american presidency syllabus, jackson state
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7/30/2019 American Presidency Syllabus, Jackson State
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PS 351-01. Fall 2013. The American Presidency
Dr. Ray Mikell, 2:30 pm-3:50 pm, T-Th
LIB 257, Jackson State University
at: raymikell.com/jsu (after 9/1) &JSU Blackboard (after 8/27)
Texts:
Pika, J.A. and Maltese, J.A.
The Politics of the Presidency (8th Edition)
Sage/CQ, 2013. ISBN: 978-1-60871-797-2
with selections from:
Jacobs, L.R. and Skocpol, T.
Health Care Reform and American Politics: What Every American Needs to Know
Introduction:
In 2008, candidate Barack Obama ran as a politician who could bring a polarized nation together
(much like his predecessor, George W. Bush, had). He ran on a platform of change and took
office during an economic crisis. Expectations were sky high.
After his historic inauguration, Obama won several legislative victories, including passage of
landmark health care reform. Even so, his change was not as sweeping as many of supporters
expected, and partisan polarization by no means disappeared. Re-elected, Obama entered asecond term facing another likely fiscal showdown with GOP legislative leaders.
What was going on here? How did the nation and the American Presidency get to this point?
As we shall see, a mismatch between public expectations and the complexities of executive
governance has existed for decades now. To examine this, we will look not so much as Obama as
the office as an institution, and the modern presidency, as it developed over the 20th Century.
The president is now seen by the public as the central figure in American political life, a fact
reflected in an exhausting, complex election process. This is true despite the fact that the
Constitution greatly restricts the executive's movement. On the other hand, the president's
control of the executive branch and administrative reforms have allowed recent presidents to
expand their reach. Presidential control of foreign policy, always strong, has only increased.
On the whole, the presidency remains a peculiar institution, with a consideration of the lengthy
election process being only the beginning of a look into the how and why of its peculiarity.
http://raymikell.com/jsuhttp://www.jsums.edu/ait/blackboard/http://www.jsums.edu/ait/blackboard/http://raymikell.com/jsuhttp://raymikell.com/jsu -
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Learning Objectives
These include, but are not limited to the following. By the time this course ends, you should have
a thorough understanding of:
How our presidents go about being elected--or, more accurately, selected--via one of the
most complicated and exhausting processes imaginable (We'll start with this!)
Why and how the modern presidency differs from the executive as envisioned by the U.S.
Constitution's framers, and how this modern institution developed over the 20th Century
How the institutional structure of the office evolved over the 20th Century, especially after
the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt, and how administrative reforms have
increased presidential power in domestic policy over time.
How the mass media has shaped the modern presidency, and how presidents can use
public politics as a means of exercising power, as well as be constrained by it.
Why and how the executive has almost overwhelming power in foreign policy, and howand why this power has been strengthened and evolved in recent times.
Readings, Lecture Schedule
Tuesday, August 27
Introdution
Thursday, August 29Viewing of The War Room documentary (1993)
Sept. 3, 5
Chs 11 & 2, Pika & Maltese. (Barack Obama: Challenges and Performance, Election Politics)
Sept. 10
Viewing of ads from The Living Room Candidate
Sept. 12, 17
Ch. 2, Pika & Maltese, Election Politics. Outside readings
Sept. 19-24
Ch. 3, Pika & Maltese, Public Politics
Sept. 26-Oct. 1
Ch. 4, Pika & Maltese. Presidential Character and Performance
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Oct. 3
Exam 1 Prep
Oct. 8
Exam 1
Oct. 10, 15
Ch. 5, Pika & Maltese. Legislative Politics.
Oct. 17, 22
Ch 6, Pika & Maltese. Executive Politics,
Oct. 22, 24
Ch. 7, Pika & Maltese. Judicial Politics. Exam 2 Discussed
Oct. 31
Exam 2
Nov. 5, 7
Ch. 8, The Politics of Domestic Policy
Nov. 12, 14
Jacobs & Skocpol discussion, Health care focus
Nov. 19, 21
Ch. 9, Pika & Maltese. The Politics of Economic Policy.
Dec.3-5
Ch. 10, Pika & Maltese. The Politics of National Security Policy, Final Exam Review
Final Exam (take-home, essays) and Final Project Due
Due: Dec. 7, 2013
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Course Policies
Grading
Participation and Attendance: 10 percent
Three Exams (Short Answer/Essay): 20 percent each
Quizzes/Essays: 20 Percent
Final project:10 percent
Make-Up Policy
Exams will only be given or handed out on particular dates, and it is up to you to know what
those particular dates are. Exams will be handed out at other times, in make-up fashion, only
under the most extreme circumstances.
Academic Integrity
Students must demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in academic work.
Understanding and avoiding plagiarism is particularly important in a class where writing, on
essays and a final paper, will be so important. Please note that students will be given a zero on
assignments in which plagiarism is identified. You can read more about the ins and outs of this
problem, and how it is defined and can be identified, at plagiarism.org.
Link:
http://tinyurl.com/n5n4vuk
AssistanceI will be happy to meet with you after hours, although my time at JSU will be normally limited to
course times. It would be best to catch me before or after class if you must talk to me face-to-face.
Feel free to write me via e-mail at any time. I will be busy, so you should not expect an immediate
response, but I will get back to you within 48 hours, typically.
Controversial Material
Please note that you can expect to hear about many controversial matters in this class, the
discussion of which may make you uncomfortable. This cannot be avoided in discussions of
American politics and policy. The subject matter should not be taken to reflect the opinions or
priorities of the instructor or anyone at Jackson State University. Subjects chosen for discussion
are ones carefully selectedor covered in your textto reflect ongoing debates in American
government and politics, including major policy debates.
http://www.plagiarism.org/plagiarism-101/overviewhttp://tinyurl.com/n5n4vukhttp://tinyurl.com/n5n4vukhttp://tinyurl.com/n5n4vukhttp://tinyurl.com/n5n4vukhttp://tinyurl.com/n5n4vukhttp://www.plagiarism.org/plagiarism-101/overviewhttp://www.plagiarism.org/plagiarism-101/overview -
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Talking, Mobile Devices
Talking in class will not normally be tolerated, although it will be encouraged during organized
discussions. Please remember to at least silence your mobile device notification or ringing before
classes begin. You may certainly bring your mobile devices into class. However, surfing the
Internet at length will not be allowed.
Disabilities policy
It is University policy to provide, on a flexible and individualized basis, reasonable
accommodations to students who have disabilities that may affect their ability to participate in
course activities or to meet course requirements.Students with disabilities are encouraged to
contact their instructors and/or JSU Disability Services to discuss their individual needs for
accommodations.
Link:
http://tinyurl.com/lqu7lgf
http://www.jsums.edu/disability/2013/04/18/disabilities-services/http://tinyurl.com/lqu7lgfhttp://tinyurl.com/lqu7lgfhttp://tinyurl.com/lqu7lgfhttp://tinyurl.com/lqu7lgfhttp://tinyurl.com/lqu7lgfhttp://www.jsums.edu/disability/2013/04/18/disabilities-services/
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