1030C American National Governmentdr. William Gangi

1030C American National GovernmentDr. William Gangi

Fall 2010

Required Readings

-Madison, Hamilton, & Jay, THE FEDERALIST PAPERS #s: 10, 51, 78, 84 (Nos. 10, 51 & 78 are also in the TEXT BOOK Appendix). I recommend this book for your personal library but any library should have copies. ISBN- 0-451-6251-2.

- KENDALL AND CAREY, BASIC SYMBOLS OF THE AMERICAN POLITICAL TRADITION (1995)-entire book (often referred to as "K&C"). ISBN-0-8132-0826-2.

- -- Magleby, David and Light, Paul C. GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE, 2009 Alternate EDITION., Chapters 1-3, 6-8, 11-12, 14-17) ISBN-0205678076.

-Levine, POINT/COUNTERPOINT, 7th Edition –ISBN -0-534-61416-7. See below for SEPARATE INSTRUCTIONS for written assignments.)ALSO PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO THE SEQUENCE OF ASSIGNMENTS)

-Gangi, "Judicial Expansionism: An Evaluation on the Ongoing Debate," 8 Ohio Northern L. Rev. 1 (1981). NOTE: This is a complex article so give leave enough time to read it. On Reserve Main Library (There should be a link off our course on St. John’s Central. [Referred to as “Gangi” –DUE WEEK 9.]

-RECOMMENDED: William Gangi, Saving the Constitution from the Courts (1995) [only a few hard copies remains at Ed’s bookstore]. Online version at:

*(Other books available at Ed's and University Bookstores)

Assignment Chart

Please review the chart below. The first column specifies the approximate week of the semester the assignment is due. The remaining columns identify the reading assignments that should have been competed by the last class of that week. You also have written assignments due on the specified Levine chapters.

The following contains a summary of the semester's assignments:

WEEK (date) / K & C/chpts (LECTURE) / Magleby TEXT chpts.. #(LECTURE #) & OTHER READING / LEVINE ASSIGNMENTS
CLASS BEGINS--Start reading, first assignments due on 9/7
1 (9/6) / 1-3 (carey01.htm) / 14
2 (9/13) / 4-6 (carey02.htm) / 1 & 2 (Lectures 1 & 2 / 1
3 (9/20) / 3 (Lecture 3) / 2
4 (9/27) / 6 (Lecture 4), Fed. Papers #s 10, 51 / 11, 19, & 20
5 (10/4) / 7 & 8 (Lectures 5 and 6) / 9 & 10
7 (10/11) / Re-read 6 / 11 (Lecture 7)
EASTER RECESS 3/20 TO 3/24 / 12
6 (10/18) / MIDTERM EXAMINATION
8 (10/25) / 12 (Lecture 8) / 15, 22
9 (11/4) / 14 (Lecture 9), FP # 78, Gangi "Judicial Expansionism" / 16 & 18 [Easter 4/5-4/9]
10: 11/11 / 15 (Lecture 10), FP # 84 / 7, 13
11 (11/18) / 16 (Lecture 11) / 3
12 (11/22) / 17 (Lecture 12) / 5, 6 & 8
13: (11/29) / FINISHING UP LECTURES AND FINAL EXAMINATION PREP
CUMULATIVE FINAL EXAMINATION

NOTE: In addition to the assignments listed above, for each chapter in the text book, I will send you both the appropriate lecture as well as several questions, associated either with the discussion in the text, or to current events, or other political oriented questions. Please prepare no more than a one page (double space, 12 pt type) response to the questions raised. These will be discussed in small groups.

You also have available as a resource the online version of the course: There you will find copies of my lectures on the Kendall and Carey book as well as on the text. You also will find Quizzes there. However, in the in-class version of the course I do not give quizzes--only a midterm and final examination. You may wish however to take the quizzes on your own since the questions posed should be answered during the pertinent class.

The above chart is intended to provide you a rough outline of course requirements so that you can better manage your time. However,the class specific reading due datesas well as other class assignments will be determined by the professor each week. If you stay within the parameters noted in the above chart, you should be adequately prepared.

