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This course is an introduction to American government and politics. We will survey the institutions of national government and the processes of policy-making. To as great an extent as possible we will be attentive to current events of significance, especially the preparations for the elections in 2000, the foreign and domestic policies of the Clinton administration, and matters of interest in Minnesota politics.
During the quarter there will be three examinations covering portions of the course. The first of these examinations will be held on October 12; the second will be on November 21; and the third will be the final on December 21. The three exams will constitute about 50 percent of the grade in the course and the first two exams will be worth twice as much as the final.
There will be four short written assignments during the quarter. The first three will involve your accessing information (text basically) on the Internet; the last assignment will be based on your reading of The System.
All of the assigned reading below will be found in two books:
Kernell and Jacobson, The Logic of American Politics
Johnson and Broder, The System
| Date |
Topic |
Reading |
| Sep. 5,7 |
Introduction to political Analysis |
Kernell and Jacobson, chap. 1 |
| Sep. 12-26 |
Constitutional framework and the Courts |
Kernell and Jacobson, chaps. 2-5, 9 |
| Sep. 21 |
1st assignment due |
Constitutional Convention |
| Sep. 28- Oct. 10 |
Political parties and elections |
Kernell and Jacobson, chaps. 10-14
Johnson and Broder, pp. xi-xx, chaps. 1-8 |
| Oct. 5 |
2nd assignment due |
Abortion cases |
| Oct. 12 |
Examination I |
|
| Oct. 17-24 |
Congress |
Kernell and Jacobson, chap. 6
Johnson and Broder, chaps. 9-16 |
| Oct. 31 |
3rd assignment due |
Election 2000 |
| Oct. 26- Nov. 7 |
Presidency |
Kernell and Jacobson, chap. 7
Johnson and Broder, chaps. 17-20 |
| Nov. 9-16 |
Bureaucracy |
Kernell and Jacobson, chap. 8 |
| Nov. 21 |
Examination II |
|
| Nov. 28- Dec. 5 |
Public policy |
Johnson and Broder, chaps. 21-24,
Epilogue, Afterword |
| Dec. 7-12 |
American democracy |
Kernell and Jacobson, chap. 15 |
| Dec. 12 |
4th assignment due |
The System |
| Dec. 21 |
Final examination |
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SUMMER 2001
SPRING 2001
FALL 2000
FALL 2000
SUMMER 2000
SPRING 2000
FALL 1999
SUMMER 1999
SPRING 1999
WINTER 1999
FALL 1998
SUMMER 1998
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