Introduction to Politics and Government
Spring 2008
Political Science Course # PS 106 02
Course DescriptionStudents technically do not need to be "introduced" to politics and government, since these affect almost every aspect of their lives, from what they earn (e.g., taxes) to what they eat (food safety laws) to where they go (public roads) and how they get there (oil policies). Yet students, like many Americans, may feel bewildered, shut out, overwhelmed, or even disgusted by the political process. To overcome these obstacles to understanding, this course offers a systematic approach to politics and government. Students will address broad political questions like the following:
- Is liberal democracy the best form of government?
- How does power affect the distribution of resources?
- What is a political ideology?
- How do political institutions like Congress and the courts operate?
- What drives nations to go to war?
By engaging with questions like these, the course should help students clearly identify the ways in which politics affects their lives, and the lives of others, and to critically evaluate claims made by political actors. We will also work together towards developing skills that transcend the classroom. Through the study of politics and government, students should begin to develop powers of analysis and argumentation that will improve their thinking, writing, and speaking, both on and off campus.
Finally, this course also serves as an introduction to the discipline of political science. Those students considering this field as a major or minor will come away from the course with an understanding of the main sub-fields of political science, as well as some of the dominant theoretical approaches within the discipline.
Required TextsStudents are encouraged to purchase the following book:
Power & Choice
W. Phillips Shively
10th Edition (2007)
ISBN: 9780073278902
This book is available from
Shakespeare and Company (939 Lexington Avenue, at 69th Street). In addition, a number of less expensive used copies may be available online. If you purchase online or elsewhere, however, make sure that you obtain the correct edition and that you can get the book in a timely fashion. A copy of the book also will be made available on reserve in the MMC library.
Additional readings may be assigned throughout the semester; these will be available through online links at the course website. Readings will be assigned at the end of each class, and also will be posted on the class website.
Course Requirements- Come to class prepared. Complete all required readings beforehand, and bring your textbooks to class.
- Participate. Attend class regularly and on time—you cannot participate if you are not present—and join your colleagues in critical analysis of the assigned readings. In order to encourage participation, you will be asked to complete the following assignment:
- Summaries. Write seven (7) one-page summaries of assigned readings throughout the course of the semester. Guidelines for summary writing will be distributed early in the semester. In general, you can submit summaries whenever you would like, with the following restriction: one summary must be completed in February, with an additional one (two in total) due by the mid-term exam. Still, I encourage you to WRITE YOUR SUMMARIES EARLY – do not wait until the end of the semester, or you may run out of time to complete your required seven.even.
- Complete all other written assignments:
- Exams. You will be given two examinations throughout the course, a mid-term and a final. The final exam focuses primarily on material covered in the second half of the course, but may build upon and refer to material discussed earlier. Exams will consist of brief essay questions, with the questions distributed in advance. Exams will be based on the required readings and on classroom discussions.
- Paper. A 5-7 page research paper will be due towards the end of the semester; you will be required to submit a first draft a few weeks earlier. Details for the assignment, including deadlines and instructions, will be distributed in class later in the semester.
GradingYour grade will be based on your written work and your class participation. Course requirements will be weighted as follows when calculating your grade:
Exams: 50%
Of the two exams, your lowest grade will be worth 20%, while your highest will be worth 30%. Make-up exams will be given only when proper documentation for the absence is provided.
Paper: 25%
Grading criteria will be included when the paper assignment is distributed. A one letter grade penalty will be imposed upon late papers without valid documentation (e.g., medical emergency).
Participation: 25%
Submission of all required summaries establishes a base participation grade of B. Failure to submit a summary will lower this grade by one-third of a letter grade (e.g., B to B-). Excessive lateness or absences may lead to further reductions, while frequent and thoughtful contributions to class discussion will have the opposite effect.
Incomplete grades will be assigned only for a valid and documented cause, for a length of time specified by the instructor when the documentation is accepted.
Academic IntegrityStudents should be aware of the college’s policies regarding cheating, plagiarism and any other kind of academic misconduct as outlined in the MMC Academic Honesty Policy. These policies will be discussed briefly during the first class, and are available
online. Students who have questions or concerns about their written work should discuss these with the instructor before submitting any assignments.
Special NeedsAny student who is learning disabled, whose primary language is other than English, or who has other special needs and may thus require special accommodations should notify me immediately.
Course Schedule (subject to change)
Tuesday, January 29
Course Overview
Politics (and Government) Defined
Thursday, January 31
Introduction to Politics (and Political Science)
Tuesday, February 5
Introduction to Government
Thursday, February 7
Concepts: Power
Tuesday, February 12
Concepts: Authority and Legitimacy
Thursday, February 14
Concepts: Democracy and Autocracy
Tuesday, February 19
Concepts: Democracy continued (FILM: “No Logo”)
Thursday, February 21
Ideologies: Liberalism
Tuesday, February 26
Ideologies: Critics of Liberalism
Thursday, February 28
Ideologies: Fascism and Totalitarianism
Tuesday, March 4
Constitutions
Thursday, March 6
Exam Review
Tuesday, March 11
NO CLASS – HONORS DAY
Thursday, March 13
MID-TERM EXAMINATION
Tuesday, March 17
Thursday, March 19
NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK
Tuesday, March 25
Institutions: Media (FILM: “Control Room”)
Thursday, March 27
Institutions: Media continued (FILM: “Control Room”)
Tuesday, April 1
The Modern State
Thursday, April 3
Institutions: Parliamentary vs. Presidential Systems
Tuesday, April 8
Institutions: Law and the Courts
Thursday, April 10
Institutions: The Bureaucracy
Tuesday, April 15
Political Participation: Elections
Thursday, April 17
NO CLASS – ADVISEMENT DAY
Tuesday, April 22
Political Participation: Parties
Thursday, April 24
Political Participation: Interest Groups
Tuesday, April 29
Political Participation: Social Movements
Thursday, May 1
International/Global Politics
Tuesday, May 6
International/Global Politics: War and Peace (FILM: “Why We Fight”)
Thursday, May 8
International/Global Politics: War and Peace (FILM: “Why We Fight”)
Tuesday, May 13
Exam Review
Thursday, May 15
FINAL EXAM
