POLS 151, American Government Spring 2012 T, Th 9:55-11:40, in Admin. 101

Sid Olufs, Political Science Dept. 535-8727, olufs@plu.edu office: Xavier 153. Office hours M 11-1:30, T 12-1:00, W 12-1:30 + appts.

Course Description. The PLU catalog description: “A survey of the constitutional foundations of the American political system and of institutions, processes, and practices relating to participation, decision-making, and public policy in American national government.”

Course Readings.

Please acquire the following book (available in paperback):

· Paul Pierson and Theda Skocpol, eds., The Transformation of American Politics: Activist Government and the Rise of Conservatism (Princeton, 2007) ISBN13: 978-0-691-12258-8.

· The course will also make extensive use of documents available online and through Sakai.

You are required to read many online sources that will be assigned on the course web page, and on electronic reserve through Sakai. Go to http://www.plu.edu/~olufsdw/151.htm. Check the assignments page.

You will be expected to read The New York Times and other news sources. The online edition costs about $41 for the semester (at this writing, the first four weeks costs $1, thereafter $20 per month). Your professor prefers the paper version, as do many in his generation.

Course Conduct. You must complete the assigned readings in advance and come to class prepared to discuss them. Active and valuable contributions to class discussion based on having read and thought about the material can earn an improvement in your final grade. Be engaged. Make it your course. You will get more out of it. Attendance is required. Grade penalties accrue after the third unexcused absence. Excessive absences may also result in expulsion from the course. Please do not show up late for class, or eat in class, or use cell phones during class, or leave during the class period.

The government is operating while the class is in session, and we will read about and attempt to make sense of what is happening. Please see the guide to reading the New York Times, available on the course web page. During the semester we will designate some issues as worth following more intently than others, and you will be expected to analyze this material in your papers and on quizzes. The questions and articles you are responsible for will usually be posted on the open web page.

Coursework and Grading. You are required to do the following work.

· One successful 4-6 page policy paper, following guidelines published on the course web page. You will receive paper topics two weeks prior to the due date. Papers will be typed and double-spaced. Grading criteria will include the degree to which you completely answer the question, demonstrate understanding of course concepts, clear use of evidence, and quality of writing—clarity of argument, clear purposes for each paragraph, properly constructed sentences, proper spelling, competent proofreading, and meticulous application of a recognized system of reference. Papers must be on time. (20%)

· A series of short, one-page papers addressing specific questions (x4), some short quizzes, focusing on course concepts and issues we follow, responses to questions about the course texts, and exercises in class. These might not be announced. (60%)

· A final examination, scheduled for Thursday, May 24, from 9-10:50 (20%).

Academic Honesty. Academic dishonesty is a serious matter. You are responsible for knowing the University policy on plagiarism, and for knowing what is plagiarism and how to avoid it. Here is a definition of plagiarism. Your first reading assignment is the University policy on academic integrity.

Schedule. (There will be more assigned readings, posted on the course web page or in Sakai. We might also alter the schedule, depending on political events that unfold during the semester. For example, if another war starts, we will pay attention to it. This schedule lists assignments out of Pierson.)

Tuesday	Thursday
	Feb. 9—Introduction, Syllabus. How do we know things about the political world?
Feb. 14—Political Culture in the USA. Political Culture in the USA. Read Pierson Chapter 1, and the_color_line.doc.	Feb. 16—Development of US Government. Read The Constitution of the United States; Federalist#10.doc; and online reading.
Feb. 21—Activist Government. Read Pierson, Chapter 2. Online reading.	Feb. 23—Interest Groups. Read Pierson, Chapter 3. Online Reading.
Feb. 28—Parties and Voting. Read Pierson Chapter 4. Online reading.	Mar. 1—Government and the problem of War. Policy Paper Assignments.
Mar. 6—The Financial Crisis and Public Policy. Online readings.	Mar. 8—same topic (cont.) Inside Job.
Mar. 13—How did the Presidency become the primary branch? Online readings.	Mar. 15—The Presidency (cont.). Online readings.
Mar. 20—Congress. Read Pierson, Chapter 5. Policy paper workshop.	Mar. 22—Class does not meet. Alternative assignment on Congress. Online readings.
March 26 -- PLU Spring Break	March 29-- PLU Spring Break
Apr. 3—The Federal Courts. Online reading.	Apr. 5—The Federal Courts (cont.) Online reading. Policy Papers are due.
Apr. 10—Democracy and Capitalism. Read Pierson Chapter 6.	Apr. 12—Conservative Mobilization. Read Pierson Chapter 7.
Apr. 17—Environmental Policy and US Politics. Online reading.	Apr. 19—The Politics of Social Policy. Read Pierson, Chapter 8.
Apr. 24—Polarization and Policy. Read Pierson, Chapter 9. Online reading.	Apr. 26—Taxes Reconsidered. Read Pierson, Chapter 10. Online reading.
May 1— What have the primaries given us? Online Readings.	May 3— The US in the World: What to Do about Oil. Online reading.
May 8— The US in the World: What to Do about Nuclear Weapons. Online reading.	May 10— The US in the World: What to do about the Next Financial Crisis. Online reading.
May 15— Citizenship Choices. Online Readings.	May 17—Looking Ahead. Read Pierson, Chapter 11. Preparation for Final Examination.

Final Examination Period, Thursday, May 24, from 9-10:50