Dr. Charles A. Kromkowski                                                                                                                                                                                Teaching Assistants.:

University of Virginia, Fall 1999                                                                                                                                                                         Mr. Gregory Kise: gak2c@virginia.edu

Mailbox: Cabell 232                                                                                                                                                                                              Mr. Eric Cox: ewc8h@virginia.edu

Email: cak5u@virginia.edu                                                                                                                                                                                 Mr. Robert Acosta: ra9z@virginia.edu

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN POLITICS

(GFAP 101, Maury 201, MW 1:00-1:50)

 

 

                This course offers an introductory survey of American politics.  The first part of the course examines the historical development and core constitutional principles of the American political system.  The second part analyzes the structure and function of the principal institutions of the national government.  The third and fourth parts of this course explore the most public and immediate dimensions of American politics.  We first examine various forms of political behavior, and we conclude by focusing upon various types of public policy.  Along this general path, we also will encounter the basic approaches and methods of the discipline of political science.

 

 

REQUIRED TEXTS:

Karen O’Connor and Larry Sabato, American Government: Continuity and Change, (1999): AG

Bruce Stinebrickner, Annual Editions: American Government, 99/00, (1999): AE

Ed Marciniak, Reclaiming the Inner City, (1986)

 

All University of Virginia students must remain current by faithfully reading at least one major national newspaper (Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal), and a national newsmagazine (Congressional Quarterly, National Journal, The Economist, Business Week).  We also encourage you to become familiar with at least one political science journal (American Political Science Review, Review of Politics, Polity, American Journal of Political Science, World Politics, International Organization).

 

LECTURE AND DISCUSSIONS: The weekly lecture topics and reading assignments are listed below.   Readings must be completed prior to each lecture and weekly discussion section.  My lectures and your discussion sections complement the assigned readings.    

 

EXAMINATIONS: There will be two in-class examinations (September 27, October 25) and a Final (December 15).  The first two exams will be given in class (50 minutes) and will test your knowledge of all assigned readings and classroom lectures.  The Final examination will cover all assigned readings and lectures after the second exam.  The specific format of these exams will be announced prior to each exam.  Given the general survey format of this course, it is important that you keep up with assigned readings and lectures.  Make-up exams will not be offered.  Please do not miss any of the exams.

 

PAPERS:  You are required to write three short (3-4 pp.) essays.   The first paper is due September 17, the second paper by November 5, and the third paper by December 10. 

. 

1.        All papers must be typed, double-spaced, 11-12 point font, 1” margins, and include your name, your teaching assistant’s name, and the course title.  You must proofread your paper.  Remember, in the State of Virginia it is illegal to proofread and walk at the same time, so please proofread before you begin your trek to Cabell Hall.  Carelessly written papers will be graded according to their relative merits and their author’s manifested intentions.

2.        All papers must be photocopied before submission, and you must keep a duplicate in case your paper is not received or misplaced.  Late papers are papers not in the possession of your teaching assistant by 5:00PM on the due date.  This is wholly your responsibility.  Late papers will be penalized one-third of one grade per day; each day ends at 5:00PM.   

 

ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION: Required.

 

EXCEPTIONS OR EXEMPTIONS FROM COURSE REQUIREMENTS: None.

 

 

GRADING

Examinations   (20% x 2)                      40%

Final                                                       20%

Papers  (10% x 3)                                  30% 

Participation                                          10%

 

 

DISCUSSION SECTIONS: If you are not enrolled in a discussion section, you are not officially enrolled in this course.

 

Section #               Wednesday, Time                                Room                      Instructor             Enrollment

33244                                      1900-1950                               WIL 140                 Cox                         20/17

31772                                      1700-1750                               PHS  218                Cox                         20/20

31663                                      1900-1950                               CAB 242                Kise                        20/15

34355                                      1800-1850                               PHS  218                Cox                         20/19

 

Section #               Thursday, Time                                   Room                      Instructor             Enrollment

32456                                      1630-1720                               CAB 340                Acosta                   20/20

30302                                      0830-0920                               PHS  218                Acosta                   20/20

31884                                      1800-1850                               HAL 123                Kise                        20/14

33592                                      1700-1750                               HAL 123                Kise                        20/20

31804                                      1800-1850                               CAB 325                Acosta                   20/19

 

 

 

WEEKLY DISCUSSION SECTION: Attendance at your weekly section class is a necessary (and graded) part of the requirements of this course.  Simply put, if you are not attending your discussion section it is beyond dispute that you are not participating.  At the same time, mere presence in the classroom cannot be considered participating in much more than the spatial dimension you share with others in your section.  I encourage you to approach your discussion section with an openness to engage others, to question the assumptions latent within most of our opinions, and to think critically beyond superficial ideas and cultural expectations towards a broader horizon of ideas and perspectives about politics in general and American politics in particular.  Do not feel timid about offering your ideas or a different perspective; others will not, nor will your discussion section instructor.  No student will ever be penalized for respectfully expressing his/her views or for disagreeing with me, your discussion section instructor, or others.

