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GVB 110: American National Government
1/22, 1/29, 2/5, 2/12, 2/19,
2/26, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2,
4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7
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Jan 29
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Morality and Politics
Objective: Develop a coherent
perspective on the relationship of morality and politics. |
Democracy
Objective: Understand four models of democracy.
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Hudson, Introduction |
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The Constitution
Objective: Understand the issues of responsiveness and accountability
raised by the separation of powers.
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Wasserman, ch. 2 |
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Hudson, ch. 1 |
| Rubin, pp. 48-57. |
Online Readings:
| James Madison, Federalist
51, New York Packet (Friday, February 8, 1788). |
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Constitutional Convention
Objective: Understand the power politics and compromises involved in
the convention of 1787.
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Feb 26
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The Policy Process
Objective: Understand the basic mechanics of policymaking institutions
including the centrality of interest groups and issue networks.
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Wasserman, ch. 3 & 4 |
| Hudson, ch. 5 |
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The Policy Process
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Mar 12
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The Policy Process
Objective: Understand James Madison’s argument concerning how the
"problems of faction" can be overcome in the American system of
government.
Online Reading:
| James Madison, Federalist
10, New York Packet (Friday, November 23, 1787). |
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The Courts
Objective: Understand the power of judicial review.
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Wasserman, ch. 5 |
| Rubin, ch. 4 (only pp. 61-64) |
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Spring Break
Objective: Rest and relax. |
Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Objective: Understand the role of the court in shaping civil liberties
and understand the roles of the court, congress, and mass movements in
shaping civil rights.
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Wasserman, ch. 6 |
Online Reading:
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Apr 9
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Public Opinion
Objective: Understand the spiral of silence, the ramifications of
radical individualism, and the power of public opinion.
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Hudson, ch. 2 |
| Rubin, ch. 5 & 6 |
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The Press
Objective: Understand the pseudo-environment.
| Wasserman, ch. 8 (only 195-212) |
| Rubin, ch. 7 |
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Apr 23
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Equality
Objective: Understand the nature of and challenges posed by inequality
in American politics.
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Hudson, ch. 6 |
| Rubin, ch. 10 |
Reserve Reading:
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Barbara Ehrenreich, "Nickel-and-Dimed:
On (not) getting by in America," Harper’s Magazine
(January, 1999), pp. 37-52. |
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Parties and Elections
Objective: Understand the role of money in American elections and the
political significance of American reliance on the single-member
winner-take-all plurality system.
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Wasserman, ch. 1 & 7 |
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Hudson, ch. 3 & 4 |
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Rubin, ch. 12 |
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Amendment Debate
Objective: Present a compelling political argument to the class.
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Wrap Up
Objective: Make sense of it all.
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Wasserman, ch. 9 |
| Hudson, Conclusion |
| Rubin, ch. 14 |
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Calendar