Pol. Sci 0200 Fall 2008 Syllabus - Political Science 0200...

Political Science 0200
AMERICAN POLITICAL PROCESS
Fall 2008
Wednesday
9:00 - 11:25 a.m.
Dr. Stanley J. Kabala
412-396-4233
[email protected]
[email protected]
Introduction
The United States is referred to as the world’s oldest democracy. Its constitution is one of the
first three “modern” constitutions in the world. As such, the U.S. political system pioneered
elements of politics and governance that have become commonplace: government by consent of
the governed and rule of law. This straightforward statement belies a world of complexity whose
characteristics and components include governmental institutions, separation of powers, the
federal system and division of powers, lawmaking, implementation of policy, political parties,
interest groups, and public opinion and the media, and voting.
Course Objectives and Approach
This course will examine the U.S. political system as made up of both institutions and processes
that evolve over time. It will introduce students to the institutions and practices of American
politics and government policy making and provide them with the analytical tools to understand
and assess decision making in the U.S. political system. To accomplish this, it will rely on a
combination of lectures, text material, outside reading, class discussion and, if possible, films.
Course Requirements and Grading
Attendance is not optional. Too much takes place during class in terms of lectures and
discussion to waste this time. As a result it constitutes part of the grade. Attendance will be
assessed by means of random attendance checks.
Coursework falls into the following five categories:
1. two (2) exams based on the lectures and readings;
2. two (2) essays of 3 pages relating a published article to its coverage in the text;
3. essay on a social/political movement
4. a research paper of 12 -15 pages on a topic appropriate to the course and approved by the
instructor, and;.