ADVANCED PLACEMENT U.S. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
In the wake of Watergate, the Iran/Contra Affair, the House Banking Scandal, Monica Lewinsky, Weapons of Mass Destruction, the “culture of corruption”, Jack Abramoff, increasing numbers of Americans have come to view the American political system with a somewhat jaundiced eye. They have come to feel, and fervently believe, that the American political system is corrupt and non-responsive to their needs and desires. In turn, these people have accepted the assertions that a permanent, non-democratic and non- caring elite runs the American society as well as the American political system. Another common belief is that all government officials are either venal politicians, incompetent boobs and/or sexual libertines. Assuming the validity of these beliefs, a dangerously large number of Americans see their individual political participation as an exercise in futility “…full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
I emphatically disagree with the above. I firmly believe that our political system is open to the input of the American people and that the system can, and indeed does, respond to the legitimate needs and demands of the American people. I further believe that the elites which do influence the political process are constantly in flux, and that the venality, incompetence and hedonism which are admittedly a part of the political system can be controlled. (For the record, I do NOT believe in the tooth fairy, Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny or the Great Pumpkin.)
What will it take then to ensure that the political process remains responsive to the people? The answer lies in developing an informed citizenry which is both knowledgeable in the workings of the American political system (national, state, local) and cognizant of their responsibilities, capabilities and opportunities within the context of that political process. It is my hope that in this course you will analyze your views concerning the American political process and realize that all hope is not lost. I shall endeavor to help you better understand the workings of the federal, state and local political processes and thereby realize that YOUR PARTICIPATION IS BOTH NECESSARY AND ESSENTIAL. I also hope that I will successfully impart to you some of my optimism and enthusiasm concerning the political process. For you see, to succeed a democratic political system must be based upon an informed, caring and participatory electorate. There are problems to be sure, but they are NOT insurmountable. As Winston Churchill once observed, “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others”2.
F. Raymond Balch
UNTIL YOU’VE BEEN IN POLITICS YOU’VE NEVER REALLY BEEN ALIVE. IT’S ROUGH AND SOMETIMES IT’S DIRTY AND IT’S ALWAYS HARD WORK AND TEDIOUS DETAILS. BUT IT’S THE ONLY SPORT FOR GROWNUPS. ALL OTHER GAMES ARE
FOR KIDS. ROBERT HEINLEN
JUST BECAUSE YOU DO NOT TAKE AN INTEREST
IN POLITICS DOESN’T MEAN POLITICS WON’T
TAKE AN INTEREST IN YOU.” PERICLES
ONE OF THE PENALTIES FOR REFUSING TO
PARTICIPATE IN POLITICS IS THAT YOU END UP BEING
GOVERNED BY YOUR INFERIORS. PLATO
AMERICA IS A COUNTRY THAT PRODUCES CITIZEN
WHO WILL CROSS THE OCEAN TO FIGHT FOR
DEMOCRACY BUT WON’T CROSS THE STREET TO VOTE.
ANONYMOUS
HALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE NEVER READ A
NEWSPAPER. HALF NEVER VOTED FOR PRESIDENT.
ONE HOPES IT IS THE SAME HALF. GORE VIDAL
DEMOCRACY IS A DEVICE THAT ENSURES THAT WE
SHALL BE GOVERNED NO BETTER THAN WE DESERVE.
GEORGE BERNARD SHAW
THE PEOPLE MADE THE CONSTITUTION AND THE PEOPLE CAN UNMAKE IT. IT IS THE CREATURE OF THEIR WILL AND LIVES ONLY BY THEIR WILL.” CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN MARSHALL
"Will Roper: So now you'd give the Devil benefit of law!
Thomas More: Yes. What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?
Roper: I'd cut down every law in England to do that!
More: Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned round on you - where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country's planted thick with laws from coast to coast - man's laws, not God's - and if you cut them down - and you're just the man to do it - do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then?
Yes, I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake.”
Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt Act I scene
“Any time we deny any citizen the full exercise of his Constitutional rights, we are weakening our own claim to them.” Dwight David Eisenhower
“Free speech exercised both individually and through a free press, is a necessity in
any country where people are themselves free. Theodore Roosevelt, 1918
“The truth is found when men are free to pursue it.” F.D.R., 1936
“If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not
want to hear”. George Orwell, 1945
“What is objectionable, what is dangerous about extremists is not that they are
extreme, but that they are intolerant.” Robert F. Kennedy, 1964
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to
stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is
morally treasonable to the American public. Theodore Roosevelt, 1918
To think is to differ. Clarence Darrow
I have always strenuously supported the right of every man to his own opinion, however different that opinion might be to mine. He who denies another this right makes a slave of himself to his present opinion, because he precludes himself the right of changing it. Thomas Paine
GENERAL INFORMATION
Your grade will be determined by examinations, classwork and homework, projects and class participation. The examinations will be multiple choice, identification and/or essay. Examinations will count 40%, classwork and homework 40% and a project which will count 20%. In the Fall, the project will be two movie critiques in the first grading period and a campaign participation project in the second grading period. In the Spring the project will be a book report in the first grading period and two movie critiques in the second grading period.
Extra Credit may be earned as follows: (1) extra credit book reports (2) participation in political activities (during the Fall semester extra credit will only be given for hours volunteered above and beyond what is required in the campaign project) and (3) one movie critique extra each semester.
Assigned readings must be read before that topic is discussed in class. Quizs/in-class essays may be given over the assigned readings.
Homework/classwork assignments will be taken late but at a penalty of ten (10) points per day. Homework/classwork assignments that are not turned in and/or made up within a week of the date assigned will still be accepted but only a completion grade will be given. If you will be absent from school the day an assignment is due, talk to me and/or make arrangements to turn in that assignment. Assignments are due on the date assigned.
Make-up exams will be given at a mutually convenient time. It is your responsibility to schedule the make-up. At the discretion of the instructor, MAKE-UP EXAMS WILL BE ESSAY!!!!!!
The EHS Honor Code will be followed and enforced at all time.
SYLLABUS
TEXTS
Schmidt, Steffen, et. al., American Government and Politics Today, 2009-2010 edition
Wayne, Stephen J. The Road to the White House 2008
“Beyond the Polls” http://beyondthepolls.blogspot.com/
TOPICS
I. Basic Terms and Concepts Schmidt: Ch. 1;
Ch 16 pp. 561-564
Appendix A
FIRST EXAMINATION
II. U.S. Constitution: “Rules of the Schmidt: Chapter 2
Political Game”
III. Federalism Schmidt: Chapter 3
SECOND EXAMINATION
IV. Political Culture and Schmidt: Ch. 1, 6
Political Socialization Wayne: Chapter 3
V. Individual Political Participation Schmidt: Ch 6, 9
Wayne: Chapter 3
THIRD EXAMINATION
VI. Group Political Participation: Schmidt: Chapter 7
Special Interest Groups
VII. Group Political Participation: Schmidt: Chapter 8,9
Political Parties Wayne: Chapters 4, 5 and 6
FOURTH EXAMINATION
VIII. Campaigns and Elections Schmidt: Chapters 6, 9,10
Wayne: Ch 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10
IX. The Electoral College Schmidt: Ch. 9
Wayne: Chapter 9
FIFTH EXAMINATION
MID-TERM EXAMINATION
X. The Executive Branch Schmidt: Chapters 13 & 14
Wayne: Chapter 8
SIXTH EXAMINATION
XI. The Legislative Branch Schmidt: Chapter 12
Appendix E
SEVENTH EXAMINATION
XII. The Judicial Branch Schmidt: Chapter 15
Appendix, B, .
XIII. Civil Liberties: “Protecting Schmidt: Chapter 4
The Players from the Government” “A Conversation with James Madison”
XIV. Civil Rights: “Protecting the Schmidt: Chapter 5
Players from each other”
EIGHTH EXAMINATION
XV. Foreign Policy Schmidt: Chapter 18
XVI. Domestic Policy Schmidt: Chapter 16
XVII. Economic Policy Schmidt: Chapters 17
FINAL EXAMINATION
AP GOVERNMENT EXAM
GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN PROJECT
You are to lunteer for ten (10) hours in the political campaign of your choice. These hours will be verified in the following manner: Each time you volunteer, have an official of the campaign indicate on campaign stationary what type of volunteer work that you did, when you did it and how long you did it. It will behoove you to contact a campaign and begin your volunteer activities as soon as possible. Along with the volunteer verification sheets, you must turn in a short (1-2 typed pages) paper describing your volunteer activities and you feelings about this experience as well as a short (1-2 typed page) paper analyzing the election’s outcome. ALL OF THESE ITEMS ARE TO BE TURNED IN A FOLDER. You will not be excused from school election day.