Although I provide online “Study-Guides" as well as make complete lectures available to you, you should read any assignments BEFORE reading accompanying lectures. You must get in the habit of identifying important terms you should know from the text or other readings. In addition, you should carefully construct your own study-guide for the Kendall and Carey book. Read the book first, and compile your notes; then use my lecture material on the book (which you also can obtain online, under "carey01.htm and "carey02.htm"), as well as class notes to supplement and refine your own study guide. Ask questions to clarify any discrepancies.

The midterm and final examination will consist of two parts: Part I will consist of “identifications,” that is brief descriptions of important terms drawn from the K & C book as well as the text, such as “compact symbols” or “pocket veto.” The second part of the examination will consist of essay questions.

LEVINE ASSIGNMENTS

For each "Chapter" assigned in the Levine book you will find two brief essays, one pro and one con, on a particular subject related to that week's readings: e.g., whether or not capital punishment should be abolished? Do not answer the questions posed at the end of each chapter in the Levine text. Instead, prepare a "Reaction paper" that addresses the questions below. YOU WILL BRING THESE WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS WITH YOU TO CLASS. THEY MUST BE TYPED. In class, I will explain how these assignments will be used.

(A) Briefly state what the debate is over, who in your opinion has the better case and (again briefly), explain generally why you think that is so? [NO MORE THAN FIVE SENTENCES.]

(B) What is the most convincing argument made on the side you prefer?

(D) Which argument (from either side) would you like to know more about? Why?

(E) If you were reasonably sure that "your" side on an issue was likely to lose in the legislature, what compromises could you make without abandoning (in your own mind) your own principles?

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

During any part of our class (including small group discussions), your cell phones are to be put away. Preferably they should be closed completely but if a potential emergency is imminent, put the phone on vibrate. Do not read, draft or send text messages in class. If there is an emergency and you get a call, please leave the class. Current attitudes regarding cell phone accessibility has made it increasingly improbable that all students will give the class their undivided attention. That is unacceptable.

You also are expected to be punctual. Since the class frequently will be divided into small groups at the beginning of class I cannot have students strolling in after the groups have been formulated or discussions have begun. If you have some systematic difficulty in arriving on time please discuss it with me at the beginning of the semester, or consider dropping the course.

It goes without saying although unfortunately I must say it: you are expected to be prepared for class. All written assignments must be completed before you come to class and they must be typed. One missing preparation may be forgiven but that will not apply to a pattern of late or missing assignments.

Since a lapse may occur between the times you complete an assignment and when it is discussed in class, I suggest that each week before coming to class, you set aside ten minutes to review those assignments. Each week I will try to provide you with specific guidelines on what assignments will be due the following week

Department Plagiarism Policy

Any student submitting a plagiarized paper, examination or class assignment will fail the course regardless of what percentage of the grade the assignment ordinarily represented.

Plagiarism is using another person's words or ideas without giving credit to the other person. When you use someone else's words, you must put quotation marks around them and give the writer or speaker credit by revealing the source in a citation. Even if you revise or paraphrase the words of someone else or just use their ideas, you still must give the author credit. Not giving due credit is stealing. Plagiarism constitutes theft, fraud and betrayal of values in an academic community devoted to advancement by merit.

Plagiarism includes but is not limited to:

1. Downloading a free research paper.

2. Buying a paper (in total or partially) from a commercial paper mill or any other source.

3. Copying an article from the web, an online database, books or journals as well as friends, or fraternity files.

4. Cutting and pasting to create a paper from several sources.

5. Misrepresenting the extent of a quote.

6. Faking a citation.

7. Not citing at all.

In addition to failing the course, any student who plagiarizes will be reported to the Chair of the Government Department.

Grading: Mid-term Exam:25%, Final Exam...25%, Levine Written Exercises. 25%and class participation: 25%.

Office Hours: M-Th 8:30 – 9:00 AM, 12:15 – 12:45 P.M., Wed 5:45 – 6:45 P.M.

Email me at any time at .

Office: 234G St. John's Hall Phone: (718) 990-6161 ext. 6792