PS 0200 (CRN #10123) AMERICAN POLITICAL PROCESS

Fall, 2002
T, Th: 9:30-10:45
David Lawrence 203

Instructor: Jon Hurwitz

4J32 Posvar Hall
412-648-7273 • hurwitz@pitt.edu
Office Hours: T,Th: 11-12 and by appt.

Two men with two different views. To one, government is an institution to be avoided, or at least minimized. To the other, government is a positive force with a potential to cure the ills of the world. The implication, of course, is that government exists in its present form because it has been created, through the years, by individuals with political goals. A government is not blonde, brunette, red headed, or bald because of the genes inherited. Rather, it is designed or molded to accomplish certain purposes. And as we shall see, the purposes envisioned by those who have shaped our government have direct implications for the structures and functions of the U.S. government.

This is an introductory survey course examining American government and politics. You will be exposed to the structures and functions of the various institutions, as well as to the behaviors of political actors. The course format will be primarily lecture and discussion.

Covering the topic of American politics in one semester is, at best, a difficult task. The subject is broad and, consequently, requires that we must be selective in the issues that we discuss. Although this is a survey course, certain aspects will be given special emphasis in this class.

The first half of the course will be devoted to a study of “inputs” to the political system—that is, those agents which convey demands, expectations, and complaints to the elected and non-elected decision-makers. Specifically, we will look at the role of the citizen: what they know about politics, what they want from the system, how they express their demands, and how they learn about politics. We will also look at organized inputs—parties and interest groups—and mechanisms by which the organizations try to compete for positions of power.

The second portion of the semester will focus on four institutions designed to make political decisions—the president, the bureaucracy, the legislature, and the judiciary. We will examine the structures and functions of these institutions. More importantly, we will discuss how the organization of the four branches influences the behavior of those who staff the branches and, ultimately, the policies which they make. The branches will not be discussed in isolation; rather, we will emphasize how they interact, cooperate, and conflict.

Although this is not a course in comparative politics, the class will have a strong comparative emphasis. A political state can best be understood by comparing it to other states, and, in many respects, the U.S. government is quite unusual. Consider these examples:

• The U.S. is almost unique in conducting primary elections.
• The U.S. is almost unique in having a chief executive who is not also a member of the legislative branch.
• The U.S. judiciary is far more active in making policies than the court systems elsewhere.
• The U.S. spends far less of its GNP on health care and the arts than do other advanced, industrial democracies.
• Americans have far less identity with a social class, and far more identity with a political party, than do their European counterparts.
• U.S. parties have very little in common with parties in European democracies.
• The U.S. is one of the few countries to conduct regular, periodic elections.

We examine the causes, consequences, and relationships between these abnormalities and, in the process, will focus on the strengths and weaknesses of the American system.

Assignments

Please read the weakly assignments prior to the class for which they have been assigned. The following text has been assigned and can be purchased at the University Book Center:

M. Fiorina and P. Peterson. The New American Democracy, Alternate Edition (2nd Ed. with election update). This is the textbook for the course, and it contains a lucid presentation of the “nuts and bolts” of American politics. There will be some overlap, at times, between the text and lectures, but very little in general.

In addition, selected readings may be distributed in class.

Grading

Grades will be determined by your performance on three exams:

1st Exam: Tuesday, Sept. 17 (25%)
2nd Exam: Tuesday, Oct. 15 (35%)
Final Exam: Thursday, Dec. 12; 12:00-1:50 (40%)

Please note: No make-up exams will be given unless you provide a written explanation from a physician. If you miss an exam without an approved and legitimate excuse, I will average your other two exams and subtract a 35 percent penalty for the missed exam. If at all possible, please notify the instructor prior to the exam if you are too ill to attend. You are strongly encouraged to participate in class discussions and to raise questions and comments during lectures. Class participation will clearly influence borderline grades. Regular attendance is expected.

Tentative Topics and Assignments

I. Course Introduction (Aug. 27)

II. Constitutional Background (Sept. 3)
Read: Chapters 1 through 3, and “Federalist Paper #10 (in Appendix)

FIRST MIDTERM EXAM: TUESDAY, SEPT. 17

III. The Behavior of the Citizens (Sept. 19)
Read: Chapters 4 through 6 and Chapter 9
Handout: Berelson, Lazarsfeld, and McPhee

IV. The Electoral Process (Sept. 26)
Read: Chapters 10 and 11

V. Parties and Interest Groups (Oct. 3)
Read: Chapters 7 and 8

SECOND MIDTERM EXAM: TUESDAY, OCT. 15

VI. The Presidency (Oct. 17)
Read: Chapter 13 (review Chapter 10)

VII. The Bureaucracy (Oct. 31)
Read: Chapter 14

VIII. The Legislature (Nov. 14)
Read: Chapter 12 (review Chapter 11)

IX. The Judiciary (Dec. 3)
Read: Chapter 15

FINAL EXAM: THURSDAY, DEC. 12 (12:00 – 1:50)

Please note: class will not meet on Thursday, Aug. 29; Tuesday, Oct. 8; or Thursday, Nov. 7

If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact both your instructor and the Office of Disability Resources and Services, 216 William Pitt Union, (412) 648-7890/(412) 383-7355 (TTY) as early as possible in the term. DRS will verify your disability and determine reasonable accommodations for this course.