EXTRA CREDIT: (a) Analyze the campaign’s strategy. Note which groups the candidate frequents. Does the candidate change his message to fit the group (this includes whether or not he changes the subject matter). Gather an impression of the candidate from at least one outside source (e.g. interview someone the candidate has talked to, or listen to radio or television commentary) and identify who comprises the campaign staff and what interest(s) they represent.
(b) Analyze a speech and/or campaign ad for the candidate in which you will endeavor to identify any of Plato’s thirteen fallacies. If and when you find such fallacies, please speculate or rationalize why the candidate chose to use them. (This includes an evaluation of their effectiveness).
YOUR PROJECT FOLDER MUST CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING:
(a) tally sheet showing total number of hours worked as well as total of extra credit hours
(b) the volunteer verification sheets
(c) short paper (1-2 typed pages) describing your volunteer activities and your feelings about this experience
(d) analysis of election’s outcome (1 typed page; your opinion)
EXTRA CREDIT:
(e) analysis of the campaign’s strategy (2-4 typed pages)
(f) analysis of the candidate’s speech and/or ad (2-3 typed pages)
ALL PAPERS MUST BE DOUBLE SPACED ON ONE SIDE OF THE PAPER ONLY.
PLEASE DO NOT PROCRASTINATE ON THIS ASSIGNMENT AS IT COUNTS 20% OF YOUR GRADE.
BOOK REPORT
The book report(s) must deal with some aspect of politics (local, state, national or international). The actual choice of books will be left up to you, although there is a suggested book list in the syllabus. The book must be approved by me in advance. No book reports will be accepted unless the book has been approved. Although the actual length of the reports will be left to your discretion, the typical report usually averages between two-three (2-3) pages types. Make every effort to ensure that they are neat and legible. You will be graded upon mechanics, grammer and neatness as well as the contents of the reports.
The book reports will include the following:
A. A brief summary of the book (assume that I have never read the book).
B. A critical evaluation which will bbe accomplished by answering the following questions:
(1) What is the author’s thesis? (In other words, what was the author’s purpose in writing the book?)
(2) Was the author successful or unsuccessful in supporting his/her thesis? Give at least two (2) examples from the book to support your contention.
(3) In what way(s), if any, does the book relate to topics, concepts, etc., covered in this class? Please give two (2) examples.
(4) In your best judgement, was the author biased or objective in the presentation? Give two examples to support your contention.
(5) What do you feel that you learned or gained from having read this book? (i.e. what lessons or insights did the book provide concerning the political process?)
(6) What are your general comments and feelings toward the book after having read it? (Be sure to include any suggestions on how the author might have improved the book or better supported the thesis.)
Of course, it goes without saying that you must read the entire book. No book report may be made upon several chapters. Please footnote any direct quotations. Finally, I am interested only in YOUR evaluation of the book.
SUGGESTED BOOK LIST
1. Parliament of Whores P.J. O’Rourk
2. All Politics is Local Tip O’Neil
3. Out of Order Thomas Patterson
4. And the Band Played On Randy Shilts
5. Conduct Unbecoming Randy Shilts
6. Roe v. Wade Marian Faux
7. A Conspiracy So Immense David Oshinsky
8. Truman David McCulloch
9. Star-Spangled Men
America’s Ten Worst Pesidents Nathan Miller
10. Presidential Economics Herbert Stein
11. In the Long Run We Are All Dead Murray Wolfson
12. Why Nations Go To War John Stoessinger
13. Why They Call It Politics Robert Sherrill
14. The Articles of Confederation Merrill Jensen
15. 1787: The Grand Convention Clinton Rossiter
16. Religion and Politics in the US Kenneth Wald
17. In Search of Enemies John Stockwell
18, The Prince Nicolo Machiavelli
19. 1984 George Orwell
20. Gideon’s Trumpet Anthony Lewis
21. The Right and the Power Leon Jaworski
22. Fear on Trial John Henry Faulk
23. Blind Ambition John Dean
24. The Palace Guard Dan Rather
25. The Camera Never Blinks Dan Rather
25. A Time to Heal Gerald R. Ford
26. Bitter Fruit: The Untold Story Stephen Schlesinger
of the American Coup in Guatemala & Stephen Kinzer
27. Money, Marble and Chalk: The Jimmy Banks
Wondrous World of Texas Politics
28. Seven Days in May Fletcher Kneibel
29. Night of Camp David Fletcher Kneibel
30. Dark Horse Fletcher Kneibel
31. Breach of Faith: The Fall of Richard Nixon Theodore White
32. The Making of the President, 1960 Theodore White
33. The Making of the President, 1964 Theodore White