Political Science 202

Political Science 202 : Fall 2002 (001)

ORIENTATION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE

Professor Penny Miller, DUS Office Hours: T,R – 1:00p.m.-2:30p.m.

Patterson Office Tower 1649 and by appointment

Phone: 257‑7030; POL153@uky.edu Tuesdays 11:00-11:50a.m. CP 287

Course Description:

This course serves as an introduction to the discipline for new and prospective political science majors. Lectures, readings, and discussions will introduce students to the major fields of study in political science, the methodology of social science research, and career options available to political science majors. Throughout the semester, different faculty members will give lectures or facilitate case studies. This format enables the student to learn about the topic being discussed from a specialist in the area, and also serves to introduce students to a variety of political science faculty members. Every student will be offered a private advising session with the DUS to discuss her/his overall academic and career plans.

Required Text

Michael G. Roskin, Robert L. Cord, James A. Medeiros, and Walter S. Jones. 2003. Political Science: An Introduction. 8^th edition. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall.

***See the book’s companion website: http://www.prenhall.com/roskin

A daily reading of a newspaper is suggested; see especially New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post (not USA Today). You should expose yourself to in-depth national publications.

See professor’s web site for syllabus and links to other relevant websites:

http://www.uky.edu/ArtsScience/PoliSci/Miller

Evaluation Criteria

PS 202 is a Pass/Fail course; your grade will be based on the following:

Weekly written assignments that are due at the beginning of each class. These will be graded: P+, P, or F.

An interview paper described at the end of this syllabus. It is due at the beginning of class on Tuesday, October 22, 2002. This will be graded: A, B, C, D, or E.

Course Rules and Requirements:

1. Attendance is mandatory, which means that I expect you to be at every scheduled class. Only University-recognized excuses will be acceptable (refer to Section 5.2.5.2 of http:www.uky.edu/Student Affairs/Code/part2.html). You may have two unpenalized, unexcused absences. More than two unexcused absences will result in a failing grade for the course. You must attend the interview paper and case study class sessions.

2. On written assignments, students shall not plagiarize or cheat. See Section 3.0, Part II, of the Student Rights and Responsibilties handbook for definitions (page 37). Students shall use non‑discriminatory language in written assignments as well as classroom discussions. See the Writing Center for guidelines. The last day to drop a course without it appearing on a student's transcript is September 18, 2002. The last day for automatic withdrawals is October 25 2002.

3. All written assignments are due at the beginning of class. Late papers will not be accepted except for legitimate reasons. University policy will be followed. There will be NO incompletes.

4. You must complete the weekly written assignments and the interview paper in order to pass the course.

5. There will be NO final exam for this course.

Schedule and Assigned Readings and Required Written Exercises:

T 9/3‑‑ Course Outline and Overview of the Discipline

Discussion of Kentucky Politics

1. What are the critical issues in Kentucky in 2002?

2. Who are the state's leaders?

3. What has been the aftermath of BOPTROT?

4. What is KERA?

5. What is KAPT?

6. Why are there so many local governments in Kentucky?

Suggested Readings:

Jewell, Malcolm E., and Everett W. Cunningham. 1968. Kentucky Politics Lexington: University of Kentucky Press.

Miller, Penny M. 1994. Kentucky Politics and Government: Do We Stand United? Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.

Miller, Penny M., and Malcolm E. Jewell. 1990. Political Parties and Primaries in Kentucky. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky.

Pearce, John Ed. 1987. Divide and Dissent: Kentucky Politics, 1930‑1963 Lexington: University Press of Kentucky.

T 9/10 ‑‑ The Scope of Political Science

Text: Chapter 1, “A Science of Politics?” pp. 1-17

Chapter 3, “Nations, States, and Governments,” pp. 36-53

Required Written Exercise for 9/10: Write clear and concise answers to two of the following questions, approximately one hand‑written page per essay.

1. How does the interdisciplinary nature of political science relate to the other social sciences?

2. How are legitimacy, sovereignty, and authority different but similar?

3. What is nationalism and where did it originate? Provide some current examples.

4. What is “symbolic politics”? Provide some current examples.

T 9/17 ‑‑ Government Institutions

Text: Chapter 13, “The Basic Institutions of Government,” pp. 237-255

Chapter 14, “Legislatures,” pp. 256-276

Chapter 15, “Executives,” pp. 277-297

Chapter 16, “Administration and Bureaucracy,” pp. 298-318

Required Written Exercise for 9/17: Write clear and concise answers to two of the following questions, approximately one hand‑written page per essay.

1. What are the consequences of divided government?

2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a fixed term of office for the head of state?

3. What is the difference between parliamentary and presidential systems? Provide several examples of each system.

4. Discuss public administration as a political problem. Provide current examples.

5. In 2002, what are the major shortcomings of the United States having a federal, presidential, two-party system with plurality elections?

T 9/24 ‑‑ Political Organizations

Text: Chapter 10, “Interest Groups,” pp. 174-193

Chapter 11, “Political Parties and Party Systems,” pp. 194-211

Required Written Exercise for 9/24: Write clear and concise answers to two of the following questions, approximately one hand‑written page per essay.

