GOVT 2305 Assigned Readings -- Fall 2017
UNIT 1: Philosophical Background, US Constitution, Federalism
Date Topic Assigned Reading
Wed 8/16 Syllabus No Assigned Reading
Thurs 8/17 Aristotle & Classical Republicanism Hobbes Handout (or on website)
Fri 8/18 Hobbes Locke Handout (or on website)
Mon 8/21 Locke & Natural Rights Theory Montesquieu Handout (or on website)
Tue 8/22 Montesquieu Paine’s “Common Sense” (or on website)
Wed 8/23 Paine’s “Common Sense” Declaration of Independence (web or booklet)
Thur 8/24 Dec of Indep & Articles of Confed Preamble & Article 1 of US Constitution
Fri 8/25 US Constitution (highlight) US Constitution Article 2
Mon 8/28 US Constitution US Constitution Article 3
Tue 8/29 US Constitution Articles 4, 5, 6, & 7
Wed 8/30 US Constitution Textbook pp. 38 - 46
Thur 8/31 US Constitution & Ratification Textbook pp. 47-52
Fri 9/1 Ratification Federalist #10 internet or phone app
Mon 9/4 Labor Day Holiday No Assigned Reading
Tue 9/5 Federalist 10 Federalist #51 internet or phone app
Wed 9/6 Federalist 51 Text pp. 65-70
Thur 9/7 How Fed Govt Works Text pp. 71-76
Fri 9/8 Federal Government No Assigned Reading
Mon 9/11 Remember 9/11; Federalism pp. 77-82
Tues 9/12 Federalism pp. 83-88
Wed 9/13 Federalism & Review Study
Turs 9/14 Exam (Essay Portion) Study
Fri 9/15 Exam (Multiple Choice Only) No Assigned Reading
UNIT 2: US Judiciary & Civil Liberties
Date Topic Assigned Reading
Mon 9/18 Federal Judiciary pp. 370-376
Tue 9/19 Federal Judiciary pp. 377-385 top half of page
Wed 9/20 Federal Judiciary pp. 385 – 389 (stop at “The Supreme Court’s…”
Thur 9/21 Federal Judiciary pp. 389-396
Fri 9/22 Federal Judiciary/Bill of Rights Bill of Rights 1-10 & 14
Mon 9/25 Student Holiday Know your Amendments 1-10, 14
Tue 9/26 Incorporation & Cases Memorize Amendments 1-10, 14 – Be able to apply them!
Wed 9/27 Amendment Quiz, Incorp Cases pp. 95-100
Thur 9/28 Incorporation Cases pp. 101-105
Fri 9/29 Incorporation Cases pp. 106-111 (top of page)
Mon 10/2 1st Amendment Religion pp. 111-116 (stop at “The Right to Privacy…”
Tue 10/3 1st Amendment Speech pp. 116-119 (stop at “Civil Rights…”; 122 “The Civil Rights Acts… - 126 top
Wed 10/4 1st Amendment Speech Pages1-12 from Justice Scalia’s Opinion in DC v. Heller
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/pdf/07-290P.ZO make sure you get it from this link
Thur 10/5 1st Amendment Speech Finish Scalia’s opinion in Heller
Fri 10/6 2nd Amendment No Assigned Reading
Mon 10/9 Rights of Criminal Defendants Look at GEARS Research Paper
Tue 10/10 Rights of Criminal Defendants Begin writing GEARS Research Paper
Wed 10/12 Rights of Criminal Defendants GEARS Research Paper
Thu 10/13 8th & 9th Amendments GEARS Research Paper
Fri 10/14 Student/School Cases GEARS Research Paper
Mon 10/16 Catch up on lecturing GEARS Research Paper
Tue 10/17 Catch up on lecturing Study
Wed 10/18 Catch up on lecturing Study
Thur 10/19 Catch up on lecturing Study
Fri 10/20 Civil Liberties & Review Study
Mon 10/23 Review for Exam Study
Tue 10/24 EXAM: Judiciary & Civil Liberties GEARS Research Paper
Wed 10/25 Finish GEARS Research Paper and Submit it online – DUE by 11:50 PM
UNIT 3: Congress & The Presidency
Date Topic Assigned Reading
Thur 10/26 Congressional Scavenger Hunt pp. 273-279 stop at “The Electoral Connection…”
Fri 10/27 Congress pp. 279 – 289
Mon 10/30 Congress pp. 290-303
Tues 10/31 Congress pp. 313-321 stop at “Delegated Powers…”
Wed 11/1 The Presidency pp. 321-326
Thur 11/2 The Presidency pp. 327 – 331 top half
Fri 11/3 Presidency pp. 331 - 336
Mon 11/6 Staff Development – Student Holiday No Assigned Reading
Tue 11/7 Bureaucracy pp. 343-354
Wed 11/8 Bureaucracy pp. 355-364
Thur 11/9 Bureaucracy & Review Study
Fri 11/10 EXAM (Multiple Choice Only) No Assigned Reading
UNIT 4: Public Opinion, Interest Groups, Political Parties, Campaigns & Elections
Date Topic Assigned Reading
Mon 11/13 Public Opinion pp. 143-149 stop at “Americans Exhibit…”
Tue 11/14 Political Socialization pp. 149-158
Wed 11/15 Polling pp. 159-165 stop at “Why Are Some Polls Wrong”
Thur 11/16 Polling & Public Opinion pp. 165-168
Fri 11/17 Political Parties - Survey No Assigned Reading
Mon 11/20 - Fri 11/24 Thanksgiving Break – Optional History Fair Project Due on Tuesday
Mon 11/27 Political Parties & Surveys pp. 203-209 stop at “America Is One of the Few…”
Tue 11/28 Political Parties & Surveys pp. 209-218 top half
Wed 11/29 Campaigns pp. 218-227 top half
Thur 11/30 Campaigns & Elections pp. 227-238
Fri 12/1 Student Flex Day No Assigned Reading
Mon 12/4 Elections & Interest Groups pp. 245-255 top half
Tue 12/5 Interest Groups pp. 255-260
Wed 12/6 Interest Groups pp. 261-266
Thur 12/7 Campaigns & Elections Study
Fri 12/8 Campaigns & Elections Study
Mon 12/11 Review for Exam Study
Tues 12/12 EXAM – Multiple Choice Only
* WC Grades due December 17 at 4:30 PM. It takes me 2-3 days to compute grades.