Instructor: Julie Victa
Office: Tower 321S
Phone 740-3602 (office) (773) 384-1297 (home)
E-mail jvicta@stfrancis.edu or julievicta@prodigy.net
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:30-9; Monday and Wednesday 12-1; Tuesdays TBA
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to the processes and institutions of American government. We will focus primarily on U.S. national government. To that end we will examine the involvement of actors in Congress, the executive branch, and the judiciary. The linkages between the people and the national government will be examined in our discussion of political socialization, participation, interest groups, political parties and voting. We will also examine the U.S. Constitution, the Illinois Constitution, and federalism. We will see that all of these actors and processes have an impact on public policy.
Course Objectives:
By the end of the course the student will:
There will be three examinations during the course of the semester. Each will be worth 30% of your final grade. Students will be asked to investigate issues in American politics through three web projects. One is to include a comparison of the U.S. and Illinois Constitutions. These projects are worth 10% of your final grade. Extra credit is also possible through an instructor selected book review. This review is due the last full day of class. NOTE: Any evidence of plagiarism will result not only in a failing grade for the paper but for the class. Consult the university catalogue for more information
Text:
Welch, Susan, Gruhl, John et al. Understanding American Government.
Course Outline:
"Neither the Constitution nor the physical advantages of the country can alone explain the persistence of democratic institutions." Alexis de Tocqueville
Week 1. Myth and Reality in American Politics - Chapter 1
Week 2. The U.S. and Illinois Constitution - Chapter 2 First web assignment due.
Week 3. American Federalism - Chapter 3
Week 4. Public Opinion and Political Participation - Chapter 4
FIRST EXAM
"Political parties created democracy and ... modem democracy is unthinkable save in terms of the parties." E.E. Schattschneider
"Money is the mother's milk of politics." Jesse Unruh
Week 5. Political Parties - Chapter 6 Second web project due.
Week 6. Campaigns and Elections - Chapter 7 & 9
Week 7. Interest Groups - Chapter 5
Week 8. Media and Politics - Chapter 8
SECOND EXAM
"I can make a decision, order it implemented and in six months see if it has worked or not. But in Congress, it is like elephants making love. It takes two years before you can see whether what you've done has had any results." County government official
"I felt that measures otherwise unconstitutional might become lawful by becoming indispensable to the preservation of the Constitution through the preservation of the nation. Right or wrong, I assumed this ground, and now avow it." Abraham Lincoln
"John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it." Andrew Jackson
Week 9. The Congress - Chapter 10 Third web project due.
Week 10. The Presidency - Chapter 11
Week 11. The Presidency - Continued
Week 12. The Bureaucracy - Chapter 12
Week 13. The Courts - Chapter 13
"The capacity of the human mind in formulating and solving complex problems is very small compared to the size of the problem. It is very difficult to achieve objectively rational behavior. In the real world ... or even a reasonable approximation to such objective rationality." Herbert Simon
Week 14. Domestic Policy - Chapter 16
Week 15. Foreign and Defense Policies
Week 16. Conclusion
Any extra credit work is due the last full day of class. No late work will be accepted.
FINAL EXAM