POLITICS OF THE UNITED STATES

TIME AND PLACE: T/TH -9:15 AM in Cushing B 10
INSTRUCTOR: Mary McHugh
OFFICE HOURS: MWF 8:15-8:45 AM and T/TH 10-11 AM and/or by appointment
Office: Sakowich Campus Center, Room 380 x. 5123
Home: (978) 568-0414 (no calls after 10 P.M. please)
Email: mary.mchugh {at} merrimack(.)edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course provides a general introduction to the basic political institutions and processes of the United States government. We will ask and answer questions such as who governs the US, why, and to what ends?

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

FINAL EXAM (25%) As scheduled by college on Thursday, December 13 at 1:30 PM

EXAM #1 (15%) In class on Thursday, October 1

EXAM #2 (15%) In class on Tuesday, November 13

SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT (10%) See below for details

SERVICE LEARNING JOURNALS (15%) See below for details

CLASS PARTICIPATION & ATTENDANCE (20%) The class format will be partly lecture and partly discussion. Unless otherwise indicated, all reading assignments are required and should be completed before class. Class discussion and participation is both encouraged and required. Attendance will be taken daily. You will be marked down for all unexcused absences after your first absence. Missing more than 50% of the classes could cause you to fail the class.

BOOKS AND READINGS:

All readings are required. The three main books can be purchased at the Merrimack Bookstore.

Stephen Frantzich, Citizen Democracy
Alan Shank & Edward Drachman, You Decide!
James Q. Wilson, American Government, brief version, 5th edition

In addition, you will be responsible for all other assigned readings.

Recommended: A subscription to a daily national newspaper or a weekly news magazine in order to keep up to date with current political events and to use for journal entries. You can pickup copies of the Boston Globe and other papers at the Sakowich Campus Center Information Desk on Main Street.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT
Students are expected to spend 15 hours volunteering in the Merrimack Valley Area. For this project you are expected to volunteer at a location relating to a public policy that we will be studying in this class and will need to keep a journal of your experiences (as noted below). You will need to sign up for your service work at the Stevens Service Learning Center (x. 5125 Campus Center 380) by Tuesday, September 14 and begin you service by Monday, September 17. You will be able to choose from a variety of options of service work at a variety of times and locations. Students are expected to honor their commitment and to show up each week on time. You are responsible for keeping track of your own volunteer hours and the Stevens Center, with the help of your site manager, will evaluate your performance and commitment. This evaluation will constitute 10% of your grade.

2. SERVICE LEARNING JOURNAL
Each student will keep a journal in a separate notebook so that it can be turned in without depriving the student of class notes, etc. Each week you are expected to make at least one entry into your journal reflecting on your experiences with the service learning project. Each journal entry should include three sections denoted by three different colors of ink. In black ink you should describe what you actually did that week at your volunteer site what were your tasks? How did you complete these tasks? With whom did you work? Etc. In blue ink, you should write your reflective or subjective reactions to what happened during the week how did you feel about your experience this week? Why? Finally, in red ink, you should reflect thoughtfully on the relationship between the things that happen "out there" and what we are reading about or discussing in class that week what connections can be made to the reading, to the class discussion? How does your volunteer experience help you to understand the political world better? How does it help you to understand the balance of power in our political system? The role of the citizen? Of the voter? Etc. Your grade on the journal will reflect the degree to which your entries are thoughtful and complete. All entries should include three parts, however most emphasis in terms of your grade will be placed on the portion written in red ink as it will reflect critical thinking about the project, the readings, and the issues of democracy, citizenship, and power. On occasion I will give you a focus topic for your journal entries, for that week. One journal will constitute 15% of your grade in this class.
***Journals (minimum of 2 entries) are due every other week in class on Thursdays

EXTRA CREDIT:
Students who attend the brown bag luncheons or slide show sponsored by the Stevens Center will receive extra credit.

Brown Bag Luncheons: September 26, October 16th, November 7.
All discussions will take place at noon in the community dining room in Sakowich Campus Center

Slide Show November 28h at 3:30 at Cascia Hall

COURSE OUTLINE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS:

INTRODUCTION (August 28 30)
Readings: Frantzich, Introduction
Shank & Drachman, Introduction
Wilson, Chapter 1
The Declaration of Independence (pp.378 381)

Topic 1: THE AMERICAN FOUNDING (September 4-11)
Readings: Frantzich, Chapter 1
Shank & Drachman, Chapter 1
Wilson, Chapter 2
The Constitution of the US (pp. 382-401)
Federalist Papers #10, #51 (pp. 402-411)

Topic 2: FEDERALISM (September 13-18)
Readings: Frantzich, Chapter 2
Shank & Drachman, Chapter 2
Wilson, Chapter 3

Topic 3: CONGRESS (September 20-27)
Readings: Frantzich, Chapters 11 & 12
Shank & Drachman, Chapter 11
Wilson, Chapter 7

Topic 4: THE PRESIDENCY & EXECUTIVE BRANCH (October 2-9)
Readings: Frantzich, Chapters 13, 14, & 17
Shank & Drachman, Chapter 12
Wilson, Chapter 8-9

EXAM THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11th

Topic 5: THE AMERICAN JUDICIARY (October 16-18)
Readings: Frantzich, Chapter 13 & 14
Shank & Drachman, Chapter 13
Wilson, Chapter 10

Topic 6: CIVIL RIGHTS & LIBERTIES (October 23-30)
Readings: Frantzich, Chapters 3 & 4
Shank & Drachman, Chapters 3& 4
Wilson, Chapter 11

Topic 7: PUBLIC OPINION AND THE MEDIA (November 1-8)
Readings: Frantzich, Chapter 5 & 6
Shank & Drachman, Chapters 5 & 6
Wilson, Chapter 4

EXAM #2 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH

Topic 8: CAMPAIGNS & ELECTION (November 15-20)
Readings: Frantzich, Chapter 9
Shank & Drachman, Chapters 9 & 10
Wilson, Chapter 6

Topic 9: POLITICAL PARTIES & INTEREST GROUPS (Nov 27-29)
Readings: Frantzich, Chapters 7 & 8
Shank & Drachman, Chapters 7, 8, 14, 15, 16
Wilson, Chapter 5