work. All work in this course is bound by the Honor Code.

GRADE COMPOSITION. Grades will be calculated as follows: first exam 15%, second exam 15%, issue bombs 10%, first paper 15%, second paper 20%, final exam 25%.

TENTATIVE WORK SCHEDULE. Tentatively, exams will be given, and papers assigned and turned in, on the following dates:

Paper number one: assigned September 15, due Wednesday, November 24
Exam number one: Wednesday, October 8
Exam number two: Wednesday, November 5
Paper number two: assigned November 14, due Monday, November 24

Books and Supplementary Materials

Four books are required for the course. You will also be required to purchase a term-long subscription to the New York Times. Details will be discussed in class. Additionally, a number of readings may be placed on reserve in the library. The required books are:

Karen O'Connor and Larry J. Sabato, American Government: Continuity and Change
Allan J. Cigler and Burdett A. Loomis (eds.), American Politics: Classic and Contemporary Readings
Larry J. Sabato (ed.), Toward the Millennium: The Elections of 1996
G. Calvin Mackenzie, The Irony of Reform: Roots of American Political Disenchantment

Topic Outline and Reading Schedule

I. American Political Foundations (August 27-Sept. 10)

II. American Political Institutions (Sept. 12-Oct. 15)

III. Political Behavior in America (October 17-November 21)

IV. Taking Stock: Political Alienation in America (Nov. 24-December 5)