 

 

PROBLEMS?:  Given the size of this class, please contact one of the teaching assistants first if there is a problem that requires immediate resolution.  The teaching assistants are always willing to engage you about your work and your grades.  In regard to the latter, a request for a regrading of a paper or an exam will always be honored by your teaching assistant and, if necessary, by a second teaching assistant.   Please do not be frivolous with these requests because your “new” grade can move both up and down.  If any dispute remains unresolved with your teaching assistant, please contact me.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction to American Politics, GFAP 101

 

Date                                        Topic                                                                                      Reading Assignments

 

9/1                           Introduction and Organization

                                The Study of Political Change and Continuity                                                               AE, chs.6, 9

 

 

9/6                           I. American Political Foundations and Development                    AG, ch.1;               AE, chs. 1-5

9/8                                           Popular Sovereignty/Representation                               AG, ch.2

 

9/13                                         Separation of Powers/Federalism                                      AG, ch. 3

9/15                                         State and Local Government                                              AG, ch. 4

9/17 FIRST PAPER DUE  (5PM)

                                                               

9/20                                         Civil Liberties                                                                        AG, ch.5 AE, chs. 10-13

9/22                                         Civil Rights                                                                           AG, ch.6

 

9/27 EXAMINATION                                                        

 

9/29                         II. Institutions of the National Government                                                                    AE, chs. 21-24

 

10/4                                         Congress                                                                               AG ch.7                 

10/6                                         Presidency                                                                            AG ch.8                  AE, chs. 14-20

 

10/11                                       Legislative-Executive Relations                        

10/13                                       The Bureaucracy                                                                  AG, ch.9 AE, chs. 29-30

 

10/18                                       The Judicial System                                                             AG, ch.10               AE, chs. 25-28

10/20                                       The Supreme Court                                                                             

 

10/25 EXAMINATION                                      

 

                                III. Political Behavior

10/27                                       Public Opinion                                                                      AG, 11

                                                                                                                               

11/1                                         Political Parties                                                                     AG, ch.12

11/3                                         Voting                                                                                    AG, ch.13               AE, chs. 33-36

11/5 SECOND PAPER DUE (5PM)

 

11/8                                         The Electoral Process                                                          AG, ch.13

11/10                                       Campaign Finance                                                               AG, ch.14               AE, chs. 40-41

 

11/15                                       The News Media                                                                  AG, ch.15

11/17                                       Interest Groups                                                                    AG, ch.16

 

 

                                IV. Public Policy

11/22                                       Political Economy                                                                AG, ch.17

11/24  *** No Class: Thanksgiving Break ***

 

11/29                                       Housing, Poverty and Urbanization                 Marciniak             

12/1                                         Social Welfare Policy                                                          AG, ch. 18              AE, chs. 42-45                                      

12/6                                         The Budget Process

12/8                                         Foreign Policy                                                                      AG, ch.19               AE, chs. 46-47

12/10 THIRD PAPER DUE (5PM) 

 

 

12/15 FINAL EXAMINATION (9AM-12PM)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction to American Politics, GFAP 101
University of Virginia, Fall 1999

Professor Kromkowski

 

PAPER #1 (Due September 17)

 

                In your first paper, you will tell the story of a specific person, problem, or experience that reveals how politics matters in a direct way to you or to your local political community.  The specific topic and the boundaries of your local community are for you to determine.  This paper should be three pages in length--no more and no less than three pages.  If your story is a personal experience or part of your family’s history, then no citation of sources is required.  If you interview someone, please cite the name and the date of the interview at the end of your paper.  If you rely upon more traditional sources (e.g., local newspapers), then cite these sources whenever necessary in your paper.

                Later this semester, on the day assigned to you by your teaching assistant, you will tell your story in your discussion section.  You will be assigned to one of several weekly panels; each panel will consist of several students. You will have three to five minutes to share your story.  Please keep within this time limit.  After your presentation, there will be a brief period for questions. 

                Consider the list of topics below that students in previous classes have presented.  These topics represent the experiences and political stories of others.  Use this list as a starting point for thinking about YOUR story.

 

 

 

1.        My neighbor, HUD’s legal counsel                                          36. the costs of political advertisements

2.        MA Gov. Curley and my family                                                 37.  "Presidio" Language Institute

3.   Speaker of the Maryland State Senate                                       38. Cancer researcher at NIH

4.   lakeshore development project in Geneva, NY                         39.Airplane industry deregulation and private airtaxis

5.   Eastern Kentucky "holler" politics                                             40.  Norfolk city planner

6.   Las Vegas mayor                                                                            41. Chesapeake VA zoning politics: burrough pit case

7.   military contracting process                                                         42. Campaign finance: Terry’s gub. campaign

8.   first campaign of Rep. Ben "Cooter" Jones                               43.  Baltimore County budget           

9.   life of an F.B.I. agent, my deceased father                                 44.  Tennessee state legislator          

10. Washington Post Metro reporter                                                45.  Portugese secret police and my grandmother

11. Wilmington DE school integration process                              46.  Keating v. Bulger

12. annexation vote in Roanoke VA                                                  47.  Gov. Walter’s possible impeachment

13. Staten Island secessionist movement                                        48.  Homlessness in D.C.

14. Scanton, PA zoning board                                                           49.  Crime in Rochester NY

15. Nevada's nuclear waste disposal                                                50.  American Indian claims to my hometown

16. Internship for Sen. Edward Kennedy                                         51.  NJ Election scandal

17. MA Governor Welde and gun control legislation                    52.  US Senate staff

18. Jersey City’s chromium problem                                                 53.  The Brady Bill

19. Congressional hearing on entertainment violence                   54.  The ’86 Tax Law: Will it Break my Father

20. My experience as U.S. Senate page                                            55.  I’m Going to Disneyland: Dumphries, VA?

21. Philadelphia and professional sports teams                              56.  Closing Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center

22. CT Native American tribes and the gaming industry               57.  Battle for MA state senate

23. Mayor of Bel Air, MD                                                                   58.  The Great Inland Waterway

24. local tax collection politics in Fredericksburg, VA

25. Energy industry lobbyist

26. Board of Supervisors Harrisonburg VA

27. Pocomoke, MD politics

28. Culpeper, VA sheriff

29. Buchanan for President volunteer

30. Maryland state court judge

31. U.S. Ambassador to Madagascar

32. New Jersey subdivision manager

33. U.S. involvement in Angola and Botswana

34. Pittsburgh’s attempt to keep the Pirates

35. The Texas constitution and school finance policy