1. How well‑ or ill‑regarded are political parties today in various democracies

2. What good is party centralization, as in Britain?

3. What are the several types of party systems? Provide current examples of each.

4. How do political interest groups differ from political parties? Be specific.

5. Discuss some tactics of interest groups. Provide current examples.

6. What are PACs and “soft money”? How are they regulated by Congress?

T 10/1 ‑‑ Case Study on “The Aftermath of the Bombing of the World Trade Towers & the Pentagon & the Anthrax Crisis”

Required Written Exercise for 10/1: At the end of this syllabus, you are provided a list of questions on this subject. First, use the Internet to research the issues. Secondly, write clear and concise answers to all of the questions. Be prepared to discuss these questions in class.

T 10/8 ‑‑ Political Culture & Political Behavior

Text: Chapter 7, “Political Culture,” pp. 114-132

Chapter 12, “Elections,” pp. 212-236

Required Written Exercise for 10/8: Write clear and concise answers to two of the following questions, approximately one hand‑written page per essay.

1. What are the most potent agents of political socialization? Be specific.

2. If Americans are participatory, why do they vote so little?

3. What went wrong with the U.S. electoral system in 2000?

4. Are we seeing electoral realignment, dealignment, or neither? Be specific.

T 10/15‑‑ The Judiciary, Law School and a Legal Career

Text: Chapter 17, “Legal Systems and the Courts,” pp. 319-337

Required Written Exercise for 10/15: Write clear and concise answers to 2 of the following questions, approximately one hand‑written page per essay.

1. In what major cases did the Warren Court make new law?

2. Is there an independent judiciary in the United States? Why or why not?

3. Discuss the differences between case law and code law. Provide examples.

4. Should the U.S. Supreme Court “decide” presidential elections? Be specific.

T 10/22: Class Discussion of Appointed and Elected Officeholders

Text: Chapter 9, “Political Communication and the Media,” pp. 153-173

*********Required Written Exercise: Interview Paper Due for 10/22

T 10/29 Advising for Spring 2003/Career Planning/ Internship Opportunities in Government Priority Registration -- November 4-November 27

Required Written Exercise for 10/29: Prepare a personal resume which should contain your academic, extracurricular, service, and work experiences. Specialists at the Career Center offer assistance in creating resumes - 257-2746 - www.uky.edu/CareerCenter.

T 11/5 ‑‑ Political Theories and Ideologies

Text: Chapter 2, “Theories: Classic and Modern,” pp. 18-25

Chapter 5, “Democracy, Totalitarianism, and Authoritarianism,” pp. 71-91

Chapter 6, “Political Ideologies,” pp. 92-113

1. Which types of violence are most prevalent today? Provide examples.

2. Discuss some causes of war. Provide examples.

3. Is the United States still a superpower?

4. Does international interdependence ‑‑ the fact that countries depend on each other for some of their needs ‑‑ lead to increased international cooperation, or to increased conflict and war? Why do you think so? Give examples to support your argument.

5. Who will be the big powers fifty years from now? Why?

T 11/19 ‑‑ Case Study “The War in Afghanistan”

Required Written Exercise for 11/19: At the end of this syllabus, you are provided a list of questions on this subject. First, use the Internet to research the issues. Secondly, write clear and concise answers to all of the questions. Be prepared to discuss these questions in class.

T 11/26 – NO CLASS – Early Thanksgiving Holiday

T 12/3 – Political Methodology

Text: Chapter 8, “Public Opinion,” 133-152

Required Written Exercise for 12/3: Select information on two recent public opinion polls from either the newspaper or the Internet. Write a brief summary of the findings, and attach copies of the articles.

Other Important Dates:

September 4 Last day to add a class for fall

September 18 Last day to drop a course; last day to change grading option

September 26 Last day to file application for December degree

October 4 Fall Break – Academic Holiday

October 21 Midterm of 2002 Fall Semester

October 22-November 4 Time to change academic major

October 25 Last day for automatic withdrawals from a class

November 4-November 27 Priority registration for the 2003 Spring Semester

December 13 Last day of classes

December 16-20 Final Exams

PS 202 INTERVIEW PAPER Fall 2002

This assignment is due at the beginning of class on Tuesday, October 22, 2002. The paper must be typewritten, double‑spaced, and at least two pages in length. It will be graded: A, B, C, D, or E. Your assignment is to conduct a face‑to‑face interview with any elected or appointed local, state, or national government officeholder, or a current or former candidate for local, state, or national office in Kentucky. Discover as much information about the individual and his/her job as you can. You can present the paper in interview form. At the end of your paper, cite when and where you conducted the interview.

Suggestions: You could interview a councilperson or a state legislator and ask questions such as:

1. Where did you grow up and obtain your education?

2. Were you raised in a political family?

3. What is your political ideology and party identification?

4. What is your occupational background?

5. When did you first become involved in politics?

6. What long‑term career plans do you have?

7. Is this your first elected office?

8. How many terms have you served?

9. What was the nature of your political campaign(s)?

10. How much opposition have you had in getting elected?

11. How active are you in party politics?

12. What is the nature of your district ‑‑ rich/poor, urban/rural, political?

13. Is your district lopsided or close in partisan terms?

14. What do you believe to be the major interests or constituencies in your district?

15. How do you stay in contact with your constituents (e.g., newsletters, newspaper columns, questionnaires)?

16. How often do you speak in the district?

17. What kind of coverage do you get in the local press (e.g., favorable)?

18. How do you view your role in the policy‑making process?